The Ridge Tahoe--mid March

The Ridge Tahoe sits high atop the Sierra's at 7,300 feet above sea level. Views are of the Carson Valley some 3,000 feet below and of the mountains. The property is spread out over 11 acres and connects with Heavenly Valley's Nevada, Stagecoach Lodge. Our on-site skier express lift provides free transportation directly to the stagecoach lift. Shuttle service is provided at no charge to and from the casino's in Stateline. Our property offers two bedroom suites, sleeping 6-8, one bedroom suites, sleeping four and deluxe hotel units, sleeping 2-4 guests. All two and one bedroom suites have full kitchens and fireplaces. Our 45,000 sq. feet clubhouse is the center piece of the resort where guests can enjoy all the amenities of a full service resort. Spa, Recreation, dining, deli, market place, concierge services, business center, full fitness center, 4 tennis courts (one in-door), two swimming pools (one in-door), BBQ's, Ping pong, full kids club program, guided hikes, rock climbing, snow ...shoeing and much more! The best part of the Ridge Tahoe is our people, we care very much about our guests and their vacation experience

They do charge for the wifi, but if you are there for the full week, $20 isn't bad.

Ask to stay in the Cascade building or one that has been recently updated.” 
“We stayed at the Plaza hotel with hot tubs on the roof and the cascade is also very nice.”
We felt lucky to be in the Plaza and we had a room with a magnificent view of the mountain. It was also very quiet.” 
Naegle buildings 10, 11 or 12
“The resort is remodeling one building at a time. 'The Tower' building is remodeled and is great!! And it's located across from the Clubhouse/check in desk.”
The best building is called the Tower. It is closest to the Clubhouse and has the best rooms. But really, each building has nice features. The Plaza has a jacuzzi on the top floor. The Terrace is right next to the mini golf course in the summer and has a hot tub and sauna indoors. The Naegle is a low-slung building with rooms circling an open jacuzzi in the middle. Take your pick, you can't go wrong.”
Specify a Lake Tahoe view, if it matters to you.”
“Ask for Nagle building mountain and valley view
Make sure you request the floor and view when you make your reservations and confirm it either 24 hours or on the day
 Naegel 10 is fantastic if you are not insistent on a lake viewof checkin.”
visitors ussually request room with the view of the Valley, however if you are on the higer floor, on the other side you have a great view of the lake.”
Choose the "Tower" building and a high floor.”
Bring your own food. Far drive to town.”
“Buildings 10-12 "Naegel" buildings are newer. Terrace has large units and Plaza is standard units.”
“Be sure to specify a good view if that is what you want. we specified one of the newer buildings that had been redone and were glad we did, and we asked for one of the nicer buildings that tends to have great views. We got both, but our room was on the first floor so we didn't really get the view we wanted
“Naegle buildings seem more like private condos with large decks. The towers feel like more of a hotel.” 

Drive the five miles into town and park in the Raley's grocery store lot. This is a great place to park and free, incidentally, for waking down in this area and you can get anywhere walking from there (even the casinos).

But the grocery store is a place you might want to go. It is HUGE and has everything you might want. We always eat breakfast and lunch in the condo so we always stock up

The view from the pool/hot tub are AMAZING!! You can see Lake Tahoe and all of the Carson Valley back to the East.

they have a free shuttle down to the casinos area, so we didn't move the car for the rest of the weekend.
Go shopping and fill the fridge with food for a week or pop down for a bite at the deli.

 WiFi Internet cost $20 for 7 days (less for shorter periods) and the same code could be used on different devices. 

the drive to the resort was a typical mountain road, about 1500 feet elevation gain over 5 miles, lots of curves & some 180 degree switchbacks. Winter weather would require chains, snow tires or 4x4 vehicle. This 5 mile route would be driven every time you wanted to get down to anything (like restaurants), but there is a shuttle bus you could take if mountain driving makes you nervous.

The hot tubs are on top of the world in the Plaza building, the sunrise from there is amazing. The lower pool , hot tub and sun deck is out on a rugged point also, views to die for.

Starwood Vacation Network SVN

To make your resort reservation, please call Owner Services at

888 PLAY 191
(888 752 9191)  

http://www.starwoodvillas.com/?page_id=831

http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/starwood_vacation_ownership_resorts.html

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/resorts/map/index.html

The Starwood Vacation Network
Unrivaled flexibility, unheard of choices and unparalleled spontaneity are hallmarks of Starwood's own exchange program. The Starwood Vacation Network provides our vacation owners fee-free exchanges to our vacation ownership resorts, access to more than 1134 participating Starwood hotels and resorts in over 100 countries through automatic membership in Starwood Preferred Guest, as well as access to thousands of other destinations worldwide.

