Chichen Itza Tour: Cenote Swim & Valladolid Lunch

Chichen Itza before the tour buses, a cenote jump, and authentic Mexican lunch in a colonial town

A private guided tour of Chichen Itza with early arrival to avoid crowds, cenote Oxman for swimming, and lunch at a local restaurant in Valladolid. Your certified guide leads the archaeological site at your pace, transport and all entry fees are included, and the itinerary can be customized if you want to linger or shift the day around.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Chichen Itza and Valladolid

• Arrive early at Chichen Itza
• Explore Chichen Itza with guide
• Jump or descend stairs into cenote
• Have lunch in Valladolid restaurant
• Walk and admire Colonial Town

The experience

Chichen Itza fills with tour groups by mid-morning, so this tour arrives early: early enough that you and your group have the pyramid and the ball court mostly to yourselves. A certified guide walks you through the site at whatever pace suits you. There's no schedule pushing you along, and you stay as long as you want. The guide speaks English or Spanish, whichever you prefer. Transport is private, the vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water comes with you.

After the archaeological site, you head to cenote Oxman, an open-air sinkhole where you can jump in with a rope or walk down stairs to the water: your choice on how you enter. It's a break from the heat and the walking, and a real cenote, not a tourist pool. Then lunch happens in Valladolid, the colonial town about thirty minutes away, at a local a la carte restaurant where you order what you want and eat what people in the region actually eat. The walk through Valladolid's main square is part of the day. The architecture and the quiet are the point.

The whole day runs ten hours from pickup to return. If you want to customize the schedule (stay longer at the ruins, skip the cenote, shift when lunch happens), you can arrange that when you book (some changes may carry extra fees). Everything moves at your pace, not a group's pace, which is what makes a private tour different from the standard departures that leave at set times and stop for set lengths.

What’s included

• Entry to Chichen Itza and cenote Oxman.
• private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a certified guide in English or Spanish.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Valladolid.
• and bottled water throughout the day.

Information

Lasts 10h, runs every day at 06:30 and 07:00, from US$ 295 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 07:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate6 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by My Quest Concierge Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Chichen Itza without the midday crowds and without keeping pace with a group schedule: the early arrival and private guide mean you control how long you stay at each stop, and the cenote and Valladolid lunch give you a full day beyond just the ruins.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

1,861 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,834

4 ★17

3 ★6

2 ★2

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

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): 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 time does the Chichen Itza private tour start?

The tour arrives at Chichen Itza early to avoid the crowds that build later in the morning. The exact pickup time depends on where you're staying, but the early arrival is the defining feature. You get the site while it's still quiet.

Can I swim in the cenote Oxman, or is it just for looking?

Cenote Oxman is for swimming. You can jump in using a rope or walk down stairs to the water, depending on what you're comfortable with. It's a real cenote, not a viewing platform.

Is lunch included in the Chichen Itza tour price?

Lunch at the local restaurant in Valladolid is included. You order from the a la carte menu and eat authentic Mexican food. Beverages and desserts are not included in the tour price.

How long do I spend at Chichen Itza itself?

You stay as long as you want. There's no set time limit because it's a private tour: your guide leads you through the site at your pace, and you can linger at any stop without holding up a group behind you.

What's included in the tour price?

Entry to Chichen Itza and cenote Oxman, private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch at the Valladolid restaurant, bottled water, and a certified guide in English or Spanish are all included. Gratuities and beverages or desserts at lunch are separate.

Can I customize the itinerary or change what we do?

Yes. The schedule can be customized. You can stay longer at the ruins, adjust when lunch happens, or make other changes. Some customizations may involve extra fees, so discuss what you want when you book.