Ikal Chichen

Google Maps shows that it is closed, but reservations can still be made on the website. I was a little worried that I would find that the hotel was not open when I arrived. Fortunately, the hotel was open and everything was normal. The hotel's environment is very ecological, with many birds and peacocks. The swimming pool is also very nice. It's a relaxing place.

This property is in a prime location (next to the ruin) and beautifully furnished. However, a few things have caused it to be less than a 5-star experience. In the website, there’s a hotel shuttle that can take you to the ruin from the front entrance (as the side entrance adjacent to the hotel is closed), but once we arrived, they told us they can sell us a package for 350 pesos each to take us to the front entrance with a lunch, and they refused to call us a taxi because “there isn’t any outside.” Note a taxi ride to the front entrance cost 100 pesos and that’s how we got to the hotel in the first place. Their service is not necessarily a bad deal but the fact they decided not to help after learning we didn’t have a car doesn’t feel very hospitable. Note you can walk a bit outside of the check point (about 50 feet away from the hotel) to hail a taxi as there’re a couple of hotels nearby and taxi comes by often to drop people off. The room we got was very nice and has a nice view to the ruin (especially from the bathroom). Bear in mind there are a few flies hanging in there but this is normal for a tropical place, especially since there’s not a screen door to the balcony. We took a walk in the hotel which is quite expansive and have a lot of activities. Though a lot of them are not open. This is possibly due to holidays—we were there on Christmas, or maybe they have not fully recovered from pandemic. It does seem like they have ambitious plans but currently maybe more cost conscious and are focusing on things that would generate more revenue. The breakfast was tasty and reasonably priced (240/person) for a platter of omelet, fruits, bread and coffee/juice. All in all, we enjoyed our stay and would return in the future.

Be careful. Google maps takes you to this place if you enter Chichen Itza. It is a hotel that is right at the back of Chichen Itza. They make it look like it is an official entrance and the next thing you have paid double the price of tickets you would have at the official entrance. They then drive you over to the entrance in a small bus and say that lunch is included when you get back. I had to complain a lot when we were picked up and managed to get a partial refund.