It's got all sorts, from deluxe private tours led by local archaeologists to family-fun trips that involve swims in underground rivers! How to get to Chichen Itza from Merida: I took a second-class bus from the ADO Bus Terminal leaving at 7:00 AM. Chichen Itza Mayan Heritage. This makes Progesso the closest beach near Merida. Wonderful and informative post, John! Taxi from Merida to Chichen Itza: You may be able to negotiate a round-trip fare of $1,000 pesos for a taxi from Merida to Chichen Itza. The Museum of the City of Merida (Spanish: Museo de la Ciudad de Mrida) is located near Mrida, Yucatn . Destinations Merida Tours CHICHEN ITZA TOURS Chichen Itza & Cenote Zazil Tunich Tour Take the Chichen Itza & Cenote Zazil Tunich Tour from Merida. So which beach near Merida to go to? Today, portions on the top of the walls are used by visitors to admire the beautiful view of the city. Tip: Book your bus ticket from Merida to Chichen Itza online in advance to save your seat and avoid queuing up at the ticket counter. Thanks for such an informative post! Be sure to climb all the way to the top of Temple of Kukulcan and get some postcard-worthy photos. Bus: Catch an ADO bus from the downtown Merida bus station, the Terminal de Autobuses de Merida (abbreviated as TAME). Im using your blog as a primary tool for planning my trip . Fantastic! There is free street side parking around Valladolid. Join Today our Chichen Itza tour from Merida and experience the best of Mexico. The buses depart from Merida bus station daily. Dont let this deter you from a visit though. Otherwise, youll need to walk or take a motor taxi the additional 2+ km south of the town, to reach the other Cuzama cenotes. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Yucatan and have a great time at Chichen Itza! One of the most popular day trips to Chichn Itz includes a visit to the Ik Kil Cenote and the nearby town of Valladolid. Benefit from pick-up at your Hotel in Merida. Stay Overnight: If venturing out to Valladolid, it can be worth staying overnight. Your email address will not be published. This is so refreshing under the hot Yucatan sun. Bilingual tour guide. So we can only provide our account for Calcehtok, in which youll need to look for the turn-off towards the Oxkintok ruins, both of which are clearly signposted. From there, its another 15-minute drive up 31 to the Ruta Puuc turnoff, which is clearly signposted. Taking a dip in these natural underground swimming holes can be an otherworldly and refreshing experience. How do I email this tour operator? Journey Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes. Take a stroll down Progresos mile-long malecon lining the shorefront to work up an appetite. Once you factor in admission ($486-pesos) and lunch, you can expect the total cost to well exceed US$100 for a couple, even if a good taxi fare is negotiated. Rental cars in Merida can be very inexpensive if you book in advance. The fare is $65 pesos each way. . So youll have an opportunity to see these native species that have been rescued. . Im thinking merida is different? Local guides lead you on private tours of the cave system, based on the level of adventure you feel most comfortable with: easy, adventure, or extreme!. The ruins ofOxkintok are said to be among the oldest in the area. I'm here to help! Take the Bus One of the most popular and low-cost options for getting from Merida to Chichen Itza is to take the bus. Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and thorough. . On the way there or back, you can stop by the Dzibilchaltun ruins to explore and take a dip in the open-air cenote. Chichen Itza boasts several accolades such as being the largest Mayan archaeological site in the Yucatan, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. . There are three completely separate cenote complexes around Cuzama run by three entirely different cooperatives: XTohil, Cuzama, and Chunkann. Most others will require your own wheels to get to. There are numerous Mayan ruin sites all throughout the Yucatan peninsula. The highlight of Acanceh is the ancient Mayan temple thats integrated right within the town. Im definitely including the flamingos and the yellow city. I cant wait to experience every bit of history, culture and cuisine of Mexico! Updated on June 4, 2022 Experiencing Chichen Itza on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is an unforgettable experience. Its certainly worthy of dropping in