Uxmal is 62 km south of Merida on Highway 261. By car or taxi from Merida the journey takes about 75 minutes. Most visitors come on organised day tours from Merida, which are widely available from the city's hotels and tour operators and typically include transport and a guide. Self-driving is straightforward and gives more flexibility, particularly useful for catching the early morning light or the evening sound-and-light show.
There is no regular bus service directly to Uxmal. Some second-class buses from Merida's second-class bus terminal pass through the Puuc region and can drop passengers at the Uxmal junction, but this requires a walk or taxi for the final stretch. The Puuc route — a loop taking in Uxmal plus the smaller sites of Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Labna — is best done by rented car or on an organised tour.
There is no town at Uxmal itself; accommodation options at the site are limited to a few higher-end hotels adjacent to the ruins, and to the nearby town of Santa Elena.