Chichen Itza and Tulum Yalku Plus
We booked two tours with Cancun Adventure through Apple Vacations when we arrived at our hotel, Grand Sunset Princess.
Tour One- Chichen Itza
We chose the half day to Chichen Itza it left at 6:30 am from our hotel lobby and we arrived back around 1:30pm. First check with your hotel to see if they can provide you with a packaged meal to go. While the tour provides snacks, water, and fruit, they don't really give you anything filling until the end of the tour. Both tours we did were quite of bit of walking and you don't want to be low on energy. On the way there we were given drinks, bananas, cookies, and nuts. About an hour into our drive we made a short stop to use restrooms and get coffee.
Our guide was Gilberto and our Driver was Johnny. Johnny is the best driver I've ever seen!!! Gilberto was very knowledgeable and friendly.
When we arrived at Chichen Itza it is a bit of a mad house at the entrance, stay with your group. While our guide went to get our tickets we were advised to use the restroom as there is not one past the entrance. He gave us about an hour long tour highlighting the main areas and then we had an extra hour to explore on our own.
On our way back we were given a panini sandwich with fruit, soda, water, or beer.
Tips:
There was lots of ground to cover and we still didn't get to see everything, especially if you want to buy souvenirs.
The tour provides umbrellas but if you don't want to carry one make sure to wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunblock. There is very little shade especially in the main area as there are no trees.
Take a backpack so you can carry a water bottle and snacks.
There are a plethora of vendors, so many that they kinda ruin the experience there. They all sell the same items, many of them you see at the airport or even the shops in your hotel. The vendors in Chichen Itza did however, have the lowest prices so if you want to get any souvenirs get them here. So bring extra money.
Try to eat breakfast because otherwise you are only eating snacks until the end of the tour.
If you have a go pro or video camera you have to pay a fee to use them but you can use a regular camera or cell phone to record or take as many pictures as you want......I don't know why.
Tour Two: Tulum and Yalku Plus
For this tour or Driver was Jesus who did a lot of behind the scenes stuff to get us ready for our next adventure. Our guide was Mario and he was also like our first tour very knowledgeable and friendly.
This tour started a little later so we had time to eat breakfast at our hotel first, which I suggest you do because you don't have lunch until later afternoon (3pm). Like the first tour they provide fruit, cookies, and water.
Our first stop was Tulum. There is quite a bit of walking and not really anywhere to sit once you are in the ruins also several stairs. And no restroom past the entrance. There are only two restrooms that you can use that are included (Mario showed us where they were) If you use other restrooms you may have to pay a fee. We were given a tour and history of the ruins and then left to explore on our own.
We then headed to Yalku which is a lagoon/cenote where the fresh water meets the ocean for snorkeling. You are not allowed to wear sunscreen in this cenote as a matter of fact you have to rinse off before you get in so you wash off any chemicals. There are quite a bit of people in this lagoon as well as some rocks. But there are a ton of fish so very cool. Basically, There is a start and end stairs that makes you take a complete circle in the lagoon and then you're out. We headed back to the van and went to our next location.
Our last adventure was and underground cenote. We again took a quick shower to rinse off, put on some life jackets and climbed down some stairs. When we got down there are photographers that take pictures at difference areas that are available for purchase later. Mario then took us through the cave, you could just float and look up or put on your goggles and snorkel and look down. The water is crystal clear and cool. There are stalactites and stalagmites that make the cave beautiful to view above and below the water. This was by far coolest part of the tour.
We then headed to their beach for lunch, which was fantastic. After lunch you have about an hour to hang out on their beautiful and private beach and purchase pictures if you want.
Tips: Bring money, a towel, waterproof cell phone cover, water shoes, the underground cenote has lots of rocks but you will want your tennis for walking at Tulum. Bring a swim shirt as you can't use sunblock. You have the opportunity to change to swim clothes at Tulum. Everything else is provided. read more