Tulum to Chichen Itza: Know All Your Options (2023)
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Want to get from Tulum to Chichen Itza? We’ll give you all the best options!
Quick Rundown on Getting From Tulum to Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is the most popular Mayan ruin site in the world. It’s been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and for good reason. It’s an impressive sight to behold!
Most people think they have to stay in Cancun in order to see Chichen Itza, but did you know it’s actually faster to get there from Tulum? That might be helpful to know if you’re deciding between Tulum and Cancun for your trip.
You’re also likely to get a better tour experience if you go from Tulum. Why? Cancun is already a tourist mecca. Tulum is still growing, so they’re still trying to provide the best experiences possible.
If tours aren’t your thing, have no fear, we’ll lay out all your best options for getting from Tulum to Chichen Itza.
Tulum to Chichen Itza: Your Options
This is it! This is where we’ll lay out all your options for getting from Tulum to Chichen Itza. Your best options are going to be:
Let’s into the pros and cons and recommendations for each of them!
Day Trip
If you’re looking for the quintessential tourist experience, take a tour to Chichen Itza. This tour offers pickup from Tulum and includes a Mayan-style buffet lunch along with a swim in a nearby cenote.
The pickup and dropoff point is the Super Aki market in Tulum Pueblo. The included lunch is worth it if you take advantage of the opportunity to try new things.
The swim in the cenote is a refreshing break from the heat of the Mexico sun, which can get strong and wear on you if you’re on an all-day tour like this one.
And of course, the tour of Chichen Itza is provided by a bilingual guide who will teach you about the site, answer any questions you might have, and probably take some pictures for you if you ask nicely (remember to tip!).
Rent a Car
If you want to make your way to Chichen Itza on your own terms (and who could blame you?!), you’ll want to rent a car.
Renting a car provides you the freedom to leave when you want since many of the tours (our recommendation included) have very early pickup times.
Luckily, the route from Tulum to Chichen Itza is an easy one, pretty much a straight shot. Get on QROO Highway 109 and follow it through Coba. Since you’ve got your own car, you can stop here if you’d like, it’s a wonderful site too!
From Coba, follow signs for Chemax, where you’ll switch highways to the 180. Don’t worry, it’s a slight turn, not confusing at all. As long as you follow the signs for Valladolid and Chichen Itza, you’ll be fine!
The trip time is between two and two and a half hours, minus any stops you make of course.
When you arrive at Chichen Itza, I do not recommend parking along the access road. It’s tight and difficult to get in and out. Instead, pay 30 pesos to park in the lot. It’s closer and totally worth the (roughly) $1.50 USD.
Take a Private Transfer
If you want to make your own way, but don’t want to drive yourself, you can take a private transfer from Tulum to Chichen Itza.
Private transfers start at about $100 and go up from there based on the size of the vehicle you need for you or your group.
When you go to the Holiday Taxis website, it might seem like they only service airports, but you can type in any address for pickup and drop-off.
Whether you elect to use Holiday Taxis or another booking service, I do recommend using a booking company and setting something up ahead of time rather than going with a local driver.
There are too many variables in play when prices and specific stops aren’t set up ahead of time. Plus you’ll want to book with a company that can stand behind the experience they offer.
Take the Bus
Another option, and the most budget-friendly, is taking the local ADO bus from Tulum to Chichen Itza. The ride is longer than in a car due to the nature of taking the bus, lasting about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
If you’re in Tulum and on a budget though, this might be the way to go. The ticket will cost between 170 and 250 Mexican pesos ($9-$14 USD) for each direction. That’s pretty affordable considering the length of that ride.
You might think the local buses in Mexico would be uncomfortable, especially at that price but it’s a surprisingly pleasant and easy experience on the first and second-class buses.
How Far Is Chichen Itza From Tulum?
- Driving yourself – Closer to 2.5 hours
- By private transport – Two hours, maybe a bit less (local drivers drive faster and with more confidence)
- By bus- Between 2.5 and 3 hours
Know Before You Go: What To Expect At Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a once-in-a-lifetime attraction. Let’s talk about what you can expect from your Chichen Itza experience.
- A huge amount of people – It’s the biggest tourist attraction in Mexico. Thousands of people visit every day.
- Lots of vendors – There are a TON of vendors at and around Chichen Itza that are hoping to sell you their goods. I don’t recommend doing any shopping at Chichen Itza, as the prices for the exact same products are much higher here than anywhere else.
- Heat! – The sun is strong and there isn’t a lot of shade if you’re seeing the ruins during the day. Bring sunblock and water, it gets wildly hot whether you go in January or July.
- A lot of walking – The ruin site is quite large and covers a lot of ground. Take your time and walk the whole site and see it all. You’ll likely never be back, so take it in!
- A long day – Whether you visit on a tour or on your own, you’re in for a long day! If you have any free days to relax in your trip, you’ll want to save them for the day after Chichen Itza. The sun and the people and the walking will have you ready for margaritas in the shade the next day.
Tulum vs Chichen Itza – The Ruins
Chichen Itza is without a doubt one of the largest attractions in the world. Thousands of people scramble to see it every day, and with good reason, it’s marvelous.
Even though it’s a must-see attraction though, the experience suffers because of the huge volume of people and because of the vendors looking to capitalize on that.
The ruins of Tulum are less impressive architecturally. The structures are smaller, much smaller. Because of Tulum’s growing popularity, there are huge amounts of people at that site too.
