Mayan Ruins - Help me plan my vacation

[monsterz]

We are doing a cruise over Christmas and have 2 stops in Mexico.  I have wanted to see Mayan ruins forever and am trying to decide at which stop to do so.  We have a stop in Cozumel and could visit Tulum.  There is also a stop in Costa Maya that has an option to travel ruins at Chacchoben.   I don't want to do ruins at both stops but am undecided at which would be a better experience.   Has anybody visited either of these sites?

[Yankees21]

I've only been to Tulum, but I really enjoyed it.

[waterchurch]

We did an excursion to Tulum from Cozumel. I have never been so happy to see solid ground as I was after the ferry to Playa Del Carmen. I almost kissed the ground.
Tulum was beautiful. It was a long day getting there but I'm glad we did it. So pretty. We didn't swim at the beach but it was nice to look at.

[LoveTrains]

Tulum is beautiful but as others mentioned you have to ferry over there as Cozumel is an island. I don't know about the other ruins but Cozumel is a cute island. On that stop on our cruise we walked through town and then took a cab to a beach club and laid on the beach all day. But our cruise went to Belize and we went to ruins in Belize.

[wavepool]

That ferry is terrible! We've done it a couple of times and my H said he can't do it again. We stay in PDC area and take the ferry to Cozumel, but not doing it again.

[monsterz]

What is so bad about the ferry? Are the waters very choppy there or does it depend on the time of year?

[majesty318]

Cozumel to Tulum is way too long. We did that on a cruise stop when I was in high school, and my mother still talks about how it was insane. Long bus, long ferry, long day. Tulum is impressive, though, and it's a large site. I went there again when I was in Playa del Carmen, and that is a much more reasonable trip.

I have done Chaccoben also. The site is much, much smaller, but at least when I was there (about 5 years ago) you could still climb on the pyramids, which you can't do at Tulum.

[CloudBee]

I've only been to Tulum, and it was gorgeous. The view from the rocks overlooking the water - breathtaking.

[LoveTrains]

Oct 12, 2015 12:56:17 GMT -5 monsterz said:

What is so bad about the ferry? Are the waters very choppy there or does it depend on the time of year?

Choppy, long ride etc. Cozumel is so beautiful I personally would save a trip to Tulum for when you go to playa del Carmen.

[fashionx]

We went on a cruise with both stops a couple years ago and opted for water activities in Cozumel because its so beautiful there. We did snorkeling - water was very clear and we saw tons of cool fish.

We went to Chacchoben though and both thought it was very cool. We got to climb on some of the ruins too and that was pretty neat.

ETA: Also the bus ride there wasn't too bad from the Costa Maya port, less than an hour. IIRC its a lot longer to Tulum.

Sent from my Moto X using Proboards.

[wavepool]

The ferry was a rough ride, plus we had to sit in the bottom part with hundreds of other people. It was hot, no air moving, and so many people. I don't even get sea sick and I didn't like it. My H thought it was the wooorst.

[residentdj]

When I went to Playa, we did a tour to Chichen Itza, which was awesome. I heard Tulum is amazing too and if we ever go back, I would do that next time. Not sure if that helps with your planning though....oh yea, the tour we did also included a lunch and a stop at a cenote, which was equally awesome.

[residentdj]

Btw - if you do a tour, they might make a pit stop at a touristy type shop where you can use bathrooms and purchase stuff....the tourist shops are generally overpriced (obv), but inside the attractions, you have guys out there selling stuff for much cheaper. I bought a whole set of silver jewelry for like 40$ vs the $600 the tourist shop wants for almost identical thing. My H said they probably just throw out as high a price as possible in hopes that as a tourist you'll just accept, but who knows....

[fashionx]

Oct 12, 2015 17:12:49 GMT -5 residentdj said:

Btw - if you do a tour, they might make a pit stop at a touristy type shop where you can use bathrooms and purchase stuff....the tourist shops are generally overpriced (obv), but inside the attractions, you have guys out there selling stuff for much cheaper. I bought a whole set of silver jewelry for like 40$ vs the $600 the tourist shop wants for almost identical thing. My H said they probably just throw out as high a price as possible in hopes that as a tourist you'll just accept, but who knows....

yes, ALWAYS barter!