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 73–81 of 114

Great day at Chichen Itza with a knowledgable and friendly guide We had a great day as a family and with our guide Joshua. He was fantastic with our two children - especially as they had lots of questions for him throughout the day. Joshua was very knowledgable , sharing a lot of history about the Mayans and Mexico. We set off early and arrived…

Read full reviewShow less

Great day at Chichen Itza with a knowledgable and friendly guide
We had a great day as a family and with our guide Joshua. He was fantastic with our two children - especially as they had lots of questions for him throughout the day. Joshua was very knowledgable , sharing a lot of history about the Mayans and Mexico. We set off early and arrived just before Chichen Itza opened so didn’t wait too long to enter the site. Food at Paladar de Cura in Valladolid was fantastic too.

Neil · Oct 2024

Absolutely fantastic company! I booked online for the first available date for the private Chichén Itzá tour. I wanted something sooner, so I emailed and the owner Claire made arrangements for us to go sooner. We chose a private tour because we are tired of the stops at other resorts, loud and/or possibly annoying people in the bus, and high pressure sales stops. From the…

Read full reviewShow less

Absolutely fantastic company!
I booked online for the first available date for the private Chichén Itzá tour. I wanted something sooner, so I emailed and the owner Claire made arrangements for us to go sooner.
We chose a private tour because we are tired of the stops at other resorts, loud and/or possibly annoying people in the bus, and high pressure sales stops.
From the moment our guide Arturo and our sweet driver arrived, I knew the day would be peaceful and great.
Arturo’s knowledge of the Mayan civilization is phenomenal! We had such a great, informative, and peaceful tour of Chichén Itzá. Arturo is like an old friend you haven’t seen in awhile, very laid back, easy to talk to, and incredibly intelligent. Well traveled!
Another reason why we chose this particular company and your was the lunch option. Instead of the mass crowd Buffet most tours offer, Arturo took us to a fantastic restaurant in Vallodid, where we ordered from the many and it was included in the price. The food was authentic and delicious, and we got to have a great conversation with Arturo.
I will absolutely recommend and continue to book only private tours with this great company, and I will always request Arturo.
Fabulous day! 5+ stars all day long.

Laura · Sep 2024

Our first tour with Absolute Adventure was Cichan Itza Ruins and Valladolid. The three of us were picked up at our hotel early in the morning and our guide, Juan, was already there when we came down from our room. On the way to Chichan Itza, we stopped for coffee and breakfast snacks for the ride. We were among the first people to enter Chichan…

Read full reviewShow less

Our first tour with Absolute Adventure was Cichan Itza Ruins and Valladolid. The three of us were picked up at our hotel early in the morning and our guide, Juan, was already there when we came down from our room. On the way to Chichan Itza, we stopped for coffee and breakfast snacks for the ride. We were among the first people to enter Chichan Itza and Juan took us straight to the pyramid to get pictures before the crowds arrived.

We then started the tour at a point to best learn the history of the site and the Mayan Culture. Juan was extremely knowledgeable about both and knew how to navigate Chichan Itza so that we were alone for several of the locations. Juan explained what the different parts of the sites were used for and about the symbols used in the architecture. He pointed out many features we would most likely have missed had we not had a guide. We also learned about the language, counting, beliefs and more. We were there in May, during a heatwave, so it was quite hot by the end of the tour. Juan notified our driver when we were on the way back to the van so it would be cooled down and cold water would be ready.

From Chichan Itza, wo went to Vallodolid, where we had lunch at restaurant we never would have chosen on our own. We ordered a traditional Mayan pork dish, cochinita, and a local beer recommended by Juan. Both were delicious. We were then given time to explore the city with no time limit. Throughout the day, Juan answered all of our questions and filled us in on the Mayan Culture, as well as the current culture. My family and I highly recommend this tour.

T.N. · Jun 2024

From the moment we booked to dropping us off the experience was great with this company. Very easy to deal with, flexible with a couple of changes and nothing was too much trouble. The actual experience was fantastic, early start but you are rewarded by beating the crowds, we literally had the place to ourselves and as we were leaving crowds of people where queuing…

Read full reviewShow less

From the moment we booked to dropping us off the experience was great with this company. Very easy to deal with, flexible with a couple of changes and nothing was too much trouble. The actual experience was fantastic, early start but you are rewarded by beating the crowds, we literally had the place to ourselves and as we were leaving crowds of people where queuing to come it.. great van, guide and very well organised. Shout out to Juan who was awesome, him and my husband got on like a house on fire! Defo recommend this company.. thank you for for making it such a great experience

Julie · Mar 2024

The absolute best. Took us early and beat all the crowds.

James T · Feb 2024

Maya Civilization We did a private Chichen Itza ruins and Valladolid tour with Alex and Enrique. It was amazing! Alex is very knowledgeable and explains the greatness of the Mayan civilization easily. Enrique is a good driver, and both made my elderly mother feel appreciated. I highly recommend this adventure.

Gisela · Jan 2024

Phenomenal Experience! Chichen Itzla 100% recommend this tour! Our guide Alex was beyond amazing and our driver Enrique got us there comfortably. Worth the cost to travel privately rather than on a big charter. Better service, better experience. Ask for Alex!

Galen · Jan 2024

Joshua, our guide, and Omar, our consciously driver, were prompt, courteous and attentive. Van was clean, tour guide knew his stuff and they had our best interest during our travel. Communication with the office in setting things up was efficient and helpful. We had a great time!

Leanna · Jan 2024

Highly recommend! Highly recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico. My family (myself, husband and our 2 teenage sons) did the Tulum - Cenote tour and the Chichen Itza - Vallodolid tours. We loved our tour guide Juan and our driver Enrique. We all had a great time and my older son said that the Chichen Itza trip was his favorite thing we did in Mexico. Juan was…

Read full reviewShow less

Highly recommend!
Highly recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico. My family (myself, husband and our 2 teenage sons) did the Tulum - Cenote tour and the Chichen Itza - Vallodolid tours. We loved our tour guide Juan and our driver Enrique. We all had a great time and my older son said that the Chichen Itza trip was his favorite thing we did in Mexico. Juan was very knowledgable and able to answer all of our questions. He knew all of the best spots to get photos; we would do that first and then he would give us information about the sites we were visiting.
Enrique was fantastic as well; we felt safe with him driving and leaving our belongings in the van. He was prompt whenever we needed to be picked up from our stops. It was so convenient to be picked up and dropped off directly from our hotel. We left the hotel early both days and Juan and Enrique were waiting at the appointed time. It is well worth it to leave early and get to the sites early. We were practically the first ones at Tulum and Chichen Itza and able to get photos without a bunch of people in the background. We had the beautiful cenote Nicte-Ha to ourselves most of the time we were there.
Lunch on both tours was delicious and Juan's recommendations were spot on.
I had initially booked the Tulum Express tour but modified it to add one cenote and lunch via email. Communication with Claire, the co-owner, was quick and seamless. Would definitely use this company again if we are back in the area!

Jellybean · Jan 2024

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.