YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Chichen Itza Express Private Tour

124 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: Explore Chichen Itza with a personal certified guide, plus enjoy free time to shop for unique souvenirs and handcrafted treasures!
  • 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.
  • Capture Perfect Photos: Be the first to arrive at the best spots for stunning shots.
  • Set Your Own Pace: Stay longer or move on, the choice is entirely yours.
  • All-Inclusive at the Best Price: Transport, guide, entrance fees, water.

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 Express Private Tour: Exclusive, Efficient, and Crowd-Free

 

How many of the New Seven Wonders of the World have you explored? Make sure Chichen Itza is one of them! As the most iconic Mayan archaeological site worldwide, Chichen Itza offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient culture and history. Our Chichen Itza Express Private Tour is designed for travelers who want an expert-guided experience without unnecessary extras—perfect for those who prefer a focused visit without the Valladolid or cenote combo.

  1. Skip the Lines and Avoid the Crowds

    With this exclusive express tour, your private guide will have your entrance tickets ready before arrival, allowing you to bypass long lines and start exploring immediately. We recommend an early start to beat the crowds and enjoy the site in cooler, quieter conditions.

  2. Full Access with Freedom to Explore at Your Own Pace

    This tour lets you experience the entire Chichen Itza complex without feeling rushed. Visit all the key highlights—from the towering Kukulkan Pyramid and the ancient ball court to the Temple of the Warriors, the sacred Cenote Sagrado, the Observatory, and the oldest ruins—all while setting your own pace. Your guide provides insightful commentary tailored to your interests, ensuring a rich and memorable visit.

  3. Simple, Affordable, and Inclusive

    The Chichen Itza Express Private Tour includes everything essential: private transportation from your hotel, a knowledgeable guide, entrance fees, and bottled water. By focusing on the core experience and skipping additional stops, this tour offers an affordable option without compromising quality or comfort.

    At the end of your visit, you’ll have free time to browse local souvenir stands before returning comfortably to your hotel in the early afternoon. This streamlined yet thorough tour is ideal for travelers looking to immerse themselves in Mayan history efficiently and exclusively.

     

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)
  • Toll road when pick up from Playa del Carmen and Cancun
  • Experienced certified private guide
  • All entrance fees and state tax
  • Cool drinks in the van (water, soda)

Price excludes

  • 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:
 8-9 hours
Physicality:
 Easy
Age:
 All ages

Itinerary options

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

Chichen Itza Express

  1. Chichen Itza — 165 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, moving at your own pace.
Want a faster tour? Free time can be reduced or skipped; your guide can adjust the pace on the day of the tour.

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

What to Bring

  • Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
  • Camera

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

5.00/5 · 124 tour reviews

Showing reviews 73–81 of 124

Highly recommend! Alex was an extremely knowledgeable guide and very pleasant to spend the day with! Never felt rushed. Loved the private van so we didn’t have to make any stops and never had to wait. Omar was a great driver too! Hassle free booking, timely pick-up, and great communication. Highly recommend!

Amanda · Apr 2025

At first I worried because I speak little English, but there was no problem. The guide made it simple and clear, so I could follow the history and enjoy the beautiful site. It was better than I expected. Thank you.

Park Ji-eun · Apr 2025

Great trip to chichen itza with Christina and Rodri. The express trip was perfect with three kids - very knowledgeable and kind. Would recommend!

Helen · Apr 2025

Wonderful Chichen itza tour! Our group of 9 had a wonderful experience with Absolute Adventure! We chose an early pick up time to ensure getting there a little before opening and pick up was very prompt. Driver was excellent, as was our tour guide Arturo. He had us set the pace of our tour, and we never felt rushed. His detailed knowledge of the history…

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Wonderful Chichen itza tour!
Our group of 9 had a wonderful experience with Absolute Adventure! We chose an early pick up time to ensure getting there a little before opening and pick up was very prompt. Driver was excellent, as was our tour guide Arturo. He had us set the pace of our tour, and we never felt rushed. His detailed knowledge of the history and the site enriched our experience so much. Our tour was about 3 hours because we wanted to see everything in detail, but you can see everything faster if you want. We had a couple kids who had issues with the heat, and he was very considerate about finding some shade for them and making sure they were okay to continue. If we visit the area again, I would definitely book another tour with Absolute Adventure; highly recommended! Excellent value for price.

746quyenp · Apr 2025

Chichen Itza Private Tour with Alex We immensely enjoyed our full day private tour to Chichen Itza with guide, Alex. Alex was prompt, friendly and very knowledgeable. Alex had so much information to share on the ride out to the ancient city, that we felt so informed and ready to explore. I was amazed and impressed by the level of preparation and professionalism that Alex…

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Chichen Itza Private Tour with Alex
We immensely enjoyed our full day private tour to Chichen Itza with guide, Alex. Alex was prompt, friendly and very knowledgeable. Alex had so much information to share on the ride out to the ancient city, that we felt so informed and ready to explore. I was amazed and impressed by the level of preparation and professionalism that Alex showed on the tour. Highly recommended!