Sheraton Vacation Ownership
Create a new tradition of quality time with your loved ones in Sheraton's signature comfort and care at our Sheraton Vacation Ownership Resorts:
Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC
Sheraton Desert Oasis, Scottsdale, AZ
Sheraton Mountain Vista, Avon, CO
Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort, Port St. Lucie, FL
Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando, FL
Sheraton Vistana Villages, Orlando, FL


Westin Vacation Ownership
Westin brings its distinctive style to the world of vacation ownership. Prepare to be dazzled by superior resorts and amenities at our Westin Vacation Ownership Resorts:
The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert
The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui, HI
The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North, Maui, HI
The Westin Kierland Villas, Scottsdale, AZ
The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort
The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Villas, Rancho Mirage, CA
The Westin St. John Resort & Villas, U.S. Virgin Islands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT0bhPkAFKw

Also known as internal exchange, you can use StarOptions to stay at any of the 20 Starwood Vacation Network resorts without paying an exchange fee.

From: Rod Kahn [mailto:rodkahn@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 12:17 PM
To: chili.ww@gmail.com
Subject: SVN internal exchanges: no online system

RESERVATIONS USING STAROPTIONS

A developer-purchased unit or a resale unit that has StarOptions can use StarOptions to stay at any SVN resort subject to availability. Reservations at the owned (home) resort can be made up to 12 months in advance. Reservations at another resort with StarOptions can be made up to 8 months in advance. Reservations are best made by phone at 9am Eastern Time 12 or 8 months to the day in advance of your desired stay. Starwood does not have an interactive online reservation system; however, owners may email reservation requests to Starwood via www.mystarcentral.com, Starwood’s owner management site. This method works well for reservations at a less busy property during a less busy time. There is no charge to use StarOptionsto reserve a week. Changing a reservation, however, may result in a fee, and cancelling a reservation close to checkin date may have additional penalties. The reservations agent will detail the fees and penalties when completing the reservation.

RESERVATION EXAMPLES:

12 - 8 months in advance (home resort preference period)

• 12 - 8 months in advance (home resort priority period): Reserve only at the deeded (home) resort and season. The reservation must be for a full week. Use the StarOptions Value Chart above and deed to confirm the week and season that can be reserved in this time period. The reservation can be any size unit up to the number of StarOptions for the deeded week. For example, a 2 bedroom lockoff with 148,100 StarOptions can reserve a premium one-bedroom for 81,000 StarOptions at the home resort and season 12 months before the stay and the remaining 67,000 StarOptions would be used for another stay.
• Fixed week owners should confirm their reservation at least 12 months from the start of their fixed week. At some resorts the fixed week can be confirmed longer in advance.

8– 0 months in advance (network float period)

• 8 – 0 months in advance: Use StarOptions to reserve any available week at any SVN resort. A stay may be longer than a week if the owned units have enough StarOptions and the stay starts or ends on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. StarOptions can be combined from multiple units, including resale mandatory units (see resale section below), to make a reservation during this time period.
• 90 days in advance (network options period): StarOptions can be used to reserve individual days at any resort, regardless if they are used consecutively with a full week. An owner can use StarOptions to reserve, for example, several 3 or 4-day weekend trips. During this 90-day period, StarOptions may also be borrowed from next year for use during the current year provided maintenance fees are current.

Effective August 2011 StarOptions can be carried over (“banked”) for up to two years. There may be a fee to carry over the StarOptions. Banked StarOptions cannot be converted into Starpoints or used to make reservations with a resort to deposit for exchange.

Every other year owners can make reservations in the use year or carry over the StarOptions to use in the non-owned year.

If the resale unit does not have StarOptions, or the unit was purchased before the property was acquired by SVN, only a weekly reservation at the deeded resort and season can be made. See the Exchange section for other options for exchanging the unit within the SVN.

