Chichen Itza, Cenote Ikkil and Hubiku+ Valladolid! Deluxe Chichen Itza Tour

Before leaving on our vacation, I verified my pick up time and location as 0630 hours at the Hilton Playa del Carmen. This information was also printed on my ticket. After waiting in the hotel entrance for 45 minutes, I called your company at the phone number provided on the email confirmation. Your employee was rude and told me that the pickup would be at 0740 hours. At 0800 hours, a shuttle van showed up to pick us up. It was a dirty interior in a very poor condition vehicle. After picking up other people from various locations, The driver dropped us off at an unknown location of a small store parking lot. There were many travelers and buses there for other tours. There was nobody from your company or signs that identified where all of us should be or what bus was for our tour. We waited in a garbage covered lot for 20-30 minutes until someone finally directed us to load on a bus. After the bus was loaded, our tour guide "Christian" narrated the tour for the very long ride. Unfortunately, it was 95% in Spanish. My wife and I were unable to understand most of what he said which was surely important and historical information. As we made a short shopping stop on the way, I contacted Christian and told him of our inability to understand Spanish. He laughed and told us that he will speak more English for the rest of the tour. When we continued our bus tour transport, Christian continued to narrate in mostly Spanish. We were forced to seek out other tourists that could interpret for us as much of the information contained important information such as deadline times to be back at the bus as it would leave without us if late. At the end of the day our bus headed back to Playa del Carmen. Christian Told us that he would be coming down the aisle to collect tips. When he stopped in from of my seat and looked at me, I said thank you but did not put money in the basket. He walked to the back of the bus and walked forward but stopped next to me and held the tip basket towards me again. I again said thank you, looked at the basket and shook my head no. He looked upset and asked me if I liked the tour. I replied, "Most of it." He stood there for a couple of seconds still holding the basket forward and looking at he. I felt his actions and attitude was a very poor way to represent your company. At the end of the Bus transport he agin gave specific directions to all on the bus regarding wether to depart or stay on the bus. Those directions were in Spanish which I did not understand. I heard me last name but had to ask other passengers what we were supposed to do. My wife and I had no idea where we were as we exited the bus as directed. My wife asked Christian where we are supposed to go and how we will get back to our hotel. With a frown and very dismissive tone, he said you walk that way, it's not too far as he pointed a direction with his hand. Based upon this issues addressed above, I will never use Viator services again. Feel free to contact me at: [email protected] The behavior of the tour guide Christian demonstrated very poor customer service. We purchased a "English Guide" tour which was indicated on the ticket.

Cons: from pick up to drop off was 16 hours to our hotel. We were picked up in a smaller shuttle and dropped on a street with other guests for all kinds of tours, to board larger buses, were put together with other tours and no one knew where to go or what to do . The bus was cramped (seats close together and not much leg room which wasn’t great for almost 8 hours in total on the bus there and back). Some people were made to sit next to a stranger (family of 3 with rows of seats being only 2)- staff would not let us move into spare seats at the back, , the stranger proceeded to spread out, play on his phone loudly playing music and videos and taking phone calls and speaking loudly while the tour guide was giving the us some history before arriving at chicken itza. I could not here the guide even with his microphone due to the stranger. The strangers behaviour was not the staffs fault, however The rules of sitting us next to strangers was not pleasant, especially if there were spare seats. While people were trying to sleep on the 4 hours home, a faulty light on the bus kept coming on over guests heads and was distracting and kept us awake. At Chechen itza we didn’t get to hear the history of all of the structures, only 3, I would have liked to have heard the history to skull wall and the other structures but I believe this is due to the time constraints of leaving from Cancun. You will stop in Valladolid and although a beautiful place, you may be hassled to buy very over priced items. Pros: we had a Mayan guide who spoke great English for us to understand the history while at chicken itza. He was funny, professional and very knowledgeable. It was a highlight for us and he was wonderful. We met up with him at chichen itza and he was provided by the tour company. The food was good and the restaurant was nice! Pork pibil was great. It was filling and the staff were friendly. They had drinks available to purchase. The instructors and guides on the bus were also pleasant and very knowledgeable. It was well worth it all to see the structures if you love history. . Some shop vendors in Vallolidid were kind. A smile and a ‘no thank you’ was accepted humbly in most cases (but not all). Over all I would recommend this tour.

My wife and I had a great time. The tour guide (Alan) was very knowledgeable. All the stops were on time. Lunch and Dinner buffet were excellent. It's a long day. So if you are up for that, it is definitely worth it.