Seperate to the blog today, I wanted to write a review of our Chichen Itza Trip yesterday - I know a lot ot people ask about going to Chichen Itza on the forum, so thought it might be helpful to peeps planning a Trip in the future.
Im first of all going to say we had a fantastic, day! In my opinion, it will be a memory Ill cherish forever. I loved it!
However, its hot. Hot, hot, hot. And a long drive 2.45-3hours each way.
The minivan is air conditioned, but Be prepared for a long drive.
Prior to coming to EPM, we had started to look into a one day private tour, and had lots of differing prices quoted. Barbara Moger, recommended Liam Dodd to us, and I contacted him a week before our trip via his FB Page
Cancun and Riviera Maya by Kalido Travel
After the initial contact, all discussions were via messenger.
The price quoted was $425 for four people, $485 for six and included
Pick up and drop off at EPM
Private return transfer to chichen Itza
Entrance to Chichen Itza
Entrance to Ik-Kill Cenote
Bi-lingual driver.
We arranged a 7am pick up from the lobby, for six of us, Fiona & Marcus Keeble, Gill & Dave Taylor and myself. The mini-van could have seated 8 in the back plus two passengers in the front.
You pay for the trip when they pick you up. Tips are not included and are at your discretion.
The van was clean and tidy, seats were relatively comfortable. We spoke to the driver about what we wanted to do, CI and Cenote. He asked if we wanted to stop at a local town on the way back, but we declined.
As I previously stated, its a long drive, but because we started out so early, we arrived at CI before all the coach crowds, so could walk around and take photos in relatively peace and quiet.
As we arrived our driver asked if we wanted a private tour for approx $56? - we said yes. There was a little confusion as the group tours are approx $56 but a private tour was $75. We agreed to the private tour, and boy were we glad we did. Our guide was A-MAZE-ING!!! His name is
Abel Adoney Padilla Ceme
Ive attached his contact details on a photo here.
I couldnt recommend him enough. Abel is an official guide, he has an archaeology degree and was so prepared for our tour. He provides lots of historical information, backed up by images and slide shows on his a4 size Ipad. He showed us lots of the best places/angles to take photos, took photos of us, and even gave iphone photography tips to get the best images. Every one of us loved him, so much that we gave him a tip of $25 ontop of his $75 fee. We defiantly wouldn't have gotten so much from the trip without him. Its worth contacting him before your trip to book.
So CI. IT IS WONDERFUL.
So steeped in history, such a brilliant display or architecture, culture, and astrological science. So awe-inspiring to think what was achieved by such an ancient race so many thousands of years ago.
Once the tour is finished, we had approx 1.5hours free time to wander and if anyone wanted to shop at the little stalls selling typical tourist fare. I never felt pressured to buy anything, so no worries about touts driving you nuts etc.
Theres more to the site than the recognisable pyramid, so we spent a good few hours there.
On our return to the entrance our driver was waiting to take us to the cenote.
Im going to answer cenote questions now as this was the part that had me and Fiona concerned.
Yes there are toilets
Yes there are changing rooms
Yes there are lockers ( $2 fee each) to lock away your bags and valuables howecer theres a sign that says they are not liable for anything stolen, but the lockers aee in full view of the staff and other customers, Im guessing they are very safe.
On arrival at the cenote, we went off to the changing rooms to try spending 10 minutes wriggling a sweaty body into tight lycra.......not easy!! Bring a bikini or tankini to make it easier!
We all locked our bags in the lockers, had our keys securly tied to our wrists, had an ice cold shower!! And headed down LOTS of slippery steps to the cenote.
Now, Im going to be honest, the cenote was beautiful, seriously beautiful. Lots of hanging vines and an open ceiling. Proper paradise movie setting, with birds flying overhead. It was gorgeous.
You could get into the pool via a log ladder, or leap from a high up platform. The leaping was strictly controlled and monitored with children and adults queuing on steps, and the lifeguard issuing instructions and regulating the decents and timing. It was all very safe. Lots of people wore life jackets - again you could hire these at the surface.
I was viewing the ladder option in and out, when I noticed Kevin half way up the queue to jump in. I literally had my heart in my mouth and was praying the whole time he didnt have a heart attack!!! (He looked to be the oldest person in the queue...........🙀🙀🙀🙀)
No fears at all! I shouldnt have worried. No jumping in, bombing etc for him! He did the nost beautufjl dive ever, proper hands in front of him, clan cut through the water! i gasped and the whole cenote of people cheered!!! Never been so proud lol! Then he went off and did it again from the slighly higher platform! He actually had people congratulate him when he got out lol!
So, did I go in? No. I chicken shitted out. Not because of the water, fishes, cave etc, bit because of the get out ladders. Im a big girl, with almost zero upper body strength, and I thought, ' youre never going to get out of there love' so made my mind up in two minutes. Do I regret it? Nope. Still loved every minute of it. But beware, its not for the unfit as its a long way down, and even longer coming up!
After we showered off and changed back into our civvies, we had a can of beer each at the small bar. Six cans were $18. Then decided to head straight back to EPM, rather than sample the delights of the all you can eat cenote buffet $10 each.
A long journey home saw us finish at the sports bar, margaritas, beers and wine, plus burgers, onion rings etc downed like ravenous beasts!! Lol!
So, things to note if you are planning a trip
Leave as early as you dare to avoid the crowds!
Bring with you....
Hats
Suncream
Tissues
Moskitto spray got bit loads in the cenote!
Antibacterial wipes or gel for your hands
Beach towels
Cameras (kev left his go pro in the safe!)
Money
Kindle or reading material for the journey
Umbrella from your room, good for rain or the sun
Snacks or fruit etc - crisps, not chocolate unless you put it in the ice box
Water - bring double what you think - we drank six bottles between us
Put your water and the chocolate etc in the provided ice box - unlike me who carried it around with me all day and literlally could have poured the snickers bar into my mouth like syrup!!
Hope all this info helps! It was an fabulous day, just want to finish off by thanking our travelling companions, Gill & Dave and Fiona & Marcus, greatest companions on long road trips ever!
ill re-post this on the blog with lots and lots of photos later
Mandy 😘😘😘
