How long would it take to go to Chichen Itza from Calica?

Question

I'm taking a cruise and I don't want to spend 9 hours on a shore excursion at Chichen Itza. I was just wondering if I could take a taxi, and spend a few hours and then head back to Calica.

Answer 1

You won't be saving any time or money by taking a taxi.  It will take a few hours to get there; you can barely get through Chichen Itza in a few hours; and it will take a few hours to get back.  If you happen to have any glitches - flat tires, lost connection to your driver, whatever... you could miss the ship when it takes off.  If that happens with an entire tour bus full of people, they will wait.  They won't wait for you and your taxi.  You will be responsible for getting yourself to the next port to get back on the ship.  It would not be a pleasant couple of days.  If you want to see Chichen Itza, do yourself a favor - take the safe route and do the ship's tour.  

Answer 2

From Calica, it would be about a three hour drive, and the price would be whatever you could negotiate.  The driver would want at least as much money as he would forgo not being in calica for all those hours, which might come close to the price of the bus tip.  I think, in this case, an air-conditioned bus is the better deal (the taxi may not be).  So if it's three hours there and three hours back, you've only got three hours at Chichen Itza.  And I'm guessing you'll be served a meal as part of you bus ticket, so that will cut into your time at the site, which will probably be similar to you time at the site, if you take your option.

Wih the bus, you can take a nap on the way back.  Chichen Itza is worth the trip which ever way you go--take plenty of pictures.