nrusinak

All - hubby & I have decided to be brave and take the 15 year old daughter to Cancun over spring break (we're terrified of the violence in Mexico but understand that Cancun is relatively safe if good judgment is used). Have booked flights and room at the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun. We don't want to drive so would love advice on tours from Cancun to Chichen Itza. Would also like to know if Tulum is worth the trip and, if so, a guide for that too, please. Will be there a week. Many thanks, all. Nancy

hopefulist

Here are links to 2 guide outfits that have been highly rated on www.tripadvisor.com :
http://www.alltournative.com/
http://www.edventuretours.com.mx/

For what it's worth, you might want to choose Ek Balám instead of Chichén Itzá - EB has a cooler setting, the big temple is much larger than the one at CI, you can climb it, there are incredible sculptures, it's not farther, and there won't be many people there, especially compared to CI which will be a zoo. The ruins themselves at Tulúm aren't especially impressive but the setting is beautiful. You could combine it with some time snorkeling with sea turtles in the bay at Akumal or visit the Jungle Place if it isn't fully booked for the time you're there.
http://www.thejungleplace.com/tours.html

My photos with trip links are below if you're interested. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

qwovadis

xel-ha.com a super nice place I go a lot close to Tulum amazing usually best deals through your hotel when you get there.Avoid the insanity of downtown odds are great you will be fine.Prefer individual driver/guies to group tours from $35 per half day from hotel concierge.

qwovadis

Westin spg.com is an awesome place from personal experience usually best safest to work through them many online scams.
CC always best to book never wire money. Chichen Itza is a long way inland unless really into ruins staying with nice ones along the coast usually cheapest best for me.

yucatanhoy.com good site

Hafe fun!

sylvia3

If you haven't been there, I think that Chitzen Itza is a MUST-do; it's one of the premier archeological sites in the hemisphere (a Unesco heritage site) and you would certainly regret if you didn't visit at least once (I think some here have been several times, like me, and may be a bit blase about it.) It's a long but rewarding day, not terribly expensive (the posted link here is ~$60 pp, including R/T on air conditioned bus (on the toll highway), lunch entrance and tour). I've taken several tours for the convenience, but ditched the guide when I got there (I'm an archeology geek, and knew what/where I wanted.)
http://www.viator.com/tours/Cancun/C...631-3206CHI_01
Avoid any time-share tour deals to anywhere.
You could also take the bus or collectivo, but I don't think that's a good use of your limited time.
Ek Balaam is very good, but better if you have a car (and NOT a substitute for Chitzen Itza).

Tulum is a very minor site in a very scenic setting, and you certainly don't need a guide; you can also walk down to a very pretty beach from there, but it's doable in hour or so.
Xel-Ha is a very fun day, well worth doing (take the float ride again and again!)
However, these last two are quite a ways down the coast, and doing both (although you could, http://www.cancun-discounts.com/xel-...FeMbQgod2lGemg) would be a bit taxing. I'd vote for a fun day at Xel ha, if I had to choose only one.

suze

I vacation on the other coast (PV), but in my opinion there is no need to be "terrified of violence in Mexico" for American tourists on a typical vacation in Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Simply won't be an issue.

From Cancun, the ferry over to Isla Mujeres (an island) is supposed to be a nice outting.

RAC

Chichen Itza is well worth it. Tulum ruins are not impressive--it's all about the location there.

Cenotes, snorkeling (Puerto Morelos is 20 minutes south of Cancun and has great reef snorkeling, Akumal has sea turtles), Xcaret, Jungle Place--the Yucatan is a fantastic tourist destination.

LoveItaly

Hi suze, I just read this article on the CNN website. 22 passengers from the Carnival were robbed of their valuables and passports when on a Carnival tour in PV. Carnival is going to eliminate PV as a stop. It is so tragic what is happening in Mexico. Here is the article.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/26/world/...html?hpt=hp_t3

nrusinak

qwovadis - thanks for the encouraging words on the hotel. Really needed to hear 'em. Thought the deal we got was too good to be true (under $900/pp for a 1-bdroom villa including airfare for a whole week). Hope to have a really fun time.

All - appreciate the advice/encouragement more than you realize. Will research all suggestions and post what we decide for others to benefit from. Daughter is really into beach days, not so much ruins, but dad and I will definitely want to check into them.

Want to have some lazy days at the beach/resort and a couple of really worthwhile adventures. Maybe a ruin and Xel-Ha?

Am concerned about waiting until we get to the hotel to book. Won't things be full up by then?

Got a tour voucher with airport/hotel transportation but reviews on cancunfuntours.com are not so hot. Will probably skip it.

Again, thanks everyone. I feel a whole lot less scared and a lot more excited! Would love any other suggestions . . .

sylvia3

If you have a voucher, why not use it, if it is to someplace you want to visit and it's free?