StarwoodVacation Ownership, Inc. (SVO)

StarwoodVacation Network (SVN)

(Formerly Westin, Sheraton, Embassy and Vistanaresorts)

Revised September 2011

http://www.tug2.net/timeshare_advice/Starwood_Vacation_Network.htm

Plaza Las Americas

Av. Tulum 260, Cancun, Mexico

Lots of pics here

tripadvisor reviews

• And ALOT of people don’t know that you can take the Rt 27 bus from the HZ to the Mall. It will drop you off across the street at Sport City. And then catch it back right outside the mall where you will see the buses linning up. You just have to make sure you wave him down…they only run about every 25-30 min.
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Your tour can also take you to the different shopping malls in the city or the Hotel Zone as Plaza Kukulkan and Luxury Avenue where you’ll find the most exclusive stores including Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton, Ultrafemme and Cancun Duty Free with its exclusive perfumes, make ups, Tous and many more luxury items.
  The La Isla Shopping Mall is an experience in itself. As the day comes to an end, you’ll have an incredible view of the sunset on the lagoon with a beautiful ambiance. La Isla has more than 150 stores including Zara, Max Mara, Soho and Lacoste just to name a few. You’ll also find many famous restaurants and bars.
  The Forum by the Sea Shopping Mall is an open air mall adjacent to the famous Hard Rock Café and Carlos & Charlie’s. It’s located on the corner of the “Party Center” where Daddy’ O, Coco Bongo, The City, Hooters and more brighten the lively Cancun nights.
  The Plaza Las Americas downtown is known as the “locals shopping mall” with its more than 120 stores, large department stores including Sears and Liverpool, food court, internet cafes and much more. If you’re staying at a Condo or time share, you can spend the 5 hours of the tour buying groceries, liquor, bottled water, cigarettes and anything else you need for your vacation at Wal-Mart, Costco or Sam’s with the assistance of our tour conductor.
  

Buses

Here are a few things that everyone should know for their next vacation in Cancun.

Taxis in Cancun

Cancun downtown taxi prices vary, but the average fair is 15 pesos, but they will try to charge tourist more(around 20 pesos). Taxi’s from downtown Cancun to the hotel zone are a minimum of 50 pesos. You can get a taxi cab anywhere in Cancun, the cost is variable depending on the zone, fares to or from the hotel zone are the most expensive, we suggest you to arrange the price with the driver first. In most of the hotels you can find at the lobby area or by the bell boy counter a sign with the current prices for local taxis. The picture on the right shows the average size of the taxis, all of them are white and green stripped, it must have a number too. Capacity: up to 4 people without luggage or 3 with luggage. Local taxis are not allowed to transport passengers from the airport, they can take you over there for your departure only. To go to your hotel from the airport you can use any transportation line located on the two terminals but be aware with the unauthorized persons working at the airport, they are commonly called pirates and you could end paying much more than the regular rate. We suggest to pre-book your airport transportation service , it is more convenient, safe and easy.

To get a transportation from the airport to your hotel you must use an authorized transportation line, see this web site - Cancun Airport Transportation.

Cancun Buses cost $7 pesos (NO American coins) per person / 1 way. You get a ticket, but, it is for their control. There are 4 buses R-1, R-2, R-15 & R 27. If you are traveling within the hotel zone then it really does not matter what bus you take (Wet'n Wild is the exception. It is in the hotel zone but only half the buses go there so ask before you get on). 

R-2 & R-15 go to Wal-mart & Mercado 28. 

R-1 you ask! Well, it now goes almost everywhere. You have to read the front right window of the bus as it lists where it ends up. R-1's will go to Puerto Juarez, Wal-mart, Plaza 2000, Mercado 23, the bus station & places I have never been. 

The R 27 turns left on Tulum Ave & goes to Plaza Las Americas (the local's mall).

Cancun Bus Tips a) Last man standing does not win anything. It means you will be flying soon. If you are the last person to pay the driver then before you can think about where you want to sit he will be going 78 miles per hour. b) Telling the bus driver where to get off is a good start but not always will it work. Most do not speak English well enough to understand you. Have an idea of where you are going before you get on. Look for landmarks. c) They will not stop to let you off unless you ask them to. Don't assume they stop at all the stops. d) To flag a bus down you need to wave one of your body parts. e) Cheapest tour in Cancun so enjoy it. f) Get on in the front and off from the back door whenever possible. g) Don't bring drinks on the bus as they will most likely end up on someone else. f) When getting off NO ONE moves for you so if the bus is packed, put your head down and push.

Exchanging money

All stores, restaurants will take US dollars and travelers checks. Odds are however that the exchange will be in their favor. It is best to exchange your money first in either the bank (best options), exchange places (casa de cambio) or in the hotel (check to rate as most do not give you a good rate). NO ONE takes US coins, bills that are ripped, written on, taped up or glued back together. See Money Exchange Tips  

Mercado 23 eats

• Benito Juarez (AKA, wrongly as Cancun City) is divided on sections called Supermanzanas (super blocks) and mercado 23 is called that (it's official name is different, not sure if it is Rojo Gomez or if that is mercado 28) because it is located in supermanzana 23. Coming from the hotel zone, you take Tulum Avenue, right (there is a big fountain with star fish and shells on it) and you go past a run a round (glorieta) the bus station is on your left, but you go straight, at the next turn about, you flip a U turn and at the second street you turn right. No way to missed, is the place with all the pirated movies.

