Valladolid to Chichen Itza – How to Get to the World Wonder
Discover the best ways to get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan Province and get to the World Wonder quickly and easily.
Valladolid, Yucatan is the closest town to the Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza, and while it’s a brilliant destination in its own right it’s one of the best places to get to Chichen Itza from.
Visiting Chichen Itza, one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of the World’ from Valladolid, is easy and fast taking less than an hour to get there.
I always advise arriving at Chichen Itza at 8 am, when it opens. This is due to the sheer number of people that visit and it’s also a brilliant way to beat the scorching sun. When coming from Valladolid to Chichen Itza it’s much faster and easier than travelling from Cancun, Merida or Tulum.
For this reason, I recommend arriving at Valladolid the day before, spending the afternoon exploring the gorgeous Mexican town and heading to Chichen Itza from Valladolid the following morning.
I’ve visited Chichen Itza twice in the last years, once by colectivo, solo and the second time by rental car. Both journeys were smooth and without any kind of problems.
There are five main ways to get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza. Let’s discover each one in detail to see which one works best for you.
*This ‘Valladolid to Chichen Itza guide’ contains affiliate links meaning I might make a small profit if you choose to book at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with top quality content for free
Before you go also read: The Complete Chichen Itza Guide
How Do I Get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza?
Chichen Itza is located about 45 km ( 28 miles) west of Valladolid. It takes about 50 minutes to drive there (no traffic). In a bus or colectivo, it takes around 1 hour depending on the time of day.
The are 5 options to get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza which are rental car, bus, local colectivo, taxi, and tour.
Which you choose will probably depend on your budget and how much time you have for visiting the ruins. In general, the most convenient way to get to Chichen Itza is by rental car or taxi. The cheapest way is by colectivo- the local, shared minivans.
How to Get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza Overview
Getting to Chichen Itza from Valladolid is quite an easy task. To get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza, there are five main options: rental car, bus, local minivan (colectivo), taxi and tour.
Firstly, however, you may be wondering, how to get to Valladolid in the first place.
If you have a rental car you can drive to Valladolid and Chichen Itza.
There is also a Playa del Carmen to Valladolid bus and a bus between Valladolid and Cancun. Local buses also operate from nearby cities like Tulum and Merida. The best company to use is ADO. You can check ADO bus prices and book ADO bus online here.
This is the best way to get to Valladolid if you don’t have your own car.
Valladolid to Chichen Itza by Taxi
If you don’t have a rental car, the next quickest option for getting from Valladolid to Chichen Itza is by taxi. By the official Taxis Valladolid Yucatan, the trip takes about 40 minutes and costs about $500-600 pesos ($25-30 USD).
Make sure to negotiate and agree on the rate before getting into the taxi as taxis here don’t work on meters. It does help to speak a little bit of Spanish.
The best place to get a taxi is around the bus terminal or the main square in Valladolid. The bus terminal is located on the corner of Calle 46 and 39. You should be able to flag down a taxi on Calle 39 which is Highway 180, the main road out of town.
You can also ask your hotel to call you a reliable taxi.
At the time of writing Uber is not an option in this part of Mexico.
Valladolid to Chichen Itza by Colectivo
The most budget-friendly way of getting from Valladolid to Chichen Itza is by colectivo (shared minivan). As this is a budget way to travel, the minivans which hold about 12 passengers are normally full and they don’t always have air-conditioning meaning that it isn’t the most comfortable way to travel but it certainly is affordable.
The Valladolid to Chichen Itza colectivo leaves when full from a little car park on Calle 39 between Calles 44 and 46. Colectivo hours generally range from 7 am-4 pm. The first one leaves at about 7 am and they leave every 30 minutes or so.
If you leave then, you’ll get to Chichen Itza as it opens, beating most of the souvenir sellers to their posts.
The last colectivo between Valladolid and Chichen Itza leaves at about 4 pm. The colectivo costs 40 pesos ($2) each way.
On the way back you can simply hail one down from the car park from the same place where they dropped you off. They pass through every 20/30 minutes or so.
Note that not all Valladolid colectivo drivers work on a Sunday, therefore there is a reduced service then so you might have to wait a little longer.
Taking the ADO bus
Taking the bus from Valladolid to Chichen Itza is another great budget option.
ADO is the main bus company that operates in Yucatan and Quintana Roo providing comfortable services throughout many different destinations. Many travellers use them when visiting the Yucatan Peninsula and you probably will do too at some point if you haven’t already.
ADO offers a service Valladolid Chichen Itza bus that is quick, easy and cheap. The only issue is that there aren’t too many services throughout the day. At the time of writing, there are two buses from Valladolid to Chichen Itza at 10 am and 10.27 am. On the way back there’s a service at 1.30 pm and then two at 4 pm.
