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.
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Book your tour now and if your plans happen to change, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours prior to the tour!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Book 2 or more tours and enjoy a 10% discount! Perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their stay in the Riviera Maya.
The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic,
crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when
booking. Discover the 3 benefits of an early departure to visit Chichen Itza.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at each location, moving at your own pace.
06:15am: Private transportation from your hotel to Chichen Itza
08:00am – 11:30am: Visit of Chichen Itza + free time
11:30am – 12:15pm: Transportation
12:15pm – 01:15pm: Swim in Cenote Oxman or Xkeken or Samula
01:15pm – 03:30pm: Lunch in Valladolid + free time
03:30pm – 06:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
Transportation takes less than 3 hours, and there is a one-hour time difference between Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Chichen Itza.
* It is forbidden to apply sunblock and repellent before swimming or
snorkeling activities to prevent water pollution in the cenotes, even if
they are biodegradable products. Compliance with this rule is essential
for the protection of the environment.
You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone,
camera, extra set of clothes…). While you are visiting or snorkeling you
can leave the things you don’t need in the van. Our driver will always
be in the van, so keeping your things safe!
You must be logged in to post a review.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Book 2 or more tours and enjoy a 10% discount! Perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their stay in the Riviera Maya.
The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic,
crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when
booking. Discover the 3 benefits of an early departure to visit Chichen Itza.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at each location, moving at your own pace.
06:15am: Private transportation from your hotel to Chichen Itza
08:00am – 11:30am: Visit of Chichen Itza + free time
11:30am – 12:15pm: Transportation
12:15pm – 01:15pm: Swim in Cenote Oxman or Xkeken or Samula
01:15pm – 03:30pm: Lunch in Valladolid + free time
03:30pm – 06:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
Transportation takes less than 3 hours, and there is a one-hour time difference between Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Chichen Itza.
* It is forbidden to apply sunblock and repellent before swimming or
snorkeling activities to prevent water pollution in the cenotes, even if
they are biodegradable products. Compliance with this rule is essential
for the protection of the environment.
You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone,
camera, extra set of clothes…). While you are visiting or snorkeling you
can leave the things you don’t need in the van. Our driver will always
be in the van, so keeping your things safe!
You must be logged in to post a review.
You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
No previous swimming experience is required.
We provide mandatory life vests, and our guide ensures a safe and comfortable experience for everyone.
Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas at both locations.
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.
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.
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.
Letzibeth –
My husband and I were staying in Cancun hotel zone for our honeymoon and we had in our bucket list to visit Chichen-Itza. When we saw how far it was from hotel zone and it was no brainer for us to look for a private tour. Of all the websites we came across in the internet Absolute Adventure Mexico stand-up from the rest. They had the best outline itinerary, we choose Chichen-Itza, cenote, and Valladolid. They didn’t have crazy add ons like other website that ended being expensive. Their website was super user-friendly, offering a great value for the cost of the tour. Also, everyones reviews were outstanding.
Our private tour started at 6am, which we recommend everyone to do this to beat the crowds and Yucatan heat. They pick-up us at the hotel and we were greeted by Alex our tour guide and Enrique our driver (if you get this two your trip will be a blast) in a spacious mini van. Our first stop was to a convenience store, to grab coffee and croissant (included in your tour). For us this was nice touch since we couldn’t have breakfast at the hotel. We had our breakfast on our way to Chichen-Itza, were Alex started to introduce us to Mayan history and language. Alex, is personable, easy to talk with, and so knowledgeable. While Alex and us were chatting, Enrique did the drive and keeping us safe at all times including our belongings. Our second stop was at a pit stop in the highway, clean restrooms with convenience shop. After that we arrive to the majestic Chichen-Itza (approx. 3 hours).
Enrique, drop us right in front of the entrance. While we went inside with Alex. Enrique went to look for parking, and keep our goods safe. Meanwhile Alex give us a very knowledgeable tour, and answering all our questions. We learn so much, and were so happy that we got there before any major crowds arrive and it was not hot at all. Alex did not only guide us but also took photos of us and great ones for social media. Once we were done with our tour, Enrique pick us up with snacks and drinks (soda/water) so refreshing after walking. While leaving the parking lot we saw the big buses arrived.
