YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Chichen Itza ruins and Valladolid

114 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: Don’t miss this exclusive private tour with a guided visit to the Chichen Itza ruins! Enjoy a stop in the charming colonial city of Valladolid and savor a delicious lunch at a local restaurant..
  • 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.
  • 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 ruins and visit of Valladolid Private Tour

 

How many Wonders of the World have you visited? Adding Chichen Itza to your list is a truly unforgettable experience! As the most famous Mayan archaeological site globally, Chichen Itza invites you to immerse yourself in authentic Mayan culture and history. This private tour to Chichen Itza is ideal for travelers who want the benefits of an expert guided visit combined with the freedom to explore at their own pace.

  1. Self-Paced Guided Visit of Chichen Itza

    During this self-paced guided tour, you’ll have the chance to explore every corner of the site. Your expert guide will take you to the awe-inspiring Kukulkan Pyramid, the Great Ball Game court, the Temple of the Warriors, and several well-preserved platforms that tell the story of ancient Mayan civilization. You’ll also visit the sacred Cenote Sagrado, the Observatory Area, and the oldest sections of the ruins, gaining fascinating insights along the way.

    To ensure you make the most of your visit, your guide will have your entrance tickets ready so you can skip the long lines and start exploring immediately. At the end of the tour, you’ll have some free time to browse the local stalls and shop for authentic souvenirs to remember your visit.

  2. Valladolid & Traditional Yucatec Lunch

    After exploring Chichen Itza, the tour continues to the charming colonial town of Valladolid. Known for its vibrant main marketplace and the impressive San Bernardino de Siena Cathedral and Convent—the second largest convent in the Yucatán—Valladolid offers a delightful cultural experience. Here, you will enjoy a delicious lunch featuring typical Yucatec dishes served at a local restaurant, giving you a true taste of the region’s culinary heritage.

    After lunch, take some free time to wander the colorful streets, admire colonial architecture, visit quaint shops, or simply relax and soak in the atmosphere of this picturesque town.

  3. Tour Logistics & Comfort

    Your private tour to Chichen Itza begins with a convenient hotel pickup by your dedicated guide and private transportation. We start early in the day to help you avoid the crowds and make the most of cooler morning hours. Following your day of exploration and relaxation, you’ll be comfortably returned to your hotel by mid-afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to unwind or enjoy your evening.

     

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
  • All entrance fees and state tax
  • 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:
 10 hours
Physicality:
 Easy
Age:
 All ages
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 & Valladolid

  1. Chichen Itza — 165 min
  2. Lunch in Valladolid — 40 min
  3. 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 and Valladolid, 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/Valladolid.

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 · 114 tour reviews

Showing reviews 82–90 of 114

Five stars!! This is the best way to see Chichén Itzá! We got there early before all the crowds and got to enjoy the site when it was still peaceful. Alex was a very knowledgeable guide who provided us with thorough details about Maya culture and Chichen Itza. We were so grateful that he was with us so we didn’t have to worry about buying…

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Five stars!!
This is the best way to see Chichén Itzá! We got there early before all the crowds and got to enjoy the site when it was still peaceful. Alex was a very knowledgeable guide who provided us with thorough details about Maya culture and Chichen Itza. We were so grateful that he was with us so we didn’t have to worry about buying tickets, finding a good place to eat, or finding restrooms. Claire was very accessible and responsive when we needed to make last minute changes. We also went to Tulum, Cobá, and cenotes with Alex on another day of our trip and loved that day too. Omar and Rodrigo were very safe drivers, and we were happy to let them drive so we didn’t have to worry about renting a car, driving, or parking. Private tours with Absolute Adventures is the way to go. We will definitely use them if we go to Cancun again!

Kacey · Jan 2024

We did two tours through Absolute Adventures with a group of 12 people. It was very easy to make the arrangements. During the tours, our guide provided us with great information and insights. We learned a lot, saw beautiful sites, and were well-taken care of.

Christine · Jan 2024

TLDR; this is an excellent business to book your private tour with. We found this business on another booking site with very little reviews. I took a chance and looked them up on their direct website and Google page where they had so many great reviews. Our morning started early (6:15am) and we stopped 30 minutes into the drive for a gas station breakfast of…

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TLDR; this is an excellent business to book your private tour with.

We found this business on another booking site with very little reviews. I took a chance and looked them up on their direct website and Google page where they had so many great reviews. Our morning started early (6:15am) and we stopped 30 minutes into the drive for a gas station breakfast of pastries and a beverage (coffee, juice, etc), along with water in the van. It was well worth the early start to get to the pyramid right when they opened. Their sample itinerary showed 2.5 hours at Chichen Itza (which seems like a long time but it flew by!), chips and water before a 45 minute drive to your choice between two cenotes (it was refreshing, we only felt like staying 30 minutes), lunch in Valladolid with our guide (at a mid-high scale restaurant), and 15-30 minutes in their historic town center with lots of options for shopping. We were back at our hotel by 5:30pm.

They had many methods of payment, spoke great English for our teen (who is the history buff and wanted to learn the most), took care of all payments at each stop (which was nice to not have to figure out where to buy tickets, just get handed your ticket and walk right in), and drove safely. The best part was that our guide Joshua and driver Omar took such good care of us. We beat the crowds at each stop and just felt so at ease leaving our belongings in their care. I can’t wait to pass along their info to each person I know going to the Playa del Carmen area.

