Chichen Itza & Ek Balam tour from Playa del Carmen: Swim cenote

Climb two Mayan pyramids and swim in a jungle cenote the same day

A full-day tour from Playa del Carmen visits Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, two major Mayan archaeological sites, with a swim at Cenote Noolha in between. An expert guide leads the way through both ruins. Lunch and air-conditioned transport are included. The tour runs 12 to 13 hours and holds up to 18 travelers. Hotel pickup is available from Playa del Carmen or Tulum, and you can add snacks and drinks on board.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mayan ruins and swim in cenote

• Visit Chichen Itza archaeological site
• Swim in Cenote Noolha
• Explore Ek Balam ruins and climb Acropolis

The experience

How do you fit two of the Yucatan's most important Mayan sites into a single day without driving yourself? This tour handles the route, the timing and the guide so you move between them without the logistics. You start at Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO site, where your guide walks you through the ball court, the Temple of a Thousand Columns and the Kukulkan Pyramid: the facts and the history come with the expert, not from a placard. The scale of what you're standing in front of is the point. The guide makes it land.

Between the two ruins sits Cenote Noolha, a natural limestone sinkhole unique to the Yucatan Peninsula where you swim in crystalline water surrounded by rock formations and jungle. A life jacket is mandatory for the swim and available to rent on site. The cenote break splits the day and gives you a moment in the water before you move on to Ek Balam, the second archaeological site. Ek Balam is less crowded than Chichen Itza but no less spectacular. The Acropolis is climbable, and the carvings and stonework that survive there show the precision of ancient Maya craft. The view from the top frames the jungle around it.

Lunch is a buffet included in the tour, served partway through the day. The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats the group. Pickup happens from your hotel in Playa del Carmen or Tulum depending on which option you choose. If you want snacks and drinks on board, that's an add-on at checkout. Entrance to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam is paid on the day (USD 83 for non-Mexicans, Mexicans with a valid INE pay MXN 552, and the sites are free for Mexicans on Sundays with proof of student, teacher or INAPAM status plus INE).

What’s included

• Round-trip air-conditioned transport from your Playa del Carmen or Tulum hotel.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• admission to Cenote Noolha with life jacket rental.
• buffet lunch.
• entrance fees to Ek Balam paid on the day.

Options for this experience

4 options

Classic option departing from TulumGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Pickup is not included. Meeting point: Super Market Super Aki at 8:00 AM in Tulum Down Town. Duration: 10 hours. Buffet lunch included.

Hotel pickup in Playa del CarmenGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Includes pickup. Duration: 12 hours. Buffet lunch included. Pickup is included.

Snacks and drinks on boardGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Pickup is not included. Meeting point: Super Market Super Aki at 8:00 AM, Tulum Down Town. Duration: 10 hours. Includes a buffet lunch, snacks and drinks on board.

Plus: snacks and drinks on boardGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Includes pickup. Duration: 12 hours. Includes a buffet lunch, snacks and drinks on board. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Thursday and SaturdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 18

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.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 89

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Cancun Bay Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want two major sites plus cenote swimming with all logistics handled. Choose a half-day single-site tour if you prefer to linger longer at one location.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly is Chichen Itza and why is it on every list?

Chichen Itza is one of the largest Mayan cities ever built and sits on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It's also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. On this tour, your guide takes you through the ball court where the Maya played a ritual game, the Temple of a Thousand Columns with its forest of stone pillars, and the Kukulkan Pyramid, the most recognizable structure on the site.

Can I actually climb the pyramids, or just look at them?

At Ek Balam, you can climb the Acropolis and reach the top to see the view. Chichen Itza's Kukulkan Pyramid is not open for climbing, but you walk around it and see the ball court and temple structures up close with your guide.

What is a cenote and is the swim mandatory?

A cenote is a natural sinkhole in limestone unique to the Yucatan Peninsula, filled with fresh water and often surrounded by rock walls and jungle. The swim at Cenote Noolha is part of the tour itinerary, and a life jacket is required and available to rent on site. If you choose not to swim, you can stay on the platform and watch.

How long is the whole tour and when do I get back?

The tour runs 12 to 13 hours total, including the drive from Playa del Carmen or Tulum, both archaeological sites, the cenote swim, lunch and the return trip. You'll be picked up from your hotel in the morning and returned in the evening.

What if I'm a Mexican citizen? Do I pay the same price?

Mexicans with a valid INE (national ID) pay a lower rate in Mexican pesos, paid on the day. The sites are free for Mexicans on Sundays, and anyone with a valid student, teacher or INAPAM ID plus INE gets free entry any day of the week.