Misc Anyone been to the Mayan ruins in the Riviera Maya - Page 3

Sorce · 03-29-2016, 11:34 AM

We will be going down in late April and wanted to see at least one of them. I'm trying to decide which one.

We will be the closest to Tulum, it also seems like the smallest of the locations I've been looking at.

The Chichen Itza is probably the most iconic and best maintained of the sites. However it's the furthest away and probably also the most touristy.

Another location I've been looking at is Coba. It's not quite as far but still a lot to see there.

Has anyone been to any or all of these sites? Would you recommend one over any of the others?

Simply Red · 03-29-2016, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Good to see you around, BrothaMan.

Hope you're well.

Thanks man - you as well.

**BigRedChief** · 03-30-2016, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Tulum is pretty interesting, has probably one of the best beaches in the world there, so take swimwear.

THIS! one of the most beautiful sites you can ever visit.

JD10367 · 03-30-2016, 06:00 AM

Went to Lamanai in Belize on a cruise ship tour. They bused us from the port to the New River, then we got on a boat and went up the river looking for crocodiles and other wildlife (I thought it was going to be a slow putt-putt but it turned out to be a fast boat and the guy drove like James Bond chasing SPECTRE, it was awesome). Then we pulled up to a dock in the middle of nowhere, walked to the middle of nowhere, and saw the buildings and pyramids they've uncovered (which is about 5% of the site... at one point we were walking on a trail with a hill upwards on the left and downwards on the right, and the guide stopped us and explained how much of South America is buried by telling us we were walking across a buried pyramid). It's not the biggest site but it's not as overrun by tourists as the others, and they have a decent sized pyramid you can climb and get a view.

**Dartgod** · 03-30-2016, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've been to Chichen Itza, Tulum and Xel-Ha.

Maybe it's just me but I found all three to be fairly "meh".

I'd have rather spent the day at the pool bar.

I've been to Xel-Ha, don't remember any Mayan ruins there.

**Bwana** · 03-30-2016, 07:38 AM

Another consideration in the general region is Tikal in the rainforests of northern Guatemala. That area includes the giant ceremonial Lost World Pyramid and the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. Temple IV is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas and offers incredible views. You can get there via Tropic air for a day trip out of Belize City or a few points in Mexico.

**loochy** · 03-30-2016, 07:56 AM

We did Chacchoben. It's quite a bit south of the other more famous Mexican ruins. It's down near the Belize border. We thoroughly enjoyed the ruins, although we haven't been to any others to compare. They had one large pyramid along with other buildings and areas that were part of a "complex". It was pretty neat to see a few big mounds that were actually unexcavated ruins. Perhaps they are excavated by now. I'll put some pictures up if I remember when I get home.

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-30-2016, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I've been to Xel-Ha, don't remember any Mayan ruins there.

For us, IIRC, it was a "packaged" tour. All three sites in one day.

Chris Meck · 03-30-2016, 10:22 AM

I go every year; it was an annual trip I used to take with my wife for our anniversary and I still go.

Tulum is one of my favorite places on the planet. It truly is paradise, and it's beaches are routinely listed in anyone's top ten beaches on earth. It's white sand beaches, relatively calm waters, and crystal clear visibility makes diving and snorkeling a real treat.

As for the ruins, I highly recommend visiting some; it depends on how much time and in what condition you want to see them in.

Chitzen Itza is the largest site and is the most manicured and touristy. This is because in the 1920's, the Mexican government excavated the whole site. It's cool, and very interesting, but it's pretty regulated. No climbing the great pyramid, grass is mowed, there's a restaurant and hotel just off the edge of the site, etc. It's a long busride from Tulum; plan on burning a day if you're taking a tour. I drive myself in Mexico and it's not too bad but is still a long day trip. For these reasons I recommend Coba.

