Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil & Valladolid: Small Group Tour

Three Mayan landmarks in one day: the pyramid, the cenote, the colonial city

A guided small group tour visiting Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil and Valladolid, departing from Riviera Maya hotels with pickup included. The tour spends more than 3 hours at Chichen Itza with a professional guide covering the Kukulcan Pyramid, the Observatory, the Ball Court and other major structures; then moves to the cenote for a swim at 60 meters depth, followed by a buffet lunch and a walking tour of Valladolid's colonial landmarks. Groups stay under 15 people, and entry to Chichen Itza bypasses the ticket line.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid

• Hotel pickup in Riviera Maya
• Continental breakfast on board
• Guided tour of Chichen Itza
• Free time at Chichen Itza
• Swim at Cenote Ik Kil
• Buffet lunch
• Visit Valladolid downtown landmarks
• Hotel drop-off

The Experience

Your hotel pickup in the Riviera Maya starts the day in an air-conditioned van, with continental breakfast served on board before you reach Chichen Itza. The guided portion at the ruins runs roughly two hours, walking you through the Kukulcan Pyramid (which maps the Mayan civil calendar), El Caracol observatory, the Group of the Thousand Columns, and the Ball Court—the largest one built in Meso-America. After the guide finishes, you have time to explore on your own, and because this tour skips the ticket office line, that extra time is actually free time, not time spent waiting.

From Chichen Itza you drive a few kilometers to Cenote Ik Kil, where you swim in a sinkhole 60 meters deep; a life jacket and locker are included. Afterward comes a buffet lunch with one drink, then the drive to Valladolid, the colonial city. There you walk the downtown landmarks—the main church, a convent and city hall—before heading back to your hotel. The whole day runs about 10 hours.

A professional guide leads the group in English or Spanish, and the group never exceeds 15 people. Bottled water, juice, fruit and cookies come with you on the van. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for most Riviera Maya hotels (not Cancun or Costa Mujeres).

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Riviera Maya.
• continental breakfast on the van.
• guided tour at Chichen Itza with skip-the-line entry.
• over 3 hours to explore the ruins on your own.
• Cenote Ik Kil entry with life jacket and locker.
• cenote swim.
• buffet lunch with one drink.
• walking tour of Valladolid's colonial landmarks.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned minivan transport.
• bottled water, juice, fruit and cookies.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Excursiones Riviera Maya

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so book this tour if you're comfortable following commentary in one of those languages. Small groups under 15 people mean the guide stays accessible and the pace stays steady without the noise and crowding of a larger bus tour.

Traveler reviews

4.63★★★★★★★★★★

62 verified traveler reviews

5 ★50

4 ★7

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the Kukulcan Pyramid and why does it matter?

The Kukulcan Pyramid is the main building at Chichen Itza and represents the Mayan civil calendar in its structure. Your guide explains its significance during the roughly two-hour tour of the site.

Can I swim in the cenote, and what's it like?

Yes—Cenote Ik Kil is a natural sinkhole 60 meters deep where you swim after the Chichen Itza portion. A life jacket and locker are provided, and the cenote sits just a few kilometers from the ruins.

Is lunch included, and what do I eat?

Lunch is a buffet with one drink included. You eat after the cenote swim, before driving to Valladolid.

Do I have to wait in line to enter Chichen Itza?

No—this tour skips the ticket office line at Chichen Itza, so you move straight to the guided portion and then have uninterrupted time to explore on your own.

How many people are in the group?

Groups stay under 15 people, keeping the tour small and the guide accessible throughout the day.

What should I bring or wear?

Casual dress is fine. Bring swimwear for the cenote, and the tour provides a life jacket. Bottled water, juice and snacks are on the van, though you may want sunscreen and a hat for the ruins.