After Chichen-Itza, we went to cenote Xkenken. A what a great choice of cenote! Alex provided us with life jackets. I haven’t been before in a cenote that I can see the bottom. I saw catfish too! and not crowded at all we had it pretty much for ourselves. Because we could manage our time without having to wait for other people, we could choose to cut the cenote short and leave to Valladolid for lunch and shopping. For lunch we went to Paladar rest., and the food was delicious and safe for turist stomach. We had Cochinita Pibil, rice, blue corn chicken tacos with Agua de Jamaica. After lunch, we went to main downtown Valladolid, very pretty spanish-colonial town. Took photos and shop, and return back to the hotel arriving by 5pm perfect time to get ready for dinner and entertainment.
I understand not everyone can afford to pay a private tour. But, If you can afford it please do it. You will not regretted, most of the other big tour bus companies hire lower tier guides. With Absolute Adventure Mexico, they hire license guides that went through rigorous education in history, language but most importantly CPR which is very important in case of emergency. Private tours, is away to avoid wasting your precious vacation time and having the best quality time with your love ones by really getting immerse in Mexican culture.
Emily –
Amazing Private Tour with Joshua
While staying in Cancun, we decided to schedule a private tour to Chichen Itza and a cenote swim. The dates we were interested in weren’t available. I contacted them via email to see if they had any flexibility. They promptly responded and said they could fit us into the schedule. Joshua and our driver Omar picked us up right at 6am to go to Chichen Itza. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there. We arrived just before they opened and we were able to get in line before the crowds came. We were able to get an amazing tour of Chichen Itza With Joshua and he also took great photos of us. Another benefit of doing this private tour is we did not have to make multiple stops to pick up other people from other hotels. We arrived early enough that we were able to take photos without any other people in them, which was really nice. He provided in depth history about the site, culture, and architecture. After the tour, he gave us two different options for cenotes. We arrived early to the cenote which provided us time alone without any crowds. We were also able to get photos of the cenote without people there. Joshua brought us to a lovely Restaurant in Valladolid. We had a delicious lunch together and did some shopping before we started our journey back to Cancun. During transport, we were offered food and beverages as well. Overall, we had an amazing experience with a professional and friendly guide. We feel it was well worth paying a little more for a private tour. I highly recommend Joshua as a tour guide. We will definitely be using Absolute Adventure Mexico again when we are back in Cancun!
QT –
Tour of Chichén Itzá was super cool. Joshua was an awesome tour guide he was super knowledgeable and funny. Cenote was refreshing and lunch was super good.
Quinton –
Trip to Chichén Itzá and a Cenote, Joshua was a great tour guide very friendly and knowledgeable. Rodrigo the driver was great. Lunch was awesome.
Jamburl –
Fantastic Day!
A big thank you to Juan and Enrique for such an enjoyable day.
We visited Cancun for the first time in mid-March and were looking for a safe, educational and fun way to spend a day off the resort with our teenage son. After much research, we booked the Chichen Itza tour.
It was one of the best tours we’ve ever been on. Juan and Enrique picked us up promptly at 6:15am and we reached Chichen Itza before the crowds.
Everything was well organized with tickets pre-purchased for us and we were ushered through the gates. We really felt like VIPs.
Juan guided us through the ruins and shared his extensive knowledge of the Mayans. It was incredible and we have some great pictures in front of El Castillo without another person in sight.
We really appreciated the private tour, especially when we were leaving Chichen Itza and saw dozens of buses and hundreds of people lined up to get in.
We then traveled a short distance to a ceynote. Again, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves with only 4-5 other people there at the same time. It was a spiritual and invigorating experience.
After that we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a very nice restaurant in Valladolid.
It was a stress-free day. Enrique skillfully and safely drove the entire trip. Juan was a wealth of knowledge and able to share so much about the culture. Both were very friendly and professional.
We would highly recommend Absolute and will definitely spend another day with them on our next trip to Mexico.
Charles –
Website had all the dates as full. They engaged through chat function and Claire helped find a date they could rearrange staff to accomodate our trip. 1st class service.
Juan (our guide) reached out and strongly encouraged an earlier start (we wanted coffee) and arranged a stop for that life giving elixir for us. Great decision, cooler at Chican Itza and much less crowded. By the time we left it was much busier and a lot hotter.
We had the Cenote swim as an add-on and had the out of the way location almost entirely to ourselves. Never had more than two other swimmers with us. Fantastic.
Now, back to Juan. I have never had a better guide and interpreter. His knowledge of the Maya and their customs was excellent and accurate. He engaged our children (10,10 & 7) in the details and really excited their imagination.
Lunch was in some hidden away local gem and has been our best meal of the trip.
