Chichén Itzá tour with cenote swim and Valladolid: Guide included

Walk the largest ball court on the continent, then swim in an underground cenote.

A full-day tour of Chichén Itzá with a bilingual guide, cenote swimming and lunch, departing from your hotel. The tour includes the archaeological site entrance in some options, a dip in a freshwater cenote, a regional buffet meal, and a stop in the colonial city of Valladolid. You choose whether to add the Chichén Itzá entrance fee, drinks on board, or a cenote life jacket and environmental fee at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid tour

• Arrive at Chichén Itzá
• Join guided tour of ruins
• See Kukulkan pyramid
• Visit largest ball court
• Stop at cenote for swimming
• Visit Valladolid main square
• Admire colonial architecture
• See Church of San Gervasio
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your hotel and a drive to the cenote, where you swim in fresh water fed by underground rivers before heading to the ruins. A bilingual guide meets you at Chichén Itzá and walks you through the site, explaining the pyramid of Kukulkan and the ball court, the largest on the continent, and their role in pre-Columbian Mayan civilization. The group travels in an air-conditioned bus with a capacity of 45 people, so the pace is shared rather than private.

After the archaeological tour, you stop for a regional buffet lunch, then make your way to Valladolid, a colonial city where you can see the main square and the Church of San Gervasio from the 16th century. The whole day runs 12 to 14 hours from pickup to return. A craft store visit is also part of the itinerary.

The cenote swim is the main physical activity. You'll need to be comfortable in water, and a life jacket is available depending on which option you choose. Infants can sit on an adult's lap during the bus ride. The tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned bus.
• access to the cenote with a swim in fresh water.
• a guided tour of Chichén Itzá with explanations of the pyramid of Kukulkan and the ball court.
• a regional buffet lunch.
• a stop in colonial Valladolid to see the main square and the Church of San Gervasio.
• a visit to a craft store.
• a professional bilingual guide in English and Spanish. Chichén Itzá entrance, drinks on board, cenote life jacket and environmental fee are available depending on which option you select at checkout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Admission to Chichén Itzá is not included.Guide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeThe ticket and access rights to the Chichén Itzá archaeological zone are not included, and the tour costs 40 USD per person. The environmental conservation fee for the cenote's natural area and the life jacket are also not included and cost 5 USD per person. Pickup is included.

Admission to Chichén Itzá is included.Guide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeAdmission to the Chichén Itzá archaeological zone is included, covering the ticket and access rights. The environmental conservation fee for the cenote's natural area and the life jacket are not included. Pickup is included.

Admission to Chichén Itzá, onboard drinks and a vest are included.Guide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeBox lunch, onboard drinks and a drink during the meal: the drinks are not unlimited. Onboard, water, soda and beer are offered. A traditional non-alcoholic Mexican drink (agua fresca) is included with the meal. Environmental conservation fee and life jacket: the 5 USD per person environmental conservation fee for access to the cenote's natural area and use of a life jacket are included. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 12h–14h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 49 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupUp to 504 private ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Quality Tours Riviera Maya

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the main sites and a cenote swim handled in one day with a guide and hotel pickup: the shared bus and fixed schedule mean you're not arranging transport, timing or navigation yourself. Choose the option with Chichén Itzá entrance included if you want the full archaeological experience without a separate ticket purchase at the gate.

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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 (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly is the cenote and why is it worth swimming in?

A cenote is a natural sinkhole filled with fresh water fed by underground rivers, unique to the Yucatan Peninsula. You swim in clear water surrounded by the natural rock formations that make these pools distinctive to the region.

Does the tour price include entry to Chichén Itzá itself?

Entry to the archaeological zone is included in two of the three options available at checkout. The economy option does not include it, so you choose based on your budget when you book.

How long do you actually spend at the ruins versus traveling?

The full day is 12 to 14 hours from hotel pickup to return, which includes the cenote stop, the guided tour at Chichén Itzá, lunch, the visit to Valladolid, and travel time between stops. The guide leads you through the main attractions at the archaeological site.

What's included in the lunch, and are there options for dietary needs?

A regional buffet meal is provided as part of the tour. Drinks are available for purchase at the restaurant unless you choose the option that includes them on board.