We are planning an eight day trip to the Yucatan in early December. We arrive at Cancun's airport at 2:15pm and are planning to start our trip with an overnight visit to Chichen Itza. Will we be able to make it to Hacienda Chichen before dark? I have read that driving after dark is not recommended in the area. Sunset in NY at this time of year is quite early.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! If we do drive out straight away, should we do two nights in CI instead of one to give us a chance to enjoy CI the entire first day before doing a trip to El Balam en route to the coast on day two?

Sunset is at 5:00 in December so it depends on how long it takes you to get out of the airport. I assume if you're leaving from the airport you'll be taking the toll road to Chichen Itza. I would think you would have enough time. Ek Balam is north of Valladolid which is just east of Chichen Itza and on your way to the coast. I loved Ek Balam and definitely need another trip there...

It's 240km from Cancun airport to Chichen Itza. Assuming you arrive on time, collect your bags quickly, pick up car quickly and know where you're going you'll still be pushing it to get there by sunset.
It took us about 3 hours to drive from the hotel zone to Chichen Itza along the toll road (bring cash for tolls).

Valladolid is 160km from the airport

Thank you both for your input. I believe I have found a flight that will get us to Cancun a bit earlier than the originally planned 2:15pm! A noon arrival should be plenty of time.

Excellent...earlier is always better.

Staying two nights in CI would give you the option of seeing the evening light show. It's interesting, but the show in Uxmal is much better, if you are also headed there.

Chichen Itza is impressive and large, and a must see, the classic Mayan image. But it is also by far the most crowded of ruins in the peninsula, and is much more touristy (constant approaches by locals selling souvenirs, etc.) than others. Just to let you know and assure you not to be put off if you haven't been to the Yucatan before.

Ek Balam is very different; it was almost empty when I was there. Much smaller, it is nonetheless quite beautiful and has some amazing (and quite rare, from what I have seen) statues. Well worth the trip.

Where else are you headed on your trip?

how do most people get to chichen from cancun-fly or drive? from playa?

I don't know how most people get there but from Playa I drive.

how long (in time) is the drive from playa?

Oh, I'd say 2 1/2 to 3 hours. It's the furthest in the group of Chichen Itza, Coba, Ek Balam, Muyil and Tulum.

colokid, thank you! 2 1/2- 3 s/b easy!

tunadoc:

We are spending two nights in Chichen Itza and then heading to Tulum for four or five nights at Ana & Jose. We have a great interest in the Mayan ruins as this is our first trip to the area. We will also visit El Balam, Coba, and Tulum. The KS Biosphere also looks very interesting.

We will have a rental car for this trip. Our plans are coming along. I need only to decide if we will spend our last night at Playa del Carmen. We realize it will be quite different to Tulum and wonder how we will feel about it. Tulum looks fantastic!