Justin –
The cenote swim made the entire trip. I mean I’ve always wanted to see Chichen Itza, so item checked, it was so hot our day one of the kids couldn’t do much more, absolutely no one’s fault and with this private tour we got there before opening. I can’t imagine arriving when we left and there were plenty of busses waiting to get in at that point. A/C and cold water revived everyone and then the cenote got us all the way back.
The lunch was fantastic. Chris our guide gave good recommendations.
I would highly recommend this tour just on the timeframe of getting there, the cenote, and lunch.
Our driver Omar was super patient, and was fantastic in watching over whatever we left in the vehicle and was opening the trunk to the cooler as soon as he saw us after ever stop.
Michael –
Great tour with Arturo. Very knowledgeable. It’s an early tour but it allows you to beat the crowds. By the time we were done at Chichen Itza, it was getting crowded. Same with the
Cenote. Lunch in Valladolid was great. Highly recommend this tour. Thanks Arturo!
Scott –
100% Worth the Money
Went on the Chichen Itza private tour with another couple. Our guide was Alex and our driver was Omar. If you’re lucky, you’ll get these guys. They were total pros and we never had any worries at all during the day!
Our pickup was early at the hotel and on time. Alex gave us an outline of what the day would entail while Omar drove in a safe yet efficient manner.
Made a gas station stop on the way and any time we were away from the van, Omar was standing with it and it was a great feeling knowing our belongings were safe.
At Chichen Itza Omar dropped us off at the entrance like rock stars and Alex led us through the already developing long line. We walked right into the site and I was blown away.
Alex was an excellent guide and was fascinating to listen to. We learned so much about the Mayans and the buildings we were lucky enough to get to see. We all felt incredible appreciation for the history and respect for the area and the people who lived there.
We were toured in a very efficient and enthusiastic way by Alex and we were out of there by 11 ish. By then there were literally thousands of people entering the site and an incredible amount of vans and tour buses. Omar had us hooked up near the exit and we were tail lights thankfully. It’s a pretty big crowd by noon.
We then went to the Cenote and it was unlike anything we’d ever seen before. We had a refreshing swim in there and then headed to lunch.
We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant in town and it was really nice to have Alex join us.
We weren’t really into the idea of going to a market since we’re not really into that kind of thing and we’d already gotten anything we wanted at the Chichen Itza site, so one of the benefits of this private tour was we had the ability to skip it.
On the way back we had a few beers and then learned there was a protest on our route back. No problem-o. Omar knew a route we could take to get us back without getting jammed up in a protest.
We got back to our hotel, got a group photo and we all talked the next day about what an absolutely fantastic experience this was.
Make it happen folks. This is the way to do it. Zero regrets, and we’ll be sure to be taking the same route for any future tours if we’re in the area again.
Thanks again Omar & Alex! You guys made it such a fantastic day! We’ll always remember it with nothing but positive memories!
Geraldine –
Do not let the price of the private tour scare you away. Well worth the price even for family of 3. It is far and above worth the price-quality of tour, one on one interaction, ease of booking, travel accommodations, communication from company, or ANY special requests (departure time , breakfast choices, staying longer at Chichén Itzá or cenote). Joshua our guide and Omar our driver were wonderful. Joshua is knowledgable and informative. Clearly enjoys his work! The day starts early to avoid the long wait time to get into the park -on leaving the park saw a very long line of buses and cars. Then plenty of time for a very refreshing swim at a cenote and lunch in Valladolid. Breakfast , water , soda and snacks provided. Returned early evening to our hotel in Cancun for dinner. Highly recommend! Had NO safety concerns.
Ayesha –
I read the amazing reviews before booking with this company and they definitely did not disappoint! I can definitely say that they deserve their 5 star rating! They picked us up from our hotel right at 6am, and started our way to Chichen Itza (we stopped in they way for some coffee and breads as a light breakfast), then Joshua gave us an amazing very knowledgeable tour in Chichen Itza, constantly changing between Spanish and English to accommodate all my family.
After Chichen Itza we went to swim at the Cenote and then to have a delicious lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Valladolid. We had an amazing day and would recommend them to everyone!
Michelle C –
Wow! I’m so exited and happy to be able to write this message. Being a tourist from another country and not knowing what you might be getting into, is hard. I told myself that if I liked this tour I would write a review and let others know that this is the real deal.
