Chichen Itza Private Tour plus Cenote and Valladolid Visit
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Cancun, Mexico
- 8 to 11 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Skip the crowded bus tours at Chichen Itza. Instead, opt for a personalized excursion from Cancun or Riviera Maya. This private day trip lets you customize the itinerary with your guide and choose your own pickup time from the hotel. Entrance fees and a buffet lunch are included, along with beer and soda in a cooler aboard the air-conditioned vehicle. Bonus: swim in Ik Kil or Xcajum cenote.
- Discover UNESCO-listed Chichen Itza on a personalized, private tour with buffet lunch
- Customize your own itinerary with a guide who provides information on the restored ruins
- Select your departure time to suit your schedule, with pickup in Cancun or Riviera Maya
- Opt to swim in Cenote Ik Kil or Xcajum, or visit the Maya jungle (Selva Maya)
What's Included
- Included
- Round trip air-conditioned transportation exclusively for your group
- Visit to Cenote Saamal (Selva Maya)
- Buffet Lunch (traditional dishes from the Yucatan including salads, rice and beans, grilled fish, chicken in an orange sauce, pork loin done in a classic Mayan sauce, beef tips, fettuccini primavera, fresh fruit, desserts and tea or coffee)
- On board cooler with beers, sodas and bottled water.
- Bottled water
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Vacation Rentals
Itinerary
1
Chichen Itza
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Cenote Saamal
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Valladolid, Yucatan, Mexico
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Due to the warm and humid temperature of the region, we recommend to use light and comfortable clothes, hat and sun block lotion.
- Stroller accessible
- Camera
- Good Walking Shoes
- Bring a swimsuit and towel
- Cash for beverages and souvenirs
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 212 reviews
William_S, Apr 2026
Victor Manuel was our guide for a college-style seminar on Mayan culture and native migrations, and the experience began the moment we got into the car. From the very start, he brought the history to life—engaging, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgeable.
What truly set the day apart was how attuned he was to my two children. He struck that rare balance of making the material intellectually rich while keeping it accessible and interesting for them. It felt like a perfectly curated experience for both adults and kids.
The entire day was seamless. Eduardo, our driver, was superb—professional, safe, and courteous throughout.
All in all, it was a perfect day. I couldn’t have asked for more and would highly recommend this team to anyone looking for a meaningful and memorable experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. We’re truly delighted to hear that you and your family had such a meaningful experience with Victor Manuel and Eduardo. It means a lot to us that the tour felt engaging, educational, and enjoyable for both you and your children—that balance is exactly what we strive for. We’re especially grateful for your recognition of the care, professionalism, and passion our team brings to each experience. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future for another memorable day.
JiahanJenny_Y, Dec 2025
This tour has very nice pace and filled with activities. The guide Victor is amazing and very knowledgeable about the Maya history. The Chichén Itzá is very worth the visit. It’s very crowded when we visited there but Victor was able to take us through the crowds smoothly. He even led us to a less crowded restroom! The Cenote Saamal was very crowded too. The lunch buffet there has lots of selections but food was average. The Valladolid city center is nice to visit.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the pace of the tour and the variety of activities throughout the day. It’s great to know that Victor’s knowledge of Maya history and his ability to navigate the crowds helped make your visit to Chichén Itzá more enjoyable. We also appreciate your honest feedback about the cenote and lunch, as it helps us continue improving our tours. We’re glad you enjoyed visiting Valladolid, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future!
Michelle_E, Dec 2025
This tour was one of the best that I have had. Alberto was incredibly knowledgeable, and shared detailed information about the places we visited that really increased our knowledge. Alberto and the driver, Carlos, were prompt and kept us on schedule so that we were able to maximize our time in each location. They took care of small comforts such as walking in the shade when possible, having cold water, and keeping the vehicle cool. The vehicle was perfect and nearly new. Private tours cost a bit more, but it was definitely worth it for a once in a lifetime tour! Everything was as described!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that this tour was one of the best experiences you’ve had and that Alberto’s knowledge and explanations truly enhanced your visit. We’re also glad that Alberto and Carlos made your comfort a priority and kept everything running smoothly, allowing you to enjoy each location to the fullest. Your kind words about the vehicle and overall experience mean a lot to us. Thank you for trusting us for such a special, once-in-a-lifetime tour—we truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again!
