YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Chichen Itza and Cenote Tour

326 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: Explore Chichen Itza with a personal certified guide, take a refreshing dip in a cenote, and savor a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in Valladolid.
  • Exclusive Experience: Just you, your personal local guide, and driver!
  • Private Transportation: Convenient pick-up from your hotel or rental.
  • Escape the Crowds & Beat the Heat: Skip the lines & enjoy a relaxed, stress-free guided tour.
  • Breathtaking Cenotes! Pick from Oxman, Samula or Xkeken - You’ll love the adventure!
  • Lunch in the colonial city of Valladolid: Savor authentic Mexican flavors, à la carte menu, not a buffet!
  • Set Your Own Pace: Stay longer or move on, the choice is entirely yours.
  • All-Inclusive at the Best Price: Transport, guide, entrance fees, lunch & more

Early bird discountBook 60+ days ahead and save 10%.

Multi-tour discountBook 2+ tours and save 10%.

Offers cannot be combined. Holiday exclusions apply. See terms and conditions.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The details of your private day.

Chichen Itza and Cenote Tour – Private & All-Inclusive

 

Dreaming of visiting one of the New Seven Wonders of the World? Our all-inclusive Chichen Itza and cenote tour is the perfect Riviera Maya day trip for travelers who love history, culture, and nature. Designed exclusively for your group, this private experience blends world-famous Mayan ruins, a refreshing cenote swim, and authentic Yucatec flavors—at your pace and without the crowds.

  1. Skip the Crowds at Chichen Itza with Your Private Guide

    Upon arrival, your entrance tickets are ready so you can skip the lines and begin exploring right away. With your certified private guide, you’ll discover Chichen Itza at a comfortable pace and enjoy commentary tailored to your interests.

    Stand before the legendary El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcán), walk the vast Great Ball Court, and learn the symbolism etched into sacred temples and ceremonial platforms. Your guide brings the site to life with insights on Mayan astronomy, architecture, and traditions that shaped this ancient city.

  2. Refreshing Swim in a Stunning Cenote

    After your journey through history, cool off in one of Yucatán’s most beautiful cenotes—either Cenote Oxman, Cenote Xkeken or Cenote Samula. These crystal-clear freshwater pools lie within dramatic limestone caverns, creating a magical setting for swimming, floating, and relaxing.

    We provide life vests for comfort and safety, and your guide shares the geological and cultural importance of cenotes in Mayan life. Whether you take a dip or simply admire the view, this stop is often a highlight of the day.

  3. Traditional Lunch & Free Time in Valladolid

    To round out the experience, we’ll visit the colonial city of Valladolid, one of the most charming towns in Yucatán. Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring regional dishes such as cochinita pibil, sopa de lima, and handmade tortillas.

    After lunch, enjoy free time to stroll colorful streets, browse local shops for handicrafts, or relax in the main square before returning to your hotel.

  4. Why Travelers Love This Chichen Itza Cenote Tour

    Private & all-inclusive: just your group and your guide, with logistics handled for a seamless day.

    Flexible pace: explore comfortably, avoid crowds, and focus on what interests you most.

    Award-winning service: trusted local team with thousands of 5-star reviews.

    Join us for an unforgettable Chichen Itza and cenote tour and see why it’s our most popular private day trip in the Riviera Maya.

     

     

Price includes

  • Pick up and drop off at your hotel with private air-conditioned transportation (Booster car seat and baby car seat available on request)
  • Experienced certified private guide
  • Toll road when pick up from Playa del Carmen and Cancun
  • Chichen Itza entrance fees and state tax
  • Cenote entrance fee and life vests
  • Coffee and snacks in the vans
  • Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
  • Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte

Price excludes

  • Drinks at the restaurant
  • Ruins: If you bring a GoPro, video camera, or phone with a selfie stick, a fee of 60 pesos (about USD 3) per device is charged at the entrance to each archaeological site and must be paid in pesos (INAH fee). Drones and camera/video tripods are prohibited.
  • Tips