First off, we were picked up on time, grabbed some juice or coffee. They had drinks (soda, waters), and snacks (chips) for us throughout the trip. We would stop for the restroom if needed. Our, first stop was Chichen itzá, and we were among the first people there, (Alex had our tickets, so we walked right in) which makes for really good pictures when no one in the background. It also makes for great weather as it gets hotter as a day goes by. We headed over to the Cenote. We were given the choice of two, and we picked the open air, one which usually is very busy, and we got really lucky that nobody was there yet, except for maybe one group of 10 which I hear is all to us considering that they get really busy.
We ended up at Valladoldid for a stroll and lunch. They order ahead so we don’t wait long.
This tour may be a little pricey, but I’ll tell you it’s really worth it. All the entrances are included and so is lunch (drinks not included). I would 1000 times recommend this, and if going back I will use them again for another tour to another place that they may offer.
Thank you Alex, and to our driver for the great tour, you are a great tour guide and very informative.
It was me and my husband and another couple friends and we all agreed that this was so fun and so worth it.
John –
Alex (Alejandro) was a fantastic guide, attentive to our every need and very knowledgeable. His experience and enthusiasm were evident and he really helped us to imagine the lives of these ancient peoples in a compelling and interesting way. Rodrigo was a safe and careful driver who made the long trek easy. Together, they were a wonderful team that we would recommend very highly.
Jeffery –
We embarked on a private tour of the Chichen Itza ruins, coupled with a visit to Cenote Oxman and a delightful lunch at a restaurant in Valladolid.
Our guide, Alex, was punctually waiting downtown at 6:15, demonstrating their commitment to excellent service by arriving early. Accompanied by a skilled driver, we boarded a comfortable 5-passenger bus, fitting our group of 4 perfectly.
The tour began with a brief stop for coffee and traditional Mexican bread before continuing towards the Chichen Itza ruins. Along the way, we made a convenient restroom break, ensuring a comfortable journey.
Arriving at the ruins ahead of the crowds was a remarkable experience, made possible by Alex’s meticulous planning and organization. With our tickets in hand, courtesy of Alex, we bypassed any waiting lines, allowing us to delve straight into the historical wonders of Chichen Itza.
Alex’s extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling brought the ruins to life, enriching our experience with captivating insights into their history.
Overall, this tour exceeded our expectations, offering exceptional value for money and the added convenience of avoiding crowds. Alex’s enthusiasm and expertise truly made this trip enjoyable and memorable
I would definitely recommend this company
Lorraine –
Thank you to Arturo and Omar for a wonderful day today. Arturo was an outstanding guide. He was so knowledgeable and engaging. Omar was a safe driver and drove us down many back roads so we saw the culture of the places we visited. We are so grateful that we booked this tour. Way to go guys!
Catherine –
Best experience ever! Alex and Omar were so kind and patient. Alex was incredibly informative about chichen and Mayan history. Every thing was seamless and very organized. Got to chichen early so it was cool and less crowded. Also was able to get some amazing photos. Had the best meal we had this trip in Vallodolid. Definitely a must and worth the price. Thank you Alex and Omar!
Anita –
A trip we will always remember!
Our sons (8) and (10) can’t stop talking about our trip to Chichen Itza. Our tour guide, Joshua, answered all of their questions and made the tour interesting for all of us! The entire day was seamless and well planned out! We would definitely recommend!!!! Especially with Joshua!
tbust-moves1 –
My family cannot be more pleased with our experience with Absolute Adventures. Booking was easy and the information provided on their website was very accurate. They kept in touch as our scheduled tour approached. Our guide Alex and driver Omar were great. Alex was awesome! He was very welcoming and he made sure my family was included in the experience. What impressed me was his knowledge of Chichen Itza and the passion he has for what he does! We were very impressed with his attention to the history of the site, the culture of the people, and making sure my family was good! It is refreshing to experience someone who truly loves what they do! Thank you to Alex, Omar, and Absolute Adventure.
Travel61912345 –
Wonderful private tour of Chichen Itza
We really enjoyed our visit to Chichen Itza. Our guide Alex and driver Omar put us at ease right away. We learned so much on the drive there which made seeing the ruins much more meaningful and interesting.
The Cenote swim was lovely and lunch was fun. It was great to get there early ahead of the crowds and the heat.
All round a great day!
Julie F –
We had a wonderful experience to Chichen Itza with Juan! He was extremely knowledgeable and kept our two teenage sons interested the entire time. We had to make an unexpected stop and Juan and our driver were very flexible and accommodating. I highly recommend this company!