for an hour if already in the area, but this smaller ruin site of Xcambo may not justify a day trip from Merida onto itself. The Dzibilchaltun Ruins may not be as large as Chichen Itza, as impressive as Uxmal, as intimate as Mayapan, or as much of an adventure as the Ruta Puuc drive. Located next to Uxmal, the Choco-Story Museum is an easy add-on during a day trip to Uxmal. Check current rates. They depart at 07.15 am, 09.30 am, and 12.00 pm respectively. $200 pesos will get you an hour tour of this gorgeous yellow city. The boats to El Corchito depart from here, which takes about a 30-minute walk from Progreso beach or a very quick taxi or drive. Relax in Valladolids pleasantsquare and admire the Church of San Bernardino. Unlike many travel blogs which are more focused on the writer, you offer a tremendous amount of help to the traveler. If time permits, you may be able to include a visit to Xcambo ruins too. At the end there is a great cenote for swimming. Many of the best museums and cultural attractions in the Yucatan are located directly in Merida. Chichen Itza's name derives from the Mayan words Chi (mouth), $84. The AutoProgreso buses running every 10 minutes make Progreso, an easy and inexpensive beach to get to from Merida. In this post, I will share all of the options so that you will be able to decide what's the best one for you. Bus from Merida to Grutas de Loltun: Second-class buses depart from the Noreste Terminal in Merida to the nearby city of Oxkutzcab (8:30 am). Its even easily possible to reach Progreso beach from Merida Centro in less than an hour! The recommendations below are what we firmly suggest as the best Mayan ruins near Merida. 6+ hours. So check thisProgreso cruise ship scheduleto see which days a ship may be in port during the time youre visiting. ' either a classic or a private tour. Below is a comparison chart of two Uxmal tours from Merida that we recommend. To get from Merida to Uxmal driving, buses, and day tours to Uxmal are all great options to consider. Hope that helps. The toll is $149 pesos each way. If youre ready for high adventure, then get low into Yucatans largest cave systems, which are just a short drive away from Merida! January 17, 2020 By John Widmer 71 Comments. per adult. Second-class buses start around $70 pesos each way, while the ADO bus from Merida to Chichen Itza are $150 pesos each way. Stop into the many boutiques along the way or wander over to one of Valladolids local markets. Day Tour to Acanceh: As this is not a major attraction on its own, there are no scheduled tours solely to Acanceh. But plan for at least 45 minutes if youre departing from Merida centro. And what an awesome way to get around the Yucatan on the back of a Harley! Theres even ahandful of hidden cenotes scattered around Merida not written about anywhere. Toilets: Yes Food: Nothing along the Ruta Puuc route or ruin sites. Wear old clothes. Tour to Chichen, cenote & magic towns from Merida. How great is it that you can take a dip in a refreshing cenote after roaming around the hacienda? Were excited to be heading back to Mexico in the upcoming months to continue writing more travel info about this beautiful country! The Merida tour recommendations should prove helpful for those looking for convenience. Meanwhile, Sayilsports a rugged atmosphere with an impressive palace and other structures. Weve used their customer service before and they tend to be pretty helpful. Driving from Merida to Sotuta de Peon: The drive from Merida takes about 45 minutes, pending traffic. (Rates have recently increased. Although it is possible to reach these caves, with a little extra effort by using colectivos plus a taxi. Which Yucatan adventure is your favorite or are you most excited to pursue? 35. So glad to hear its been helpful! Izamal may be one of the best day trips from Merida for photographers. Visit the recommendations listed below to discover which cities may clique with you. If you had to ask us to pin down an absolute favorite Yucatan day trip, we may vouch for this one. Heather goes out all the time by herself with not the slightest of issues. Someday! What a great place to live, by the way! Were thrilled that you found our guide helpful! Merida will likely prove to be a more ideal base for all the other ruins mentioned in this guide. Pickup from select hotels Mobile ticket Offered in: English and 1 more Don't worryhere are some similar options Merida, Riviera Maya & the Yucatan