Ruins: Please Correct or add

cobra773 · 03-16-2011

[SIZE="3"]I research the web sites and these threads. Please correct or add for my planning. At the end is my plans so far for a 2 day visit in May with rental car. Coming from Cozumel.

Tulum: Hrs: 8 am – 5 pm
Entrance fee: 38 pesos
Private Guide: ???
Can’t climb any pyramids, on the ocean so not as hot. About 90 mins to tour.

Coba: Hrs: 8am – 5 pm
Entrance Fee: ???
Private Guide: $25 US
Bike rental: 30 pesos
Tallest pyramids and can climb. About 2 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot - Hot

Ek Balam: Hrs: 8 am – 5 pm
Entrance Fee: 40 pesos
Private Guide: $25 US
Can climb pyramids. About 2 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot – Hot

Chichen Itza: Hrs: 8 am – 5:30 pm
Entrance Fee: 98 pesos
Private Guide: $40 US
Can’t climb pyramids. About 3 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot - Hot

Drive times: Playa Del Mar to Tulum: 45 mins
Playa Del Mar to Coba: 1:30 hrs
Playa Del Mar to Ek Balam: 2:45 hrs
Playa Del Mar to Chichen Itza 3 hrs
Tulum to Coba: 45 mins
Cobra to Chichen Itza: 1:30 hrs

Travel Plans: Will arrive Playa Del Carmen by ferry from Cozumel at 9 am on May 10th. Rent a car for 2 days and proceed to Ek Balam via the free road. Will pick up water, etc at the San Fran grocery just outside Tulum. After Ek Balam will tour Valladolid and visit one of the cenotes before heading to the Hotel Mayaland at Chichen Itza for the night. Will be at Chichen Itza when they open at 8 am. When complete will head back to Playa Del Carmen via free road and stop at Coba. Depending on time might stop at Tulum. Then on to Playa Del Carmen to return car and catch the ferry back to Cozumel.
Things to bring: lots of water, snacks, bug spray, sun tan lotion and pesos to use rest rooms. Umbella ???. Plan on paying for everything in pesos.
[/size]

absoluteAL · 03-16-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobra773

[SIZE="3"]I research the web sites and these threads. Please correct or add for my planning. At the end is my plans so far for a 2 day visit in May with rental car. Coming from Cozumel.

Tulum: Hrs: 8 am – 5 pm
Entrance fee: 38 pesos
Private Guide: ???
Can’t climb any pyramids, on the ocean so not as hot. About 90 mins to tour.

Coba: Hrs: 8am – 5 pm
Entrance Fee: ???
Private Guide: $25 US
Bike rental: 30 pesos
Tallest pyramids and can climb. About 2 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot - Hot

Ek Balam: Hrs: 8 am – 5 pm
Entrance Fee: 40 pesos
Private Guide: $25 US
Can climb pyramids. About 2 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot – Hot

Chichen Itza: Hrs: 8 am – 5:30 pm
Entrance Fee: 98 pesos
Private Guide: $40 US
Can’t climb pyramids. About 3 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot - Hot

Drive times: Playa Del Mar to Tulum: 45 mins
Playa Del Mar to Coba: 1:30 hrs
Playa Del Mar to Ek Balam: 2:45 hrs
Playa Del Mar to Chichen Itza 3 hrs
Tulum to Coba: 45 mins
Cobra to Chichen Itza: 1:30 hrs

Travel Plans: Will arrive Playa Del Carmen by ferry from Cozumel at 9 am on May 10th. Rent a car for 2 days and proceed to Ek Balam via the free road. Will pick up water, etc at the San Fran grocery just outside Tulum. After Ek Balam will tour Valladolid and visit one of the cenotes before heading to the Hotel Mayaland at Chichen Itza for the night. Will be at Chichen Itza when they open at 8 am. When complete will head back to Playa Del Carmen via free road and stop at Coba. Depending on time might stop at Tulum. Then on to Playa Del Carmen to return car and catch the ferry back to Cozumel.
Things to bring: lots of water, snacks, bug spray, sun tan lotion and pesos to use rest rooms. Umbella ???. Plan on paying for everything in pesos.
[/size]

I am worn out just thinking about doing all of that in 2 days (maybe daze

). You know what they say about the best laid plans.

