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View Full Version : Looking for Yucatan advice: Chichen Itza or Uxmal?

cartman
10-26-2009, 01:59 PM
Hey board,

Going on another cruise in December, and one of our stops is Progresso. From the looks of it, the two big options for shore excursions are a trip to either Chichen Itza or Uxmal. Has anyone here been to either of these sites and provide feedback? We've been debating about which one to go see. Right now, I'm leaning a bit towards Uxmal, since you can still climb a couple of the pyramids, and it is a bit closer as well, so we'll get to spend an extra 45 minutes to an hour there as opposed to Chichen Itza.
RainMaker
10-26-2009, 02:07 PM
I can't speak to Uxmal, but I found Chichen Itza fascinating. I went many years ago but we were able to scale the pyramids and such. The tour we went on was really informative too. It was really hot though and my skin got burnt real bad.
Mustang
10-26-2009, 02:12 PM
Excluding other variables, Chichen Itza.

However, factoring in that it is part of a cruise and time limits, I'd be more likely to select Uxmal given the ability to climb the ruins and the extra time. We visited Tulum and definitely don't regret it.
RainMaker
10-26-2009, 02:15 PM
Just looking it over, they have closed El Castillo which kind of sucks. That was an amazing experience.
ColtCrazy
10-26-2009, 04:48 PM
I loved Chichen Itza, but yeah, they have closed the pyramids to climbing since I've been.

Still, it's still an impressive site...just a wild experience to see this in the middle of the jungle.

I remember when I went, my mom got really overheated. I walked with her back to the bus while the group went ahead. Within a minute of the main group disappearing, the path back was covered with animals, including a massive warthog that I thought for sure was going to charge.
MrDNA
10-26-2009, 08:41 PM
Uxmal was my favorite and I went to about a dozen Mayan ruins. It's a little more wild and a little less touristy. We brought a lunch and ate on the top of one of the pyramids. Great experience. Don't eat in the restaurant.
RainMaker
10-26-2009, 08:49 PM
I remember when I went, my mom got really overheated. I walked with her back to the bus while the group went ahead. Within a minute of the main group disappearing, the path back was covered with animals, including a massive warthog that I thought for sure was going to charge.
It was awhile ago but I remember there not being a lot of shade available. Just the sun constantly beating down on you all day. Wouldn't recommend it for anyone older or kids.
Greyroofoo
10-26-2009, 09:23 PM
I'd definitely go with Chichen Itza, +25% defense in all your cities is really nothing to sneeze at.
Greyroofoo
10-26-2009, 09:24 PM
dola,

Apparently it became obsolete when rifling was discovered.


Carry on...
molson
10-26-2009, 09:26 PM
I'd definitely go with Chichen Itza, +25% defense in all your cities is really nothing to sneeze at.

LOL - that's the 1st thing I thought of when I saw the thread.
Shkspr
10-26-2009, 09:29 PM
I think Progresso really needs to bring a soup named "Chicken Itza" to market. I'd buy it.
cartman
10-27-2009, 10:04 PM
Thanks for the feedback. We decided to do the Uxmal trip. Definitely looking forward to it!
Sgran
10-28-2009, 04:30 PM
Uxmal is also great, but when we went the locals were being feisty, so we got stopped by the Mexican army. Good thing my friend didn't have a bunch of weed and we hadn't been smoking in the back seat.

I will say the Chichen Itza is so good that even with Montezuma kicking my... well, you can imagine... it was still great and I'm glad I went.