Tour Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos 2 from $124.00 Likely to Sell Out Thanks for this. Discover a beautiful cenote, a natural freshwater pool, where you can swim in its cool waters, sacred to the Mayans. This is one of the greatest Maya sites known to man. But theDzibilchaltun ruins are the closest Mayan ruins to Merida, includes an artifact-filled museum and an even onsite exposed cenote that you can swim in. This makes for a nice full day of adventure from Merida. Bus from Merida to Acanceh: Buses depart from the Noreste Station located on Calle 67 between 50 and 52. And halfway across the trails, dont be surprised to find yourself ushered into a private Mayan ceremony. A good way to see all of Izamal is from a horse-drawn carriage. Have a fantastic time exploring the Yucatan! Have you been to any of these day trips from Merida? We were actually able to get shots of the entire pyramid without any other visitors. They then used the stones of the temple to build the monastery! Self-Drive (best method) from Merida to Grutas de Calcehtok: 75 Km Southwest of Merida off highway 184, just past the town of Calcehtok. Frequent buses make day trips to places like Progreso a very easy journey. Bus Tours. The transmission is always listed, but sometimes it doesnt stand out. So which of the Cuzama cenotes to go to? Thanks for the kind feedback. This is super timely as Im planning a trip to the Yucatan. Hacienda Ochil includes grand Moorish archways, palm-tree lined rail tracks, artifacts from the boom days, and a lovely open-air restaurant that sits in the former casa principal. Best price and money back guarantee! This site is bigger and grander than the previous three and its logical to also include a stop at Kabah while touring the Ruta Puuc. Or feel free to ask us any questions about all these different day trips from Merida. Great value! My question is I have been greatlyhugely cautioned about the Mexican police giving tickets/fines to non natives in rental cars. Chichen-Itza Tour Phone +52 998 252 6074 Website chichenitzatour.com.mx . We will take the toll highway to Chichen Itza to be the firsts to arrive at the archeological. From Merida to Chichen Itza. Hope that helps and you have a great trip! Self-drive from Merida to Grutas de Loltun: Access Loltun from Oxkitzcab, taking 261 to Muna, then 184 to Oxkitzcab, to make a right on 31 to Grutas de Lotun. 10-12 hours. Every time weve rented a car in Merida, weve used the Easy Way Rental Car, located in Centro. Chelem: This beach is a 20-minute drive west of Progreso is this small little beach town that is growing in popularity with expats. An added appeal of the beaches near Merida is that youll pay a fraction of the cost at restaurants and hotels on these Gulf Coast beaches, compared to the Yucatan peninsulas eastern shores. Weve driven widely throughout the Yucatan and have never been stopped by police for tickets or fines. I might add one place: Isla of Arena out on the west coast is interesting, has a modern movie museum dedicated to a local movie star from the 40s and 50s, a few restaurants, cabanas and no one there. Its a great deal since its just a bit more than the ADO bus, but this shuttle bus further includes an access pass to the adjacent Mayaland Resort and pool! Driving from Merida toHacienda Ochil: It takes about a half hour or so to reach Hacienda Ochil from Merida centro. Chichen Itz entrance fee (30 USD per person) There are many haciendas near Merida that you can simply pop in to take a brief tour on your own. There are a few unique items youll want to bring with you for your Merida day trips. Wow thank you so much for all your hard work in posting this for all of us travelers! For those looking for a relaxing day trip from Merida, a day at Progreso beach is a perfect idea. Another kilometer or so past that is the final Cuzama cenote complex of Chunkanan. We have no doubt that youll have a wonderful time exploring beautiful Merida and its surroundings . We visited there on our trip in 2012 and we loved it. What does this part of Mexico look like? Directions: How To Get from Merida to Grutas Tzabnah. The ships excursions may be the most convenient, particularly if youre trying to go far from Progreso. Longest horse-cart ride: We suggest Cuzama cenotes as it gives you the most time being pulled around on the carts. Hello there! When reserving a rental car in Merida using Priceline (or any site), be sure to note whether