ToofarNorth · 03-16-2011

I'd say Tulum was also Hot – Hot - Hot at least it was last May when I was there.

Bret and Yvonne · 03-16-2011

Dazed is right, it only took us 4 trips to do all that. Just have fun and good luck!!!!!!

cobra773 · 03-16-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret and Yvonne

Dazed is right, it only took us 4 trips to do all that. Just have fun and good luck!!!!!!

Looking for recommendations if this to much in one trip.

burly · 03-16-2011

IMHO that is too much in one trip. Do 2 and come back and do more. Take time to enjoy them. Soak up some history, instead of running up and down and thru......

Enjoy your trip. Slow or fast as it may be!!

KIM

**james** · 03-16-2011

If you have a look at the info on the different ruins sites here, you'll likely scale back your trip agenda.

jeffandbecky · 03-16-2011

The plan is achievable but it reminds me of the movie, "If its Tuesday, this must be Belgium".

First I would be sure to have the mapchick's maps of the area.

Second assume your drive times are close to optimal times and figure you will spend a lot more time getting your car than you are used to in the states.

Third, the free road from Tulum to Valladolid is a Federal Highway. It is also the width of most county roads in the states. Don't get in a hurry, the topes will end your excursion if you don't respect them.

Fourth, renting a car, doing the drive from PDC to Ek Balam, Valladolid, cenote and getting to your hotel is a bit optimistic. I would stay in Valladolid and make a morning dive to CI.

Fifth, you will have the time to tour Tulum on your return, but Coba will be cutting it pretty fine. You really want to be off 307 and back in PDC by dusk.

Sixth, don't even consider driving unless you are well acquainted with the local "rules of the road".

Seventh, all archeological sites have free admission on Sunday (used to be the rule and not sure if CI is an exception).

I applaud your idea of stopping and getting plenty of water, you will need it. CI, Tulum and Coba can be brutal, At Ek Balam, they left a lot more trees for shade so not quite as bad. Pick up sandwich fixings as well since you will be eating lunches on the run.

absoluteAL · 03-17-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobra773

Looking for recommendations if this to much in one trip.

Not to much for a trip. but IMO opinion, to much for a two day trip. With that said, you seem to be fairly well organized and have things planned out.

**Jesus** · 03-17-2011

Quote:

Seventh, all archeological sites have free admission on Sunday (used to be the rule and not sure if CI is an exception).

As far as I know, it's free on Sundays, but just for Mexicans, in my past trip to Edzna (to come soon) they asked me to pay but I showed my Mexican ID and got through.

The plan is doable if you have the stamina,

You will get a feel of the road from Tulum to Valladolid and can decide on the return trip if you want to stop at Coba or spend more time at Chichen Itza.

Your planned driving times are for optimal conditions, but as said, take in account the speedbumps (Tope) and add 20% at least.

Have fun.

cobra773 · 03-17-2011

Thanks everyone for their input. I'm used to driving in MX. Cozumel twice last year and yearly to San Carlos which is a 5 hr drive from the border. Know all about the unseen topes.

I have ordered and received my maps. My stay in Chichen Itza is set and can't change.

Thinking of changing to free road the first day bypassing Tulum and Coba to see the county. Tour Valladolid and then to hotel at Chicken Itza. Tour Chichen Itza when they open and then Ek Balam before heading back via the toll road.

1. What's the driving time from Valladolid to Playa Del Carmen using the toll road?

2. Will save Tulum and Coba for a day trip from Cozumel.

jeffandbecky · 03-17-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobra773

Thanks everyone for their input. I'm used to driving in MX. Cozumel twice last year and yearly to San Carlos which is a 5 hr drive from the border. Know all about the unseen topes.

I have ordered and received my maps. My stay in Chichen Itza is set and can't change.

