Chichen Itza without the tourist masses – How to get from Valladollid to Chichen Itza by bus

Chichen Itza is one of the biggest archeological Mayan sites and therefore a must visit on your trip to Mexico. They are located 45 mins from Valladollid, a beautiful colonial town with corful houses and nice cenotes. That city well deserves a stop on its own. However, most people come here before they go to Chichen Itza and if you are there right when it opens at 8 am you will be able to take some pictures without the tourist masses in the background.

How to get from Valladollif to Chichen Itza by bus

I was blessed with a jetleg throughout my whole vacation and always woke up around 6 am and always was tired early in the evening. But this made it easy for me to decide that I would be at Chichen Itza right when it opens at 8 am. Only, when I got out on the streets in Valladollid everything was still closed and quiet. A kind man than pointed out to me that Valladolid is on central time and one hour behind Tulum time. So, I actually had gotten up at 5.40 am that morning without evsn feeling tired. But, oh well, I wrote some post cards and then walked toward the collectivo terminal again shortly before 7 am.

The collectivo terminal is located about 100m before the ADO terminal toward the church. There was a guy (who is there all day) who calls out to all the passing people that the collectivos to Chichen Itza is leaving from here. We waited 10 minutes until it was full and for 35 pesos they brought us directly from Valladollid to Chichen Itza. ADO only departs later and by then hundreds of other tourists will have arrived. But perhaps you can use it on the way back as it costs only 30 pesos and is just more comfortable than the collectivo.

The pyramids of Chichen Itza

The entry price is 254 pesos for foreigners. After entering through the main entrance it’s only a 3 min walk through the forrest until you are standing in front of the impressive main pyramid. It’s worth it to look at it from each side as all are different. I really liked the arena of the Mayan ball game as well and the pyramids near the second entrance.

In case you are tired of walking you can skip visiting the two cenotes. They are just dark green water holey and nothing special compared to the cenotes you can swim in. My visit took about 2 hours and 15 minutes with just walking everywhere, taking pictures and reading some information pannels. If you are there with a guide you will probably need longer.

Should I hire a guide to visit Chichen Itza?

If you have the time, I would say yes. I didn’t have a guide but I eavesdropped on some groups and everytime it was a really interesting story. So, here you will probably get good value for your money whereas in Tulum, I really didn’t see the point in the guides since they only said what was already written on the info pannel.

Facilities at Chichen Itza

Inside the park as well as outside there are many souvenir vendors. They actually could be haggled down to quite ok prices. I saw one snack bar inside the archeological site but there is a big restaurant and toilets at the entrance.

Enjoy your day or half day of exploring!

What was the best pyramid you have ever visited?