John_F, Dec 2025
This private tour to Chichen Itza was such an amazing experience!!!!
From the moment we met Alan at our hotel entrance to the moment he dropped us off was nothing but an amazing time.
Alan made our tour so special with his passion for Myna history and archeological background!!!
He explained what we were about to see in with excitement!!!
A very clean comfortable van with cold water, beers and snacks !!!
Once at Chichen Itza we were guided to a parking place right up front and ushered to the front of a very long line.
Alan knew everyone joking and laughing with venders, security, other tour guide, he is such a genuine person.
He took us on an unbelievable tour of all of Chichen Itza.
Every question answered and filled us in on so many details of Myan life.
We had one member of our family on crutches and Alan was so attentive and patient.
We went on to a wonderful Cenote, so beautiful so refreshing !!!
We ate a truly delicious lunch in an old 1500’s church on a beautiful plantation which was an unforgettable experience!!!
We did a driving tour of a beautiful colonial town.
He had us back to our hotel with plenty of time to spare for our dinner reservations.
I so highly recommend this tour and if you get Alan you’ve hit the jack pit
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such an incredible review! We are truly happy to know that your private tour to Chichén Itzá exceeded your expectations and that every part of the experience was enjoyable, from start to finish. Alan’s passion for Mayan history, his knowledge, kindness, and attention to detail truly make a difference, and we’re glad he was able to make everyone feel comfortable and well cared for. It means a lot to us that you appreciated the itinerary, the comfort, and the special moments along the way. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and would be honored to welcome you and your family again in the future.
Ozlem_A, Dec 2025
We had a great time learning about Mayan culture , language, civilization and language Our guide Victor Manuel was very knowledgeable and made the trip a great learning experience for all of us
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We’re thrilled to know you had such a wonderful experience with us. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Bradley_E, Dec 2025
An excellent tour from an excellent guide (Alberto) and driver (Jorge)! Very professional and knowledgeable!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
It’s fantastic to hear you had a great visit. We really appreciate your support and kind words!
Enej_P, Nov 2025
Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat for sun protection!
Leaving earlier in the morning to Chichen Itza, allowed us to get ahead of the bus tours and avoid the large crowds.
The choice of xenote was beautiful, not too crowded, and the following meal was authentic & delicious!
Our tour guide Norma was the absolute best! She is kind, caring, and extremely knowledgeable about Mayan History!
The whole day she was filled with fun facts and her expertise truly heightened the overall experience!
Highly recommend the private tour!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re thrilled to hear that the early start helped you enjoy Chichén Itzá before the big crowds and that you loved the cenote and authentic meal. It’s great to know the experience was comfortable and enjoyable from start to finish.
Youngkyun_J, Jul 2025
We booked the Chichen Itza Private Tour plus Cenote and Valladolid through Viator, and it was absolutely worth every dollar. The day was packed with culture, history, and adventure – yet everything was handled smoothly and professionally.
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. He explained the deep history of the Mayan civilization in a way our kids could understand and enjoy. We even learned a few Spanish phrases along the way! Seeing the Chichen Itza pyramid in person was breathtaking, and our guide’s insight added real depth to the experience.
Swimming in the cenote was a magical moment – crystal clear water and a refreshing break from the heat. It was a first for our family and something we’ll always remember. Valladolid gave us a glimpse into local life, and we loved the charming streets and quick stop for some local snacks.
The transportation was comfortable, clean, and punctual. Our driver was courteous and helpful throughout the day. We especially appreciated the flexibility of the private tour — no rushing, and we could enjoy every moment at our own pace.
Highly recommended for families who want a more intimate and educational experience of the Yucatán Peninsula. Our children said it was the “best day of the trip.”
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear your family had such a memorable time on the Chichen Itza Private Tour, and that your kids called it the “best day of the trip.” It’s great to know you enjoyed the perfect mix of history, adventure, and local culture — from the engaging guide and breathtaking ruins to the magical cenote swim and charming Valladolid. We truly appreciate your kind words about the comfort, flexibility, and smooth organization of the tour. We’d love to welcome you back anytime for more unforgettable experiences!
