Chichen Itza and Cenote Tour
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
Scroll down for detailed info, inclusions and itinerary.
Book your tour now and if your plans happen to change, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours prior to the tour!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Private Tours You May Like
- Chichen Itza Only Private Tour: Focus exclusively on the ruins with a personalized guided experience.
- Chichen Itza & Valladolid Private Tour: Explore the ruins and enjoy Valladolid’s colonial charm without the cenote swim.
- Chichen Itza Equinox Private Tour: Visit during the March or September equinox to witness the iconic serpent shadow phenomenon at El Castillo.
- Tulum & Cenote Private Tour: Discover the stunning Tulum ruins combined with a refreshing cenote swim.
- Ek Balam & Cenote Private Tour: Explore the less crowded Ek Balam ruins where you can climb the main pyramid, plus enjoy a dip in a beautiful nearby cenote.
- Coba & Cenote Private Tour: Visit the impressive Coba ruins and cool off in a secluded cenote.
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.
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
- Chichen Itza — 210 min
- Cenote swim — 75 min
- Lunch in Valladolid — 75 min
- 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
* 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!
331 reviews for Chichen Itza and Cenote Tour
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FAQ Chichen Itza Cenote Private Tour
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.
Cherylyn –
Superb experience! Our driver, Omar and our guide, Juan J, treated us to such a delightful day. Juan J was so informative and really showed us what the ruin was used for and helped us understand that time in history. The cenote experience was magical. Don’t leave the area without experiencing one! We had the MOST delicious lunch in the colonial town of Valladolid and enjoyed wandering around the square. The van was comfy and we had a very special day to remember. They did all the work, accommodated our wants and we had all the fun! I would highly recommend Absolute Adventures!
Maria –
Great accessible tour. Alex G was a kind and knowledgeable tour guide. He was very attendant to the needs of my mother who was in a wheelchair. He answered all of my kids questions with enthusiasm and care. He spoke both English and Spanish which was very helpful for my kids who are still learning Spanish. Rodrigo was a great and safe driver. He was polite and helped my mom get in and out of van and onto her wheelchair. You can tell that both Alex and Rodrigo get along well and are a great team. Highly recommend this tour and guides/driver. Lunch was great too! And the whole trip went smoothly.
Arlin –
This was an excellent tour and I would highly recommend it. Our tour guide Juan was the best and made this adventure a memorable one. I was with a group of 19 people and Juan not only kept the group together all the time, he was able to keep us on time to each of the destinations we needed to get to. Juan was very knowledgable about each location’s history. He kept the talks short and fun and answered any questions we had. Our group had two shuttle vans equipped with snacks and drinks. The shuttle picked our group up from our AirBnb early in the morning to make it to our first stop the Chichen Itza Ruins. Juan knew how to time everything so we would beat the crowds! After the ruins we went to a Cenote. We stayed there until everyone got hungry and it started getting busy. After the Cenote we had lunch at a nice restaurant in Valladolid. Following lunch we had time to explore the city of Valladolid by foot. This was our last destination before heading back to our Airbnb. Again thanks to Juan, the shuttle drivers and the Absolute Adventure Mexico Group for making this trip amazing. It was very organized and fun!
Ashley –
Amazing!! Jose was such a great tour guide. We were a large group of 19 and we all agreed that he had the experience that much more memorable
Iris –
Dulce and Carlos made this one of the most memorable vacations. Dulce made our experience one of the best with her knowledge of Chichén Itza and the Oxman Cenote. The two made us feel like VIP’s. Carlos was the perfect driver! We will definitely book again!!
Juan A –
We did and excursion to the Chichen Itzá and Cenote.Are driver Carlos and the tour person Alex they take good care of us we are very happy with the services and most definitely will used them again for the future.Thank you again Carlos and Alex great job.
Donald –
This was one of our best tour experiences ever and our guide Juan was fantastic and very
knowledgeable. It felt like we spent the day with a great friend.
Boranya –
We had absolutely wonderful time during our private tour – Chichen-Itza & Cenote. Comfortable transportation, friendly stuff and excellent customer service. Our driver and tour guide – Rodrigo and Alex were amazing. Highly recommend 🔝
Hillary –
We loved our tour of Chichen Itza and our visit to the cenote. Juan was our tour guide and he made the day wonderful. He was attentive, flexible, knowledgeable, and very helpful. We enjoyed the history and information in Chichen Itza before coming off in the gorgeous cenote. Lunch was delicious, especially when following Juan’s recommendation. Would highly recommend this tour and Juan!
Tasmin –
We had a great tour with Alex, Claire and Omar. We had a very early start but it was worth it to get to Chichen Itza before the crowds. Alex and Claire were really knowledgable and great to talk to about the history of the Mayans. The tour is relaxed and you’re able to spend as much time as you want on the different parts of the tour. Would really recommend this to anyone who wants a more personalised experience!
Luca I. –
Our two families of adults and teens enjoyed a this amazing tour. We chose to leave our Cancun resort at 5:30 am, and it was definitely the right call, as we arrived at Chichen Itza before the heat and the crowds. Our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, Alex, and driver Rodrigo were an excellent team, as we learned a ton and kept us all engaged. The cenote swim exceeded any expectations, and is something we will never forget. Awe-inspiring and beautiful, we are so glad we did this. The lunch at Vallodolid was a great choice. We SO appreciated the delicious food in such a beautiful town. This was an unforgettable adventure, and we cannot recommend this enough. Thank you, Alex, and Absolute Adventures!