Thinking of changing to free road the first day bypassing Tulum and Coba to see the county. Tour Valladolid and then to hotel at Chicken Itza. Tour Chichen Itza when they open and then Ek Balam before heading back via the toll road.

1. What's the driving time from Valladolid to Playa Del Carmen using the toll road?

2. Will save Tulum and Coba for a day trip from Cozumel.

There is not much to see. The jungle is virtually a solid wall almost to the pavement. There are topes and then there are the topes on the Tulum/Valladolid road. All together a different order of magnitude. Crawl over them.

**Jesus** · 03-17-2011

The day I went to Ek Balam I landed in Cancun and got my car by 8:00am, at 9:40 I was taking my first picture in Ek Balam according to my camera data.
At 11:30 I was at Cenote Zazi in Valladolid, at 12:15 I was eating cochinita pibil in downtown.

Sooooooo, you can do Ek Balam on day 1 and explore Valladolid, if you have time and will, you can do a quit Chicken itza scouting before they close and the next day do the In-Deep excursion at 8:00 and leave when the site begins to fill with tour buses. Have lunch in Valladolid and head for Coba and take a quick tour with bicycles.
I don't know if you will have time/energy for Tulum ruins, but at least you can stop in Tulum pueblo for Ceviche at El Camello Seafood heaven, off the tourist area - El Camello Jr Review - IgoUgo
and then head to Playa.

Seakony · 03-17-2011

Tulum is not very big...an hour is plenty of time to see it. Yes..It will be hot until you reach the top that overlooks the ocean..then you will get a nice breeze.

If you hire the guys who have the bicycle carts at coba, tip them nicely..they earn it.

You will also need bug spray for all of them.

stacko66 · 01-31-2012

Thanks for the info everyone! I had questions about coba and ci

so this was perfect

03-16-2011	#1 (permalink)
cobra773 sandflea Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3	Please Correct or add for my 2 day road trip to visit ruins [SIZE="3"]I research the web sites and these threads. Please correct or add for my planning. At the end is my plans so far for a 2 day visit in May with rental car. Coming from Cozumel. Tulum: Hrs: 8 am – 5 pm Entrance fee: 38 pesos Private Guide: ??? Can’t climb any pyramids, on the ocean so not as hot. About 90 mins to tour. Coba: Hrs: 8am – 5 pm Entrance Fee: ??? Private Guide: $25 US Bike rental: 30 pesos Tallest pyramids and can climb. About 2 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot - Hot Ek Balam: Hrs: 8 am – 5 pm Entrance Fee: 40 pesos Private Guide: $25 US Can climb pyramids. About 2 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot – Hot Chichen Itza: Hrs: 8 am – 5:30 pm Entrance Fee: 98 pesos Private Guide: $40 US Can’t climb pyramids. About 3 hrs to tour. Hot – Hot - Hot Drive times: Playa Del Mar to Tulum: 45 mins Playa Del Mar to Coba: 1:30 hrs Playa Del Mar to Ek Balam: 2:45 hrs Playa Del Mar to Chichen Itza 3 hrs Tulum to Coba: 45 mins Cobra to Chichen Itza: 1:30 hrs Travel Plans: Will arrive Playa Del Carmen by ferry from Cozumel at 9 am on May 10th. Rent a car for 2 days and proceed to Ek Balam via the free road. Will pick up water, etc at the San Fran grocery just outside Tulum. After Ek Balam will tour Valladolid and visit one of the cenotes before heading to the Hotel Mayaland at Chichen Itza for the night. Will be at Chichen Itza when they open at 8 am. When complete will head back to Playa Del Carmen via free road and stop at Coba. Depending on time might stop at Tulum. Then on to Playa Del Carmen to return car and catch the ferry back to Cozumel. Things to bring: lots of water, snacks, bug spray, sun tan lotion and pesos to use rest rooms. Umbella ???. Plan on paying for everything in pesos. [/size] Last edited by cobra773; 03-16-2011 at 07:30 PM..

03-16-2011	#7 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Sweden Posts: 12,272	If you have a look at the info on the different ruins sites here, you'll likely scale back your trip agenda. __________________ Get your own signature countdown image!

