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 37–45 of 114

This tour was excellent value for money. Alex the tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided a ton of interesting information. They suggested the early morning tour which required a 6am pick up from our hotel. But it was worth it to miss the crowds and explore the site while it was still relatively cool. The site itself is quite amazing

jeosmith63 · Nov 2025

Wonderful Chichen Itza Experience Alex and Enrique were awesome! Alex was extremely knowledgeable and was wonderful with both our children. This tour was perfect from the planning to the delivery back to our hotel, everything was well communicated and was exactly as described. I can't recommend enough.

paintman112 · Oct 2025

Great tour! We set our own pace and Arthuro was so kind. He provided a wonderful time and tons of information on the people and history. Highly recommend this tour and Arthuro and Homer! Can’t say enough good things about them!

Lisa · Aug 2025

Private tour of Chichen Itza for Joshua and Rodrigo We had the pleasure of Joshua (our guide) and Rodrigo’s (our driver) company for you half day tour of Chichen Itza and lunch in Valladolid. It was an early start but it was 2+ hours from our hotel so that was just fine. Rodrigo was excellent and got us there safe and sound and was punctual…

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Private tour of Chichen Itza for Joshua and Rodrigo
We had the pleasure of Joshua (our guide) and Rodrigo’s (our driver) company for you half day tour of Chichen Itza and lunch in Valladolid. It was an early start but it was 2+ hours from our hotel so that was just fine. Rodrigo was excellent and got us there safe and sound and was punctual when it came to picking us up afterwards. Joshua was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable. He was also great company at lunch. Can’t recommend these two guys enough so please request them if you are lucky enough to go and see Chichen Itza. The place itself speaks for itself and is well worth the trip :)

Sightseer34972722907 · Aug 2025

A Great way to visit with kids A fantastic way to see Chichen Itza with kids. We were picked up early and arrived in time for the site opening. Our guide took us round and explained everything we wanted to know. With kids and it being the middle of Summer, we were interested in understanding the site, but not hanging around unduly. Once we had…

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A Great way to visit with kids
A fantastic way to see Chichen Itza with kids. We were picked up early and arrived in time for the site opening. Our guide took us round and explained everything we wanted to know. With kids and it being the middle of Summer, we were interested in understanding the site, but not hanging around unduly.
Once we had seen all we wanted to, we went for Lunch nearby (very nice and authentic) and were back in the hotel pool by mid afternoon.
Overall a really enjoyable trip, we learnt lots about the culture and history and the kids enjoyed it without getting too hot or bored hanging about.

Rob · Aug 2025

Go see one of the 7 wonders of the world 2025 and use Absolute Adventures tour company One of the most amazing tours I've ever been on. Our tour guide (Joshua) was so knowledgeable and so patient with my endless questions not only about the archeological site but about local interests and factoids. Highly recommend this company because of the great service and knowlege.

Kathleen · Aug 2025

We booked a private tour to Chichén Itzá with Absolute Adventures and had an incredible experience. Our driver, Omar, was prompt, professional, and made the ride smooth and safe. Our guide, Christina, was amazing - she came with a wealth of knowledge, made the tour so engaging and informative, and even took some incredible photos for us that we’ll treasure forever. We were especially glad…

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We booked a private tour to Chichén Itzá with Absolute Adventures and had an incredible experience. Our driver, Omar, was prompt, professional, and made the ride smooth and safe. Our guide, Christina, was amazing - she came with a wealth of knowledge, made the tour so engaging and informative, and even took some incredible photos for us that we’ll treasure forever.
We were especially glad we booked through Absolute Adventures rather than hiring a guide on-site. Christina gave us a much more in-depth and personalized experience. The included lunch in Valladolid was also a highlight - delicious food in a charming town.
Highly recommend Absolute Adventures for anyone looking for a high-quality, well-organized tour in the Yucatán!

Ellie · Jul 2025

We had an amazing experience w Joshua who was our guide! He was v sweet and also told us a lot about the history of the Mayan’s and ruins!

Manjeet · Jul 2025

What an incredible experience!!! We spent an entire day with our extremely knowledgeable tour guide Joshua (and our amazing driver Kike). Joshua did an incredible job of explaining and sharing his knowledge of Chichén Itzá and the Mayans. There were plenty of options on the tour itself (like touring the cool little center of Valladolid, something we weren’t expecting). We definitely felt like we were…

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What an incredible experience!!! We spent an entire day with our extremely knowledgeable tour guide Joshua (and our amazing driver Kike). Joshua did an incredible job of explaining and sharing his knowledge of Chichén Itzá and the Mayans. There were plenty of options on the tour itself (like touring the cool little center of Valladolid, something we weren’t expecting). We definitely felt like we were getting a real deal experience without any extra worries.

Roxanna · Jul 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!

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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.