One of Mexico’s most breathtaking views are the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, and there are many simple methods to travel there in a single day from Cancun. The Mayan civilization originally called this location one of its largest and most significant cities.
Booking a tour, doing it yourself in a rental car, or riding the ADO public bus are all ways to travel from Cancun to Chichen Itza. I’ll describe each of these modes of transportation in detail in this travel guide, along with its benefits and drawbacks.
Overall, visiting this wonder of the world on a day trip from any of the tourist towns in the Yucatan peninsula is not very difficult and is also rather affordable, so you should add it to your list of things to do in Mexico!
First things first – where is Chichen Itza in Mexico?
It takes 2 or 3 hours to drive from Cancun to Chichen Itza, which is situated in the middle of the Yucatan state in Mexico. The distance is roughly 200 kilometers (125 miles).
There are many other fantastic places to explore close to the Chichen Itza ruins, like the 16th-century city of Valladolid and a variety of lovely cenotes (natural sinkholes) where you can go swimming.
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Join a Group Tour To Learn How To Get From Cancun To Chichen Itza
Joining a group tour with other tourists is one of the cheapest and easiest methods to get from Cancun to Chichen Itza. You may book a group tour online or make arrangements with your Cancun hotel when you arrive in Mexico.
There are numerous businesses giving Chichen Itza tours every day of the week as a result of how well-liked they are. After being picked up from your hotel in the morning and transported there in a van or bus, you will be given a guided tour of Chichen Itza.
We personally took one of these tours and had a terrific time. Even early morning trips are available so you may beat the throng and be among the first visitors to the Chichen Itza ruins in the morning.
The Coba ruins, Tulum, Valladolid, and swimming in one or more of the several picturesque cenotes in the region are frequently included in these group travels from Cancun to Chichen Itza. These excursions frequently include a buffet lunch as well as hotel pickup and drop-off.
The one drawback of a group tour is that because of the fixed itinerary, you typically only get to spend an hour or less at each place you go. Although we could have stayed a little longer, most people probably wouldn’t need any more time than this. We frequently take a lot of pictures.
Since Chichen Itza is going to be packed anyhow and the bus ride is an opportunity to meet other visitors, we didn’t mind sharing the tour with other tourists in this manner.
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Schedule a Private Tour
There are also private tours and small group trips from Cancun to Chichen Itza that leave every day of the week if you want to take a tour to see Chichen Itza but don’t like the thought of traveling with a large group.
Although this option is more expensive than a group trip, it might be a fantastic way to get from Cancun to Chichen Itza if you have the money for it. By doing this, you’ll have a private driver who speaks multiple languages and a tour guide who will take you to each spot and go into great detail about the history of the archaeological sites.
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Hire a car and go on a drive
Another popular method of traveling from Cancun to Chichen Itza is by renting a car and driving yourself. As far as Mexican roads go, this method is very simple.
If you’re traveling with friends or family, you may split the cost of this arrangement, which allows you the most flexibility in scheduling your activities.
It takes around 2.5 hours to go from Cancun to Chichen Itza in a car, and the roads are in excellent shape. About 200 kilometers (125 miles) separate the two locations. You can use this map to find Chichen Itza, albeit the parking lot will be found a little before the actual ruins themselves.
You’ll be using the toll-road 180D as your route. Make sure you have enough cash with you because the toll, which costs roughly 400 pesos (about $21 USD) each way at the time of writing, can only be paid in Mexican pesos; neither credit cards nor US currencies are accepted.
You can make stops at additional locations along the journey, such as Valladolid, a city from the 16th century, and the numerous stunning cenotes close to Chichen Itza.
To prevent any potential rental car damage scams, keep in mind to reserve your rental car through a reliable business and snap photos of the entire vehicle body.
Keep in note that even if you drive yourself, you will still require entrance tickets to Chichen Itza. Booking your entrance tickets to Chichen Itza online in advance will allow you to skip the wait when you arrive and maximize your time exploring the ruins.
FAQ: Cancun to Chichen Itza
Is a trip to Chichen Itza worthwhile?
Yes! Visits to Chichen Itza are undoubtedly worthwhile. It’s a historical marvel, and the main pyramid is really stunning. The best part of our trip to Mexico was this.
How far is it between Cancun and Chichen Itza?
Chichen Itza is located roughly 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Cancun.
How challenging is it to get from Cancun to Chichen Itza?
Whether you take a vehicle, bus, or tour, it’s simple to go to Chichen Itza from Cancun.
Are there flights to Chichen Itza?
No, Chichen Itza does not have an airport. The Cancun International Airport (IATA code: CUN) is the closest airport. Skyscanner is a good place to look for international flights to Mexico.
Driving from Cancun to Chichen Itza is it safe?
Yes, it is generally agreed upon that traveling by car from Cancun to Chichen Itza is secure. The route is fairly simple, and the roads are in excellent condition. Since Yucatan is the safest state in Mexico, many visitors make the daily drive from Cancun to Chichen Itza without incident.
What sights should you prioritize seeing en route from Cancun to Chichen Itza?
While traveling from Cancun to Chichen Itza, there are many wonderful places to stop and explore. The city of Valladolid, which dates back to the 16th century, is one of the best sites to visit nearby. There are also numerous lovely cenotes where you can go swimming. Some of these sights are frequently included in Chichen Itza tour packages. For instance, the tour we took included a stop to Cenote Saamal, a picturesque open-air sinkhole where you can swim and snap pictures.
Which Chichen Itza tour is the best?
Here is a well regarded Chichen Itza Cancun full-day group tour that includes pickup from Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. We personally took this excursion and had a terrific time!