Elizabeth · Mar 2025

Chichen Itza Express Josh was our guide, he was very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had! They were on time for everything it was so quick and easy to book. We ordered 24 beer for our trip from Bahia Principe Tulum to Chichen Itza and back. I would highly recommend going to Chichen Itza with this company. The private tour is by far the…

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Chichen Itza Express
Josh was our guide, he was very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had! They were on time for everything it was so quick and easy to book. We ordered 24 beer for our trip from Bahia Principe Tulum to Chichen Itza and back. I would highly recommend going to Chichen Itza with this company. The private tour is by far the way to go, it was worth every penny it cost. We were able to choose our pickup time we left our resort at 7:30am and honestly that was a pretty good time to leave as the crowds were not bad at all yet. We left Chichen Itza around 11:00-11:30 or so and that was lots of time because we were back at our resort and still got to enjoy the sunlight for the rest of the day.

Dylan · Feb 2025

Absolute Adventure Mexico - Chichen Itza Express Private Tour - MUST DO! This was the second of two excursions that my wife and I booked with Absolute Adventure Mexico during our week in Playa del Carmen (we also enjoyed the Tulum Ruins and Snorkeling in Cenote excursion). This was our first trip to Mexico despite our being seasoned travelers, and expanding our knowledge of Mayan…

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Absolute Adventure Mexico - Chichen Itza Express Private Tour - MUST DO!
This was the second of two excursions that my wife and I booked with Absolute Adventure Mexico during our week in Playa del Carmen (we also enjoyed the Tulum Ruins and Snorkeling in Cenote excursion). This was our first trip to Mexico despite our being seasoned travelers, and expanding our knowledge of Mayan culture while visiting the Yucatan Peninsula was important to us.
Our pickup was at 6:15 a.m. (very early!) but a worthwhile necessity given the 2.25-hour drive to the Chichen Itza site. We were privileged to have Alex as our guide (second time in three days!) and Enrique as our driver. Alex and Enrique were on time and well prepared with water for the long drive. The van was clean and in excellent condition, and throughout the trip there and back, Enrique drove responsibly and carefully, the latter important given that road conditions were not always ideal. Alex spent time during the early portion of the drive discussing the Mayan civilization at the time of Chichen Itza and details about what we could expect about the site. This foundational knowledge was important to my wife and me; having spent time with us on an excursion two days prior, Alex had already developed a rapport with us and gave us all we could have asked for. This is where I should probably mention that my wife and I were the only passengers in the van and part of the tour. Two adults and one deeply knowledgeable guide is a recipe for a great experience!
We stopped for coffee and bathrooms along the way and arrived at the site well before its 8 a.m. opening (noting that we change time zones and get one hour back en route). We were among the first visitors of the day and were able to take photos of El Castillo close to sunrise and with few photo-bombers. This is why one should arrive early! In total, we spent 4.5 hours visiting the many different ruins throughout this lost city (who knew?) and emerged with a deeper understanding of how the Mayan civilization operated. Alex was truly fantastic in this regard. He is the kind of person with whom you would enjoy a casual meal for the opportunity to ask questions and learn not only about his knowledge of history and the region but also his own life. Alex is a really good person on top of being an effective tour guide.
Visiting Chichen Itza is a must-do for first-time visitors to the Yucatan Peninsula. I began the experience knowing very little and was made the wiser for it. Absolute Adventure Mexico, my wife and I are grateful for the experience you gave us. Please continue to maintain a high bar for hiring tour guides, as those like Alex make these experiences successful for your clients.

James · Feb 2025

It was a real privilege to have Josh show us around Chichen Itza. His knowledge and passion for the subject was on full display. Not only was it a great tour but he knew where to take all the best pictures from, and even helped take them!

Eric · Feb 2025

Everything was very well organized. The transportation, the timing, and the guidance were smooth. The guide told us many interesting things about the Mayan culture. Even our children liked it very much. We are grateful for this tour.

Soo-jin · Feb 2025

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Chichen Itza 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 does a private Chichen Itza tour take?

Please check the full itinerary in the “Itinerary” tab for more details.

It typically lasts between 9 to 10 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site. 

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.

Is breakfast included, or can we stop on the way to grab something?

Breakfast is not included in the tour.
However, we’re happy to make a quick stop at a convenience store on the way so you can purchase something to eat or drink before starting the activities. You are also welcome to bring your own snacks if you prefer.

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.

Is there a restaurant at Chichen Itza, or can we grab something to eat nearby?

After your guided tour of Chichen Itza, you'll have free time to explore more or you own or to shop souvenirs. You can use this time to go to the restaurant on-site.

Alternatively, if you prefer, we can arrange a brief stop at a convenience store on the way back to your accommodation.

Please note that the express tour takes a direct route back and does not pass through towns where sit-down restaurants are located.

Can we stop at a restaurant on the way back?

This tour doesn’t include stops at a restaurant.

However, if you're interested in adding lunch, you can check out our Chichen Itza Valladolid private tour, which includes a meal at a local restaurant in town.

Is the Chichen Itza express tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes, the express tour is suitable for families with young children.

However, we recommend an early morning pick-up to avoid the midday heat.

The average real-feel temperature at Chichen Itza can range from 75°F (24°C) in the cooler months to 95°F (35°C) or higher in the summer.

By starting early, you can enjoy the ruins in more comfortable temperatures, typically around 75-85°F (24-29°C).

This way, you and your children can explore without worrying about the intense midday sun.

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.

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for exploring the ruins—tennis shoes are ideal. Light, breathable clothing is also suggested due to the warm weather.

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

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!

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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 Express Private 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.