Chichen Itza and Ik'kil Cenote

Chichen Itza and Ik'kil Cenote Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Chichén Itzá, Mexico Host was still asleep again by the time I left to catch my tour at 9AM. I booked the tour at Hostel Zocalo, and since I will be staying wiht them tomorrow, I got a good discount. I paid M$315 for transportation and guide only. The driver/guide was a delightful old man with a very dignified demeanor. He picked me up at the hostel. The shuttle was a big van, and there were only five of us on the tour. Tried to chat with the others practicing my Spanish. There was a slight confusion at first; the guide wasn’t informed that my booking included a tour to Ik’kil Cenote. I emphasised that I would be very upset if we didn’t go because one of the main reasons I came to Merida was to see a cenote! Chichen Itza. We arrived around 11AM. By then the sun was already burning hot! The queues were so long! Luckily the guide bought tickets for me so I didn’t have to queue. The entrance fee, on top of the tour fee, was M$277. The main sights were the central pyramid, the ball court, the thousand columns, and the observatory. We also visited the ‘sacred well’ which is a cenote where sacrified bodies were thrown into. Unfortunately most of the time, the guide spoke in Spanish and I don’t necessarily understand a lot of what he was saying. Either that, or I can’t be bothered. Ik’kil Cenote. Absolutely crowded! Nonetheless this huge aquatic hole with blue water and vines hanging from the top is just special. It would have been nicer without the aqua park like feel given the hoards of people. Without expecting it, this was exactly the cenote that I saw in You tube and wanted to see long before I came to Mexico. I just closed my eyes when paying the $70 entrance fee and the $30 locker fee. After entering the winding cave entrance, jumping into the refreshing water and swimming with the fishes, I’m happy. Reached town around 8PM, had dinner then got back to my host’s place around 9:30PM. By then, host was already gone to the couchsurfer community party in town. I’m too tired and don’t feel like partying till wee hours of the morning.

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