the car youre reserving is manual or automatic. , Thanks for the comment Melissa! Its that sense of discovery of these more wild ruins and the lack of anyone else here, that makes the Ruta Puuc ruins such a worthwhile day trip from Merida to embark on. So does thisadventure tour to the Cuzama cenotes. AU$134.28. Some are very well-known and packed with people, while others are located on private property. (Theres more about Acanceh later in this article.) We talked about smash in Merida. Tour from Merida to Progreso: A day tour to Progreso really isnt necessary. Beachfront restaurants serve up fresh-caught seafood. The Mayan ruin sites listed above are what we recommend as the 5 best ruin sites from Merida to visit. Stop by this scenic hacienda to get a better understanding of henequin production. Day Tour from Merida to Mayapan Ruins: Although we think a visit to Mayapan is very worthwhile, it is not a common or popular day tour from Merida, so you may have trouble finding an operator who offers it. Those are easy and ideal to reach within a few days or so, based in Valladolid. In fact, Sotuta De Peon claims to be one of the only haciendas that still has the ability to process the henequen. Thanks Tami! The cenotes themselves are impressive. I enjoyed a lot reading your experiences and info. If you get lost in this big info-laden post, simply scroll back up to the top here and use this map or the table of contents to help find your way. For those comfortable with independent travel, public transportation can be a good consideration to get around Yucatans more connected destinations. Here at Calcehtok, there were no helmets, no harnesses. In the heyday, Souta de Peon harvested mass quantities of fibers of the henequen plant, which was (and still is) planted throughout the property. From Merida to Cancun: Chichen Itza, Valladolid & Cenote 12 hours; Skip the line; Pickup available; 3.5 (4 reviews) . And be sure to know return times for less frequent routes. Driving from Merida toHacienda Yaxcopoil: It takes about a half hour or so to reach Hacienda Yaxcopoil from Merida centro. Ive daydreamed countless of times about all the ruins, villages and cenotes scattered all over the Yucatan peninsula. Youll see clearly marked signs for Mayapan, just a bit past the town of Telchaquillo. Wander through the remains of the ancient civilisation, admire the Temple of the Warriors, swim in a cenote, and explore Izamal. You'll discover an abundance of the Yucatan's best beaches, Mayan ruins, cities, cenotes, and other attractions all scattered within close proximity to Merida. We recommend Dzibilchaltun for convenience, given its close proximity to Merida. While roaming around Progreso, consider taking a side trip to El Corchito. Choco-Story has a unique layout too. You could try to do this on your own using bus/taxi/Uber or I believe Carnival may offer an excursion that goes to Merida and Dzibilchaltun. Their descendants have kept it well-preserved, as you can visit the hacienda today to view the famed Moorish double arch, the workshops, and even wander into the main building to see the period furnishings. Then walk (or take a mototaxi) the remaining way to the ruins. The beers at Eladios are slightly overpriced but they more than make up for it with the extremely generous platefuls of bontanas (Mexican tapas) that are delivered to your table complimentary. But with all of these superlatives, Chichen Itza has become the most popular Mayan ruin site in the region. Thanks! The cave is most known for the amount of ancient Mayan artifacts that have been discovered in the cave, as well as murals by the ancient people. The Loltun Caves areanother dry-cave system in the Yucatan. There are enough worthwhile Merida day trips to fill an entire one-week or two-week Yucatan itinerary. Youll also find a cathedral at the town square right across from the archeological site. Exact driving directions are here on Google Maps. Although thats the big-named ruin site here, definitely consider some of these other ruins too which weve found to be equally impressive and much more tranquil! What would be the best affordable private tour for Uxmal and ChichenItza for a family with teenagers (so they are informed but not bored) Any other suggestion for the Akumal/Cancun area (we dont want really touristy stuff, more cultural exposure for our daughters. That particular tour is through Viator, so Id suggest directing any questions through