Our third-party Merida/Dzilb Shore Excursion

April 2006 - After passing by the boat representatives awaiting passengers who purchased Carnival's shore excursion packages, we met an independent operator who offered us a Merida shopping OR a Dzilb Mayan ruin tour for $30pp. The combined tour was quoted at $45pp. We bargained down to $40pp. This included a/c bus transportation, ruins entrance fee, and an English-speaking guide. Unsatisfied with this price, we continued on to the very edge of the dock shopping area, whereupon we came across a taxi service. A van big enough for 10 people cost $90 (to Merida only) or $120 (to Merida and Dzilb). The cab driver spoke only limited English, but he had done this with enough tourists that our broken Spanish was sufficient. Also, he would often ask someone to translate for us whenever we reached specific destinations to make sure about meeting times and locations, etc. All in all, communication was not a significant problem. We chose the $120 cab package, which when added to the $6pp Dzilb entrance fee and the $20 we spent to hire a guide upon entering the ruins, came to ~$24pp for the 8 of us. Savings weren't too shabby, and it sure beat sitting on a bus with 40-50 other tourists. As an aside, if you stray from the historic/touristy area of Merida, most merchants will accept only pesos (no US dollars). The cab driver told us to bargain for our purchases in the handicraft area. I bought a handmade purse quoted at $15 for $10. Many hammocks of various quality were also for sale. There is a currency exchange booth near the entrance to the big cathedral next to the main plaza.

Thanks for the info! We are 2.5 weeks out and will have this available for others!

Thanks for the great info. I've been looking for exactly these kind of facts.

Thanks for the info about the dizzy tour. Thats the one we have been figuring on,did not want to ride a bus for 2 hours.

Did you like the mayan ruins? How do they compare to Chichan Itza? We figured they were a lot smaller an less developed? Okiefarmer