03-16-2011	#8 (permalink)
jeffandbecky añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 2,101	The plan is achievable but it reminds me of the movie, "If its Tuesday, this must be Belgium". First I would be sure to have the mapchick's maps of the area. Second assume your drive times are close to optimal times and figure you will spend a lot more time getting your car than you are used to in the states. Third, the free road from Tulum to Valladolid is a Federal Highway. It is also the width of most county roads in the states. Don't get in a hurry, the topes will end your excursion if you don't respect them. Fourth, renting a car, doing the drive from PDC to Ek Balam, Valladolid, cenote and getting to your hotel is a bit optimistic. I would stay in Valladolid and make a morning dive to CI. Fifth, you will have the time to tour Tulum on your return, but Coba will be cutting it pretty fine. You really want to be off 307 and back in PDC by dusk. Sixth, don't even consider driving unless you are well acquainted with the local "rules of the road". Seventh, all archeological sites have free admission on Sunday (used to be the rule and not sure if CI is an exception). I applaud your idea of stopping and getting plenty of water, you will need it. CI, Tulum and Coba can be brutal, At Ek Balam, they left a lot more trees for shade so not quite as bad. Pick up sandwich fixings as well since you will be eating lunches on the run. Last edited by jeffandbecky; 03-16-2011 at 11:38 PM..

03-17-2011	#11 (permalink)
cobra773 sandflea Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3	Thanks everyone for their input. I'm used to driving in MX. Cozumel twice last year and yearly to San Carlos which is a 5 hr drive from the border. Know all about the unseen topes. I have ordered and received my maps. My stay in Chichen Itza is set and can't change. Thinking of changing to free road the first day bypassing Tulum and Coba to see the county. Tour Valladolid and then to hotel at Chicken Itza. Tour Chichen Itza when they open and then Ek Balam before heading back via the toll road. 1. What's the driving time from Valladolid to Playa Del Carmen using the toll road? 2. Will save Tulum and Coba for a day trip from Cozumel. Last edited by cobra773; 03-17-2011 at 07:56 AM..

03-16-2011	#3 (permalink)
ToofarNorth life=playa Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: East Granby, CT Posts: 946	I'd say Tulum was also Hot – Hot - Hot at least it was last May when I was there.

03-16-2011	#4 (permalink)
Bret and Yvonne beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Grand Lake, Ok Posts: 316	Dazed is right, it only took us 4 trips to do all that. Just have fun and good luck!!!!!!

03-16-2011	#6 (permalink)
burly way into it Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 241	IMHO that is too much in one trip. Do 2 and come back and do more. Take time to enjoy them. Soak up some history, instead of running up and down and thru...... Enjoy your trip. Slow or fast as it may be!! KIM

03-17-2011	#13 (permalink)
Jesus Nutty Peep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Posts: 6,017	The day I went to Ek Balam I landed in Cancun and got my car by 8:00am, at 9:40 I was taking my first picture in Ek Balam according to my camera data. At 11:30 I was at Cenote Zazi in Valladolid, at 12:15 I was eating cochinita pibil in downtown. Sooooooo, you can do Ek Balam on day 1 and explore Valladolid, if you have time and will, you can do a quit Chicken itza scouting before they close and the next day do the In-Deep excursion at 8:00 and leave when the site begins to fill with tour buses. Have lunch in Valladolid and head for Coba and take a quick tour with bicycles. I don't know if you will have time/energy for Tulum ruins, but at least you can stop in Tulum pueblo for Ceviche at El Camello Seafood heaven, off the tourist area - El Camello Jr Review - IgoUgo and then head to Playa.

03-17-2011	#14 (permalink)
Seakony añejo Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,151	Tulum is not very big...an hour is plenty of time to see it. Yes..It will be hot until you reach the top that overlooks the ocean..then you will get a nice breeze. If you hire the guys who have the bicycle carts at coba, tip them nicely..they earn it. You will also need bug spray for all of them.

01-31-2012	#15 (permalink)
stacko66 very sparkly Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 25	Thanks for the info everyone! I had questions about coba and ci so this was perfect

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