Planning a Trip

Getting There & Departing

By Plane -- Travel agents in the United States, Cancún, and Cozumel can arrange day trips from Cancún and Cozumel.

By Car -- Chichén Itzá is on old Hwy. 180 between Mérida and Cancún. The fastest way to get there from either city is to take the autopista (or cuota). The toll is 120 pesos from Mérida, 200 pesos from Cancún. Once you have exited the autopista, you will turn onto the road leading to the village of Pisté. Once in the village, you'll reach a T junction at Hwy. 180 and turn left to get to the ruins. The entrance to the ruins is well marked. If you stay on the highway for a few kilometers more, you'll come to the exit for the hotel zone at Km 121 (before you reach the turnoff, you'll pass the eastern entrance to the ruins, which is usually closed). Chichén is 1 1/2 hours from Mérida and 2 1/2 hours from Cancún. From Tulum, take the highway that leads to Cobá and Chemax. It connects to Hwy. 180 a bit east of Valladolid.

By Bus -- From Mérida, there are four first-class ADO buses per day. There are also a few first-class buses to Cancún and Playa that stop here. Otherwise, you can buy a second-class bus ticket to Valladolid and a first-class from there. If you want to take a day trip from Mérida or Cancún, go with a tour company.

Area Layout

The village of Pisté, where most of the budget hotels and restaurants are located, is about 2.5km (1 1/2 miles) to the west of the ruins. Public buses can drop you off here. And located on the old highway 2.5km (1 1/2 miles) east from the ruins is another budget hotel, the Dolores Alba. Situated at the ruins of Chichén Itzá are three luxury hotels.