The Hotel Zone bus doesn't go directly to Mercado 28, but leaves you a couple of blocks away. There are buses that go directly through there (R5, R^, R97-99, and a few others) but it's just as easy to walk the few blocks. The Hotel Zone does leave you directly across the street from Mercado 23.



No actual restaurants in Mercado 23, but a couple of good stands...one that serves great quesadillas than can be filled with vegetarian options.



You might like La Chaya in Mercado 28, but in general there are more places to eat there than in 23.



I would visit Mercado 23 to get necessary things done...shoes cobbled, keys made and 28 mostly for lunch.

Walking throught the market you'll also find fresh fruit and vegetable stands, local spices and sauces, a "food court",

We visited this market with a little trepidation as its in a "non touristy" area but found it to be a little gem. The people were very friendly and there were bargins aplenty with no hassels

Mercado 23 is very different from Mercado 28 in that you are left alone to explore, there is nobody shouting at you to come into their store and the prices are not artificially inflated to make you think you are getting a good deal when you haggle, when you're not. We have been to Cancun three times now and have avoided Mercado 28 the last 2 but been to Mercado 23 every visit.

Market 23 is tucked out of the way in Downtown Cancun and shown on very few of the tourist maps. It is a locals' market selling meat, fish and vegetables as well as a few gift shops, pinata shops and my favourite the very well stocked fabric shop and my daughter's favourite the sweet shop where you can buy sweets in bulk at amazing prices for filling pinatas. The smells and sounds make is feel much more like a genuine Mexican experience.

To get to Mercado 23 take the R1 bus down Tulum Av. Stay on the bus past the bus terminal and get off at the next stop. The turning is the 6th or 7th road on the left past the Bus Terminal called Cedro.

and one of the best Mom and Pops taco stands in all of Cancun. My wife and I walked every inch of this flea market and stumbled on this little lady preparing fresh and hot tortas that we still crave today.

We were looking for the pottery we saw at most of the smaller restaurants we went to and we found them there for dirt cheap. So cheap we didn't even bother trying to negotiate. I'd recommend Market 23 if you are looking for something authentic or original and don't want to be treated like a tourist. If you are looking for a "boardwalk atmosphere" of souvenirs and restaurants, go to Market 28.

wonderful prices on fruit and vegetables and a great way to see what the local people eat. You can bargain with them in a friendly fun way but the prices are generally set, the clothing stores you have more leeway to bargain,I have been going there weekly for 2 years and never seen any crime, just a bunch of hardworking friendly people. If you want to experience a real Mexican market this is the real place, it is small but has a lot of variety. Oh and the food there are a variety of small clean friendly food stalls where you can catch a bite to eat for as little as 35 pesos, delicious and fresh, I have never been ill there only suffered from over consumption!

1. Mercado 23 has a good place to buy quesadillas...I can't remember the name, but it's called Los Huaraches de...something. Huge quesadillas (grilled, not fried) with numerous choices of fillings. Only open in the morning and during the day.
   
   
   

   1. Comercial Mexicana, one of the larger Mexican supermarkets, has great discounts on produce. You could stock up on mangoes, papayas, bananas, and other locally grown fruits. 

Itinerary

Sat   arr  7pm   get shuttle;  get to hotel;  get room    crash


Daily:   happy hour  3-5


Sun  Walmart run  
        Mercado 28?    el cejas seafood restaurant
         El Rey?
       explore  other Royals--Caribbean, Mayan

WELCOME PARTY--TIMESHARE
 invitations to free events- the orientation (Sunday AM), the welcome party (Sunday PM) and the cocktail party. They will also provide you with a discount card (10-15% off) at selected Cancun restaurants.

