Cancun/Playa de Carmen Resort
- Thread starter greeches
- Start date
groveChuck
U-matic Member
Chichen Itza is not to be missed, I've shot there a couple of times.
It has a large pyramid, observatory, ballcourt (where they may/may not have played with severed heads), jaguar carvings.
There's a sound and light show at night, it's hot and muggy as h3ll, but fascinating if you're into ruins (very well restored ones in this case).
There's smaller ones, but this is good for a long day into the night if you're up to it.
(drink lots of bottled water!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_Itza
It has a large pyramid, observatory, ballcourt (where they may/may not have played with severed heads), jaguar carvings.
There's a sound and light show at night, it's hot and muggy as h3ll, but fascinating if you're into ruins (very well restored ones in this case).
There's smaller ones, but this is good for a long day into the night if you're up to it.
(drink lots of bottled water!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_Itza
groveChuck
U-matic Member
Well, once was for Travel Channel, so we had a driver.
Another time, we had a driver (3rd party if I remember correctly).
I think it's closer to Cancun than Playa del Carmen (great party town!) if I remember correctly.
I think there's tour coaches (buses) if you don't mind "rolling" that way.
Like I wrote before, there's other smaller ruins, but Chichen Itza is freakin' amazing.
And even coming from Raleigh in June, you'll find it oppressively hot. I found it hot coming from Miami ,so...
But enjoy, let me know if you have more ?s
Another time, we had a driver (3rd party if I remember correctly).
I think it's closer to Cancun than Playa del Carmen (great party town!) if I remember correctly.
I think there's tour coaches (buses) if you don't mind "rolling" that way.
Like I wrote before, there's other smaller ruins, but Chichen Itza is freakin' amazing.
And even coming from Raleigh in June, you'll find it oppressively hot. I found it hot coming from Miami ,so...
But enjoy, let me know if you have more ?s
groveChuck
U-matic Member
Oh and Tulum is awesome too, right on the coast on a small cliff, with a beach below.
Incredible sunrise over the ruins.
Easy to cool off in the ocean, Chichen Itza's 1 hour + inland.
Incredible sunrise over the ruins.
Easy to cool off in the ocean, Chichen Itza's 1 hour + inland.
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
I second Tulum... I've been there and it's awesome!
Close by to most of the resorts as well.groveChuck
U-matic Member
I just found the Travel Channel video I shot (2002?) Thanks for jogging my memory!
It shows the beach below the Tulum ruins (the bikini models are not included!)
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwn2jTbnedY
It shows the beach below the Tulum ruins (the bikini models are not included!)
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwn2jTbnedY
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Xilitla isn't ruins, but the place is fantastic if you find yourself in this part of Mexico. On the Gulf Coast side of Mexico, Becan is a really good Mayan site not totally overrun with tourists.
Further south, you should go see Tikal, which sits on the Belize and Guatemala border.
Further south, you should go see Tikal, which sits on the Belize and Guatemala border.
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I would DEFINITELY recommend Chichen Itza. Amazing place.
I heard recently that they don't allow people to climb the big pyramid anymore. I'm glad I got the chance to do that a few years ago (it was harder getting down from the top than climbing up!). Spectacular view from the top. But it was really scary when a couple asked me to take their picture with the landscape in the background, and they started to back away from me. I screamed at them to stop, because they were getting pretty close to the edge.
I heard recently that they don't allow people to climb the big pyramid anymore. I'm glad I got the chance to do that a few years ago (it was harder getting down from the top than climbing up!). Spectacular view from the top. But it was really scary when a couple asked me to take their picture with the landscape in the background, and they started to back away from me. I screamed at them to stop, because they were getting pretty close to the edge.
Gord.T
Still "Senior Member"
Another shout out for Chichen Itza. Was there in '77. We flew in and bussed out so it depends on your package. Cancun itself, I use to hit the backstreets and eat at the local diners. I was at Club Med for 4 months as a G.O but spent most of my time in town down the back streets.
The basketball court in Chichen Itza, they used to play to the death. They have little stone huts at both ends of the court where the big shots would sit. You can sit in one and hear what the other people are saying sitting in the other hut at the end of the court. Pure accoustics tech. Pretty cool and amazing.
There's also some ruins in the jungle between Cancun and the Gulf (club and town, actually) that you may have to ask about. It was about a 20 minute walk for me from the club.
I also ran into the most beautifull resteraunt with exotic gardens and streams just outside of Chichen Itza but , long time now,no idea on specifics.
Chichen Itza for sure. Have fun man. And take pictures.
The basketball court in Chichen Itza, they used to play to the death. They have little stone huts at both ends of the court where the big shots would sit. You can sit in one and hear what the other people are saying sitting in the other hut at the end of the court. Pure accoustics tech. Pretty cool and amazing.
There's also some ruins in the jungle between Cancun and the Gulf (club and town, actually) that you may have to ask about. It was about a 20 minute walk for me from the club.
I also ran into the most beautifull resteraunt with exotic gardens and streams just outside of Chichen Itza but , long time now,no idea on specifics.
Chichen Itza for sure. Have fun man. And take pictures.
Yes, yes, yes - Chichen Itza. It is huge and will be very hot. Plan to climb a lot of steep steps to get the money shots -- unless they no longer let visitors climb any of the structures. I would also suggest you get there when they open the gates if possible, because your images will look much better without the tourists.
As I remember it, the story of the ballcourt is that the winners had the honor of being sacrificed. No wonder the games would last for days.
We rented a car to make the easy drive via Merida which is also worthwhile if your only idea of Mexico is Cancun.
Tulum is closer and also worthwhile for its ocean setting, but is smaller and not as powerful an experience as Chichen Itza.
As I remember it, the story of the ballcourt is that the winners had the honor of being sacrificed. No wonder the games would last for days.
We rented a car to make the easy drive via Merida which is also worthwhile if your only idea of Mexico is Cancun.
Tulum is closer and also worthwhile for its ocean setting, but is smaller and not as powerful an experience as Chichen Itza.
groveChuck
U-matic Member
And west of Chichen Itza (further inland, south of Merida) is Uxmal, next largest after Chichen Itza.
Don't know if you want to go that far, but it's pretty cool, too.
And yes, definitely go early, to beat the tourists and get the golden light.
Don't know if you want to go that far, but it's pretty cool, too.
And yes, definitely go early, to beat the tourists and get the golden light.