Which one to choose in Yucatán
Chichen Itza vs Uxmal
Two temples in Yucatán. Chichen Itza has 8 tickets and tours to book; Uxmal has 29 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Yucatán, Mexico
Entry to Chichen Itza is paid at the ticket hall at the main gate and is made up of two parts, a federal fee for the archaeological zone and a separate state fee, which together cost noticeably more for foreign visitors than for Mexicans. Check the current amounts before you go, and bring some cash in case card payment is not working. Official guides can be hired at the entrance.
What is sold online is mostly the long day out from the coast. Chichen Itza lies inland in Yucatan state, about 45 km west of Valladolid and around 120 km east of Merida, but two and a half to three hours from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, where most visitors stay.
Read the full guide →
Yucatán, Mexico
Uxmal lies in the Puuc hills about 62 km south of Merida, roughly an hour's drive, and entry is paid at the visitor centre at the gate, where tickets combine the federal INAH fee and a state fee. There is no need to book ahead, and buses from Merida's second-class terminal stop at the entrance, but most visitors either hire a car or book a day trip.
Day trips from Merida are the most common product. They usually include transport, an English-speaking guide at the site and a lunch, and add a second stop: a swim in a cenote, a visit to a restored henequen hacienda such as Sotuta de Peon or Mucuyche, or the chocolate museum next to the entrance, where you can learn about Maya cacao.
Read the full guide →