Jeanmarie_F, Jul 2025
Christian the driver and Alberto, the tour guide were perfectly on time. The van was impeccably clean with amazing A/C, and plenty of snacks for our day trip. Alberto gave us an abundance of historic information about the region to help us put in perspective what we were going to see throughout the day. Alberto expertly guided our group of 4 throughout the entire Chichén Itzá complex. Our trip to the Cenote was amazing and the buffet lunch was delicious. Christian was a great driver and kept us on schedule and back to our hotel safely. Highly recommend this full-day tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had a great experience with Christian and Alberto, and that you enjoyed the tour, the van, and the stops along the way. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Melinda_R, Jun 2025
Very Overpriced, and our English tour guide spoke with heavy accent so we could not understand him. The only thing I did like was that we could end the tour at any time. Also didn’t know it was a 2hr ride to the site. If we had a good English speaking guide it may have made our experience better. Our driver should have been our tour guide, he spoke much better than the tour guide.
I wish we would have just spent less money and we could have waited the time at each site with other tourists.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We sincerely apologize for your poor experience. We’re looking into this and will escalate to ensure it’s improved.
MunLing_S, Jun 2025
Our tour guide and driver is professional knowledgeable and very friendly. All of us had a good time! We are happy with the tour arrangements and service!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the perfect rating! We’re so happy you had a good time!
Sam_F, Jun 2025
brought the history to life. He didn’t just repeat facts. He made you feel the meaning behind what you were seeing. Clear. Sharp. Focused. You walked away understanding the culture and its complexity.
The cenote stop was calm and refreshing. Not crowded. No rush. You had time to enjoy it. You could swim or just take it in. Clean and well-managed.
Valladolid was a smart addition. It wasn’t long, but long enough. You got a real taste of local life. Not touristy. Just real.
Now to what made it unforgettable.
Victor and Christian.
Victor was hands down the best guide we’ve ever had. Patient. Sharp. Respectful. Knew exactly how to read the group. Answered every question. He didn’t push an agenda. He delivered value.
Christian was more than a driver. He was part of the experience. Smooth ride. Safe. On time. Professional. But also warm and present. You could tell he cared.
Ask for them. Seriously. If you want to do this right, ask for Victor and Christian. You’ll feel the difference.
This wasn’t just a tour. This was the best travel experience we’ve ever had.
—The Fakhoury Family
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your heartfelt and thoughtful review! We’re truly honored that your experience with Victor and Christian left such a lasting impression. It means the world to us to hear that the tour brought history and culture to life in a meaningful way. Thank you for choosing us—we’re grateful to have been part of such a special travel experience!
Anna_H, Jun 2025
Our guide and driver made the experience very enjoyable. There was a mix up on our end with the hotel pickup, but they were very helpful in fixing it and made our trip amazing! The day started with a cooler full of drinks and a very friendly tour guide. He gave us a little presentation on the local wildlife and culture, complete with diagrams and pictures on his ipad.
We got to Chichen Itza before the majority of the crowds, and our tour guide was very knowledgeable. He walked us around the different temples and ruins and told us about each piece of history in great detail.
After a long morning in the hot sun, we made it back to the bus. This was welcomed with some nice cold a/c, along with a tray full of local snacks. After some nice Japanese peanuts and Modelo, we made our way to all of our favorite part, the Cenote Saamal. We chose to eat first and swim after. That was the move, because we were alone with fresh food after a long morning. The food was easily one of our highlights of the whole trip to Cancun. It was very basic, but local ingredients. And fresh. So good. Easily would go again just for that buffet.
After a filling meal, we went over and took a quick shower to wash off the sweat and sunscreen (required by cenote) and got fitted for a life jacket (again, required). This was one of the coolest things any of us had ever seen. It was like a different planet. After walking around in 100* weather, it was so refreshing to just lay back in some nice cold cave water.
After a nice, relaxing drive back, the tour guide offered to stop in a small town that had local shops. However, we were all beat and ready to just get back so they obliged and took us back. The ride was comfy and most of us slept.
All in all, this was a highlight of our whole week. Definitely worth the time and money for this trip.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad our team could help with the pickup and make your day smooth and enjoyable. It sounds like you really made the most of the experience—from learning about the history at Chichen Itza to cooling off in the cenote and enjoying the fresh local buffet. We're thrilled it was a highlight of your trip and would love to welcome you back anytime!
