Archaeological tours
 

Hi, planning a trip to Cancun and would like to tour some of the archaeological sites. Most of the tours seem to only spend 2 or 3 hours at Chichen Itza. Any suggestions for a tour company that offers a longer visit?

You don't need to join a tour unless that is your preference. Whether you do or not, take plenty of water and sun protection!

Are you staying in Cancún the whole trip? If you could stay a night or 2 in Valladolid you'd get to hang out in a cute colonial town, take a dip in some cenotes, get to Chichén Itzá 1st thing in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds, and visit Ek Balám in the bargain, a Maya site we liked better than Chichén Itzá. Just a thought...

Second Valladolid as a base or see if you can book a bungalow ( right at Chichen Itza (Mayaland Bungalows.) A little expensive but the bungalows are a unique experience. It rained one nite we were there and the next morning it sounded like every bird in the Yucatan had arrived and was loudly celebrating right outside our bungalow.

I agree with spending a night near the ruins, however we preferred Hacienda Chichen Itza hotel, cute bungalows built for the Carnegie Expedition in the 1920's and does not get the tour buses stopping like Mayaland does from time to time. Good food in their restaurant also.
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I was glad that I spent the night in Valladolid.

If you do stay in Valladolid, do so at the Meson de Marquis on the main square... Yes, Chichen Itza and Ek Balam are sites worth seeing but any serious archeological tourist will tell you to take the Ruuta Puuk route which is south of Merida which is in turn about 4 and half hours from Cancun. You can easily spend several days visiting various major sites off the beaten path.