Mon  Chichen Itza  Grayline tour

          souvenir shopping

Tue   Cancun Center  Museums
          La Isla Mall


Wed   sailboat?
          sit on beach
         tennis, ping pong,
        golf clubs


Thu


           Captain Cove

Fri




Sat     noon flight

Mayaland Hotel

Mayaland was the first Hotel built at Chichen Itza (in 1923), and, with its superb location amidst the temples, the first within an ancient site in the world. In a way, it's as much a landmark as the pyramids that tower above it.
Mayaland is a creation of Old Yucatan, built and operated by its original owners and their descendents in a style reminiscent of the hacienda nobility of a century ago.
Its air of genteel hospitality and old-fashioned charm is a legacy enhanced by the addition of every amenity. The grounds are alive with birdsong and butterflies, and all the exotic fruits and flowers of tropical Yucatan.
Over 100 acres of gardens surround the main house and its outlying Mayan bungalows, offering your choice of accommodations. The main building was designed by Sylvanus G. Morley, the head of the Carnegie expedition that rebuilt Chichén Itzá in the 1920s.

Chichen Itza

No words or even pictures can do justice to the splendor that is Chichen Itza. Only when a visitor has the personal experience of staring down into the cenote of sacrifice, or into the eyes of the red jaguar, is the full force of the past truly felt. Come indulge in the past, the glory of the Maya and Chichen Itza. The Mayan civilization is considered to be one the more complex and brilliant of its time. Dating as far back as 1500 B.C., The Maya flourished until about 900 A.D. in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and parts of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Because they made science, writing, mathematics, astronomy, and religion pillars of their lives, the details of this mysterious group continue to intrigue us. Many of their complex hieroglyphs are still un-deciphered, making it difficult to fully understand the few scriptures we have from their time. What has been concluded, however, is that Mayan people were fascinated with the sky, and most of their activities were based upon different cycles of the sun, planets, moon, and stars. Their astrological observations were written down in several codices, which now provide us with a multitude of data related to the paths of celestial bodies. From the observations they made, the Mayan people were able to predict agricultural events, eclipses, and develop a calendar that was more accurate than the one we use today. Chichen Itza was the mayor city of the Post classic Maya. It was a place for mystery and magic, and power so pervasive, those centuries after its decline it was considered holy. Monumental architecture marks the center of a city that in its day covered more than 25 sq kilometers. Settlers appeared in the area as early as 300 B.C., but not until 750 A.D. is there evidence of urban planning. By 900 A.D. and under the Maya, Chichén Itzá is a thriving metropolis of 50,000 inhabitants. When the toltecs invaded Chichen Itza about 1000 A.D. they brought with them human sacrifice, and a military discipline not known to the Maya. They Maya-Toltec built the nortern-most structures of Chichen Itza, most notably the temple of Kukulkan and the temple of the warriors. Chichén is a mix of styles, Toltec and Maya. The mayor structures within walking distance of each other and what you 'All be seeing is the city´s ceremonial center. At Chichen Itza, the Mayan civilization reached its pinnacle. Art, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, architecture -- they all flourished here.

The Maya understood the concept of the space between zero and one. They used binary numbers that are used today in computing. Their calendar was more accurate than ours today, by not requiring a leap year to make up for adjustments. They knew of penicillin 199 years before we rediscovered it. Also, their astronomical calculations allowed term to come up with a theoretical "True North", this enabling them to create effects such as that of the descending snake during the Equinox. The major structures include the Castillo, or Temple of Kukulcan; the Nunnery Complex; the Caracol, which was the center for astronomy; the Temple of the Warriors, with its magnificent colonnade of carved stelae; the ball-court and Temple of the Jaguar; and the marketplace. Two cenotes, or natural wells, were the primary reason the city was situated at this location. One provided water for the people and the crops; the other was the sacrificial well, where animal and often human victims were tossed into the dark waters in rituals of purification, celebration and renewal. The Castillo is perhaps the best-known pyramid in the entire Mayan civilization. Exquisitely proportioned, every aspect of its architecture had religious meaning as well as functional purpose. Less well-known is the fact that the Castillo as it is seen today sits atop an earlier structure; and that a steep, dark stairway inside the building takes visitors to a secret chamber, where the brilliant red Throne of the Jaguar scowls at those brave enough to intrude on this powerfully sacred site. Everywhere at Chichen Itza one encounters strong, silent testimony to the power and achievements of this remarkable civilization. The reflecting basins at the Caracol, each sculpted with a god-figure, allowed Mayan astronomers to chart the positions and movements of the planets and stars. The magnificent carvings on the walls of the ball-court tell the grisly yet enthralling story of the ritual version of the Mayan game of Pok-ta-Pok, and portray the losing captain being decapitated in the spring renewal ritual. The Temple of the Warriors celebrates the battlefield exploits of this mighty race, and pays hall of fame-like homage to its greatest fighters. Everywhere the carvings portray the supreme jaguar and feathered serpent gods, the morning star Venus, and the enigmatic lord Kukulcan.

