Private Chichen Itza & Yaxunah Ruins Tour: Two Sites, One Day

Two Mayan sites, one restored and one untouched, plus a swim in a sacred cenote

A private 12-hour guided tour of Chichen Itza and Yaxunah Ruins in Mexico's Yucatan, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Your certified guide walks you through both archaeological sites (Chichen Itza, a UNESCO-protected New Wonder of the World, and Yaxunah, a little-visited ruin preserved as it has stood for centuries), then you swim in a sacred cenote and eat a Mexican buffet lunch with tequila tasting. The tour runs in English or Spanish, and the full day includes all transport and meals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mayan ruins and cenote

• Visit Chichen Itza ruins
• Explore Yaxunah archaeological site
• Swim in sacred cenote

The experience

If you land in the Yucatan with a free afternoon or a morning to spare, a private tour lets you see two major Mayan sites without renting a car or navigating the route yourself. The driver picks you up at your hotel and handles the 12-hour day (transport, timing, and the stops), so you step out at Chichen Itza ready to walk. Your certified guide meets you there and takes you through both ruins, starting with the comparison that makes the day work: Chichen Itza has been restored to show what it was, while Yaxunah sits largely as archaeologists found it, with no reconstruction. That contrast is the whole point, and your guide walks you through the myths, stories and secrets of each one so you leave understanding the Mayan culture instead of just the stone.

Midway through, you get free time to swim in a sacred cenote: a natural sinkhole filled with groundwater, the kind the Maya considered a gateway to the underworld. After that, the group eats a Mexican buffet lunch with tequila tasting, which gives you a break and a meal without having to find a restaurant. The cenote swim is the moment most people remember. Bring a towel and swimsuit, and the water is cool year-round.

The whole day is private, so the pace is yours and the guide answers the questions your group asks. You'll want mosquito repellent, sunscreen, a hat and cash for any extras. The pickup time comes the day before, and the operator needs your hotel name and address when you book.

What’s included

• Private comfortable transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private certified guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to both Chichen Itza and Yaxunah Ruins.
• access to the sacred cenote for swimming.
• Mexican buffet lunch and tequila tasting.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live 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$ 44

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amigo Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, a small family, or a group of friends who want to move at your own pace and skip the logistics of renting a car and finding the sites yourself. The private format means your guide answers the questions your group asks, and the 12-hour day holds together without you building it.

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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 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What's the difference between Chichen Itza and Yaxunah Ruins?

Chichen Itza is a restored UNESCO-protected site (the buildings have been reconstructed to show their original form), while Yaxunah is an untouched archaeological site preserved as it has stood for centuries, with no restoration work. Seeing both on the same day lets you compare how the same Mayan culture built and lived at two different times.

Is the cenote swim included, or do I need to bring my own gear?

The sacred cenote swim is included in the tour. Bring your own swimsuit and towel. The cenote is a natural sinkhole with cool groundwater, and you'll have free time to refresh yourself there during the day.

How long is the drive from my hotel to Chichen Itza?

The tour is 12 hours total, which includes hotel pickup, all transport time, the two archaeological sites, the cenote, lunch and drop-off. The exact drive time depends on where your hotel is located. Your guide will confirm the pickup time the day before the tour.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, a Mexican buffet lunch and tequila tasting are included. The meal happens midway through the day after you've visited both ruins and swum in the cenote.

What should I bring for a 12-hour day at Mayan ruins?

Bring mosquito repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, a swimsuit and towel for the cenote, and cash for any extras. The operator recommends these items because the sites are outdoors in the Yucatan heat, and the cenote swim happens during the day.