Chichén Itzá: This is one of the top five archaeological sites in Mexico, arguably one of the best in the world. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, and nominee for the ‘New Wonder of the World’ in 2007. It’s big and spread out, it’s crowded once the bus tours arrive ~10 am until they leave ~3 pm, it’s hot. Be prepared with plenty of water, good walking shoes and cover from the sun.

The best way to see it is to overnight at one of the properties adjacent to the site itself. Link to reasons in mexperience guide to Chichén Itzá. In particular, I recommend The Mayaland Lodge at Chichén Itzá, with its own private entrance to the site. There’s a hotel wing, and bungalow in a garden environment that are traditionally built and housed the earlier archaeologists who worked the site. There are two nearby hotels as well, Villas Arquaeológicas and Hacienda Chichén, within walking distance of the back entry and Cenote Xtoloc.

Overnighting will also enables you to attend the Light and Sound spectacle as Kukulcán, the feathered serpent, “returns” to visit the temple atop the pyramid dedicated to that deity.

Link to mexperience guide to Chichén Itzá.

Get there by ADO bus from Cancún, about three hours; outbound 8is, return later afternoon, positioned for a day trip on your own. Or take the more frequent bus to Valladolid, another bus or taxi to Chichén. There are lots of day tours from Mérida and Cancún - Costa Maya. And if you’re “bien forrado”, have lots of money to spend, you can hire a piloted single engine aircaft to fly you into the air strip adjacent to the site.