I wouldn't use two days driving to go thru Chichen, Izamal, Merida, and Uxmal! That's murder! It's about three and a half hours driving to Merida, from the beach. Izamal is a detour from the hwy, though Chichen is en-route. Chichen deserves an entire day, and a stay overnight, at the Dolores Alba, so you can see the lazor light show. If you're only going here once, make sure this is the light show you see. Tulum and Uxmal have them, but Chichen Itza is the Celestial site, and so, the Light show here is the best one to see. Merida is a beautiful city that deserves far more than an hour. Try maybe four to five days here, and day trip to Uxmal on one of those days. Then, you can lunch in Ticul, or if you're truly rock and cave crazy, there is Labna, Sayil, Kabah, and the Grutas de Loltun...I love Yucatan, and am not scared to drive there. My g-friend and I were there last year, and in Merida, had all the guys laughing, asking if we were lost from Cancun! (Two girls lost three hours away?!) The hwy in Roo, is in fact far more crazy than the main toll hwy, and the old hwy from Tulum. (Blame the tourists, dealing with a road that seems to only have a lane and a half, for two lanes!) The old hwy, watch for Topes, or massive speed bumps. We drove last May, thru fire to Merida. It was scary, but we made it! We were in Merida only two nights, and opted to not repeat a day at Uxmal, as it truly wasn't enough time. Merida, there is the folkloric ballet, and a site many of these reviews never mention, is Dzibilchaltun and Cenote Xlacah, where there is another observatory, (the sun rises between the doors...celestial site.) and right there, you can swim in the cenote. It's only 20 mins out of Merida, and makes for a perfect spot for an afternoon swim, with temples surrounding. Izamal is worth staying in, as it's so charming, and you can explore the pyramids that are right in the town, unexcavated and free to climb. Izamal is a favorite, as is Merida. Am going in two weeks, to check out Ek Balaam, and heading back to Uxmal and Coba this time. Coba, is cool, but personally think, Uxmal would be best described as the classic city, set in an oasis garden, in the dry puuc hills, it's fascinating, beautiful, and the rock work is out of this world, considering these people had no metal tools. I think Uxmal, Chichen, Dzibilchaltun, are really cool, Coba is not as exciting for architecture, but set in the jungle is very cool, and Ek Balaam is a must see, since it's so new on the map! My only driving tip, would be to watch your rear view mirror, and when you see the hasty truck gaining on your rear, pull over. They will put on their left hand blinker once back in their lane, to thank you. The bus drivers are the same. The old hwy is a little scary, but don't miss the chance to experience it! Buses DO sometimes pass on corners, and this is why it's best to not add stress, and just pull over. Yucatan is mainly straight, and deadly flat, so it's not like the freak stories you hear from the Chiapas, and elsewhere. I think the famous gas station scam can be beat by simply making sure they see that you are watching the pump to make sure they zero it. If you don't watch, they may charge you for the last car too! As with cash, don't let it go until they've agreed that the amount you are giving them, is correct. Bill shuffles are common. (Tip Tip Tip the gas attendants, it's most of their wage) I had a bank try to take me on t.cheques, but because I had the amount already figured out, he had to pay me. My friend handed over her checks to find out there was an extra "fee" for Canadian. (It was a BS line) (Also, for Canadians to note, in Merida, at the Canadian Scotia Bank, we were told our Can funds were worth less than half of US, in 2006!! We were getting 9.5 in Playa, got 10.7 on credit card, and settled for 7.5 at the only money exchange that would take our money in Merida....and she just happened to be on her way to Vancouver, making me suspiscious that this was the only reason she exchanged my funds...(I'm from Vanc. Island!) Bankers will take you as well. My advice on this is to ask the money exchanger to write down how much they are giving you, before you sign on the dotted line..... I hate sounding negative, because in general, I have never experienced anything terrible, other than our trunk getting broken into, and that happens everywhere. There were a few people who "tried" to take us, but MOST of the workers, were honest, friendly, and far more helpful than anywhere north of Mexico! Good luck, and have fun. Don't worry about what will go wrong, just be well armed with knowledge, and you'll have a fantastic time down there! Yucatan is the best place in all of Mexico, for geology, snorkelling, scenery, white sand and turquoise water, pyramids, the charming village of Izamal, and Paris of the West, in Merida. Celestun for Flamingo and crocodile viewing, cenotes for swimming....paradise!
*Learn the road signs en Espanol before you go!
PS: a good short itinerary idea....the beach for two days, Chichen third day, Merida four, five, six, seven, Izamal eight, Ek Balaam enroute to the beach on day nine, and the rest is sand and water!
