merida - day trips
 

I will be in Merida for a week but will only have 2 day for out of town day trips. which two do you suggest - Chichen-Itza, Uxmal or Celestún?

It is hard to say without having visited Celestun. Between the other two, I would pick Chichen Itza (CI). Uxmal is stunning, and I enjoyed my visit there more than the visit to CI - fewer people. Plus, I think the ruins are more "beautiful." Nevertheless, I think CI's ruins are slightly better restored and probably more impressive to most visitors. Whatever you decide, visit early in the morning to lesson the heat and crowds. Both sites have sound and light shows at night, so maybe you could visit one during the day, one at night, and then use the other day for Celestun?

Both Celestun & Uxmal are around a 1 1/2 bus trip from Merida. Chichen Itza is around 2 1/2-3hr bus trip from Merida. As to the light shows make sure if you want to see one it's in English or if you are fluent in Spanish no problem. Personally I did not care for the light shows. It certainly didn't enhance my experience visiting the sites. I found them a waste of good time. As to Celestun I went there in October and hardly saw any flamingoes. Try to find out if the flamingoes are there before you go. Maybe the tourist office in downtown Merida on 60th Calle can give you some info on the Flamingoes. For my money I would see both ruins before Celestun. Hope this helps.

I have been to Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Both are great and very different. Chichen Itza is larger, more impressive (to me), and more crowded. Uxmal is lovely and has fewer visitors than Chichen Itza (although you won't be alone). We saw more wildlife at Uxmal, which made it special (colorful birds, iguanas, lizards, butterflies, etc.).

I would vote for Celestun and one of the other two. When we went to Celestun there were huge flocks of flamingoes, not to mention all the other wildlife. I personally preferred Uxmal to Chichen Itza - not nearly so busy and much more attractive with more greenery around. If you can really only manage two, I would go for two contrasting trips.