Chichen Itza tour from Riviera Maya: Guide, cenote and lunch

Chichen Itza, a Mayan ceremony, the Sacred Cenote, and colonial Valladolid in a single morning and afternoon

This guided tour from the Riviera Maya visits Chichen Itza with a bilingual guide, includes a stop at the Sacred Cenote for swimming, passes through the colonial town of Valladolid, and returns you to your hotel with Mexican lunch included. Hotel pickup is part of the package, and the route runs 12 hours from start to finish. A life vest is mandatory if you want to swim in the cenote and costs extra.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chichén Itzá, cenote, and Valladolid tour

• Pick up at hotel or meeting point
• Travel to Yaxkin restaurant
• Enjoy Mayan ceremony and craft store visit
• Guided tour of Chichén Itzá
• Visit colonial town of Valladolid
• Swim and relax at Sacred cenote
• Return to hotel or meeting point

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your hotel or a central meeting point in Playa del Carmen, then moves to the Yaxkin restaurant for a Mayan ceremony, craft shopping, and chocolate tasting before the main drive inland. From there, a professional guide leads you through Chichen Itza (one of the seven wonders of the world) pointing out the Temple of Kukulcán, the Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors with its Chacmool statue, the Thousand Columns Market, and the Temple of the Jaguar. The guide speaks Spanish and English throughout, walking you through the secrets of the ancient Mayan city.

After Chichen Itza, the tour moves to Valladolid, a colonial town in the heart of Yucatan where you can see the architecture and layout of Spanish-era Mexico. The Sacred Cenote comes next. A natural sinkhole where you have an hour free to swim in the freshwater pool. If you want to enter the water, a life vest is mandatory and available for an additional cost. Without it, you can still walk around the site. On the return journey, you stop for a Mexican buffet lunch, then head back to your hotel or the original meeting point.

The operator runs this route directly without intermediaries, which is why the price stays lower than most competitors offering the same stops. Transportation, the guide, lunch, and entry to all three main sites are included. You only pay extra if you choose to rent a life vest for cenote swimming. Infants can ride on an adult's lap, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transportation on the main bus.
• professional guide in Spanish and English.
• entry to Chichen Itza.
• Mayan ceremony and craft shopping at the first stop.
• visit to colonial Valladolid.
• one hour at the Sacred Cenote.
• Mexican buffet lunch.

Options for this experience

5 options

Classic for Mexicans with INEGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Exclusive rate for Mexicans: Classic tour at an exclusive rate for Mexicans; the tour is shared, and you must pay the 870 MXN rate upon boarding. Pickup is included.

ClassicGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Buffet food, excluding drinks. Classic (Cenote Saamal). Starting point: Coco Bongo, Calle 12 Norte, corner of Av. 10 Norte, Col. Centro, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico. Pickup is included.

PlusGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Lunch and drinks: includes drinks on board and a buffet lunch with 1 drink. Starting point: Coco Bongo, Calle 12 Norte, corner of Av. 10 Norte, Col. Centro, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico. Pickup is included.

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PremierGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Open bar with food: box lunch on board, drinks on board (water, soft drinks and beer), buffet meal with 2 alcoholic drinks. Meeting point: We can collect you from your hotel (if it is listed) or from a meeting point. Starting point: Coco Bongo, Calle 12 Norte, corner of Av. 10 Norte, Col. Centro, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico. Pickup is included.

Luxury PrivateGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Box lunch, lunch and drinks: includes a box lunch, a buffet lunch with 2 drinks and drinks on the bus. Private and flexible experience: private, exclusive service for your group in a vehicle with A/C, with flexible pickup time and visits. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 12h, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 19 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 2001 private ›

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

Book up to4h before

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CARIBE MEX TOURS

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want Chichén Itzá, Valladolid, and a cenote swim in one fixed-schedule day: the route covers all three with lunch included, so you won't need to coordinate separate stops.

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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): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Sacred Cenote and what can I do there?

The Sacred Cenote is a natural sinkhole filled with freshwater where you have one hour of free time to swim and explore. If you want to enter the water, a life vest is mandatory and costs extra. You can also walk around the site without swimming.

Does the tour include lunch, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, a Mexican buffet lunch is included in the tour price. You eat at a restaurant stop on the return journey after visiting the cenote.

Will I have a guide at Chichen Itza, or do I explore on my own?

A professional guide leads you through Chichen Itza in Spanish and English, explaining the history and significance of buildings like the Temple of Kukulcán, the Ball Court, and the Temple of the Warriors.

How long is the full tour, and what time does it start and end?

The tour runs 12 hours total. Pickup happens at your hotel or a central meeting point, and you return to the same location at the end of the day.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You board the main bus at Plaza la Isla 2 in Playa del Carmen and travel with the group to all stops.

What is the Mayan ceremony at the first stop, and is it part of the tour?

The first stop is at the Yaxkin restaurant, where you experience a Mayan ceremony, browse a craft store, and taste traditional chocolates and food before heading to Chichen Itza.