Anna_L, Jun 2025
Carlos, our driver was so kind and we felt safe on the road with him! Alberto, our tour guide and translator was so knowledgeable so patient and accommodating during our trip. We learned so much and did not feel rushed. It was wonderful to have a private tour in the air conditioned vehicle. They has cools water and snacks for us. We felt safe the entire time with these two gentlemen who took such great care of us and couldn’t be more thankful!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks for the amazing feedback! We’re so happy you had a great time!
ACC_A, Mar 2025
Super wonderful experience - very memorable. Communication and planning was seamless. Guide and the driver arrived as planned. The Van was 2024 relatively new van, great AC, fully loaded with drinks and snacks. The pest part was our guide - she was super helpful and adapted to our needs (esp Vegeterian food). Drive to Chichen Itza was about 2.5 Hrs. Very wonderful guided experience and accomodated our needs to stay as much as possible in shade and avoid sun - super informative and scaled to our needs. Driver was also great and always dropped us at the entrances. The best part was Selva Maya / Cenote Saamal. Really great choice in Vegeterian food and we are picky. The Cenote was very well organized, entrance well decorated for pictures and an unparallel experience - great choice to take us to this Cenote. We passed though Valladolid as well. Overall started at 9 and back by 6 … really a perfect experience in every way. We were in two minds on whether to invest a whole day in this - but was totally worth it, esp the Cenote experience. Drive was super comfortable both ways and charging ports in van kept electronics going all 5-6 hours of travel time.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for the 5 stars! We’re so glad you enjoyed your experience
Katelyn_G, Feb 2025
Our tour guide Alan was excellent!!! He was extremely knowledgeable and attentive to everything we could’ve possibly needed on the tour. We would highly recommend this tour, especially with Alan.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Your kind words mean a lot to us! Thanks for the fantastic review!
Dorothy_G, Jan 2025
Alvaro was a very gracious and knowledgeable guide. He taught us a lot of fun facts along with the history. Javier, the driver was also extremely extremely gracious and the ride was very smooth. We thank Alvaro and Javier very much for a wonderful day.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Your 5-star review made our day! Thank you for your support!
Chris_S, Jan 2025
Private tour worthwhile for family of 5.
Air conditioned van with seating for seven with a skilled driver, Omar, who safely navigated the 2 1/2 hour drive on twinned highway.
Our guide, Alberto, is certified and extremely knowledgeable and shared some history on the drive and then, walking through the grounds, highlighted interesting facts and could answer any question covering centuries of history at the large well preserved site.
We also did a cenote swim which was lots of fun and a real highlight jumping in to the cool waters and ate at an authentic local buffet at the Selva Maya.
We got picked up just after 7 AM and returned at 5 PM. I recommend going early to beat the bus crowds. We were leaving the site at noon and there were hundreds of people waiting in line by then.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We appreciate your 5-star review! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Jacob_V, Jan 2025
We had an excellent time on our tour! Victor Manuel our tour guide was very knowledgable and informative but made the trip fun as well, so it wasn't a boring school fieldtrip. They were ontime to pick us up and couldn't have been any more helpful along the way! I would hope that if anyone got another tour guide it would be him! Very Very happy with our tour!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We appreciate your feedback! Thanks for the amazing review!
Phil_M, Jan 2025
Overall, the experience is a mixed bag and significantly overpriced.
We were picked up at our hotel right around 7am and returned close to 5pm. Our driver was friendly and safe though the van was rickety and had seen better days. Thankfully the A/C worked well.
Don't be oversold by the amenities - the cooler "full of drinks" had only a handful of waters and two beers, the snacks were a selection of 6 small packaged food items from a convenience store trip, and the lunch options at the "restaurant" (at Ik Kil) are extremely limited, cafeteria quality at best - you also only get one drink per person included at lunch.
Chichen Itza itself is amazing. Fortunately, we had nice, sunny weather. Highly recommend getting there as early as possible because it gets hot and very busy after 11am (when we were wrapping up). There are a LOT of street vendors inside and outside the gates hawking kitschy wares and mass produced souvenirs which is annoying, but they thankfully aren't aggressive. Still, the place is amazing and there are a lot of ruins to explore and learn about.