I stand by Chichen Itza for the must-do ruin (have daughter read up on the cenote sacrifices to pique interest) and Xel-Ha (BTW, there's a nice little set of ruins right across the street) is a lot of fun, a nice way to spend the day in and by the water.
If you really want something different, there are cave snorkeling tours (http://www.caverndive.com/snorkel.html), dry cave/monkey preserve tours, Coba (a stellar ruins site), snorkeling and swimming at Akumal (Yal Ku lagoon is splendid), too much to list.
HOWEVER: you might consider an inexpensive rental car; you could see many sites for a lot less $$, and do it on your own schedule at your own pace.

hopefulist

My preference for Ek Balám over Chichén Itzá is certainly a personal preference that others may not share. It's based on visits to more than a dozen Maya sites in 4 countries but in my opinion especially applies to a family who hasn't visited Maya ruins before and might not be traveling in the future to other sites in México, Belize, Honduras, and northern Guatemala.

I get it that CI is an important site and gets more visitors than any other; in my opinion the latter is mainly because of its close proximity to a high traffic tourist area. It's buildings pale in comparison with Ek Balám, Coba, Palenqué, and Tikal; all of those sites have temples much taller than El Castillo at CI, some of them nearly twice as tall. And at those other sites you can climb the temples which I lovelovelove but which is no longer allowed at CI.

It's carvings and stelae pale in comparison with several of the sites I list above (including Ek Balám which is amazing) as well as Quiriguá and Copán. And the setting - mainly flat open grassy areas with a few wooded areas - is the least interesting and beautiful of any of the others in my opinion.

We beat the crowds at CI by visiting in the low season, staying nearby, and entering the ruins at 8am - practically had the place to ourselves. But it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors per month during the winter months so visiting mid day from Cancun could mean you're there with thousands of others which doesn't help the atmosphere. The spring equinox is March 20th and might be the busiest day of the year.

The hotels push the CI trips and I think people like saying they've been there, but, especially with kids in tow, I'd consider ruins with a wild, jungly setting where you beat the crowds, have taller temples, more interesting sculptures, and can climb the temples to see the amazing views those ancient Maya leaders saw.

nrusinak - Check out the links I posted above for visits that combine snorkeling, a visit to Cobá, maybe with a swim in a cenote and/or ziplining - it would be easy to set up and might be a highlight of your trip and your lives together as a family.

nrusinak

Sylvia3 - the vouchers are for $10 off, not for free trips. Also, feel braver but not brave enough to drive. Since we got such a good deal on the trip, I'm not too worried about spending a little more for a tour...

Hopefulist - will most definitely check out your links! Thanks so much.

Also, should mention that we have previously visited Mayan ruins - thoroughly enjoyed a visit to Caracol (which we did climb) on a trip to Belize so we definitely get the importance of the ruins and want to see more. I'm totally into archeological importance and historical value. Will look into CI, Coba and EB. I'm guessing the Westin be able to help us book a tour with the less popular sites as well as CI...

Lot of good reviews for a company called Flavio Tours but they don't seem to regularly go to Coba or EB. Their website says they will put together a customized tour with our chosen sites. Anyone have any good experiences with other tour companies?

nrusinak

Have also seen some great reviews for Uxmal...

sylvia3

That is a problem with EK, of course; it's a bit off the beaten path (tho a very easy drive)for tours compared to CI or even Coba. (I prefer both Coba and EB to CI, also. Just think that CI is important and should be seen once; but if you've been to Caracol, maybe it won't be a disappointment if you miss it, even though I think the restoration has been great.)

RAC

I have to disagree that Coba is a more compelling site than Chichen Itza. It's more jungle than CI, but the level of detail and architectural achievement are not on the same level. The big pyramid at Coba is bigger than El Castillo, but it's in much worse shape and lacks the careful and mathematic proportions. And, there's no counterpart for CI's ball court, nunnery, observatory, etc.

The Castillo isn't very large, but my goodness it's just about perfect.

And, Coba typically feels more crowded than CI because everyone is confined to the somewhat narrow paths, which see a constant rumble of bike taxis as well as cyclists and people on foot.

In terms of architecture and artistry and overall impressiveness I would rank CI as roughly in line with Caracol or Yaxchilan. Coba I would rank as less impressive than Lamanai and more impressive than Tulum or Cahal Pech or Muyil.

Better birding at Coba though.

jamie99

I've been to all those ruins, regretfully Uxmal is not a daytrip, although a wonderful ruin to visit, along with several of the nearby Ruta Puuc ruins. Can't help with tours, as my late husband and I always rented a car, but have heard good things about the companies mentioned as well as Entertainment Plus, which does private tours. A bit more expensive but you would get there ahead of the big group tours which make multiple stops and have to stop at shops (where they of course get commissions). I have used USA Transfers (owned by Entertainment Plus) 3 times for private transfers to Akumal and they are a very professional company with competent English speaking drivers if your transfer is not included.

nrusinak

jamie99 - will most definitely check out Entertainment Plus! We are not shoppers! I want to get there, see what there is to see and get back.

rfbk50

Your daughter will probably be bored with the very long bus ride there and back. I agree with zip lining, snorkeling, or swim with the dolphins. Wait till you get there and book at your hotel.

RAC

For swimming with dolphins, please research to make 100% sure the facility isn't tied to practices that are cruel to the dolphins. Many places get their dolphins by kidnapping wild dolphins from the wild.

sylvia3

In exchange for a trip to a fabulous cultural site such as one of the sites mentioned here, I'd think a teen could stand to be bored on the bus for a couple of hours (and they have all those gadgets, anyway).