Heidi –
Excellent tour and highly recommended!
Juan, our tour guide and Omar, our driver, were absolutely amazing! They provided a private tour of Chichen Itza, the Cenote and Valladolid. We enjoyed a delicious traditional Mexican lunch at Atrio. Juan was very knowledgeable and will definitely request them on any future travels to Cancun. We highly recommend them.
Dana –
Perfect excursion
We had an absolutely amazing adventure from start to finish with our private tour to Chichen Itza, swimming in a cenote and lunch and walking around Vallodolid! Claire was an incredible guide- She gave us so much info and patiently let us explore and ask questions about everything that we saw. They were punctual and friendly and we really enjoyed the 12 hours of the tour. I had a few questions before I booked and Claire answered them quickly. She was good about reaching out prior to the tour and was very easy to communicate with. The arrival at one minute until opening was perfectly timed so that we could get the best pictures of Chichen Itza and explore before it was too hot. She suggested the pick up time from our hotel so that we could get this accomplished and the day went perfectly. We almost had the cenote to ourselves and she took awesome pictures of our whole family. The lunch was delicious and it was great to be in authentic Mexican culture. We had our three children with us and they thoroughly enjoyed the entire day. We will absolutely use this company again on our future visits to explore other ruins, cenotes, and animal adventures. We have already recommended this to a few people and will continue to tell people about our excursion! Thank you for a fabulous day!
Dan –
Wow – what an incredible day. Alex and Omar took incredible care of us and showed us all the sights of Chichen Itza, followed by an unforgettable swim in a gorgeous cenote (the kids loved jumping off the platform) and then a delicious lunch in picturesque Valladolid.
Vicky –
Absolutely amazing! Waking up early on vacation isn’t always the first thing you wanna do. But it is definitely worth it to beat the crowds, heat and able to have certain sites practically all to yourself! Juan was friendly, professional and very knowledgeable about the Mayan Ruins and cenotes. Loved lunch in town with delicious food! Will definitely recommend this to others and excited to see another soon with them!
Sophie –
We had Juan as our guide and Carlos as our driver, and it was such a amazing experience. Our guide had so many wonderful facts and was very personable, easy to talk too. Carlos will get you where you need to be safe and swiftly.
Ben W –
Second time using Absolute Adventure Mexico and my decision to be a repeat customer was absolutely the correct one. Last time we did Tulum, cenote and swimming with the turtles. Fantastic time. This time Chichen Itza, cenote and lunch.
Day started early at 530 from PDC. Take their advice and make it an early morning. Juan (guide) and Carlos (driver) were waiting when we got the front our hotel. We stopped to get coffee and a snack on the long drive inland. Juan was very personable throughout the day and made sure we were comfortable at every step.
We arrived at Chichen Itza just as they were opening at 8AM. Juan gave us a very thorough tour while also allowing us to “guide” the tour based on what we were interested in. It truly is a fantastic place. We learned so much more having a private guide than we would have trying to do it as part of a large group. Juan’s expertise made sure to maximize the time we spent there which was just enough. The crowds were really piling in as we were leaving. We were able to get many pictures where we were the only people in them. Can’t do that if you arrive even mid morning.
From there we went to a cenote for a quick swim. I can’t recall the name but there were only three other people in the cenote the same time we were. Juan took care of my camera and my fiance’s phone while we were in the water. We stayed there for about 30 minutes. We were the ones that decided how long and I’m sure we could have stayed longer but we had to get back to our hotel for our covid test.
From there we went to Valladolid for a wonderful lunch. The restaurant was beautiful and food was very good. We walked around town a bit but wanted to make sure we got back timely.
Overall another top notch experience. I was hesitant the first time we used Absolute Adventures just because the cost for 2 people is a little high. But, you pay for what you get. And I think we had two wonderful experiences. After our first experience, I didn’t hesitate using them again.
Juan was very personable and eager to accommodate our few requests. You can tell he is well known and that helps with lines, etc.
Carlos our driver was very nice and safe throughout the long day. We never felt at risk.
Overall, we couldn’t have had a better time and am very thankful to Juan and Carlos for helping make this a trip we will never forget!!
T & D –
5 stars just cant possibly represent how amazing and how unique of an experience you get with them . They have been the best , very helpful from start to finish (from when we were in Canada till the end of our Tours) .They were Very informative and very respectful. We highly recommend them as this has truly been the best Tour experience we have ever had . We will definitely be seeing them again when we are back.
Juan and Clare did a fantastic Job and I cannot thank them enough for the absolutely amazing adventures and experience that we had.
Thank you again and we will definitely see you again soon!
Russels Family –
Omar (the driver) and Jose Manuel were great!
First we went to Chichen Itza and stayed there for about 2 hours. It was amazing! But, we made sure to leave our hotel at 5:30 AM. This was very important because we got there before the crowd and the heat hit. Also, Juan new all the special info about this place and took amazing photos!
Next, we went to Cenote! It was absolutely beautiful! Omar and Juan also gave us water and chips! Yumm! There was hardly anyone there!
Last, we went to one of Jose’s favorite places for lunch. It was yummy and a gorgeous setting. They also let us walk around down town if we wanted. But it was a bit to hit by then. Thank you Jose and Omar!
Ericka –
The guide (JJ) was amazing! Super personable and knowledgeable about the Mayan culture. Rodrigo was a fantastic driver. The two made a great combo and our group thoroughly enjoyed the day. Highly recommend using them to tour ruins and cenotes as they made the day super easy and fun.