Chichen Itza & Cenote Hubiku: Ek Balam Small Group from Playa del Carmen

Three Maya Sites in One Day: Chichen Itza, a Cenote Swim & the Pyramid You Can Still Climb

You spend more than three hours exploring Chichen Itza's pyramids and ball court with a professional guide, then swim in the crystal-clear Cenote Hubiku and climb the pyramid at Ek Balam. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, and all entrance fees are included. Skip-the-line entry at Chichen Itza means you avoid the ticket office queue. Small groups keep the pace manageable across all three sites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hospitality Suite at Chichén Itzá3h
2. Cenote Hubiku2h · entry included

Visit Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Ek Balam

• Explore Chichen Itza ruins
• Swim in Cenote Hubiku
• Enjoy buffet lunch
• Visit Ek Balam archaeological site

The experience

The limestone platform of El Castillo rises in front of you before the minivan even stops, and you realize the photos don't prepare you for the scale. Chichen Itza gets more than three hours on this day trip from Playa del Carmen: enough time to walk through the temples, the Great Ball Court, and the plazas without the usual crush of tour groups. Your guide handles the skip-the-line entry, so you're inside while the main crowds are still queuing at the gate. The site sits at the intersection of Toltec and Maya architecture, and the guide walks you through why El Castillo's design tracks the sun's movement across the year. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you after you leave.

After Chichen Itza, the minivan takes you to Cenote Hubiku, an underground pool fed by a natural spring. The water is clear enough to see the limestone walls below, and you get time to swim and cool off before lunch at the on-site restaurant. The cenote itself is the real draw. The kind of place that makes you understand why the Maya built their cities around these freshwater sources. You're not rushed through. There's space to float and just sit with the quiet. Lunch is a traditional buffet, and it's included, though drinks cost extra.

The last stop is Ek Balam, one of the Yucatan's less-crowded Maya cities, and it's the one where you can still climb the main pyramid. The stucco carvings on the lower levels are intricate enough to run your hand over, and from the top you're looking out at jungle in every direction. By the time you're heading back to your hotel in the late afternoon, you've moved through three different periods of Maya history and swum in a cenote most people only see in photos. The whole day runs around eight to nine hours with pickup and drop-off included, though if you're staying in Cancun or Cozumel, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

What’s included

Your day includes air-conditioned minivan transport, hotel pickup and drop-off from Playa del Carmen area hotels, entrance fees to Chichen Itza (skip-the-line), Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam, a full-day professional guide, breakfast, lunch at the cenote restaurant, and bottled water. Entrance fees are $45 USD per adult and $15 USD per child, payable at pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and Thursday

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 60

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Excursiones Riviera Maya

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see three major Maya sites in a single day without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself: the small-group format and fixed itinerary mean you move through each stop at a pace that lets you absorb the details instead of rushing between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3).

How long is the full day trip?

Around 8 to 9 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off.

Is swimming at the cenote included?

Yes. Cenote Hubiku entry and swim time are included. Bring a swimsuit and towel.

Can you climb the pyramid at Ek Balam?

Yes. Ek Balam is one of the few Maya sites where climbing the main pyramid is still permitted.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees for all three sites, lunch, bottled water, and a professional guide. Drinks at lunch cost extra.

Do I have to wait in line at Chichen Itza?

No. Skip-the-line entry is included, so your guide handles the ticket office while you go straight in.

What if I'm staying in Cancun?

Hotel pickup is available from Playa del Carmen area hotels only. If you're in Cancun or Cozumel, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

Are drinks included with lunch?

Lunch is included, but drinks are not. You can purchase them at the cenote restaurant.