Chichén Itzá guided tour with cenote swim and Valladolid lunch

Chichén Itzá with a cenote swim and colonial Valladolid in one day

This guided tour of Chichén Itzá includes a certified bilingual guide, roundtrip transport by panoramic bus, entry to the archaeological site, a swim at Xkeken Cenote with lifejacket provided, and a buffet lunch of Yucatecan cuisine at La Casona restaurant in the colonial city of Valladolid. The tour runs 12 to 14 hours and covers three distinct stops: the pyramid complex, the cenote, and the city's main square with free time to explore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Hospitality Suite at Chichén Itzá2h
2. Xkeken CenoteEntry included20m

Chichen Itza, cenote, and Valladolid visit

• Guided tour and free time at Chichen Itza
• Swim in the Xkeken cenote
• Buffet lunch at La Casona restaurant
• Explore Valladolid main square and surroundings

The experience

Valladolid sits between Chichén Itzá and the cenote on this route, so the day unfolds as a progression through three landscapes. The panoramic bus collects you from your hotel and carries you to the archaeological site first, where a certified guide leads you through the complex and then leaves you time to walk on your own. The guide speaks both English and Spanish throughout, so the explanations land clearly whether you travel solo or with someone who prefers a different language.

After the site, you head to Xkeken Cenote for a swim in water that shifts between shades of blue as sunlight filters down from the opening above. A lifejacket is provided, and the cenote sits inside a sanctuary, not a roadside stop. The water is cool and the space feels removed from the usual tourist circuit, even though you are part of an organized group.

Lunch happens in Valladolid at La Casona, where a buffet of Yucatecan dishes lets you eat as much as you want. Afterward, you have free time to walk the colonial main square and its surrounding streets: the colorful buildings and the pace of the city are a sharp contrast to the ruins and the cenote. Bottled water and drinks travel with you on the bus, and the whole day circles back to your hotel by the time the 12 to 14 hours close out.

What’s included

• Roundtrip hotel pickup and transport by panoramic bus.
• bilingual guided tour of Chichén Itzá in English and Spanish.
• entry to the archaeological site.
• lifejacket for the cenote swim.
• time to swim at Xkeken Cenote.
• buffet lunch of Yucatecan cuisine at La Casona in Valladolid.
• free time to explore Valladolid's colonial main square.
• bottled water and drinks onboard.

Before you book

Lasts 12h–14h, from US$ 185 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 25 Oct 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio 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$ 2

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mexico Travel Solutions

Is this one for you?The 12 to 14 hour commitment means you spend a full day away from your hotel, so book this tour when you have the time to move through three separate stops without rushing. The certified guide and fixed itinerary handle the logistics and the route, so you show up and follow the schedule rather than arranging transport between the ruins, the cenote and the city yourself.

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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 (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly is Xkeken Cenote and what do I do there?

Xkeken Cenote is a natural sinkhole with a freshwater pool inside a sanctuary space, where sunlight enters from an opening above and creates shifting blue tones in the water. You swim in it during the tour. A lifejacket is provided and included in the price.

Is the guide with me the whole time at Chichén Itzá, or just at the start?

The certified guide leads you through the archaeological site and explains the structures, then leaves you free time to walk on your own and explore at your own pace before moving on to the cenote.

What kind of food is served at La Casona in Valladolid?

La Casona serves a buffet of Yucatecan cuisine, the regional cooking of the area. You eat as much as you want from the spread included in your tour price.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour involves some walking exercise, particularly at the archaeological site and around the cenote. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and the cenote area is not wheelchair accessible. If you need a wheelchair, a third person would need to help carry it around the site.

Do I need to bring anything for the cenote swim?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and a cap or hat. The lifejacket is provided. Sunglasses and sunscreen are useful, but only sunblock and sunscreen containing titanium oxide and zinc oxide are allowed inside the archaeological park.

Is there a cost for bringing a camera or video camera?

Still cameras are fine, but there is an additional tax fee for video cameras inside the archaeological site that is not included in the tour price. Ask the guide about the amount when you arrive.