General Info

Private Tour:
Only you, the guide and the driver, nobody else!
Duration:
 11-12 hours
Physicality:
 Easy
Age:
 All ages
Swimming:
 Basic swimming skills required. This excursion suits everyone from novices to experts.
Which cenote will you visit? 
The day of your tour, you can choose between Cenote Oxman, Xkeken or Samula.
What’s on the menu?
Selection of best specialities from Yucatan Cuisime… with vegetarian, fish, chicken & meat options. With corn or flour tortillas. We can accommodate special diets and allergies, just let us know!

Itinerary options

Times at each stop are estimates. Driving and your exact pickup location affect the schedule.

Chichen Itza, cenote & Valladolid

  1. Chichen Itza — 210 min
  2. Cenote swim — 75 min
  3. Lunch in Valladolid — 75 min
  4. Free time in Valladolid — 60 min

The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic, crowds, and heat at Chichen Itza, but you can opt for a later pick-up when booking.
Discover the 3 benefits of early departure to visit Chichen Itza.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at Chichen Itza, the cenote, and Valladolid, moving at your own pace.

Transportation takes less than 3 hours, and there is a one-hour time difference between Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Chichen Itza/Valladolid.

What to Bring

  • Beach Towels
  • Swimsuit (We recommend wearing it in the morning and feel free to change after snorkeling activities)
  • Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
  • Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen and we recommend wearing a rash-guard/UV-Shirt for water activities*
  • Mosquito repellent*
  • Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
  • Camera/Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

5.00/5 · 326 tour reviews

Showing reviews 226–234 of 326

Amazing tour and tour guide! Our tour guide was Arturo! He was absolutely amazing! Arturo was very knowledgeable, patient and kind. He also took amazing pics of me and my group I'm so glad we booked this tour it was an amazing experience! We learned a lot about the Mayan culture and the history of Chichen Itza! Since we left so early in the morning…

Read full reviewShow less

Amazing tour and tour guide!
Our tour guide was Arturo! He was absolutely amazing! Arturo was very knowledgeable, patient and kind. He also took amazing pics of me and my group I'm so glad we booked this tour it was an amazing experience! We learned a lot about the Mayan culture and the history of Chichen Itza! Since we left so early in the morning we were able to avoid all the crowds! I highly recommend this tour!

Vacation305967 · Jan 2024

If you are looking for a unique and unforgettable way to explore the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, I highly recommend booking a private tour with this company. The tour was well-organised, informative, and fun! Our guide Juan was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of the site, and he answered all our questions with enthusiasm. He also took us to…

Read full reviewShow less

If you are looking for a unique and unforgettable way to explore the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, I highly recommend booking a private tour with this company. The tour was well-organised, informative, and fun!
Our guide Juan was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of the site, and he answered all our questions with enthusiasm. He also took us to some hidden spots that were not crowded with tourists, and we got to see some amazing views and details that we would have missed otherwise.
The private tour also included a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, and a refreshing swim at a nearby cenote. The whole experience was worth every penny, and we learned so much about the fascinating civilisation that once thrived there. This was definitely the highlight of our trip, and we are so glad we chose this option.

Vy · Jan 2024

Great experience! Great gude! We visited Chichen Izta 22 years ago and decided to revisit. Such a remarkable place. Our guide and driver were very professional and very knowledgeable. Joshua and Enrique took very good care of us. My wife has limited mobility and they made sure we had enough time to enjoy all our activities. We went to a cenote and then to a…

Read full reviewShow less

Great experience! Great gude!
We visited Chichen Izta 22 years ago and decided to revisit. Such a remarkable place. Our guide and driver were very professional and very knowledgeable. Joshua and Enrique took very good care of us. My wife has limited mobility and they made sure we had enough time to enjoy all our activities. We went to a cenote and then to a nice lunch at a local restaurant in Valladolid. After that we had free time to shop and look around the main plaza.
But what sold us on this particular guide service is that they are a small local business that does it right. They will customize a tour to fit whatever you want to do. We highly recommend this company. Thanks again to Joshua and Enrique.

