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Published: November 20th 2021
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One of the lesser known Mayan sites in Yucután, Mayapán does not see anywhere close to the number of tourists as more popular sites like Tulúm or Chitzen Itza (which I still have yet to visit after 4 visits to the peninsula). That is definitely one of the attractions in addition to being able to ascend to the top of the principal pyramid. It's close to Mérida and super easy to get to by
colectivo from the market. This is not a recent trip; I'm finally posting from 2019's trip. For some unknown reason I did not publish back then and only noticed as I've been writing the most recent entries from Europe.
$US ≈ 24 Mexican
pesos ($M)
Mérida
Nice colonial city and close to many attractions. Kind of like a way hotter, miniature Mexico City.
Accommodation and food Had planned on staying only a couple of nights in Mérida at Nomadas in a 4 person dorm for $M224/night. Ended up staying 5. Free breakfast and lots of activities like salsa dancing, cooking classes, and yoga also included. Nice pool. Very helpful staff with detailed info on how to get to the regional sites and innumerable
cenotes by
Mayapán
Site is crawling with iguanas colectivo. Near the hostel schwanky La Habana has a great
menu del dias, figure $M100-200 for a 4 or 5 course meal. Took a lot of other meals at the main market, lots of mom & pop places on the 2
nd floor, ~$M60 for the regional specialty,
cochinita pibil.
Transport Many buses from TAME and CAME to all quadrants of the peninsula and Mexico City. There is also Autobuses Centro on the other side of the market that serves Valladolid, Cancun and intermediate points with frequent 2
nd class service. Progreso has its own terminal closer to the center. From the airport I walked 10 minutes out to the main road and caught a
colectivo for $M8 that dropped me a few blocks south of the cathedral, takes about 30 minutes. Rogue taxis will do the run to the center from the bus stop for $M100, presumably more from the terminal.
Homún Village about an hour's
colectivo ride from Merida for $M28 departing on a fill-up-and-go basis (standard M.O.) from calles 67 & 52. At the stop in town we (went with 3 others from the hostel) set up a $M250 (total for 4 of us, max pax) moto-taxi
for the most of the day to take us around to the 5 principal
centotes, each entry $M35-40. Had to make a pit stop to rent a required life jacket for $M70 each. Forgot where we ate lunch but it was really good, plate of
panuchos was $M95, also served bottled frosty ones.
Cuzama Don't remember the
colectivo staging area but it was $M26, also ~1 hour from the center. At the stop in town can take a $M30 moto-taxi the 6 kms to Chunkanán where there is an old set of very narrow gauge train tracks on which a horse drawn cart transported us (2 others from the hostel) deeper into the jungle to visit 3
cenotes. Fix price of $M400. The tracks were initially laid in order to harvest a natural jungle vine which can be woven into fabric. Back in Cuzama after the
centotes had lunch at Restaurante Cozom-Ha, a block back from the main road, standard fare although did seem a little pricey. Super cool trip, not to be missed.
Mayapán Colectivo departs from close to Merida's market, $M33, stops close to the entrance. $M45 entry fee and I was able to leave my
luggage with the attendant. Since the Valladolid bus departed from near the market I was going straight there after Mayapan rather than pick up my bag at the hostel and schlep all the way back to the bus terminal.
Izamal Small town, central pyramid Kinich Kakmó nice spot for sunset (closes 5pm), other small ruins scattered around town.
Colectivo departs Merida from Calles 65 & 52, $M31. Great cafe at Hotel San Miguel Arcangel.
Valladolid
Small town roughly halfway between Mérida and the Caribbean. Plenty of
cenotes and ruins nearby. Came down with a fever so only made it to Cenote Suuytun, $M120 entry for 2
cenotes but one of the them isn't that great and the site is positively mobbed with Cancún tour bus crowds. Share taxi right to the entrance from Valladolid's center is $M30/person, $M20 catching one on the highway for the ride back.
Accommodation and food Hostel Gayser has semi-private dorm beds for $M170/night. At the arcade took several meals at Loncheria El Amigo Casiano, closes earlier than most and not open Sundays.
Transport ADO Conecta takes about 3 hours to Cancún for $M192. 2
nd class services cost less but don't take the
toll road so could take a while.
Mexico City
Fourth visit to the bustling capital, never gets old.
Accommodation and food Paid $M201 at Mexico City Hostel a few blocks north of the
zócalo for an 8 person dorm, good breakfast included but WiFi only seemed to work in the lobby. No lift and lots of stairs so not the best place with a lot of luggage. Around the corner, Canela y Oro has a $M55
menú del dia, half liter of fresh lemonade an extra $M34. One of my favorite places, La Corte on Uruguay, still going strong serving a $M115
menu del dia and a mind boggling array of breakfast dishes. Near the hostel are a bunch of street vendors, figure ~$M30 for 3 tacos or taquitos. Whenever I exit at the north Pino Suarez metro stop (usually coming from the airport or TAPO), I grab a fresh fruit salad for $M12 from the same vendor who's been there at least 6 years.
Transport Mexico City's extensive metro still only $M5. My 1 hour flight to Merida on Interjet was only $US53. For comparison, a ticket on a 20+ hour ADO bus trip could run
anywhere from $US50-100 depending on promotions and level of service.
Cancún
Usually stay in nearby Playa del Carmen when I've got a flight home from Cancún but opted to check out Cancún for a couple of nights. The beach is beautiful, definitely nicer than Playa. Still wasn't feeling well after Valladolid so just chillaxed for a couple days here.
Accommodation and food Since it was a short stay I opted to be close to the bus terminal at Mezcal Hotel Hostel & Bar. It was OK, can't complain for less than $US10 in an 8 person AC dorm. Very close to the beach is an outpost of the excellent Monkey Mayan Hostel (stayed at their Cabo location on a previous trip) and in hindsight I wish I had stayed there. Mezcal had breakfast included and a $M69 deal with nearby Santo Maiz restaurant. Took a couple snacks and small meals at Quesadillas Quekos, $M15-20 for
quesadillas o sopes.
Transport Close to the hostel is the R1 bus out to the beach for $M12, took 30 or 40 min to Playa Delfines at the end of the strip. ADO runs regular buses from the bus terminal to the
airport for a ridiculous $M94 for the 30 minute trip.
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herman thissen
non-member comment
very recognizable
Hey John, your story is very familiar to me. We were there in 2002 with a bunch of friends and then also did Mexico City and Yucatan. Nice pictures again