Our translator had a fairly thick accent and it was difficult to understand him at times with the accent and the road noise plus rattles of the vehicle, though he did his best and seemed knowledgeable. He did not bring anything inside for the tour, but afterwards gave us some laminated materials to leaf through which were interesting. The laminated papers and photos were quite worn out and need to be replaced. It would have been nice if the tour guide had some with him during the tour - many indigenous words & names were difficult to parse without a visual aid. That said, having a dedicated tour guide is still much more preferable to being in a large group using radios and we thought he was friendly and did well enough.
The Ik Kil cenote was unique. The flora is gorgeous to look at from above and below while swimming. As mentioned earlier, the food options at the restaurant were edible but very low quality. There are facilities on-site for changing, lockers for storing your personal items, and showers for rinsing ahead of getting in the water; however, the place isn't well organized and is kind of a madhouse with how crowded it gets. Note, the water can be quite cool - about 70F degrees and being a sinkhole means little direct sun. After about 15-30 minutes, you'll be ready to get out and warm up.
After we left Ik Kil, we went to Valladolid, but only spent about 20 minutes there without a guide. Barely enough time to walk the square quickly and use a bathroom. Can't speak much to this town as it was treated as an afterthought.
In summary, Chichen Itza is absolutely worth a visit, but I think charging $900 USD for 2 persons comes with higher expectations and this experience was a notch or two below. I'd say closer to $4-500 would be far more reasonable for what you get.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We’re sorry your experience wasn’t perfect! Thank you for your valuable feedback, and we’ll make improvements.
Monica_H, Jan 2025
Not worth the money. Our guide, Victor Manuel, was punctual, knowledgeable and enthusiastic but we left with very little tangible information. He was difficult to understand and he went on tangents which seemed unrelated. The van was dated and the guide and driver spoke amongst themselves the whole 2 hr plus drive. The cenote was nice but very touristy.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We’re really sorry to hear about your experience. Your feedback is important to us, and we’ll work on improving.
Lori_B, Jan 2025
We’ve visited Chichen Itza many times in the past, but not in the last 20 years. Things have changed a lot since the days when we could ascend the steep and narrow steps. Alberto was a fantastic guide and very knowledgeable about history and culture. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We appreciate your 5-star review! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Juliana_D, Dec 2024
Long day, but well worth it for the Mayan ruins tour and knowledge alone! Punctual, professional, and attentive. We honestly could have skipped Ik Kil (super crowded), but Chichen-Itza was AMAZING!
Aimie_H, Dec 2024
Our tour guide Jerry was the best. Every other guide at Chichen Itza knew Jerry and shared his vast knowledge with everyone. We learned so much about the Mayans, Chichen Itza and the Yucatán Peninsula during our tour. Our driver Rudolpho was also fabulous and a great safe driver. The Cenote Ik Kil was a wonder and so fun to go jump and swim in. The lunch was better than expected as well. We were too tired to walk around Valladolid but it is a very cool Spanish influenced town. The van was comfortable and clean and we were provided plenty of drinks and snacks. Definitely a great day.
Sameer_K, Dec 2024
Chichen Itza and the Ik Kil cenote were amazing. Alberto was a terrific tour guide, knowledgeable and friendly. Alfredo was a great driver.
TRACY_T, Nov 2024
Our guides were excellent and we had an extremely enjoyable day. As it was a very early pick up they gave us the time to snooze for the first hour or so, which was very much appreciated.
Josh_R, Aug 2024
Miguel was an extremely enthusiastic and educated guide! He brought 9 of us through Chichen Itza and was very fun to talk with. Omar was a great driver and got us from our hotel in Cancun to Chichen Itza quick and safely.
Jessica_L, Jul 2024
Victor Manuel was a great guide. Super knowledgeable. He gave a great background wrt to the anthropological, historical, and archeological roots of the area and the Mayans.
Driver Omer was great too!
Chichen Itza is extremely hot so prepare accordingly. Would have been nice to have had umbrellas or some other shade - but that has nothing to do with your.
becky_f, Jul 2024
Our tour guide, Alberto, and driver, Julio, were fantastic - very knowledgeable and accommodating. Bring bug spray to Chichen Itza. Cenote was amazing and lunch was excellent and authentic!
Erin_H, Jul 2024
Cancun Elite made this trip amazing. Our tour guide, Josue was very knowledgeable and timely. He made it what we wanted it to be. We could stay longer, leave when we wanted from place to place. The experience was one of the best tours I've been on. Our driver, Alfredo, was excellent as well. We felt safe and had a wonderful time.
From $431.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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