Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Mexico is an enchanting country full of culture, history, natural beauty, and historical monuments; and the most famous of all is Chichen Itza. This amazing pyramid is a must-see for any trip to Mexico and especially the Yucatan peninsula. Contrary to the perception that Mexico is a dangerous country and that everything has to be done through an organized tour, you can easily and safely visit this marvelous site On Your Own from Cancun! So, in this blog, I’ll take you through the journey of how to visit Chichen Itza like a local & throw in an added bonus side-trip afterwards.  

First of all, let us agree that most people visiting the Yucatan peninsula will be either based in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. For the sake of this blog, I’ll provide insights about how to visit Chichen Itza from Cancun and you’ll find info about going from Cancun to Playa in my Cenote Chaok Tun post, so let us begin the adventure!

Cancun has two major parts: the resorts part and the local downtown part. So, if you are after beaches and nightlife then stay in the former, but if you are interested in culture and local life, then definitely downtown is the place to go & you can still go to the beach:)

So, to do any of my Mexican trips, you’ve to use local transport and find your way to downtown. Next, for anyone looking to travel independently in Mexico, you’ll have be familiar with and use the collective system. These are small public buses that locals use to get from one town to another. They are very frequent and can be flagged down from anywhere and have a set fee according to the distance. At first, they might look intimidating and people will try to convince you that its dangerous to get you to use their expensive transportation options, but believe me…they are perfectly safe, fun, and gives you the real Mexican experience, so use them whenever you can!

To go to Chichen Itza is very easy and straightforward from Cancun downtown. There are daily buses that depart from the bus station and go directly to Chichen Itza, non-stop (click to request info).

The buses are very comfy, have AC, and the trip takes around 3 hours, so take an early bus and you can sleep in it if you had a long night before:)

Arriving at Chichen Itza, you’ll immediately realize how touristy it is with lots of tour groups, but you are there for the history, so ignore this and remember…You came On Your Own🙂  

From the entrance of the site, you’ll walk the forest path for around 15 minutes and then the great pyramid will unveil itself to you 

Admire this incredible structure and start walking around it while taking pics from every angle

Then its time to take a picture of yourself with this famous monument, so chose the perfect spot & smile:)  

Although this pyramid is the highlight of the area and will dwarf any other structure around it, you can still take a look around for the other structures and there is a hidden pool in the forest that you must visit as it feels like heaven (click to request info) 

This concludes your day at Chichen Itza, but if you still have the energy you can do a side trip on your way back. It is time to visit the small town of Valladolid and admire its colonial architecture and history. So, ditch the bus and take a collective heading to this town (click to request info).

Upon arriving, start walking around and explore the center square and the town’s church which will make you feel that you went back in time 

After exploring the city, you can grab something to eat in one of its amazing local restaurants and take a collective back to Cancun downtown.