Trying to plan excursions for New Year's cruise. We ahve a day in Progresso, and not sure whether to do Chichen Itza or Uxmal. Have seen some reports that Uxmal is better. It is about a half hour closer, and costs a bit more.

Anyone have experience with these places?
Thanks

Gil - my experience is so dated (Christmas week, 1985) that it would be no help for you today but we do have fond memories. We flew from Cozumel to Chichen Itza for the day. The Chichen Itza airstrip was a grass field with a lean-to shelter for the taxi stand and a single windsock. We did have a good touring day with some good guides and sparse crowds back in those days. The family memories to last a lifetime came first on our short taxi ride back to the airstrip - the cab driver had painted the interior of his cab - the door panels, if you can imagine - a bright yellow and some paint was still wet and got on our son's clothes! (A good dry cleaner once back home was able to remove that oil-based paint.) Then on the puddle jumper plane back to Cozumel our son (16 year-old) was served a large glass of beer. He was so thirsty, he drank half of it before he turned it over to his dad saying that it tasted funny and he thought it wasn't the lemonade he expected.

It was quite hot and although we were all glad to have seen the site we were happy to get back to our beachfront accommodations on Cozumel. Both our kids were taking Spanish in high school so they were our interpreters the few times we needed it.

From checking on Google it sure appears that Uxmal is the more popular place to visit these days. I believe they have done the majority of the restoration work there in the 20 years since our trip. Uxmal was probably mostly still covered with jungle in 1985.

Thanks, Kathy.
We'd be taking a bus (Hopefully not newly-painted :eek: ) from the Pier. It's a 2 2/2 hr ride to Chichen Itza, 2 hrs to Uxmal.

It will be New Year's Eve the day we are there - I wonder if that makes a difference.

Having been to both sites I would recommend Chichen Itza. Did you know that ignorant Americans have been known to refer to it as "Chicken Pizza"? There is the Sacred Cenote, the Temple of the Warriors, the Astronomy, tht Main Pyramid and much more.

Uxmal is noted for its friezes not its architecture. They had a light and sound show after dark that highlighted the friezes and had a commentary that was pure corn. "They came from the east, they came from the west>"

My choice would be Chichen Itza.

Having been to CI trice, 20 years ago, and again in '02, versus once in Uxmal, we'd vote CI!

Hi,

I have been to both. CI we did during the day and Uxmal we did at night. They had a fantastic light show and it was very impressive. We did both while we were staying in Mérida .But since you would be doing this during the day I would recommend CI . To me, it seemed like a more complete set of ruins. Now, be aware this was 25 years ago! Yikes!

We went to CI from Cancun, several years ago (a group trip); it was a long bus ride but CI is just so awe-inspiring. It's hard to comprehend how the people built all the things that are there, and how far they had to carry the materials. We haven't been to Uxmal, so can't actually compare.