Coba is probably a larger site than Chitzen Itza; it's believed to have been the capital city at one point. I say probably because an untold percentage of the site is still hidden in the jungle. The government ran out of money with the site only partially recovered. It's a much rawer site; ancient buildings loom out of the jungle. You can rent bicycles to get around the site (which I recommend, it's pretty flat and biking is an easy and fun way to get around). You could film a new Indiana Jones movie in Coba and it would look right, if that makes any sense. AND you can climb the great pyramid, which I highly recommend, it's the tallest man made structure in the Yucatan peninsula to this day. The view is astounding. This is the site that I take friends to when they accompany me on my yearly trip when they want to see Mayan ruins. It's like 90km (actually, I'm thinking now it might be even closer. It's either 60k or 90k. I'm kind of on automatic pilot when I go.) from Tulum; if you're driving, about an hour.

If you're not driving and don't want to burn most of a day in a bus or cab, the Tulum ruins are a much smaller but also very cool site. Tulum (the Mayan city) was basically the Mayan military center; it sits on a point from which you can see all the way up and down the coast. It's also where the Spanish landed (twice although the first time the boats all sank. There's an interesting story about that, but I digress.) It's smallish and you can walk the whole site in an hour or so. The view from the cliff is awesome and you can swim there. If you just want to get an idea of the Mayan architecture and whatnot, the Tulum ruins will do. No climbing pyramids here either.

you can't really go wrong either way; it just depends on what sort of experience you want. I prefer to go it on my own and not in a tour group, with a book to refer to for questions. But that's just me.

Sorce · 05-05-2016, 10:27 PM

We just got back, we did Tulum and Coba. We took the collectivo into Tulum and explored it ourselves, we got a taxi from the resort to Coba. I'm glad we didn't book a group tour, we got to both before the tours arrived and had a much better time taking things at our own pace.

Tulum was amazing, the beach was nice, although it was a red flag day so no going into the ocean for us. It was still a very well kept very nice experience.

Coba we got there and there were only 3 other cars so we had the place pretty much to ourselves the whole time. As we were leaving there were some large tour groups coming in. We figured we would walk it since we had spend plenty of time fattening up on the resort and could use the exercise. If we had to do it again we would have rented bikes. There is a long distance between some of the ruins there and walking took forever with not a lot to look at in between.

We only got about 1/4 of the way up the pyramid before my wife looked down and decided that was far enough. (She has height problems with the upper levels of arrowhead.) We were still above the tree line and just stayed there a while taking it all in.

Good experience, we seem to be making it down there every couple years so next time will be the chichen itza and my wife wants to swim with the turtles at akumal. We are a lot more comfortable using the collectivos to move around now as well.

03-29-2016, 11:34 AM
Sorce Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $6448777	Anyone been to the Mayan ruins in the Riviera Maya We will be going down in late April and wanted to see at least one of them. I'm trying to decide which one. We will be the closest to Tulum, it also seems like the smallest of the locations I've been looking at. The Chichen Itza is probably the most iconic and best maintained of the sites. However it's the furthest away and probably also the most touristy. Another location I've been looking at is Coba. It's not quite as far but still a lot to see there. Has anyone been to any or all of these sites? Would you recommend one over any of the others?
Posts: 2,442

03-30-2016, 06:00 AM	#33
JD10367 Cheaterlover* Join Date: May 2009 Location: RI Casino cash: $10010716	Went to Lamanai in Belize on a cruise ship tour. They bused us from the port to the New River, then we got on a boat and went up the river looking for crocodiles and other wildlife (I thought it was going to be a slow putt-putt but it turned out to be a fast boat and the guy drove like James Bond chasing SPECTRE, it was awesome). Then we pulled up to a dock in the middle of nowhere, walked to the middle of nowhere, and saw the buildings and pyramids they've uncovered (which is about 5% of the site... at one point we were walking on a trail with a hill upwards on the left and downwards on the right, and the guide stopped us and explained how much of South America is buried by telling us we were walking across a buried pyramid). It's not the biggest site but it's not as overrun by tourists as the others, and they have a decent sized pyramid you can climb and get a view.
Posts: 12,916

03-30-2016, 07:38 AM	#35
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139573647	Another consideration in the general region is Tikal in the rainforests of northern Guatemala. That area includes the giant ceremonial Lost World Pyramid and the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. Temple IV is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas and offers incredible views. You can get there via Tropic air for a day trip out of Belize City or a few points in Mexico. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 69,732