Chichen Itza ground maps

Map from PlanetWare.com

Chichen Itza photos

This is the Sacred Well, 150 feet wide.

At the top of this temple is a sacrificial platform, or chac mool.

This smaller pyramid is being restored. You can climb it to practice for the big temple.

Tower of a central building framed against the sky. Watch out for the killer bees!

From the Observatory you can only see the top of the main pyramid.

Another long-distance view of the main pyramid.

This side of the main pyramid has fewer climbers. At center right, tourists line up for a peek at the smaller pyramid upon which this one was built.

You get some great views from the top of the main pyramid.

Another aerial view, of the Sacred Ball Court.Climbing down the main pyramid. This picture is from about halfway down.

 The court of the sacred ball game. The winning team's captain was sacrificed after the game. Historians trace the origins of the New York Jets to this period. Carvings of ball players, many sporting nose rings and ornate headgear. Historians trace the origins of Dennis Rodman to this period.Carvings of skulls. With walls like this, I don't think the Mayans had to worry too much about graffiti. 

Chichen Itza tours

Gray Line's (grayline.com) full-day bus tours from Cancun to Chichen Itza last between 12 and 13 hours. Tour guests are picked up from their Cancun hotel and taken directly to Chichen Itza for a guided tour of the ruins. For lunch, guests may choose from a buffet lunch of signature Yucatan-inspired dishes or a gourmet lunch at one of four restaurants, including La Fuente Terrace Grill, The Catherwood Buffet, Las Palapas in the Mango Grove or El Mural. After lunch, you may return to the ruins and explore independently, take a relaxing walk through tropical gardens, or swim in the on-site pool. Upon returning to Cancun, Gray Line can drop you off at your hotel or you can embark on a free sunset cruise from the waterfront.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/gray-line-bus-tours-chichen-itza-cancun-101480.html

http://www.grayline.com/Cancun/Chichen_Itza_Exclusive_Tour

grayline:  $33,66,99

Chichen Itza, founded in the year 514 AD, was once the capital of the ancient Mayan civilization and was recently declared one of the “7 Modern Wonders of the World.” The ruins are steeped in a magical history of bloody rituals of human sacrifice, a warrior culture, astrological discovery, and elaborately constructed Maya-Toltec buildings. The ruins are a must see for any visit to Cancun and visiting through the rustic Mayaland Hotel is the most provocative way to explore. Gray Line offers the “only” tour with exclusive access to the Mayaland Hotel, Conde Nast winner and National Geographic Regional Favorite!

Bordering the archaeological zone, the Mayaland Hotel is the only establishment close enough to have its own private entrance. Travel back and forth at your leisure. A shower and a dip in a cool Mayaland Hotel resort pool after a hot day at the ruins is truly a gift… not to mention a lounge chair to rest your feet and an ice cold drink.

Tour Options:

• Express
• Round Trip Transportation
• Mayaland Resort Access Pass - Including gardens, pool, lounge chairs, restrooms and more!
• Full Day to Explore Chichen Itza On Your Own
• Exclusive Access to Cenote Xtoloc - A sacred cenote on the grounds of the Mayaland Resort
• Deluxe
• Includes Everything in Express
• 1.5 Hour Guided Tour of Chichen Itza Ruins
• Buffet Lunch - Featuring traditional Yucatan dishes and specialties of beef, chicken, fish, hamburgers and a salad bar. During lunch, you will be entertained by traditional Yucatan music and dance performances by the Mayaland regional ballet.
• Exclusive - Best Value!
• Includes Everything in Deluxe
• Open Bar On Transportation to/from Chichen Itza: Beer, Bottled Water, Juice and Soft Drinks
• Freshly made Mayan hors d'oeuvres served at the Mayaland Hotel, prior to your visit to the archeological park
• Gourmet Lunch Upgrade - Visit your choice of four different Mayaland Resort restaurants (The Catherwood Buffet, La Fuente Terrace Grill, El Mural and Las Palapas in the Mango Grove). Your menu features inspired selections of choice cuts of meat, poultry, fish and seafood, cooked to order on open-air hardwood grills. A wide variety of other regional delicacies and homemade desserts and tropical sherberts, along with wine, beer and soft drinks are provided as part of your meal. During lunch, you will be entertained by traditional music from the Yucatan and dance performances by the Mayaland Regional Ballet.
• Large Bottle of Ice Cold Water for Ruins Visit
• Complimentary plush towels for your use at the Mayaland Resort pool

Itinerary:

Our excursion begins by picking up passengers between 7:00-8:05am from the lobbies of all major Cancun hotels (Zone 1). Please be ready in your “hotel lobby” for the full time range provided when you call to confirm your pick-up. We will depart directly for Chichen Itza without stopping at any tourist traps along the way.

