Chichen Itza from Progresso? (new port in place of Grand Cayman)

[Keyser]

So, our December cruise (from Galveston) showed up today with a change in port stops: Progresso instead of Grand Cayman. I'm glad to see they finally updated this, since Grand Cayman announced weeks ago that it wasn't allowing cruise ships...

While I would have loved Grand Cayman (best beach I've ever seen), I'm excited about Progresso, since it seems to offer excursion options to Chichen Itza - one of my "bucket list" places to visit. (Normally, there are options from Cozumel, our other port stop, but those excursions never showed up, and it looks like Progresso is both closer and doesn't require the ferry ride Cozumel would've had). At the moment, no port excursions are showing up for Progresso, but I imagine those will be added in the near future.

So, all that said, I'm wondering if anyone's done one of the two Chichen Itza excursions that Disney typically offers from Progresso? One is "Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins" and the other is "VIP Chichen Itza and Cenote Ikkil with Lunch". If so, can you say something about it?

 

[Intr3pid]

We haven't done the excursions from Progresso but have been to Chichen Itza. You are correct about the drive being shorter from Progresso. It's also pretty easy to organize your own private tour of the ruins form from the ports.

Cenotes are fun when you are visiting the area, but they are no beaches. If you are planning to do quality beach time elsewhere on the cruise, you could skip them. It will make for a shorter, more manageable day. We like the stops in the city of Valladolid and at Cenote Suytun - not for a swim, but for its amazing setting!

 

[insureman]

Looks like it's a around 2 hours by the fastest route.

 

[insureman]

Here's a list of excursions that Carnival has. I assume DCL's will be similar.

https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/yucatan-progreso?rootCategoryCode=shoreex

 

[Colo17]

The bus company that runs free buses on the causeway from the port into town does tours. We actually did Uxmal instead of Chichen Itza. This is a bit southwest of Merida and has far fewer visitors. Still takes over an hour to get there but the ability to walk around with just a guide and without huge crowds was great. Only one tour a day, so you need to time your trip from the port to their bus terminal right or you will have a long wait for the tour.

 

[diablodancer]

We did Chichen Itza from one of the Mexican ports on a Fantasy trip in 2019, not Progresso I don’t think - it was around three hours both ways including a ferry trip but was still so worth doing (it wasn’t the VIP option).

We got what I felt was a good length tour of the site with interactive information on iPads and a guide, the only negative was that we didn’t have time to look at the stalls that line the entry way as they were rushing us back to the minibus to make it back to the ship on time.

 

[pjacobi]

Note that Chichen Itza is in located in the middle of a jungle. Most of the time it is *very* hot and humid.

Prepare to bring lots of water or be hassled by the vendors which may sell bottled water re-filled with local tap water. Buyer beware!


-Paul

 

[dcassetta]

Any reviews of port excursions in Progresso?

 

[Keyser]

Any reviews of port excursions in Progresso?

HERE is the summary I gave for the one we took last December - hope it helps!

 

[Cheburashka]

So, all that said, I'm wondering if anyone's done one of the two Chichen Itza excursions that Disney typically offers from Progresso? One is "Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins" and the other is "VIP Chichen Itza and Cenote Ikkil with Lunch". If so, can you say something about it?

Yes, we did the "Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins" from Cozumel via DCL a few years ago and enjoyed it. It was well-organized and they gave us interactive iPads to use on the way to Chichen Itza, and the guide in the van was good. You were on your own at the site and that was good. Quiet van ride back and that was good. A long day but worth it to see such a hidden away historical wonder during a cruise.

We were not hassled by any vendors. It's a peaceful place. Bring an umbrella in case it rains.

 

[Cheburashka]

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