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..
Scroll down for detailed info, inclusions and itinerary.
Book your tour now and if your plans happen to change, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours prior to the 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.
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.
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.
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.
Book 2 or more tours and enjoy a 10% discount! Perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their stay in the Riviera Maya.
The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic,
crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when
booking. Discover the 3 benefits of an early departure to visit Chichen Itza.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at each location, moving at your own pace.
06:15am: Private transportation from your hotel to Chichen Itza
08:00am – 11:30am: Visit of Chichen Itza + free time
11:30am – 12:30pm: Transportation
12:30pm – 02:30pm: Lunch in Valladolid + free time
02:30pm – 04:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
Transportation takes less than 3 hours, and there is a one-hour time difference between Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Chichen Itza.
You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone,
camera, extra set of clothes…). While you are visiting or snorkeling you
can leave the things you don’t need in the van. Our driver will always
be in the van, so keeping your things safe!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Book 2 or more tours and enjoy a 10% discount! Perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their stay in the Riviera Maya.
The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic,
crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when
booking. Discover the 3 benefits of an early departure to visit Chichen Itza.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at each location, moving at your own pace.
06:15am: Private transportation from your hotel to Chichen Itza
08:00am – 11:30am: Visit of Chichen Itza + free time
11:30am – 12:30pm: Transportation
12:30pm – 02:30pm: Lunch in Valladolid + free time
02:30pm – 04:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
Transportation takes less than 3 hours, and there is a one-hour time difference between Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Chichen Itza.
You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone,
camera, extra set of clothes…). While you are visiting or snorkeling you
can leave the things you don’t need in the van. Our driver will always
be in the van, so keeping your things safe!
It was a very good idea to come there early. There was not many people and we went to all around the temple. Chris explained everything very clear with humor ofcourse 😊 the cenote was very great and also not full. The local food in Valladolid was very delicious. Gonna book again for sure with Absolute adventure Mexico 🇲🇽
Incredible site with unbelievable history. Truly one of the great wonders of the world. This trip was made even more special by our guide, Juan. His knowledge and gifted personality made an amazing day even more remarkable.
We loved Chichen Itza and its gorgeous pyramid. Arturo shared plenty of information with us and took pictures during the tour. We went at our own pace, no rushing. Top Notch tour with Arturo! For sure I will recommend Absolute Adventure tours and hire this company again when coming back to Cancun!
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You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meghan –
What an amazing trip! Absolute adventure Mexico knows how to give a proper tour. Daniele our tour guide was so knowledgeable, friendly and fun to hang out with! If you want to have a fun and stress free trip I highly recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico!
Ashley –
Well worth it to have a private tour! No picking up others at different resorts and you choose the pace of the tour! From the time of booking the staff has been very helpful and communicative. We scheduled pick-up at 5:30 from Riviera Maya, but I would recommend 6 instead. We got coffee and a light breakfast at a gas station shortly after pick-up . From there the ride was enjoyable, we asked a lot of questions and got to know our guide Daniele and driver Jesue, but we could have slept if we wanted to. We were offered drinks to take into Chichen Itza and again drinks and snacks when we got back to the van. We went to Valladoid for a wonderful lunch in an outdoor garden setting with some time to shop around the city square. Our tour guide Daniele was very knowledgeable and friendly. Our driver Jesue was very kind and respectful. We had such an enjoyable time and look forward to our tour of Tulum in a few days! Many thanks!
Liezel and Marco –
It was a very good idea to come there early. There was not many people and we went to all around the temple. Chris explained everything very clear with humor ofcourse 😊 the cenote was very great and also not full. The local food in Valladolid was very delicious. Gonna book again for sure with Absolute adventure Mexico 🇲🇽
gpsd –
When I first booked the private tour it felt a little pricey. After having the full experience, it ended up being a great value! Having private transportation for a 2.5 hour drive is worth the price alone. Daniele and Pascual were friendly and knowledgeable. COVID protocols were in place and respected (everybody wore masks in the van and sanitizer was provided). We did do the recommended pickup time of 6:30 AM. We ended up getting to Chichen Itza right as it was opening and avoided large crowds and the heat. Well worth the early wake up call. Daniele gave us a guided tour of the site full of interesting facts about Chichen Itza and Mayan culture. It was ultimately up to us how much time we wanted to spend on site before heading off to Valladolid. We liked having the flexibility. The trip to Valladolid was fairly quick, but enough to see the Zocalo, do some shopping and have a nice lunch. The cost of lunch was included in the tour price and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend booking any of these private tours and would use this company again the next time I am in the Riviera Maya.