Arriving at the Mayaland Hotel, head directly to the archaeological site through the Mayaland Hotel’s private gate (light breakfast/snack for Exclusive guests). At the site, our certified tour guide will take you on a 1.5 hour tour exploring the secrets of the ancient Mayan Civilization (for deluxe and exclusive guests). Your guide will explain the historical significance of all the most important monuments before leaving you to discover the sights on your own. Move at your own pace and take pictures with awe inspiring monuments like the Pyramid of Kukulcan and the majestic Observatory.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy with a return to the ruins, a dip in the pool, time to relax in a lounge chair, or a stroll through the Mayaland Hotel’s beautiful tropical gardens.

We will leave Chichen Itza at approximately 4:00 pm, arriving back at the first Cancun hotel at 7:30 pm.

Sites Include:

• The Majestic Observatory
• The Sacred Cenote - Where sacrifices once took place
• The Ball Court - The largest and deadliest Ball Game in Mesoamerica. The arena is 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width with perfect acoustics.
• The Pyramid of Kukulcan - Where both theology and astronomy combine to produce a unique spectacle twice a year, the Spring Equinox and the Autumn Solstice. On these days, the shadows projected over the architectural elements of the building resemble a serpent descending into the ground. Located inside the pyramid, is the famous Chac Mool sculpture and the Jaguar Throne.

http://graylinecancun.com/Tours/2c_ChichenItzaClassic.php

ADULT DELUXE (USD $66.50)

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Priv Express w/Lunch & Ik Kil & Ek Balam ruins include:

·         The same as above plus entrance fees into Ek Balam (no one in Cancun offers this trip)

·         DOES NOT include guide at Ek Balam (approx $20 for the group)

·         SUGGESTED ITINERARY: We suggest a 7am departure (no later than 8am ) to arrive at C-Itza at 9:30 before the crowds and heat. Stay there for 2.5 hrs then go to Ik Kil which is minutes away. Jump into the cenote, enjoy the gardens and after sit down and enjoy the buffet. Depart for Ek Balam around 1:30pm and arrive at 2:45pm . Guided tour takes about 1 hr including climbing the ruins. Take a few photos and depart around 4:15pm and arrive into Cancun around 6:00pm. You can easily do this tour faster and return around 5pm if you like.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

·         Tours are made in air-conditioned vans, not buses. Therefore, the maximum number of people to a vehicle is 10. If you have more people in your group, you will need two vehicles. The transportation cost is fixed - that's why more people in a vehicle makes the price per person go down.

·         This tour requires a 25% deposit at the time of booking via Credit Card or PayPal.

·         There is a small government charge of about $3.00 to bring a video camera into the ruins site.

·         There is no cancellation fee if cancelled or changed before noon the day before the tour.

To make a reservation: Click "Book Now" at the top of the page. You will receive a voucher via e-mail within 24 hours (in most cases) that you will print out and bring with you to Cancun.

http://www.cancun-discounts.com/private-chichen-itza-tour.htm

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http://www.cancuncare.com/Cancun_Tours/Chichen_Itza/Chichen_Itza_tours.htm

Choose from 4 different options for your Chichen Itza Tour with prices from $55 for adults and $38 for kids.

• Chichen Itza Classic incl Cenote
• Chichen Itza Plus
• Chichen Itza Premier
• Chichen Itza Light and Sound (Wednesdays only)

All tours include lunch at Hacienda Chichen Itza by Mayaland with access to pool, towels and lounge chairs, air conditioned transport, professional English speaking guide, a stop at the refreshing Ik Kil cenote for a swim and all entrance fees, road tolls and taxes.
Plus option adds breakfast snack on bus and drinks at lunch with beer for the return journey. Premier option adds breakfast and open bar at lunch and return journey and max group size less than 30. 

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Mayan Majesty: Ek Balam

Chichen Itza is truly wonderful, but the Mayas had many more amazing sites for you to discover. Meet Ek Balam, an ancient Mayan citadel 20 minutes to the north of Valladolid. During several ongoing excavation projec...

