Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Hubiku Cenote- Small Group
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Tulum, Mexico
- 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
This intriguing small-group tour from Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya combines two prominent archaeological sites of the Yucatan Peninsula: iconic Chichen Itza and less-visited Ek Balam. A professional guide shows you both, with free time to climb the main pyramid at Ek Balam. In between, visit Hubiku Cenote for a swim and dig into a buffet lunch. Please note: Chichen Itza tickets are at your own expense.
- Full-day, small-group guided tour of Chichen Itza and Ek Balam
- See the Kukulkan pyramid, the jaguar temple, the ball court, and more
- Includes juice, fruit, and cookies for breakfast plus a buffet lunch and a swim in Cenote Hubiku
- Includes 2-way transfers from Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya hotels
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Except Cancun and Costa Mujeres)
- Professional guide
- LunchBuffet lunch
- BreakfastJuice, one piece of fruit and cookies
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Hubiku Cenote entrance fee and taxes included
- Ekbalam arqueological zone entrance included
- No lines or waits at the Chichen Itzá ticket office
- Entrance fee - Access fee to Chichén Itzá per adult. Mandatory payment cash only upon boarding$45.00 per person
- Entrance fee - Access fee to Chichén Itzá per child. Mandatory payment cash only upon boarding$5.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
• Hotel name and lobby are required upon reservation. • Pickup is available at hotels and vacation rentals in the Riviera Maya from Moon Palace to Tulum, including Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen. • Lodgings with unpaved access, pedestrian streets with restricted vehicle access, or located in Tulum’s Hotel Zone will be assigned a nearby meeting point. • Pickup time is provided the afternoon before your tour.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 02/01/2022 - 03/31/2026
Monday : 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM
Thursday : 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM
- 04/01/2026 - 04/18/2027
Monday - Sunday : 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM
Itinerary
1
Chichen Itza
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Cenote Hubiku
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Ek Balam
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- It is recommended that you bring a swimsuit, sunscreen and a towel
- Only last minute bookings, after 6 pm the day prior to the tour, requiere a confirmation from the service provider, if you didn´t receive a confirmation from the service provider a refund will be processed.
- Skip the lines at the Chichén Itzá ticket office. Entrance fee: $45 USD per adult / $5 USD per child. Payment is mandatory at pickup.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 188 reviews
Erin_A, Apr 2026
Be prepared for a long day, but it is packed full of amazing locations! Make sure to pack a variety of clothing (bathing suit, towels, and sandals for the Cenote; comfortable clothes and shoes for the ruins; and a rain jacket in case it pours down rain like it did for us). It started with an early morning pickup. We stopped at a gas station for coffee/snacks/bathrooms, then drove the more than 2 hours to Chichen Itza. While driving, our guide, Gabriel, reviewed a lot of the history of Chichen Itza and did a Mayan math lesson. Gabriel took a lot of photos for everyone in our group, and made sure that we saw as much as possible. At the Cenote, we changed in locker rooms, swam for 30 minutes, and went through a buffet. We then drove the 1.5 hours to Coba. Unfortunately for us, it was a torrential downpour in Coba, but we bought ponchos and walked through anyway. You have the option of renting bikes ($5 USD) or a bike taxi (seats 2 and costs $15 USD). It’s a pretty long walk, but it wasn’t too bad (not hilly or anything). The ride home was mostly quiet as everyone rested and was dropped off. Make sure to bring some cash if you want to rent the bikes or take a taxi. And also bring some cash for a tip for the guides! But almost all of the vendors take card, so you don’t need cash for buying any souvenirs.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour and that our team helped make your visit memorable.
Thank you for trusting us and for taking the time to share your experience.
Hugo_S, Feb 2026
Antonio was absolutely outstanding. What we expected to be a simple guided visit turned into a true history class. His depth of knowledge, clarity of explanation, and ability to connect historical events with cultural context made the entire experience unforgettable.
It genuinely felt like attending a live lecture, engaging, dynamic, and full of passion.
On top of that, his English was excellent. He explained complex historical concepts clearly and fluently, making everything easy to understand and enjoyable to follow.
If you want more than just a tour, if you want to truly understand what you’re seeing, Antonio is the guide you hope for. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you! Feedback like yours fuels our passion to work harder each day, constantly raise our standards, and deliver exceptional service. We're so grateful for your encouragement and support!
Greg_B, Dec 2025
It is a long day but worth it! We are in our late 60s and early 70s did everything but climb ek balam. Amazing.