However, Tulum’s ruins offer some of the most picturesque views in all of Mexico. It’s a rare opportunity to get Mayan ruins, beaches, and cliffs in the same picture, but it’s possible at Tulum ruins. And it’s amazing!
You’ll be confronted by fewer people trying to sell you things at Tulum Ruins too, if that’s important to you.
Tulum vs Chichen Itza is a tough decision. Chichen Itza is a more important site to see, but experience-wise, I’d give the edge to Tulum, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. Ideally, you’ll have time for both and not have to decide.
Where To Stay Near Chichen Itza
If you have made your own way to Chichen Itza and need a place to stay, I recommend staying in the nearby town of Valladolid. It’s a charming little colonial town that’s worth seeing in its own right.
Most of what you’ll want to see in Valladolid is close to the main square. I stayed at Mayan Majesty and it was perfect for me.
There aren’t a ton of rooms, so book ahead! You won’t regret it, it’s a wonderful place with an excellent and helpful staff that gave me some great local tips for my stay!
If you’re looking for something different, I’ve scouted out a few other options for you.
Where To Stay In Valladollid
Best Budget/Hostel Option – Spanglish Hostel
Best Mid-Range Option – Casa Tia Micha
Best Luxury Option – Mayan Majesty
What To See Around Chichen Itza
If you’re going to stay in Valladolid, I’d love to recommend some additional sites that are worth seeing in the area. That’s what traveling is all about after all right? Seeing all the best sites!
- Ek Balam – This Mayan ruin site is about 30 minutes from Valladolid and it’s one of the more visually impressive sites on the Yucatan Peninsula.
- Cenote Suytun – This cenote will be especially attractive to you photography enthusiasts. It’s a mostly closed cenote with a hole in the ceiling that at the right time of day (around midday) it shines like a spotlight on the platform in the middle of the water.
- Izamal – Izamal is about an hour and 40 minutes from Valladolid (less, if you go straight from Chichen Itza), but it’s another small town worth seeing. All the buildings in Izamal are painted yellow, earning it the name “The Yellow City”. It’s also home to Kinich Restaurant, one of my favorites in ALL of Mexico! (Order the Cochinita Pibil.)
Tulum to Chichen Itza FAQs
Let’s answer a few quick questions about getting to Chichen Itza from Tulum.
Is Getting From Tulum to Chichen Itza Safe?
Tulum and Valladolid are both on our list of safest places in Mexico!
The roads between them are decently paved, smooth, highly traveled, and most importantly, safe!
It’s important to exercise common sense and stay close to the tourist areas while avoiding wandering too far from the main roads like you would in any destination.
While no destination can be considered completely safe, taking proper precautions can help reduce the risks.
As always, it’s a good idea to check travel advisories before planning your trip.
How Much Does It Cost To Get To Chichen Itza From Tulum?
Of course, this will depend on your mode of transport.
If you choose to visit Chichen Itza on our recommended day tour, it will cost you about $80 USD.
If you want to rent a car, it will depend on the rental rates which are quite fluid. I’ve seen them as low as $15 per day and as high as $80 per day.
If you book private transportation, it will cost $100 USD or more if you have a group bigger than three people.
Taking the bus is the most economical of our choices, coming in around $9-$15 USD each way.
How Much Cash Do I Need For Chichen Itza?
With technology being the way it is, much of your travel expenses can be taken care of ahead of time by online booking. In our Tulum packing list, we recommend not bringing large amounts of cash.
When you arrive at Chichen Itza though, you’ll want some cash. Souvenirs, activities, and food are easier to purchase with cash. Even more accurately, purchased with pesos. I would take at least a few thousand pesos
Exchanging dollars for pesos can generate some unnecessary costs. So does using the ATM to get cash, if you don’t have the right kind of account.
Pro tip: open a checking account that does not charge foreign transaction fees and reimburses all ATM fees, like the one Charles Schwab offers. There are no monthly fees and no account minimums.
This account is a great way to keep track of travel expenses. I treat mine as my travel account, putting some in whenever I can and using only that money when I travel.
Without the looming threat of ATM fees, it’s easier to take out 1,000 or 2,000 pesos ($50-$100) every once in a while. This is much more ideal than taking a chunk of dollars and exchanging them along the way.
Can You Take an Uber to Chichen Itza?
As I mentioned earlier, as of the time of this writing, there is no Uber in Tulum. Taxis still own the streets. They can get pricey too.
That’s why taxis aren’t one of our recommended methods of transport to Chichen Itza. However, sometimes taxis are convenient for getting around Tulum or Valladolid.
Here’s some advice on taxis just in case:
- Don’t get into a cab without agreeing on a price.
- Don’t accept the first price you hear. They do not expect you to pay that price, but they’ll take it if you agree. Haggle!
- Talk to the driver. If they’re nice, you can exchange numbers and they may give you a better price on future rides. They also have hookups for tours and other activities.
One of my drivers ended up squeezing me on a tour with some other people the next day and I got some extra activities that I didn’t pay for due to how it all worked out.
I paid way less than the other people in my group, but don’t tell them that!
Summing Up Tulum to Chichen Itza
No matter which mode of transport you choose, making the trip from Tulum to Chichen Itza is something you’ll want to fit into your Yucatan travel itinerary.
Whether you go on a tour or on your own, you’ll want to see Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
We’ve laid out your best options to make the trip from Tulum, so use this info to make your trip to Yucatan, Mexico awesome!
Have fun out there!
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