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http://www.allcancuntours.com/body.asp?tour=CUN-B0001&page=TourDetails

chichen itza tour  $60 incl buffet+cenote

Inclusions

• Guided visit
• Certified bilingual guide
• Entrance fee to Chichen Itza archaeological site
• Buffet lunch
• Hotel pickup and drop off
• Visit to a sacred cenote

Starpoints:

• Fully guided day trip to Chichen Itza from Cancun.
• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• Enjoy a typical buffet lunch (included) while watching a traditional Mexican dance show.
• Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off from Cancun hotels is included.

Description

During your stay in Cancun, you simply must take the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza, the most important archaeological zone in the Yucatan. Explore the ancient capital of the Mayan Empire, and learn why it has been designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Its extraordinary architectural beauty and geographical location are sure to leave you in awe!

Your first stop is a 50-minute visit to either the Ikil, Suytun or Hubiku cenote. The cenote visited will depend on which area is less populated on the day of your tour. You'll have free time to explore this natural wonder, so be sure to bring along your towel and swimsuit! By 10:50, you'll head up to the local restaurant and enjoy fresh salads, soups, rice, meat, chicken, fish, vegetables and other regional dishes. While eating, you'll enjoy a festive show, in which the locals perform traditional dances to folklore music.

At approximately 1pm, once you're inside the world-famous archaeological site, you'll be divided into English- and Spanish-speaking groups for a guided tour. You'll be taken on a 1.5-hour tour with a certified guide who will introduce you to the secrets of the Mayans. Your guide will explain the historical significance of all the most important sites before leaving you to enjoy the ruins on your own from 3pm to 4pm.

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http://www.cancunvista.com/travel/chichen_itza_ls.htm

The Chichen Itza Light and Sound Show includes: Round trip transportation from your hotel. Transportation in a deluxe air conditioned bus. Professional bilingual guide A panoramic pass by of the colonial city of Valladolid Entrance fee to Ik-Kil cenote eco-archeological park Entrance fee to Chichen Itza Buffet Lunch at Hacienda Xaybe’H Restaurant Folkloric show during lunch Movie in the auditorium Entrance to the Chichen Itza light and sound show Audiphones for translation of the show
Tour Itinerary 10:00 AM Pick up at hotels 12:20 PM Arrival at Valladolid 1:00 PM Departure from Valladolid 1:35 PM Arrival at Ik Kil Cenote 2:00 PM Exit Ik Kil Cenote 2:20 PM Visit the ruins at Chichen Itza 5:20 PM Exit Chichen Itza ruins 5:35 PM Meal served buffet style in the Hacienda Xaybe’H Restaurant 7:00 PM The Chichen Itza Light and Sound Spectacular 8:00 PM Departure from the Chichen Itza Light and Sound Show 8:15 PM Departure for Cancun 10:30 PM Drop off at hotels in Cancun	Recommended: Wear light clothing. Wear Sunglasses. Wear a hat or cap. Wear sun protection, and Mosquito repellant.The tour departs at about 10:00 AM depending on the hotel. The tour returns at about 10:30 PM depending on the hotel. The Chichen Itza Light and Sound Spectacular departures Wednesdays ONLY. Price: $97.00 USD Adults

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http://www.mycancuntours.com/tours/chichen-itza-tour-light-sound-cenote.asp

Adult: $87 Child: $55 Adult: $58 Child: $35

Tour Includes

CHICHEN ITZA LIGHT AND SOUND INCLUDES:

·         Round trip in luxury bus from your hotel

·         Professional bilingual guide

·         Mini city tour at Valladolid

·         Entrance fee to Chichen Itza

·         Entrace fee to Cenote Ikil

·         Buffette lunch 1 hour, Kagua Ek-Balam Restaurant, Regional dances.

·         Mayan Night show Light and sound.

Does not include

·         Beverages

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http://cheaptourscancun.com/chichen_itza_tours.html

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http://www.destination360.com/north-america/mexico/chichen-itza/virtual-tour

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EP:  Chichen Itza Classic Public   $47

http://www.entertainment-plus.net/affiliates/tour.asp?code=CITZACLASICO&affid=1084

Includes: Air conditioned round trip transportation Entrance fees Buffet Lunch and souvenir shopping Stop at fresh water cavern Cenote, an important part of Mayan history Bilingual Certified INAH Guide at Chichen Itza (Split into Separate English & Spanish Groups) Free time to explore and take photos

Itinerary: Pickup at your hotel (or near-by location) Cenote trip to swim in the fresh water 1PM lunch with a festive show where regional people perform traditional dances to folklore music (drinks not included) Chichen Itza Ruins for your guided tour and free time to explore and take photos Return to your hotel. Exact Itinerary Subject to Change