Cassie_L, Oct 2025
Bring a towel and make sure you bring $$
Our tour guide Gabriel was fantastic. Upbeat positive energy and very good at taking pictures. He knows the best spots for great photographs. Our driver was also #1 picking us up 5:05
Dalene_H, May 2025
This was our second time taking the tour with this company. Like last year, it was worth every penny! We were in a small group - our family of three plus four others. Pickup was prompt and easy. We got to Chichén Itzá even before they opened. Being early was extra nice, since the ubiquitous vendors were still setting up for the day and we didn't need to fend off as many of the usual determined sales pitches. ;)
Our guide, Jesus, gave us great information. He also has some magical powers and somehow was able to be everywhere at once! We came with our autistic adult daughter who has to move at her own pace. He moved between the main group and ours, and even gave up his usual "free hour" to make sure we didn't miss any of the high points or the parts most interesting to our daughter.
The cenote, lunch and visit to Ek Balam was as good as we remember from last year. Most of the other tours include lunch and some kind of tequila tasting, which does not interest us at all. So having Ek Balam on the itinerary is a huge selling point.
Our driver, Juan, was super attentive and on the ball. He paid attention when our daughter needed to go back to the van and came closer to pick her up, kept the AC running, etc. On the way back, we got a flat tyre in the middle of nowhere. Juan and Jesus jumped out and chanced the tyre in no time. We didn't even have to get out of the van! And 20 minutes later, we were back on the road.
I still highly recommend this tour company. Both of our experiences with them have been amazing and we wjll definitely be back!
Leo_B, May 2025
Antonio and Alberto were really great guides. Knowledgeable, attentive to our needs, accommodating. If I can choose tour guides and n my next tour I will specifically ask for Antonia and Alberto.
Gary_H, Apr 2025
Our guide was excellent!!
He explained the ruins very well and had
some very interesting stories about them.
We will come back to go on more tours.
Keith_B, Apr 2025
Our experience for Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam was fantastic! Our guides were helpful, informative, and fun. The travel was easy and we learned a lot more than going on our own at Ek Balam or waiting in lines at Chichen Itza. The day was long with a 5:30 AM pick up, but the comfortable van and expert driving made the day go smoothly. If you are planning a trip to archeology sites, but only have 1 day in the region, this is the tour to take. Chichen Itza and Ek Balam are two very distinct sites, but the experiencing the dichotomy between the sites helps you better understand Mayan political culture - two very different city states but linked through trade and history. After picking up fellow travelers in Playa del Carmen and Tulum we started by touring Chichen Itza, staying for about 2 1/2 hours. We then had a relaxing swim at Hubiku Cenote followed by a tasty lunch. Finally we toured a near deserted Ek Balam. It was cool to basically have the site to ourselves and allowed our guides to go in depth on the site's history and importance in the region's archeological development. The ride back was long, but overall the tour was well worth it. We could not have recreated such a smooth day on our own. Huge thank you to our guides and drivers!
JJ_a, Mar 2025
Fantastic experience hosted by Gabrielle (guide) and Victor (driver). The day is very long but worth it. Learn alot about Mayan culture, Mexico and the geography of the area. Would recommend and repeat anytime! Guide/Driver do their best to accommodate and take care of needs. Strongly suggest the small group option as one doesn't get lost in the mass of humanity.
Aaron_R, Feb 2025
This is an amazing trip that I highly recommend taking but just be aware it’s very long - you’ll leave before the sun comes up and return after dark. Our children (7 +9) both really enjoyed themselves.
Harold_K, Feb 2025
It involves a lot of driving, but it's worth the drive. Chichen Itza is amazing. So is the underground Cenote (Hubiku). Wonderful tour guide. Lot's of interesting facts. If you're looking for souvenirs, the many venders on site have some great things at very reasonable prices.
Nancy_B, Feb 2025
Excellent driver. Very accommodating. Knowledgeable friendly guide. I would recommend both sites. I would definitely rent a bike or trike a Coba.
Ashley_S, Feb 2025
We had an amazing time! Our guide, Jesus, was very kind and knowledgeable. He made our excursion exceptional. I really cannot say enough, we could have stayed and chatted with him for days. He was so patient with our questions and did an excellent job explaining everything to us. Not to mention, we had our 4 year old with us and he made sure to include him and see to it that he was comfortable throughout the trip.