Karla –
Our party of 12 had an amazing experience. Chris and Daniele were our guides and were accommodating to both the young and old (our group was from ages 69 to 8). After Chichen Itza, we were taken to a great lunch in Valladolid right in front of the town square and next to the beautiful colonial church. I highly recommend Absolute Adventure and will be using them again the next time we are in the Riviera Maya.
khess –
My boyfriend and I just got back from Mexico today, and did the Chichén Itzá private tour. The experience all around was an absolute 10/10. Our tour guide Chris was knowledgeable, professional, and just an all around nice person to spend the day with. The extra money spent for this tour was more than worth it! We got to Chichén Itza early, and were able to have the place mostly to ourselves before hordes of people and tour buses started arriving. This was also beneficial as it was a hot day, and we beat the heat. There is very little shade available at the site. It was so nice to have a personal guide to take us around, explain the history, and answer our questions. The cenote that we visited was breathtakingly beautiful. I cannot describe it and do it justice. Though it was further away from Chichén Itza, it was worth the drive. It was not crowded at all. We got to spend a lot of time there and take it in. Throughout this trip I never felt rushed anywhere. By going to Valladolid I felt like we got to experience a more authentic experience in Mexico. I felt safe the entire time. We also had ample time in town to eat, shop and relax. The restaurant we stopped at was excellent, and the old Spanish architecture of the buildings was beautiful. Also, our driver was excellent as well and kept all of our belongings safe while we were out enjoying the sights. I plan on booking with Absolute Adventure again in the future, and would highly recommend this tour to anyone!
Kristen G –
We took the private tour to Chichen Itza and Valladolid today. Our guide picked us up promptly at 6am. We stopped for coffee (included) and were on our way. The driver also stopped whenever we needed to for restroom breaks as it is a bit of a long drive.
Once we got there, our guide was very knowledgeable about the ruins. What was most impressive was his own excitement and passion for Mayan culture. I loved that we were able to arrive right when the site opened. We were one of the first people there, so our photos are impeccable and without other tourists blocking our view of the ruins. You can tell that he truly enjoys the tours and talking about the history. The restaurant in Valladolid that was chosen for us was amazing. He recommended what to order and our meal was perfect. Valladolid is such a beautiful city and I’m so glad it was included in the tour.
Both our guide and driver were professional, safe and accommodating to our needs. 10/10 would take a tour with Absolute Adventure again.
Thomas –
The best excursion I’ve ever been on! Our group (4 of us) booked a private chichen itza tour with a stop for lunch and shopping in Valladolid. We were picked up right on time (6a) at hour hotel (Hard Rock Rivieria Maya) and we stopped at a local convience store to grab a small breakfast-on-the-go (paid for by Absolute Adventure). Then we hit the road for a 2-3 hour trek to the site. Our tour guide was awesome, he was kind and friendly and read the room well. We were tired from getting up early so he let us sleep with no distractions for a portion of the drive. When we were finally awake, he was talkative and told us stories and great info about the areas we were passing through. He taught us some fun Spanish words and phrases. He was just awesome, not sure how else to describe the experience with him. This is the best part, as we arrive at chichen itza he explains that he is going to get out before us to get to the front of the ticket line and our driver will escort us up to the waiting area. We didn’t have to wait in line for tickets or anything!!! He took care of all the accommodations at the site and we were literally the first people into the site! We got so many great pictures and because we were the first in there was no crowds to ruin the pictures! He took us through the whole site (which is way more than just the temple) and gave us some awesome info and history that was fascinating! It was so cool to see some of things we learned about in grade school. The site and tour were top notch and I’m so glad that we choose Absolute Adventure and a private tour, it was so worth it! Tour guide and driver were simply awesome and I can’t recommend this company enough.
Jamy –
We hired a private tour for three and had Manuel as well as pasqual as a driver. Very informative guide and pace was dictated by a handicap. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire day and cost was appropriate for the service. Highly recommend this small group for tours.
Explore F –
I reserved our private tour of Chichen Itza and Valladolid based on a lot of research and excellent reviews of Absolute Adventure Mexico online and I am happy to say that it was a great choice. Our tour guide Juan was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional and patient with our non-stop questions. He took care of all the details and made us feel like absolute VIPs. The lunch in Valladoilid was an awesome experience as well as we tried some local Mayan dishes which felt like true Mexican hospitality. I would highly recommend this company and diffidently book again. It was a great experience from easy booking online and communications before and after our trip with Claire regarding the logistics. Highly Highly recommended!!
Michael –
Early pick up at El Dorado Royale resort, breakfast on the go and arrival at Chichen Itza before the crowds was a terrific set up to a great day. Claire was wonderful with us, two over 55 year old couples. She was educating, entertaining and patient answering all our questions. She referenced a binder visually tieing in the past with what we saw in front of us at the ruins. Tremendously interesting, at our pace. Very good lunch followed at Valladolid providing more insight. Highly accommodating, extremely knowledgeable without sounding preechy, Claire is simply terrific and made the Mayan culture come alive for us.
Richard –
Incredible site with unbelievable history. Truly one of the great wonders of the world. This trip was made even more special by our guide, Juan. His knowledge and gifted personality made an amazing day even more remarkable.
Bailee –
We loved Chichen Itza and its gorgeous pyramid. Arturo shared plenty of information with us and took pictures during the tour. We went at our own pace, no rushing. Top Notch tour with Arturo! For sure I will recommend Absolute Adventure tours and hire this company again when coming back to Cancun!