Due to the lack of bus services, it might be a good idea to take a bus out to Chichen Itza but then a colectivo or a taxi back to Valladolid so you don’t need to wait around for too long.
The bus costs around $8 one way and is a safe and comfortable way to get to Chichen Itza. To book your bus ticket in advance and for scheduling information that changes frequently visit ADO via Busbud here.
Note that there are some other bus companies that service Valladolid that might offer the service too so it’s best to ask inside the bus terminal. All in all due to the lack of transfers offered, if you’re on a budget I’d personally choose the colectivo option over the ADO bus.
By Rental Car
Renting a car and going from Valladolid to Chichen Itza by rental car is the fastest and easiest option. This will also put you fully in control of your arrival time.
The journey takes 40 minutes and the road to Chichen Itza is safe and smooth along the main highway. It’s a really easy drive.
You cannot rent a car in Valladolid however. At the time of writing, there are no car rental agencies in Valladolid so you’ll have to rent a car in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Merida.
I always rent a car using Rental Cars or Discover Cars. They always have the best deals and rates, especially in Mexico.
I rented a car in Playa del Carmen and the process was smooth and fast. Just note that car rental rates in Mexico (when booking online) rarely include the mandatory tax and insurance so keep this in mind if your deal is too good to be true.
Use the form below to search for the best deals:
Note that on arrival at Chichen Itza in a private vehicle, you’ll need to pay for parking. Parking costs about 30 pesos for the day. Make sure you have cash with you to pay for this as I’m pretty sure they don’t take cards.
Booking a Tour
If you want to combine your visit to Chichen Itza with some other interesting cultural activities like visiting a cenote or tequila tasting and you’re not quite up for organising everything, a day tour is a great idea.
Not only will a tour take the hassle out of organising transportation from Valladolid to Chichen Itza but it will also include not having to queue to buy entry tickets, a tour guide at Chichen Itza as well as other cultural activities and lunch. Check out this tour that even includes tequila tasting.
Not all tours depart from Valladolid however, most depart from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum so if you’re in one of those places during your trip and you want to take a tour to Chichen Itza, it’s best to organise it from there rather than going from Valladolid to Chichen Itza on a tour.
Check out the best options for tours below:
Top Tips for Visiting Chichen Itza
↠ Lines to buy a ticket at Chichen Itza can get really long. If you’re not planning to take a tour make sure to skip the lines by getting your entrance ticket in advance. Purchase your entry in advance here.
↠ How long do you need at Chichen Itza? Allow for about 2-3 hours at Chichen Itza when not going on a tour. This allows you to see the whole site thoroughly.
↠Chichen Itza is open from 8 am- 4.30 pm. I highly recommend arriving for 8 am for the best photography conditions and no crowds.
↠ It’s really hot at Chichen Itza, especially in summer. Make sure to bring sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses, bug repellent (mainly in the rainy season) and wear comfortable and light clothing.
↠ The Chichen Itza temple complex is huge and you’ll be doing a lot of walking. There is no other option. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes you are happy wearing for a whole day.
↠ If you’re a photographer you should know that tripods and drones are not allowed inside the Chichen Itza complex and they do search your bag so make sure to leave it in the car or at your hotel. There is some doubt about whether small handheld tripods are ok.
↠ Bring water. You aren’t allowed to bring snacks or food so make sure to bring plenty of water in a reusable water bottle. There are vendors that sell plastic bottles water but this isn’t ideal.
For these situations, I always bring my LARQ bottle which uses innovative UV-C LED technology to sanitize water meaning that you can refill the bottle with tap water. (Not recommended to do with just a regular bottle). Get yours here. It really is a travel game-changer.
This 32 oz Hydroflask bottle is also great because it’s much bigger but it doesn’t have the same self-cleaning technology.
↠ Consider the services of an official Chichen Itza guide – guides can be hired at the entrance of the site and it’s something worth considering if you’d like to learn more about the history of the Mayans and this sacred site.
For the latest information on rules and regulations check the official Chichen Itza website here
Read more: The Complete Chichen Itza Guide
In conclusion, there are many different ways to get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza depending on your budget and preferred way to travel.
If you’re on a budget the best way to travel is by colectivo. If you prefer a little more comfort and you’d like more flexibility with your arrival time I’d recommend driving yourself or taking a taxi.
For those not wanting to worry about any of these details, it’s best to just book a tour.
So, how will you get from Valladolid to Chichen Itza? Let me know your questions and comments below.
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Related posts you might like:
The Complete Chichen Itza Guide
Tulum Ruins: A Short Guide + top tips for Visiting
Isla Holbox Travel Guide: A Must-Read before Visiting
The Ultimate Wellness-Focused Tulum Weekend Itinerary
The 7 Incredible Valladolid Cenotes You Simply Must Visit
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