Craig · Jan 2024

You can’t go wrong choosing this company! Honestly, it was an absolutely fabulous day out. Joshua (tour guide) and Enrique (driver) were great. We had the best time ever! Thank you guys

David · Jan 2024

Great family experience Joshua was so patient with our family and provided great information on all the spots we visited but especially Chichen Itza. And our driver Rodrigo got us around safely and on time! I highly recommend starting EARLY. We left Playa del Carmen at 6:15 and arrived at Chichen Itza just before the gates opened at 8am. No lines! On our way out,…

Read full reviewShow less

Great family experience
Joshua was so patient with our family and provided great information on all the spots we visited but especially Chichen Itza. And our driver Rodrigo got us around safely and on time! I highly recommend starting EARLY. We left Playa del Carmen at 6:15 and arrived at Chichen Itza just before the gates opened at 8am. No lines! On our way out, a couple of hours later the line of vans and buses was sooo long. And the site was very crowded. And we got back to our hotel in time to shower and get ready for our dinner reservation. I also like that we could adjust our day as we went. We opted for more time at Chichen Itza and the Cenote (also very few people and GORGEOUS) and less time at Valladolid. I would highly recommend this tour!

Robert · Jan 2024

Wonderful experience! Juan was the best guide we have experienced! Efficient, Informative, great personality, just an overall perfect tour. My whole family was taken care of down to every little detail! I will definitely be booking another tour and will be requesting Juan! Thank you for a wonderful day!

Cathie · Jan 2024

Using Absolute Adventure for a Chichen Itza tour is a no-brainer. They get you there early and have a plan of attack that avoids lines and crowds as much as possible. We were appalled at the sea of humanity that was in line to get in as we were done for the day and leaving. Plus, we gained so much more knowledge than if we…

Read full reviewShow less

Using Absolute Adventure for a Chichen Itza tour is a no-brainer. They get you there early and have a plan of attack that avoids lines and crowds as much as possible. We were appalled at the sea of humanity that was in line to get in as we were done for the day and leaving. Plus, we gained so much more knowledge than if we had been on our own.

Dylan · Jan 2024

Just like they promised! This was an incredible, personal, and educational experience. Enrique got us from place to place safely and Alex is an excellent guide. Knowledgeable and friendly. One can tell he really cares about the material and the beauty and wonder that the Mayan civilization represents. This also was NOT a tour that puts you in a position to visit stores or tequila…

Read full reviewShow less

Just like they promised!
This was an incredible, personal, and educational experience. Enrique got us from place to place safely and Alex is an excellent guide. Knowledgeable and friendly. One can tell he really cares about the material and the beauty and wonder that the Mayan civilization represents. This also was NOT a tour that puts you in a position to visit stores or tequila tastings. Just exactly what they promise. The cenote is an amazing geological destination. Will definitely use Absolute Adventures again and highly recommend!

Sanjay · Dec 2023

Private tour of Chichen Itza with Josh We had a private tour of Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid with Joshua. Incredibly nice tour guide. Very knowledgeable. In the morning, coffee and bread was included. Lunch was included, not too bad but small portions so beware of that. Snacks and beverages were included on bus. Our tour started at 6:30 am, recommend going early before the…

Read full reviewShow less

Private tour of Chichen Itza with Josh
We had a private tour of Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid with Joshua. Incredibly nice tour guide. Very knowledgeable. In the morning, coffee and bread was included. Lunch was included, not too bad but small portions so beware of that. Snacks and beverages were included on bus. Our tour started at 6:30 am, recommend going early before the crowds. Definitely recommend Josh.

Anitha · Dec 2023

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Chichen Itza Cenote tour private or shared?