*one last note, about Mexico specifically, bring a $5 peso coin for bathrooms. We needed it at the gas station and was lucky I had it handy.

Michelle · Dec 2023

his was our first trip to the Yucatan peninsula so we wanted to book something that would really help us get to know the area, history and culture of the area and its people. While there were many tours and options to pick from, ultimately, we decided on Absolute Adventure, due to the nature of the package that was offered that had what we wanted…

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his was our first trip to the Yucatan peninsula so we wanted to book something that would really help us get to know the area, history and culture of the area and its people. While there were many tours and options to pick from, ultimately, we decided on Absolute Adventure, due to the nature of the package that was offered that had what we wanted to experience, while staying there.
While we expected to receive a tour guide showing us the sights and talking about the usual historical information of the area we were visiting, what we actually got was SOOO...MUCH...MORE!! :D
Our tour guide Alex, was fantastic and we definitely recommend him to anyone looking to book this tour, in the future. Not only did Alex take us on an adventure, he was incredibly insightful about the area, the subject matter, and really made us feel the cultural connections to the area. Most of all, he was a great, 'down to earth' kind of guy. While very professional, he seemed authentic and that was what we appreciated most.

Rudy · Nov 2023

This was our first trip to the Yucatan peninsula so we wanted to book something that would really help us get to know the area, history and culture of the area and its people. While there were many tours and options to pick from, ultimately, we decided on Absolute Adventure, due to the nature of the package that was offered that had what we wanted…

Read full reviewShow less

This was our first trip to the Yucatan peninsula so we wanted to book something that would really help us get to know the area, history and culture of the area and its people. While there were many tours and options to pick from, ultimately, we decided on Absolute Adventure, due to the nature of the package that was offered that had what we wanted to experience, while staying there.
While we expected to receive a tour guide showing us the sights and talking about the usual historical information of the area we were visiting, what we actually got was SOOO...MUCH...MORE!! :D
Our tour guide Alex, was fantastic and we definitely recommend him to anyone looking to book this tour, in the future. Not only did Alex take us on an adventure, he was incredibly insightful about the area, the subject matter, and really made us feel the cultural connections to the area. Most of all, he was a great, 'down to earth' kind of guy. While very professional, he seemed authentic and that was what we appreciated most.

Rudy · Nov 2023

These guys are excellent and patient and understanding. They do things per your request. They are knowledgeable especially Juan Jose and Carlos the driver is an excellent driver we felt safe and he helps you get in and get out of the van. They were an excellent team. I have to use a cane and they helped me and were generally very concerned about my…

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These guys are excellent and patient and understanding. They do things per your request. They are knowledgeable especially Juan Jose and Carlos the driver is an excellent driver we felt safe and he helps you get in and get out of the van. They were an excellent team. I have to use a cane and they helped me and were generally very concerned about my wellbeing the whole time. I can’t say enough good things about these two guys. Excellent says enough. I asked for a certain drink for my trip and it was ready in the van. So nice to have expert service.

Mike · Sep 2023

Amazing tour! Our tour guide, Arturo, was awesome. He was knowledgeable and made sure everything was going well for us throughout the tour.

Jeanne · Jul 2023

My wife and I love history and we also wanted to explore Mexico, not just stay on the resort. We booked this a little nervous not knowing really how it would be spending an entire day with a stranger…Man I can honestly say this was the best part of our vacation. Alex and Omar were awesome. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone coming…

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My wife and I love history and we also wanted to explore Mexico, not just stay on the resort. We booked this a little nervous not knowing really how it would be spending an entire day with a stranger…Man I can honestly say this was the best part of our vacation. Alex and Omar were awesome. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone coming here. Alexis knew a ton and had the timing for the whole trip down perfectly.
For anyone scrolling this is a real review.
Alex and Omar, thank you guys.
You genuinely made this vacation.

William · Jul 2023

Amazing tour and guide! We had an amazing time going to Chichén-Itzá and Valladolid with Absolute Adventure! Arturo was our guide, and we got there just as the park was opening. Because we were there before the crowds, we were able to get photos with the temples as backdrops — and no one else around. Basically had the park to ourselves for a while, which…

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Amazing tour and guide!
We had an amazing time going to Chichén-Itzá and Valladolid with Absolute Adventure!
Arturo was our guide, and we got there just as the park was opening. Because we were there before the crowds, we were able to get photos with the temples as backdrops — and no one else around. Basically had the park to ourselves for a while, which was valuable!
We learned so much about the ancient city from Arturo, who was able to point out aspects of the temple and history that we would have completely missed had we been in the park on our own. We then went to Valladolid for a fantastic lunch, and got to walk the city on our own for a bit — stopping off in a beautiful old church at one point.
If you are in the Yucatán Peninsula, make sure you book a tour worth Absolute Adventures! It’s worth taking a private tour and not to be missed!

Lady B · Jun 2023

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Chichen Itza Valladolid 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 Cenote 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.

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.

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!

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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 ruins and Valladolid

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

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.