Chichén Itzá, Cenote & Izamal Day Tour: Early Entry & Swim

Three stops, one seamless day: early ruins, sacred cenote, yellow colonial town

This 10-hour guided day tour from Mérida combines Chichén Itzá, a cenote swim and the colonial town of Izamal, with early entry to the ruins before midday crowds, a traditional Yucatecan buffet lunch, round transportation and a professional guide in English or Spanish. The tour involves substantial walking across all three sites and is not accessible for wheelchair users. Infants must travel in an approved car seat, which families must provide themselves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Izamal

• Ride from Mérida to Chichén Itzá
• Early entry to Chichén Itzá ruins
• Enjoy traditional Yucatecan buffet lunch
• Swim in sacred cenote
• Walk through Izamal's yellow streets
• Visit San Antonio de Padua Convent
• Climb Kinich Kak Moo pyramid
• Return to Mérida

The experience

The day starts with a ride from Mérida to Chichén Itzá, where you arrive early enough to explore the pyramids and ceremonial plazas before the heat and crowds of midday settle in. A professional guide walks you through the site, pointing out the photo spots and sharing the local legends and history behind the structures. Lunch (a traditional Yucatecan buffet with regional specialties) happens on-site, so you eat without breaking the rhythm of the morning.

After the ruins, you head to a nearby cenote, an underground freshwater pool that the ancient Maya considered sacred. You swim in its clear water, surrounded by the quiet of the cave and the rock formations above. It's the cooling-off point of the day and the moment the pace shifts from walking and learning to floating and breathing.

The final stop is Izamal, one of Mexico's official Pueblos Mágicos, where the buildings are painted a striking yellow. You walk the streets, visit the San Antonio de Padua Convent, and climb the Kinich Kak Moo pyramid, the third largest in Mexico, for a view across the town before the ride back to Mérida. The tour runs 10 hours total and suits all fitness levels, though it does involve a lot of movement and walking across all three sites.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• round transportation from Mérida.
• early entry to Chichén Itzá before midday crowds.
• traditional Yucatecan buffet lunch at the ruins.
• cenote entrance and swim.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared TourGuide in English or Spanish · 07:40

Private tour with pickup includedGuide in English or Spanish · 07:40Private tour: choose this option to enjoy a private tour just for you!

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 10h, runs every day at 07:40, from US$ 115 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:40Another time? ›

GroupUp to 251 private ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.3 with pickup ›

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Amigo Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the shared tour if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want the standard price. Pick the private tour with pickup if you prefer your own vehicle and hotel collection, which removes the meeting-point logistics and lets you start and end on your own schedule.

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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 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What time do we arrive at Chichén Itzá on this tour?

The tour departs Mérida early so you reach Chichén Itzá before the crowds and midday heat arrive, giving you a calm setting to explore the pyramids and ceremonial plazas with your guide and take photos without the press of other visitors.

Is the cenote swim included, or do I pay extra?

The cenote swim is included in the tour price. Entrance to the cenote is part of what you pay upfront, so there are no surprises at the site.

What kind of food do we eat on this tour?

You eat a traditional Yucatecan buffet lunch at Chichén Itzá, featuring authentic regional flavors and local specialties, and it's included in the tour price.

How much walking is involved across the three sites?

The tour involves substantial walking at all three stops (the ruins, the cenote and Izamal), which is why it suits all fitness levels but is not accessible for wheelchair users.

Can I book this as a private tour instead of a shared one?

Yes, you can choose between a shared tour or a private tour with pickup from your hotel. Both options follow the same route and include the same stops and lunch.

Do I need to bring anything for the cenote swim?

Bring a swimsuit and a towel. The cenote entrance is included, but the tour does not provide towels or changing facilities beyond what the cenote site offers.