03-30-2016, 07:56 AM	#36
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $2170752	We did Chacchoben. It's quite a bit south of the other more famous Mexican ruins. It's down near the Belize border. We thoroughly enjoyed the ruins, although we haven't been to any others to compare. They had one large pyramid along with other buildings and areas that were part of a "complex". It was pretty neat to see a few big mounds that were actually unexcavated ruins. Perhaps they are excavated by now. I'll put some pictures up if I remember when I get home. __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 40,449

03-30-2016, 10:22 AM	#38
Chris Meck MVP Join Date: May 2001 Location: midtown KC Casino cash: $1964910	I go every year; it was an annual trip I used to take with my wife for our anniversary and I still go. Tulum is one of my favorite places on the planet. It truly is paradise, and it's beaches are routinely listed in anyone's top ten beaches on earth. It's white sand beaches, relatively calm waters, and crystal clear visibility makes diving and snorkeling a real treat. As for the ruins, I highly recommend visiting some; it depends on how much time and in what condition you want to see them in. Chitzen Itza is the largest site and is the most manicured and touristy. This is because in the 1920's, the Mexican government excavated the whole site. It's cool, and very interesting, but it's pretty regulated. No climbing the great pyramid, grass is mowed, there's a restaurant and hotel just off the edge of the site, etc. It's a long busride from Tulum; plan on burning a day if you're taking a tour. I drive myself in Mexico and it's not too bad but is still a long day trip. For these reasons I recommend Coba. Coba is probably a larger site than Chitzen Itza; it's believed to have been the capital city at one point. I say probably because an untold percentage of the site is still hidden in the jungle. The government ran out of money with the site only partially recovered. It's a much rawer site; ancient buildings loom out of the jungle. You can rent bicycles to get around the site (which I recommend, it's pretty flat and biking is an easy and fun way to get around). You could film a new Indiana Jones movie in Coba and it would look right, if that makes any sense. AND you can climb the great pyramid, which I highly recommend, it's the tallest man made structure in the Yucatan peninsula to this day. The view is astounding. This is the site that I take friends to when they accompany me on my yearly trip when they want to see Mayan ruins. It's like 90km (actually, I'm thinking now it might be even closer. It's either 60k or 90k. I'm kind of on automatic pilot when I go.) from Tulum; if you're driving, about an hour. If you're not driving and don't want to burn most of a day in a bus or cab, the Tulum ruins are a much smaller but also very cool site. Tulum (the Mayan city) was basically the Mayan military center; it sits on a point from which you can see all the way up and down the coast. It's also where the Spanish landed (twice although the first time the boats all sank. There's an interesting story about that, but I digress.) It's smallish and you can walk the whole site in an hour or so. The view from the cliff is awesome and you can swim there. If you just want to get an idea of the Mayan architecture and whatnot, the Tulum ruins will do. No climbing pyramids here either. you can't really go wrong either way; it just depends on what sort of experience you want. I prefer to go it on my own and not in a tour group, with a book to refer to for questions. But that's just me.
Posts: 17,461

05-05-2016, 10:27 PM	#39
Sorce Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $6448777	We just got back, we did Tulum and Coba. We took the collectivo into Tulum and explored it ourselves, we got a taxi from the resort to Coba. I'm glad we didn't book a group tour, we got to both before the tours arrived and had a much better time taking things at our own pace. Tulum was amazing, the beach was nice, although it was a red flag day so no going into the ocean for us. It was still a very well kept very nice experience. Coba we got there and there were only 3 other cars so we had the place pretty much to ourselves the whole time. As we were leaving there were some large tour groups coming in. We figured we would walk it since we had spend plenty of time fattening up on the resort and could use the exercise. If we had to do it again we would have rented bikes. There is a long distance between some of the ruins there and walking took forever with not a lot to look at in between. We only got about 1/4 of the way up the pyramid before my wife looked down and decided that was far enough. (She has height problems with the upper levels of arrowhead.) We were still above the tree line and just stayed there a while taking it all in. Good experience, we seem to be making it down there every couple years so next time will be the chichen itza and my wife wants to swim with the turtles at akumal. We are a lot more comfortable using the collectivos to move around now as well.
Posts: 2,442