Which one to choose in Yucatán
Xlapak vs Uxmal
Two temples in Yucatán. Xlapak has no online ticket listed; 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
Xlapak is the smallest stop on the Puuc Route, the road through the hills of southern Yucatan that links a chain of Maya cities, and nothing is sold online for it. Entry is free or costs a token fee, paid on arrival to the custodian at the small entrance hut.
The site is about 30 km south-east of Uxmal, roughly two hours by road from Merida, and there is no public transport along the route, so a car is the key decision. Driving yourself, with a hire car from Merida, gives the most freedom: you can see Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak and Labna in a day, with Uxmal either before or after, and stop in the villages of Santa Elena or Oxkutzcab for lunch.
Organised day trips from Merida exist in two kinds.
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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.
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