Is the Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins - New World Wonder Port Excursion worth the 2 hour trip to get there

[fairytalelover]

Looking for feedback about this DCL Port Excursion. It's a lot of travel time. Just want to know if it's worth it. Thanks

 

[wombat_5606]

Looking for feedback about this DCL Port Excursion. It's a lot of travel time. Just want to know if it's worth it. Thanks

You don't say if you have children with you, but I would say it's a no go with kids. You have a 45 min. ferry ride then 2 1/4 hour bus ride. Each way. Doesn't sound good to me.

If you don't have children, how much do you enjoy riding around the countryside? I love it, so the trip there would not be a deal breaker for me.

The ruins are very interesting and if you've never seen any, then as far as Mayan history goes, this is a must see.

I do think the 45 minute ferry is pretty rough, so make sure you are prepared for that.

 

[fairytalelover]

We have an 11 year old boy who loves history and ruins since he’s into Indiana Jones. But traveling for hours to get there and back is making me rethink this.

 

[SteveMP]

Yeah have to weigh travel time vs seeing the ruins. What other options do you have on that cruise, Tulum? Cocchoben? Those are less travel.

 

[aggiedog]

Is this out of Cozumel? From everything I've read, that ferry ride can be brutal - because the low ferry, the frequently not completely calm seas, and the length of time it takes someone always vomits. If anyone in your group is prone to sea sickness, it might pay to avoid it.

 

[kiford]

It totally depends. We did this last cruise (DH and me - no kids). DH didn't feel it was worth it even though he did enjoy viewing the site. Me - I thought it was worth it but I'm totally more into ruins and the Mayan in particular than he is. For me, just to see the pyramid up close was worth it. It was so much bigger than I'd expected. I've been to two other Mayan ruins (Tulum and Kohunlich); it was important to me to see such totally different sites to get a fuller context of their life and history so DH reluctantly agreed to go (of course, he is too lazy to research and book anything himself so he basically goes along with anything I want to do even if he grumbles under his breath about it).

Be warned that there's virtually no shade and it was incredibly hot in December. We only had about 90 minutes there but I'm not sure I could have done much longer in that heat and humidity.

We've done the ferry ride before and neither of us are bothered by it. The movement puts me to sleep even in rough seas but it's definitely not for everyone.

 

[Sytrace]

We went to the Checchiben ruins in Costa Maya in November 2013 and it was definitely worth the bus ride. Tours are very well done and the guides were fantastic.
My kids were 11 and 12 at the time.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

We did Tulum last December and it was fabulous. Our guide gave us a running commentary about the area, the Spanish 'involvement' and modern Mayan culture. The trip down went quickly and the return trip just as quick (I took a nap!). The time on site was fabulous for DW and I as well as for the kids. They still talk about it a year and 2 cruises later.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Absolutely worth it in my book! We've been there a few times. So much history packed into one area. Much more intense than Coba and Tulum. Only you know, however, if ruins will interest you and your family.

 

[Bear3412]

No

 

[Twilight Terror]

Is this excursion run all the time? I tried to look for it when our booking window opened, but it was not their to select, and was not sold out either. We are travelling over the holidays though, so maybe that affects the opening hours, and thus availability of the excursion?

 

[Realfoodfans]

Looking for feedback about this DCL Port Excursion. It's a lot of travel time. Just want to know if it's worth it. Thanks

I'm a poor sailor but never had an issue on the Cozumel crossings we've done.

 

[Bear3412]

... it was not their to select ....

consider yourself lucky, IMO.

Sorry, but have you really considered the time involved in this excursion from Cozumel.

Have you accounted for all the time. Have you consulted a map?

How are you with sea sickness.
The ferry across the Cozumel channel is notorious.
Not only for the vessels, but the unpredictable seas.
Search videos.

FWIW; IME;

20 minutes with noise to ferry;
20 minute boarding ferry
45 minute channel crossing
15 minutes board bus to CI
120 minutes min to CI
2 hours maxs on site at CI. Likely 90 minutes. As recently posted.
120 minutes ride back to ferry
15 minute ferry boarding min.
45 minute crossing
15 minute debark ferry
20 minute noise back to ship

So;

3:40 travel to Chichen Itza

90 - 110 minutes on site

3:35 travel back to ship.

7:00 hours travel and whatnot for 1 to 2 hours on site.

Only you can decide.

You could fly into Cancun or Merida for a more thorough visit.

JMT


https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/port-adventures/cozumel-mexico-chichen-itza-mayan-ruins/

 

[Twilight Terror]

Yes, thank you, I had done all the necessary research, read all about the 'vomit comet' and the timings involved. We spent many hours trawling through possible PAs before our check-in date opened I was even happy to let my family (all adults) go off and do something else because this was somewhere I had always considered visiting, and no one else was particularly keen. But it's all irrelevant now, since it's not a PA option for our cruise. I was just questioning why it was not available.

 

[Bear3412]

.... the 'vomit comet' ....

ETA; Just a note to all lurkers; DCL excursion description says 70 minutes on site fwiw. See above link.

 

[Twilight Terror]

ETA; Just a note to all lurkers; DCL excursion description says 70 minutes on site fwiw. See above link.

Not my name for it, btw, just what my research brought up! Unfortunately, a lot of the excursions require the 45-minute 'vomit comet' ride We have opted now for one that does not require that particular trip!

 

[Bear3412]

... have opted now for one that does not require that particular trip!

Excellent. Some great beaches just south of ship piers. But I'll bet you know that already.

Enjoy

 

[Twilight Terror]

Excellent. Some great beaches just south of ship piers. But I'll bet you know that already.

Enjoy

Nope, had no idea! We are absolutely not beachy people! I think we opted for the highlights, ruins, and culture tour closer to port

 

[Donna3271]

We did Tulum. Our kids loved it! They swam in the ocean after. We found the ferry ride to be fine (not choppy at all!!!). It was also only about 1/2 hour.

This question is subjective. If you are a history buff, then this is great. I personally, am fascinated by the Mayans. I could not be that close to such a great part of history, and not see it (you can go to a beach anywhere). We just loved it!!! Only you know what is right for your family.

 

[timrousbeastie]

Looking for feedback about this DCL Port Excursion. It's a lot of travel time. Just want to know if it's worth it. Thanks

Not to take anything away from the other sites, but Chichen Itza has been a World Heritage Site since 1988 (same year as Tower of London). To me, any opportunity to see it, even for just an hour, is worth all the effort to get there. We visited it during a post-cruise stay in Cancun in 2014. The drive from Cancun is 3+ hours each way through the jungle so most non-cruise visitors probably don't stay for much more time than you'll have. We brought my 11-, 14-, and 15 year-old nephews/niece along and I am very happy that they got this experience. They definitely appeared to enjoy the tour. For example, the echos in the ball court were a truly amazing surprise: the kind of thing where you really have to be there to experience it. If you have any interest at all in history and other cultures, it will be a memorable day for sure. On the other hand, if you really need the pure relaxation of beach days and cruising, or if the long trip would be difficult, it is not for you.

In my experience, the ferry ride is only problematic if the weather is bad. I've been to Cozumel 3 times and we went the only one when the sea was not calm. All (8) of us were definitely looking forward to getting off the boat both ways, but it was short enough that none of us got sick. We did see someone throwing up on the way back, but it was only a few people out of what must have been more than 100. Unless someone in your party is very prone to sea sickness, I wouldn't let it deter me: check out the conditions in the morning and decide whether or not to take some medication.