Private Uxmal Tour with Chocolate Museum and Cenote Swim

Three stops in one day: Maya temples, pre-Hispanic chocolate, and a cenote swim

A private eight-hour tour of Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Mexico's Puuc Route, includes a guided walk through temples and palaces, a one-hour cacao experience at Choco Story with traditional chocolate tasting, and a swim in an open cenote. Transportation from Mérida, a certified bilingual guide, life jacket, and refreshments are included. Lunch is at a restaurant of your choice near Uxmal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Uxmal3h · entry included
2. Choco Story2h · entry included

Explore Uxmal, chocolate, and cenote

• Drive from Mérida to Uxmal
• Tour Uxmal archaeological site
• Visit Choco Story museum
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Swim in community cenote
• Return to Mérida

The experience

The drive from Mérida to Uxmal takes an hour and a half. Once there, your private guide leads you through the archaeological site for ninety minutes, moving through temples, palaces, and carved stone mosaics that show the architectural refinement the Maya achieved here. Uxmal sits on the Puuc Route, a cluster of sites in the region, and this one is known for the precision of its stonework and the way its structures align with Maya cosmology.

After the ruins, you stop at Choco Story, an open-air museum set in the jungle that walks you through cacao's role in Maya culture and spirituality. A demonstration shows how the ancient Maya prepared chocolate, not the sweetened drink of today, but a bitter, sometimes spiced beverage tied to ritual and trade. You taste it made the traditional way. Lunch follows at a local restaurant the operator recommends, or you can choose your own spot near Uxmal. This break takes about an hour.

The final stop is a cenote: a natural sinkhole with clear water, open to the sky, surrounded by jungle. You swim here, and if you want to, you can jump from the platform at the edge. A life jacket is provided. The return drive to Mérida is another hour and a half. Your guide speaks English and Spanish, the minibar in the vehicle holds refreshments and snacks, and the itinerary is flexible, so timing can shift if something interests you more.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Mérida.
• certified bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• one hour and thirty minutes of guided exploration at Uxmal.
• one-hour cacao experience with traditional chocolate tasting at Choco Story.
• cenote entry and swim.
• life jacket.
• minibar with refreshing beverages and snacks.
• travel insurance during transportation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

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

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TRAVELEZZA

Is this one for you?Book this eight-hour private tour if you want to experience three distinct locations (Uxmal's architecture, a cacao ceremony, and cenote swimming) in one day rather than piecing together separate visits.

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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: Youth (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): 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.

How long is the actual guided tour at Uxmal?

The guided tour at Uxmal lasts one hour and thirty minutes, covering the temples, palaces, and carved stone details of the site.

What exactly happens at Choco Story?

Choco Story is an open-air museum where you explore cacao's history and spiritual role in Maya culture, watch a demonstration of how the ancient Maya prepared chocolate using pre-Hispanic techniques, and taste the traditional version.

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

You can swim in the cenote. It's a crystal-clear open sinkhole where swimming is the main activity, and there's a platform you can jump from if you choose to.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You eat at a local restaurant the operator recommends near Uxmal, or at a venue of your choice, with about an hour set aside for the meal.

What's the drive time from Mérida to Uxmal?

The drive from Mérida to Uxmal takes one hour and thirty minutes each way, with the return trip also taking the same time.

Do I need to bring my own life jacket for the cenote?

No. A life jacket is provided and included with the tour.