Paul_S, Nov 2024
Trips to Ek Balam are not common so it was great to find this in combination with Chitzen Itza.
It is a small group tour, in our case three couples, two Spanish speaking and ourselves English.
What we ended up with was effectively a private tour with Lilly as our guide and Hezuz with the Spanish speakers.
Starting with Chitzen Itza, Lilly avoided the usual straight to the Pyramid “clap, clap” followed by the Ball Court “clap, clap” again (I have always hated that to be honest and it was the first time in 8 visits it didn’t happen). We started with other areas which were off the main plaza and included the Observatory. Lilly was informative and provided both historical, cultural and spiritual insights.
Of course we had the main event and loads of time to wander round ourselves.
Ek Balam is lesser known but is the only pyramid you can still climb, with as many steps as Chitzen Itza which is a challenge in the hot sun! What Ek Balam has is the sculptures which are perfect and worth the visit on their own.
Also included in the tour was lunch and a visit to the Hubiku Cenote. We didn’t want to swim but there are paths and things to see so we were able to spend our time productively.
I have seen comments about the suspension on the van however the problem is the roads and not mechanical, this is just a fact in the area although the trip to the cenote was a bit of a bone shaker!
We were picked up and dropped out by our driver, and chief pothole avoider, Alberto and a shout out to him.
We would not hesitate in recommending this tour.
Neli_B, Nov 2024
it was a long, a bit tiresome yet interesting tour you should not miss. Chichen Itza was most impressive for me, although I regret we did not get a chance to visit the Warriors`s Temple and Sacred Cenote. Ek Balam was also exciting, while at the Hubiku Cenote and the restaurant we were able to see the festivities for the Day of Death.
Paul_H, Oct 2024
Our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and took time with our questions about the site and cultural history. My son also really enjoyed the experience, Borge the sites and the learning.
E_W, Sep 2024
This is an excellent small tour, reliable, punctual, restroom breaks and cold water. Our guide Gabrielle was the best, very knowledgeable and humorous. The three stops of Chichin , Ak Balam and Cenote were well worth seeing and climbing Ak Balam was a feat in the heat but totally worth it! I'd not hesitate to recommend this tour. Thank you Gabrielle and our wonderful driver Juan for an excellent day.
Tia_M, Aug 2024
Our driver Julian and our guide Eder were both so great! Eder answered all of our questions and had lots of information about local history culture. The Hubiku Cenote was breathtaking and the buffet lunch was delicious!
Richard_M, Jun 2024
Jesus and Julian were great. Jesus was a wonderful guide. While it was an early pickup, it was worth as we arrived at Chichen Itza as the gates opened and before the cavalry of your buses and large crowds arrived. Hubiku was an enchanting stop for lunch and the cenote. Ek Balam was an exhilarating climb. Wonderful history and thorough explanations from Jesus made it a memorable experience! Definitely recommend.
Ronald_O, Jun 2024
Routing from Cancún was through Playa Del Carmen going to the sites and returning to Cancun through Tulum. The long hours in a van with limited air conditioning were miserable! Since the company did not route directly to sites from Cancún and back, travel time to arrive at sites was 3.5 hours going to sites and 4 hours to return. That’s at least 3.5 hours longer travel time than it should be. However, Chichen Itsa, Ek Balam and Hubiku Cenote were excellent sites that did not disappoint. Ek Balam was a wonderful contrast with Chichen Itsa—no crowds and climbing some ruins provided great views. The guides were outstanding. The buffet lunch at the cenote exceeded expectations! It was a tough, long day but worth it overall.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for your comment. we want to clarify that our routes change daily and are defined according to the number of passengers we have in each area. The route to Chichén Itzá is decided based on the location of the majority of passengers in a given area. Nevertheless our company always informs passengers 24 hours in advance if the tour will take longer than usual due to this reason, giving them the opportunity to cancel the tour without penalty.
The time spent at Chichén Itzá is always 3 hours, and the time spent at Ekbalam is 1.5 hours. Please note that the transportation time is independent of the tour duration, as it depends on the location of each client's hotel, regards.
Chad_R, May 2024
The tour was great. All the stops were while timed. Our guides and driver where very helpful and friendly. The only downside was the broken A/C in the vehicle. Due to this, I would not recommend during summer months.
