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 28–36 of 114

our family had a great experience on our excursion to Chichen Itza with Arturo the guide and Ivan the driver.we were comforable on our trip and they were very accomodating; very safe trip; they gave us plenty of time on the area and for our shopping.we highly recommend the agency.

Teresa · Feb 2026

My husband and I did a private tour of Chichen Itza on Friday January 30th. We thoroughly enjoyed it! Juan was an excellent tour guide with tons of knowledge and experience. He ensured we got there early and even had a few minutes to take photographs alone, before the temple area became overrun with tourists. We learned a lot and truly recommend Absolute Adventure private…

Read full reviewShow less

My husband and I did a private tour of Chichen Itza on Friday January 30th. We thoroughly enjoyed it! Juan was an excellent tour guide with tons of knowledge and experience. He ensured we got there early and even had a few minutes to take photographs alone, before the temple area became overrun with tourists. We learned a lot and truly recommend Absolute Adventure private tours for anyone looking for a reliable company to tour Chichen Itza with! Thank you so much for an amazing day.

Nicole · Jan 2026

Dulce the tour guide and Yosmar the driver were very professional and polite. Yosmar spoke very good English and was knowledgeable. Yosmar drove great. Never felt unsafe. Water and snacks were plenty in the vehicle.

Dulce · Jan 2026

Our 9 person group did the Chichen Itza / Valladolid Lunch Tour with Dulce as our guide. It was an incredible experience and truly informative. Dulce even brought out a bird book as our questions ran the gammit and she was prepared. An amazing excursion and would highly recommend for anyone interested in the Mayan culture.

Rob · Jan 2026

Juan was an incredible tour guide and we greatly enjoyed our tour of Chichen Itza and Valladolid. The ride there was comfortable and we appreciated how accommodating they were of the baby and toddler who joined us on the tour. Once we arrived, Juan was very knowledgeable, able to answer our many questions, and made the tour fascinating. We also appreciated that he knew exactly…

Read full reviewShow less

Juan was an incredible tour guide and we greatly enjoyed our tour of Chichen Itza and Valladolid. The ride there was comfortable and we appreciated how accommodating they were of the baby and toddler who joined us on the tour. Once we arrived, Juan was very knowledgeable, able to answer our many questions, and made the tour fascinating. We also appreciated that he knew exactly when to arrive and where to go to get the best pictures and how to avoid the crowds. I can imagine if we had gone on our own it would have felt overwhelming and there’s so much we would have missed. So this was a great format to explore Chichen Itza. We also loved the restaurant that we stopped at for lunch. The food was delicious, the atmosphere beautiful, and we enjoyed the local recommendations Juan shared. Would highly recommend tour.

Ashley · Jan 2026

Great driver + great guide = great day! We had a wonderful experience on our private tour to Chichen Itza and Valladolid with our very conscientious driver Enrique and expert guide, Cristina. Absolute Adventure's suggestion of going early in the morning is well worth it. They arrived on time and we were one of the first couples to enter the sight that morning. Cristina carried…

Read full reviewShow less

Great driver + great guide = great day!
We had a wonderful experience on our private tour to Chichen Itza and Valladolid with our very conscientious driver Enrique and expert guide, Cristina. Absolute Adventure's suggestion of going early in the morning is well worth it. They arrived on time and we were one of the first couples to enter the sight that morning. Cristina carried an enormous amount of knowledge about Chichen Itza and we were more than happy to learn as much as we could. We followed the tour up with an included lunch in Valladolid and a mini tour around the town square along with a tour of the impressive San Bernardino de Siena Cathedral.

Tom · Jan 2026

We had an amazing tour to Chichin Itza with Juan (JJ)! He was very knowledgeable and answered so many questions and had great stories. We had an infant and toddler with us and was very accommodating of their timeline! He wander our whole day so much fun and we highly recommend booking a tour with this company and requesting Juan!

Katie · Jan 2026

This tour was amazing! We went on a 10 person guided tour to Chichen Itza with our tour guide Juan. He was extremely informative, and taught us a lot about the area. Technically, our whole party was 12 people, but the extra two were little ones (a 21 month old and a 3 month old). The tour accommodated the little ones really well. There were…

Read full reviewShow less

This tour was amazing! We went on a 10 person guided tour to Chichen Itza with our tour guide Juan. He was extremely informative, and taught us a lot about the area.
Technically, our whole party was 12 people, but the extra two were little ones (a 21 month old and a 3 month old). The tour accommodated the little ones really well. There were plenty of bathroom stops, and my sister had a fairly easy time feeding her 3 month old.
We requested two car seats a head of time, and including the two car seats and our whole party, there happened to be lot's of space. The tour came with morning snacks (coffee/juice and gas station snacks), afternoon snacks (chips and a soft drink), and lunch (a Mexican restaurant with amazing food! Follow your guides recommendations for food, and you will not be disappointed).
Over all 10/10 would recommend to family and friends.

Amy E. · Jan 2026

We used Absolute Adventures for 2 seperate tours while we were in Mexico and it was the best choice we could of made! We chose private tours and we would use them again! The communication was spot on, they were on time, super organized, and reasonably priced for the care and services. Our first tour was to Chitzen Itza, the three of us were picked…

Read full reviewShow less

We used Absolute Adventures for 2 seperate tours while we were in Mexico and it was the best choice we could of made! We chose private tours and we would use them again! The communication was spot on, they were on time, super organized, and reasonably priced for the care and services.
Our first tour was to Chitzen Itza, the three of us were picked up on time at 615, (it sounds early but it was 100% the best choice) the drive is long but they offered a stop for coffee and a pastry as well as bathroom breaks along the way. We arrived when there was hardly any people on the site. We were able to get many great pictures and Joshua was so knowledgeable! We all learnt so many things about the history of the Mayans and the area it was great. He was also very mindful of how hot it was and made sure we had breaks in the shade because it is HOT! (Another reason to go early). He was super organized, tickets all ready to go and was great at explaining the process or where we were going next! They had ice cold water and drinks and we ordered a few beer for the long trip. We than went to Valladolid and ate at an AMAZING resturant in the city. We spent some time exploring the square and the surrounding area. They were very knowledgeable about all the things to see and made the day so great. I also have to mention, KiKa our amazing driver. Some of the roads and areas were so busy and nuts but he always found a great place to park and we always felt safe.
Our next trip was for two to the Tulum Ruins, the Tak bi ha cenote, and snorkeling in Akumal. Juan was our guide and he was so fun! He added to all the information Joshua had given us and the ruins were amazing to see. We were literally the first two people into the ruins and again so many great photos, some really great information and facts, even learnt some mayan words. We than went to the cenote and we arrived just as everyone else was leaving and had the whole place to ourselves other than divers gearing up to go! Again full of so much information and great knowledge. Ate at another great restaurant where certain items were included and than off to see the turtles. I wish I had gotten the guides name that took us into the ocean but it was the best experience, he guided us through the water, held us in place so we could view the turtles, squids, fish and sting rays all around. Was an amazing day!! Kika was out again our driver on another fantastic trip.
If your looking for a company with amazing people, thats super organized and great at communication, please use absolute adventure! You really won't be sad you did!!

Caitlyn · Dec 2025

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!

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 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.