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 Highway 180 between Mérida and Cancún. The fastest way to get there from either city is to take the autopista (or cuota). The toll is $8 (£4) from Mérida, $22 (£11) 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 Highway 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 turn-off, 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 three first-class ADO buses per day. There are also a couple of first-class buses to Cancún and Playa. 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 economical 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 economical hotel, the Hotel Dolores Alba. Situated at the ruins of Chichén Itzá are three luxury hotels.