Dalene_H, May 2024
Absolutely amazing and highly recommend. Maria (Mimi) was our English guide and she was so well prepared. Tablet with maps, magazines with photos, etc. At Chichén Itzá, she took us to areas I did not get to see last time I was here (on a different tour). The addition of Ek Balam, which is much less popular, but no less spectacular, was amazing. Here you can actually climb all the way to the top of the palace. A lovely cenote swim to cool off, follwed by a delicious lunch, made this the perfect day. Shout-out to our driver, Julian, and the Spanish guide, Tonansi, who were both extremely helpful and personable. We will be back!
Neda_M, May 2024
Fantastic day trip , our guide Alex was great! Very knowledgeable! Perfect timing at every place we visited . Certainly worth booking. We were picked up at around 7am and back in time for dinner at 6pm in Playacar.
Joe_C, May 2024
Great tour. Thank you to our wonderful guides and driver. We had a four year old with us so anyone traveling with children please be aware that Chichen Itza and Ek Balem are very hot. Water is provided throughout the day by the driver/guides which was much appreciated. The reduced group means getting between destinations faster which was good as it's a long day but incredible to have seen these wonders.
Avinash_S, Apr 2024
I am sending you the experience of my parents who had booked your tour to Chichinitza. You should know the feedback so you can improve your performance. The guide and lunch was. fine. But what was painful was the trip back to Playa de Carmen. The guides conveniently got down first and then started the ordeal. The group consisted of two Group's from Cancun and my parents were from Carmen. The driver had to leave one group at one end of Cancun and then leave the other at the other end of Cancun. Imagine the time lost. After that he left my parents at Carmen close to 10 pm. They were on the road close to 6 hours.I was horrified to learn this. How unprofessional!!
The agency should then have taken people of the same area. My mother is going on X to tell about her experience. They are so tired they can't think of going to Tulum the next day. You should be more thoughtful.
Response from Host, May 2024
Hello, thank you very much for your comment, the tour you took is a shared tour in which we must go and pick up more people to take the tour, the archaeological zones are at a distance of 300 km, when you hire the tour you are given the information about the approximate time it takes to complete the tour, we regret that the distances and time of the tours have affected your experience, however there is nothing that can be done about it.
Vibhuti_A, Apr 2024
While the places were good, the tour guide took about 3-4 hours more than it needed. The tour guide picked up and dropped additional people, we spent time waiting and then were given very little time at the cenote and it felt rushed. The snacks were very average for a 14 hour trip. The tour guide spent too much time explaining and didnt give us time for photos and rushed us through the free time. Overall, we spent 5-6 hours at the sites and about 7-8 hours on the road. Coba ruins could be skipped.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your comment, the archaeological sites are at a distance of 300 km from the Riviera Maya, to that distance you must add the distance in which you were staying in Cancun, the maximum speed allowed in the country is 100 km/h, The journey to get to the sites is long and unfortunately we cannot do anything in that regard. We hope to have your preference again.
Bruce_B, Apr 2024
Jesus and Victor did a great job as tour guide and driver. A long day but worth the experiences we had.
Melissa_B, Apr 2024
The sites were magnificent. Pros: guides and driver were fantastic; English Spanish translations excellent; instructions for joining the tour and what to do during the tour were clear.
;Cenote was fun and grounds were clean and well maintained; lunch buffet was very tasty; we really enjoyed this tour.
Cons: the smallish van we rode in had damaged brakes and the drive train was breaking, the squeal and grinding at every stop was loud and unsafe; need more bathroom breaks-3-4 hours in a van with no potty break is torture.
ian_c, Mar 2024
Overall the trip was very enjoyable. However, I would like to feedback on two points.
The tour guide was verbose and difficult to follow at times. at Chichen Itza he spent so much time talking about the pyramid and other central features that, when we did not then follow him immediately, we did not get guided to the Observatory and were unable to find it ourselves. At Ek Balam, he was not open to my request to climb the smaller climbable building and was only prevented from ushering me on when another guest said he was happy for me to do so.
The return journey took us at least 30 minutes past our hotel, going all the way to Cancun and then returning. An offering of trips from Cancun on some days and from the beach areas on others would have been better.
Angela_J, Mar 2024
Best part of our trip so far! We had Jesus as our guide, and he was absolutely fantastic. You can tell how passionate and knowledgeable he is about the history and culture. Despite the early morning start, it was really nice to get to Chichén Itzá before the crowds and heat got too bad. Our group was nice and small, just 8 people. The van was clean and cool. We also enjoyed having so few people at Hubiku and Ek Balam, and getting to climb the pyramid was such an experience. Definitely wear good shoes!
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