How to visit Petra by Cruise Ship, how much will it cost, currency and how much time do you need?

Travel Guide to The Rose City of Jordan, Architectural Mystery, Traveler’s Delight.

We arrived by cruise ship and have much info to share.  If you arrive by cruise ship in Jordan, do not miss this world wonder under any circumstances. (Click to Visit our Photo Album) Come prepared (see Q & A below) and conquer this amazing UNESCO site, even if only for a short period.

Our ship, the Celebrity Constellation, docked at Port Aqaba and we were allowed to disembark by 10 am (time varies from ship to ship, but circumstances remain the same). Rather than taking the very pricey 10 hour USD$280 ship excursion, we hopped on the 15 minute free shuttle bus to town, where for the next 15 minutes we negotiated a taxi to Petra, also know as the Rose City.

After discussing with several drivers and comparing prices in a friendly, respectful manner, we settled on USD$120 both ways with our driver waiting 4 hours – we gave him a USD$10 tip on top of the payment as a thank you for a total transport cost of 93 Jordanian Dinar.  The negotiation time was well worth it!  I would recommend not paying more than 120 Jordanian Dinar (USD$170) for a round trip, including tip.

 Tip: take a photo of your taxi number/plates so you can find it when you come back

The Taxi ride one way took around 1.5 hours (3 hours total transfer time both ways)

There are 2 atms on the right hand side on the way to Petra where, if you ask him to, the taxi will stop for you to pick up Dinar.  Alternatively, there is an ATM in the Petra entrance.
Tip: download an offline currency converter like ‘Units Plus’ so you can figure out how much money you need
The Petra entrance fee was 50 dinar.

Once in, you have the option of taking a horse and carriage through the passage (Siq) to the Treasury for approximately $20.  This we found a little confusing, as the back of the ticket implies it is included???  We walked; it took about 30 well spent minutes with lots to see and plenty photo opportunities.

The Treasury, carved from the glorious pink sandstone is where is opens up to the ancient archaeological city of Petra showcasing temples, tombs, theatres and more!

No matter what, if you have the opportunity of docking in Jordan, do not miss visiting this world wonder!  I am fairly certain, you will not look back and say: I wish I had not visited Petra, or Petra was a waste of time.

Q & A

What currency can I use?  Dinar – There are 2 atms on the right hand side on the way to Petra where, if you ask him to, the taxi will stop for you to pick up Dinar.  Alternatively, there is an ATM in the Petra entrance.
Tip: download an offline currency converter like ‘Units Plus’ so you can figure out how much money you need

How much time will I need in Petra?  Minimum 3 hours (4+ is better, of course 2 days would be awesome!)

What should I take with me to Petra?  Take some fruit / bread / muffins to snack on and lots of water
Umbrella is great to shield the sun
Good walking shoes
Camera
Shoulder covers
Sun cream

How much does it cost to go to Petra?  Our Cost:
Taxi plus tip: 93 JOD / USD$130
Petra entrance: 50 JOD / USD$70 each (100 Jordanian Dinar for 2 persons)

Our total cost for 2 persons: USD$270 – The ship excursion would have cost us USD$560, so we saved USD$290!!!

How much time total will  I need for the complete Petra excursion?  Approximate Time needed for the self excursion: 3 hours travel time, 4 hours Petra (3 if you are good on your feet), 15 minutes for the shuttle + 45 minutes buffer time (waiting for shuttle bus, negotiating prices, etc.) for a Total Time of 8 to 10 hours – less if there are no wait times and you are able to negotiate a taxi quickly.

Note:  Times and costs are based on our experience.