Tulum, Chichen Itza Trip Details

Driving Distances

Chetumal to Tulum ~240 Km (~2-3 hrs)
Tulum to Coba ~45 Km (~1 hr)
Coba to Valladolid ~60 Km (~45 mts - 1 hr). There is a direct route between Coba and Valladolid. Some maps don't have it marked.
Valladolid to Chichen Itza ~45 Km (~1 hr)
Valladolid to Ek Balam ~20 Km (~20 mts)
Valladolid to Rio Lagartos ~100 Km (~2 hrs). Be prepared to get lost in Tizimin.
Valladolid to Merida ~180 Km (~2 hrs - if you take the cuota). Cuota costs 105 pesos (March 2005 prices).

Ek Balam. The ruins have the best preserved and restored carvings in all of Mayan ruins.
Chichen Itza - too hot to skip!

Rio Lagartos and the boat tour to see the birds. A couple of hrs trip would cost about 600 pesos (March 2005 prices). It is worth every centavo!

Sound and light show in Chichen Itza. I heard that the only worth while piece is the recreation of the equinox sunset illusion. It was the only part not working for the night we were there!

We stayed at the Hostal Candelaria (YHA) in Valladolid. It is the best of the 3 hostels on the trip.
We stayed at El Crucero in Tulum. It was definitely the worst place on the trip. The hotel Acuario right across the street looked much better. During off-season, Acuario drops its prices to el crucero's level.

If you end up in Coba, do climb the Nohoch Mul, tallest pyramid in Yucatan. The view is really good. Do rent bicycles in Coba. The ruins are very widely spread out.
Diego of Isla Contoy was our guide in Rio Lagartos. He is quite good and his knowledge of the local bird life is quite extensive. To get to isla contoy, take left at the "park" (the first one that you hit when coming from the south). Isla contoy is the last building on your left.