Dzibilchaltún — Attraction in Yucatán

Disclosure: This was the first Mayan ruin and cenote site that I have been able to visit.

It was easy to get to using google maps (we took our rental car and the main entrance was the only one that made us question where we were going as there was a big sign in spanish stating "prohibito..." it was the correct one and that led us straight to the parking lot.) Parking was 2 US dollars but I believe only 20 MXN (pesos) so be sure to exchange some cash before you go to save some (but its worth noting they took US dollars, I didnt try buying anything in the gift shop though) $10 US/person to get in and that gets you through the museum, to the ruins and the cenote. The cenote was green when we went due to it being rainy season. Our guide Ramiro said it would be clear again from about Oct.-April. Speaking of guides be sure to get one! They cost you but are worth it. Ramiro had pictures of recreations and other interesting info you just wouldnt get other wise. We went for the long tour which was about 450 mxn if I remember right. All was worth it. We went in the middle of the week in the morning on a day the cruise ships were not in port and there were only a few other visitors! (It was so nice). It was right before the fall equinox so there were yard men prepping the grounds for the mass amounts of people they expected during that phenomenon but it wasnt a bother at all. I didnt not take my son, maybe if it had been cooler... The paths are pretty well paved but I dont think you would want to bring a stroller as much of it is grass and rock terrain. Hope this helps in...

Went to the site on Sunday, Nov 20 (Revolution Day). The cenote & museum were both closed but the admission fee was the same. It looks like all the lily pads were pulled from the cenote water fairly recently (we saw them piled onshore) so it looks like they’re working on it.

Some things to know - you aren’t allowed to bring in bags although you can carry in a water bottle - there’s a free bag check after the ticket booth & before you go in the turnstiles. You can hire a guide for a short (45 min) or long (1.5 hr) tour for about $500 - this is a flat fee for your group, not per person. Many of the structures have a plaque that gives some very basic info about it, but that’s it. We didn’t do it, but the tour seems like a good value added option. There’s a kiosk with the tour options & prices just past the bag check. There is also a store at the entrance with crafts & drinks. Bathrooms are just after the entrance turnstiles - we didn’t see any others around the site.

The structures are interesting & varied. You can climb up many of them but be respectful of the walls & roped off areas. Most of the ground inside is grassy with some gravel paths, but watch out for small tripping hazards. There are a few places where you can see they are actively reconstructing structures. No one was actively working on it when we were there but we could see numbered blocks & obvious construction areas.

Even with the cenote & museum closed it was still very interesting to visit. The site was not very busy when we visited, even though it was the Sunday of a...

November 21, 2020 - They are Closed due to COVID-19 and google was not updated. It will be open next year in January according to the government official at the information center down the block. The person in charge of the site should have the common courtesy to update the hours on google so people stop wasting their time driving to a closed site.

Update: April 17, 2021 - The site is now half open. The ruins are open but the museum is closed for renovations and the cenote is closed. It was very hot (107 degrees Fahrenheit) so make sure to bring lots of water. The cost is 259 mxn per person (non-mexican) full price even though the cenote and museum are closed. Parking is 20 mxn. Do not bring a backpack or purse as they will make you get a locker for 50 mxn at the entrance. The ruins were better than expected. Worth the trip - you can even climb one of the pyramids to the top but be careful as the steps are very steep. Raised my review to 3 stars, they should tell you ahead of time that the museum and cenote are closed.

21 de noviembre de 2020: están cerrados debido a COVID-19 y Google no se actualizó. Abrirá el próximo año en enero, según el funcionario del gobierno en el centro de información ubicado en la misma cuadra. La persona a cargo del sitio debe tener la cortesía común de actualizar el horario en Google para que la gente deje de perder el tiempo conduciendo a un...