Hi, we are staying on Cozumel at the Presidente. I would like to know what are the options for making a day trip to Chichen Itza--taking a flight, or the ferry + bus via Cancun.

Thanks for your input.

Of course you can fly but I remember the fare being about 150/person (USD).

If you take the ferry to PDC you could join a tour or I am sure your hotel provides that also.

Your best bet would be to get up very early and take the 1st ferry to PDC and rent a car. This way you beat the crowds and the heat especially if you are going during the summer. We arrived at 10:30am or so and there were only 25 people at the ruins. When we left at noon-ish there were hundreds of people and dozens of buses. The bus tours also have secondary shopping stops, but when driving you decide when and where. Also, the bus tours will take up the whole day, 12 hours or more.

The bus tour was $70/person and we rented a car for $80 so for our family of four and returned by 3:00pm.

That would be a really really long day. If it were me, I'd go to a town near Chichen Itza (like Valladolid) and stay there overnight. Get up early the next day and see the ruins, then drive back to PDC. I can't imagine doing the whole trip from Cozumel in 1 day.

Good advice from everyone. I would tend to agree with the advice of spending a night in Valladolid--some very good hotels at low prices (the ones close to the ruins are overpriced).

Unless you are an avid archeology fan, in my personal opinion, I didn't think the ruins were worth the trip. Granted it was many years ago and the old road was horrid, but it was a long, long day. I understand that there is a better road now, but again its just my opinion, consider how much time or money you really want to invest.