Taking kids to Chichen Itza

[Sanya]

I am traveling with my husband and a 4 year old son to Playa this July. My question is for anyone that has been to Chichen Itza (with or without kids). Is that kind of excursion I could take my son considering lenght of a trip, heat,....?

[Anna]

Going to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen is a pretty long day; you leave early in the morning and get back at 7-8pm. The site itself is big - it was a monumental city - and you'll probably spend at least two hours there. July is the hottest time of year. I haven't been there with kids, and I guess it depends on your kid, too, but I probably wouldn't go there with a 4 year old. If you really want to see it, I would go the day before, spend the night in Piste and go to the ruin early in the morning. That way you'll avoid the heat and you'll split up a long excursion in two, which would make it easier on your son.[/list]

[Jesus]

Just be prepared to carry him piggyback (or bring the stroller) a long way, at 4 years he is going to get tired soon. I think that he would have fun there, but have at hand lots of cold water (bring a collapsible cooler). The site is huge and it depends what part you want to visit.

[Sanya]

Thanks for advices. My son is a 4 year old but he is a world traveler. He's been overseas 5-6 already and went with us on famous Road to Hana in Maui as well. He loves to travel but I am very reluctant to take him on a whole day trip on +30's.

Sanya

[MoonDance]

If you are planning to do Chichen Itza in one day, I would not take him. I took my (almost) 2 year old & 4 year old to the ruins @ Tulum for a 1/2 day and that was about right. They really just wanted to play at the beach there anyway. My 4 year old son was interested in the "castle" like ruins & he fed flowers to iguanas.

I have visited Chichen Itza in July and have never been so hot in my life. People in our group literally had perspiration running off them onto the ground even when standing still. I knew this would be too much for my little nippers.

Have fun on your trip!

[waterpixie]

My family went to Chichen Itza in August. Two little ones 4 and 7. They are also very experienced travelers. We spent the night near by, and arrived when it opened. We spent 6 hours there. I did have to carry the little one to the Old Chichen area, but was no big problem. Drink a lot of fluids (we carry waters in our backpack). There is a snack shack on the way to old chichen where we rested up and had a lot of gatoraids (tried 4 different flavors.) Rest in the shade, take it easy. My kids were amazed and had a great time. The have those huge popsicles at the gate on your way out to cool off!

However, it is extremely hot, more so than you can mentally prepare yourself for. It is nothing like the road to Hana, which is mostly just a car trip.

Another option is to go to Coba and make use of the bycycle taxi. For $7 they will bycycle two around the site (we use 2 taxis for all 4) thus saving you any major exhertion. (We like to climb the pyrimid, the tallest in the Yucutan). Coba is a wonderful site, we like it because it still feels part of the jungle, not all denuded like Chichen.

have fun!