My 22 year old daughter an I are staying in Cancun for a week and have a flight home from Merida (cancun flight was unavailable) a day after our check out day - so... We have one overnight to plan.

Is there a way to use public transportation to get from cancun to Chichen Itza, stay overnight there, then take public transporation to Merida the next day to fly home? Since she and I are traveling alone, I am just a bit uncomfortable driving ourselves.

We initially thought we would use the UNO bus directly to Merida but I am thinking how nice it would be to be able to check out Chichen Itza at a leisurely pace.

Or - if we take the bus all the way through to Merida - what is interesting to see or do there?

Any suggestions? Any other suggestions for one night between the Cancun and Merida?

Thank you - Babs

It's been years since I was at Chichen Itza, but we stayed in Valladolid, which is about 1/2 hour from Chichen. Nice little town.

We did our trip using buses - bus from Cancun to Valladolid, then we spent a day at the ruins, then back to Valladolid for the night. From there, we caught the bus to Merida.

Merida is a very nice colonial city - we really enjoyed it there.

Hi, Babs -

As SusanInToronto said, you can easily make this trip using public transportation. Like her, I stayed overnight in Valladolid, from which there are frequent buses to Chichen Itza. (I think that trip takes more like 45 minutes.)

As of last April, there were luggage lockers at Chichen Itza, but I didn't pay attention to the details so I can't say if stopping there en route would be a good option.

Another overnight option betwe4en Cancun and Merida would be Izamal, which you can reach by bus from Valladolid and/or Merida; I don't think there is a direct bus between Chichen Itza and Izamal.

And I agree that Merida is charming - well worth some time if you have it.

Hope that helps!

Merida is well worth a visit, particularly on the weekends, when they close the central streets to traffic, set up bandstands all over town, and start the music.

If you prefer Chichen Itza, Susan's suggestion would work. If you have extra time, try to fit in Ek Balam, about ten miles north of Valladolid. Much smaller scale than CI, but with beautiful high relief carvings.

I second Fra_Diavolo's suggestion to visit Ek' Balam. In addition to the amazing reliefs, you can climb the structures at Ek' Balam, which you can't do at Chichen Itza.

The ADO buses from Valladolid to Merida are very comfortable and affordable. There are a number of good hotels and restaurants right on the square in Valladolid, so you're sure to have a lovely evening.Read more about Valladolid here: http://www.yucatantoday.com/destinat...valladolid.htm