Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan by Lonely Planet

Author:Lonely Planet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lonely Planet

8Getting There & Away

To visit the Ruta Puuc sites, you can take a weekly Oriente bus (M$179, 8am Sunday) that makes stops at all three ruins, plus Kabah and Uxmal. The bus leaves from the Terminal de Segunda Clase (TAME) in Mérida on Calle 69.

Turitransmérida does Ruta Puuc tours on a more regular basis.

Grutas de Loltún

The Grutas de Loltún (Loltún Caverns; adult/child under 13yr M$117/free, parking M$22; htours 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm; c), one of the largest dry-cave systems on the Yucatán Peninsula, provided a treasure trove of data for archaeologists studying the Maya (Loltún means 'Stone Flower' in Maya). Carbon dating of artifacts found here reveals that the caves were used by humans 2200 years ago. Chest-high murals of hands, faces, animals and geometric motifs were apparent as recently as 25 years ago, but so many people have touched them that scarcely a trace remains, though some handprints have been restored.

A few pots are displayed in a niche, and an impressive bas-relief, El Guerrero, guards the entrance. Other than that, you’ll mostly see illuminated limestone formations.

To explore the labyrinth, you must take a scheduled guided tour, usually in Spanish but sometimes in English if the group warrants it. The services of the guides are included in the admission price, though they expect a tip afterward (M$50 per person is fair). Tours last about one hour and 20 minutes, with lots of lengthy stops. Some guides’ presentations are long on legends (and jokes about disappearing mothers-in-law) and short on geological and historical information.

8Getting There & Away

About 15km north and east of Labná, a sign points left to the Grutas de Loltún, 5km further northeast. The road passes through lush orchards and some banana and palm groves, an agreeable sight in this dry region.

Colectivos (shared vans) to Oxkutzcab (osh-kootz-kahb; M$55, 1½ hours, frequent) depart from Calle 67A in Mérida, beside Parque San Juan. Loltún is 7km southwest of Oxkutzcab, where you can catch colectivos (M$15) to the caves from Calle 51 (in front of the market). A taxi costs about M$120.

Renting a car is the best option for reaching the Grutas, though; once you’re out of Mérida it’s easy going on pretty good roads.

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