noah53 Posted August 17, 2017 #1 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Both are offered on Rhapsody of the Seas Dec 10th, van $255, bus $161 Canadian $. Anyone been on van and is it better and worth $ difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDawg Posted August 17, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 17, 2017 It's a long way from Cozumel by either a van or a bus. Try flying there. More expensive but you get there in an hour, well before all the buses and vans do and you get a much longer private tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secrui Posted August 17, 2017 #3 Share Posted August 17, 2017 It's a long way from Cozumel by either a van or a bus. Try flying there. More expensive but you get there in an hour, well before all the buses and vans do and you get a much longer private tour. Very wise idea! We had friends that took a bus from Cozumel; one also has to include a ferry from Cozumel to mainland and back. Allow at least 5 hours to Chichen Itza. That allows you at most about 2 hours for the tour. Not enough time. Our friends were very disappointed. We went there from an all inclusive in Riviera Maya. We got about 1/2 day there. Much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jana Posted August 17, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Very wise idea! We had friends that took a bus from Cozumel; one also has to include a ferry from Cozumel to mainland and back. Allow at least 5 hours to Chichen Itza. That allows you at most about 2 hours for the tour. Not enough time. Our friends were very disappointed. We went there from an all inclusive in Riviera Maya. We got about 1/2 day there. Much better! I agree 100%. Save this one for a port stop or land vacation to Cancun, and consider going to one of the (much less impressive) ruins on the island of Cozumel, or even better, see if there's an excursion to Tulum. It's quite spectacular and will give you a lot of time there as it's only about 30-45 minutes from Playa del Carmen where the ferries end up. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted August 17, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 17, 2017 I agree. I did Chichen Itza while on a land vacation in Cancun. It was a really long day. From Cozumel it will be at least 4 hours each way. You'll have hardly any time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secrui Posted August 17, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 17, 2017 I agree 100%. Save this one for a port stop or land vacation to Cancun, and consider going to one of the (much less impressive) ruins on the island of Cozumel, or even better, see if there's an excursion to Tulum. It's quite spectacular and will give you a lot of time there as it's only about 30-45 minutes from Playa del Carmen where the ferries end up.. TULUM? UGH! Comparing Tulum to Chichen Itza is like comparing 7-11 to WALMART. Of course if you've never been to Chichen Itza, then TULUM will seem spectacular. Take plenty of water to either site. Oppressively hot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jana Posted August 17, 2017 #7 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Of course if you've never been to Chichen Itza, then TULUM will seem spectacular. Precisely. (small steps) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah53 Posted August 17, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted August 17, 2017 We have not been to any Mayan ruins and are prepared for long travel and short time there but get to see Chichen itza. Yes ferry and either bus or van are the choices. There is no land vacation in cards for us so we are making the best of what's available. Water and more water will be in our bag in December. Also planning to do Lamanai & boat tour in Belize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank808 Posted August 17, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 17, 2017 We did a tour with royal to chichen itza. It was a very long bus ride back and forth. Then ferry back and across also. Felt a little rushed at the ruins, but got to see most of the ruins. Also our guide was quite informative. Was well worth the travel time as we do not have a land vacation in Mexico in our future also. This was a great trip and would do it again if circumstances are the same. Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nascarcruiser Posted August 17, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 17, 2017 We did it on a land vacation in Cozumel. 15 hour day. If I'd realized how long of a day it was going to be we would have passed. Glad we did it but won't do it again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdGuyMG Posted August 17, 2017 #11 Share Posted August 17, 2017 I've seen complaints here on the Mexico port of call boards that the ruins are "man made." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah53 Posted August 18, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted August 18, 2017 We did a tour with royal to chichen itza. It was a very long bus ride back and forth. Then ferry back and across also. Felt a little rushed at the ruins, but got to see most of the ruins. Also our guide was quite informative. Was well worth the travel time as we do not have a land vacation in Mexico in our future also. This was a great trip and would do it again if circumstances are the same. Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk Thanks, we have booked the bus tour to Chichen Itza. Still wonder what the difference is with the van tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secrui Posted August 18, 2017 #13 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Thanks, we have booked the bus tour to Chichen Itza. Still wonder what the difference is with the van tour. The van is probably more expensive as fewer people on the van must share a similar cost for the driver; probably a more personalized tour. On the othe rhand, with such a long drive both ways, bus would be much more comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted August 18, 2017 #14 Share Posted August 18, 2017 i've seen complaints here on the mexico port of call boards that the ruins are "man made." :') :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank808 Posted August 18, 2017 #15 Share Posted August 18, 2017 The van is probably more expensive as fewer people on the van must share a similar cost for the driver; probably a more personalized tour. On the othe rhand, with such a long drive both ways, bus would be much more comfortable. They will use the same route. It is hours of driving through the forest on an interstate like toll road. Nothing to really see but vegetation. Sometimes you get to see monkeys crossing the road on the wires they set up. But all in all the drive to and from the ruins are pretty boring. Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coralc Posted August 18, 2017 #16 Share Posted August 18, 2017 We have put off visiting Chichen Itza until we can visit without feeling rushed from Cancun. If we were going to sightsee from Cozumel, with no plans of visiting again, we would do it by plane. It is about double the cost per person, but without the long drive. It is the same reason that we have found our helicopter excursions over volcanoes to be expensive, but well worth the cost. For example, Link: http://www.2dsdivingandtours.com/chichen-itza-tour-from-cozumel.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseaholic78 Posted August 18, 2017 #17 Share Posted August 18, 2017 We have not been to any Mayan ruins and are prepared for long travel and short time there but get to see Chichen itza. Yes ferry and either bus or van are the choices. There is no land vacation in cards for us so we are making the best of what's available. Water and more water will be in our bag in December. Also planning to do Lamanai & boat tour in Belize. I also agree it is a long day but it was certainly worth it, we also took the Lamanai tour and really enjoyed that too. You can really see how they must have discovered the ruins in the middle of the rain forest because so little has actually been reclaimed. Rosalyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDawg Posted August 18, 2017 #18 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Another bonus of the flying tour was the low level flyover of the site on the way into the airport. Gave us a really good view of how large the site is. The tour is expensive but money well spent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare xpcdoojk Posted August 18, 2017 #19 Share Posted August 18, 2017 It's a long way from Cozumel by either a van or a bus. Try flying there. More expensive but you get there in an hour, well before all the buses and vans do and you get a much longer private tour. I agree, it will probably not cost you that much more and you will have a much better time getting there earlier before the heat and the crowds. Plus flying over the site is worth the trip in and of itself. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOVA Cruisers Posted August 18, 2017 #20 Share Posted August 18, 2017 I've seen complaints here on the Mexico port of call boards that the ruins are "man made." We know they are manmade, but the question is how long ago. My wife and I went to Cozumel on a Cruise 10 years ago. We visited the "ruins" and they were literally building them while we were there. Men were taking rocks in wheel barrows and stacking them. HA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC1957 Posted August 18, 2017 #21 Share Posted August 18, 2017 A trip there is very much worth the expense...but I have to agree it is a VERY long day. If you really want to see the site it takes well more than the two hours you would have. I strongly suggest saving this for a land vacation. Additionally, if it can fit into your calendar, schedule that vacation so you can be there on the equinox. That is what we did when we visited. Just be prepared for the crowd...there had to have been 100,000 people there to see the Shadow of the Snake God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tprime Posted August 20, 2017 #22 Share Posted August 20, 2017 I'd try flycozumel...it was a little pricy but flight took 45 minutes included great private tour before the crowds arrived and even included lunch and swim in cenote...back in plenty of time to catch ship Sent from my SM-G955U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pspercy Posted August 20, 2017 #23 Share Posted August 20, 2017 Alternatively pick a cruise that stops in Progreso and do it from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmeyetime Posted August 24, 2017 #24 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Hi everyone We are booked on the Rcl Allure Feb 25, 2018 We really wanted to go to Tulum - Mayan Ruins. It is not listed in our shore excursions to book. Could it be too early and possibly available later? Any insight or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah53 Posted September 2, 2017 Author #25 Share Posted September 2, 2017 We are now going on Celebrity Reflection and have booked Chichen Itza by air, sounds worth the extra $ to avoid ferry and long bus ride. Thanks for suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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