them. Playa del Carmen, like Tulum, is only a 2-hour drive to Chichen Itza, making it a popular day trip for lots of travelers. In each of the following Merida day trips, we provide suggestions for Merida tours and DIY directions. As this is a 2nd-class bus, it makes many stops and will take about 1.5 hours to get to the Mayapan ruins. After departing Merida, the toll highway to Chichen Itza is fairly straightforward, but theres always potential to get lost. Theres additional chocolate to taste, in the form of bars, when exiting through the gift shop. But weve also seen them available locally. And after frenzied experiences at other popular ruin sites, youll be treated to a quiet and serene experience at Mayapan. It looks really cool! Take a look when rested. Check the ADO website for up-to-date bus timetables and price. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting to let us know. My wife and I plan on going late-2018 and this page will definitely help us plan our day trips. Required fields are marked *. These are big cities like the impressive Campeche to smaller hidden gems not listed in the guidebooks, such as Acanceh. Hi guys, I just wanted to say a big thanks for your blog it has been so helpful to me, as a solo traveller without my own transportation. Directions are here on Goolge Maps. THANKS A LOT so much to learn and visit in this beautiful Peninsula in Mexico! Free cancellation. There are no crowds at Chichen Itza during these early morning hours. You can also take the ADO bus from the Merida CAME station. Xcambo is another ruin site that allows you to climb up the structures and youll likely be the only visitors. We loved staying in Valladolid too! From our perspective, its not a widespread practice around Merida. There are so many awesome day trips from Merida to tour the entire region! THE TOP 10 BEST Day Trips from Merida to Chichen Itza in 2023 | Viator Home Things to do in Mexico Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan Things to do in Merida Chichen Itza Merida to Chichen Itza Questions? But it may require some negotiating to reach that rate. This should include a few hours waiting time at the ruins. The answer is very simple, we are the direct operators of the excursion. Unlike Progreso, the shorter pier here is open to the public. Chichn Itz Day Trip Exact directions are here on Google Maps. Nearby: Its worthwhile to consider further extending your Ruta Puuc road trip to culminate at Uxmal. Consider further continuing to Kabah and Uxmal to pack in a very full day of Mayan ruins from Merida. This post was most recently updated in January 2020. BOOK A TOUR. When comparing tours, be sure check the latest reviews so you can book a good tour with confidence. Ruta Puuc Bus from Merida: Oriente Bus operates on Sundays only, departing at 8:00 am and stops at all three sites on the Ruta Puuc for 30-minutes each. But it runs every day of the week, is a more intimate experience, includes transportation and guide to the three Ruta Puuc sites, plus the Loltun Caves. Be sure to click thru the links to confirm up-to-date info, availability, latest reviews, and pricing (there are periodic deals, in which pricing is actually less than indicated in this table.). '. Gaze down and imagine what this impressive sitemust have been like when the Mayans ruled the land. Directions are here on Google Maps. Day Tours from Merida to Izamal: Thisday tour to Izamalincludes hotel pick-up, horse-drawn carriage tour, climbing the pyramids, a visit to the convent, and even lunch at what we think is Izamals best restaurant, making for a perfect day in the yellow city. That way, youll get picked you up directly from your hotel, with an informative English-speaking guide, to seamlessly get to the Celestun River Biosphere Reserve to see the flamingos. For interesting things around the Akumal area, we enjoy renting bikes to cycle through the Coba ruins. The lovely interior pool and courtyard is even more charming in person than the pictures. After a busy day exploring, refresh in the waters of the cenote, and enjoy a delicious buffet meal. Bus from Merida to Mayapan Ruins: Use the Noreste bus terminal, located here at Calle 67 and Calle 50. Muna has mirador (viewpoint) and its worth stopping there for both the views and to take a look atPedros artwork. Chichn Itz With a Cenote and Valladolid. I have a much better idea of what to plan in the area.

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