This is a private tour, just for you and your group.

You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.

Is the driver also the guide?

No. The driver and guide are two different professionals.

All our tours include a dedicated driver and a separate certified guide. 

While some companies offer a guide-driver, we believe this is not safe. Having a driver focused solely on the road and a guide fully dedicated to our guests ensures a safer and higher-quality experience.

How long is the drive to Chichen Itza?

The drive to Chichen Itza from the coast takes approximately 2 hours and 30 to 40 minutes.

Our professional drivers always respect speed limits to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for everyone.

Pickup & transport

Is transportation included from my hotel or Airbnb?

Yes, round-trip transportation is included from Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum. We’ll pick you up right from your hotel, resort, or Airbnb for a stress-free start to your day.

Please note: we don’t offer pick up from Cancun Playa Mujeres hotels unless your group has 6 or more adults.

What vehicles do you use for your tours?

We offer a range of modern, air-conditioned vans to suit the size of your group and ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Visit our fleet page for more details.

Can I change the pick up time?

Yes, you’re welcome to choose your preferred pick-up time when booking.

That said, we recommend an early morning start to help you beat the crowds, skip the traffic, and enjoy cooler temperatures—it really makes a difference!

Activities & facilities

Can we make bathroom stops on the way?

Yes, absolutely! There are 1 or 2 bathroom stops available along the way at gas stations and convenience stores, where you can take a break whenever needed.

How much walking is there at the Chichen Itza ruins?

During the guided visit at Chichen Itza, we typically spend about 2 to 2 hours and 15 minutes exploring the site.

We go at your own pace, taking breaks whenever needed to ensure your comfort.

If you wish, we can also adjust the visit to be shorter or longer depending on your preferences.

Our goal is to make the experience as enjoyable and flexible as possible for you.

Which cenote do we visit on this tour?

You can view the list of cenotes available for this tour under the ‘Tour Description and General Info’ tab, where you'll also find links to full descriptions of each cenote.

Unless you've already made your choice, you can decide which cenote to visit together with your tour guide on the day of your tour.

Is swimming experience required for this tour?

No previous swimming experience is required.

We provide mandatory life vests, and our guide ensures a safe and comfortable experience for everyone.

Are there showers or changing rooms at the cenote?

Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas at both locations.

Planning & booking

What should I bring for the tour? Where can I leave my belongings?

Check the "What to bring" tab on the tour page for the full packing list.

Essentials include swimwear, a towel and comfortable shoes.

You can safely leave your belongings in the van—our driver stays with it the entire time while you're out enjoying the activities.

Are vegetarian or special dietary meals available?

Yes, we’re happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs or allergies.

After booking, you can let us know your needs by filling out the check-in form—just follow the link in your booking confirmation email.

What is the cancellation policy?

Go ahead and plan with confidence—your booking is fully flexible!

You can cancel free of charge or reschedule (subject to availability) up to 24 hours before your tour.

We’re a small team and often fully booked 1–2 weeks in advance, so we recommend booking early to secure your spot.

Bonus: if you book at least 2 months in advance (60 days), you’ll qualify for our early bird discount*!

For full details, check out our booking policy page.

More questions?

Visit our main FAQ page or contact us by email, WhatsApp or via chat, we're happy to help!

Come explore the Riviera Maya with us.

Private adventures, thoughtfully planned by our local team.

Discover more tours

Coupon terms & conditions

EARLY2MONTHS — 10% off
Book at least 60 days before your tour date.

MULTITOUR — 10% off
Book at least 2 tours in one transaction.

If part of a multi-tour booking is canceled and only one tour remains, the discount becomes void and the remaining balance will be adjusted.

Enter your coupon code at checkout.

Tour photos

MAKE IT YOUR DAY

Book with Confidence

Chichen Itza and Cenote Tour

Choose your date, number of guests and pickup location to see your exact price.

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.