YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Ek Balam ruins and Swim in Cenote

49 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: Experience an exclusive guided tour of the Ek Balam Mayan ruins, where you can climb the temples for breathtaking views and take a refreshing swim in the X'Canché cenote. This special private trip also features a delicious meal at a local Mexican 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.
  • Climb the pyramids: enjoy awe-inspiring views and take incredible shots.
  • Breathtaking Cenote: The perfect spot to cool off after the ruins!
  • Lunch at local restaurant: Mexican flavors await you!
  • 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 and 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.

Ek Balam Private Tour: Climb the Pyramid, Discover Hidden Ruins, Swim in a Cenote

 

Are you ready to discover the ancient city of the Black Jaguar? Our Ek Balam Private Tour offers a unique journey through one of the most impressive and peaceful Mayan sites, followed by a refreshing swim in a jungle cenote and a traditional Yucatecan lunch.

  1. Explore the Ek Balam Ruins with Your Private Guide

    Ek Balam, which means “Black Jaguar” in the Mayan language, is a lesser-visited archaeological site packed with history and architectural beauty. You'll discover its famous Mayan arch, the observatory, a ceremonial ball court, and of course, the highlight—the Acropolis pyramid, which you can still climb.

    We highly recommend an early morning departure to enjoy the site in cooler temperatures and make the climb more comfortable. After your private pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, your expert certified guide will take you on a complete guided tour of the ruins, sharing stories about the powerful rulers, sacred structures, and rich culture that once thrived here.

    Climbing to the top of the Acropolis is a rewarding experience. You'll not only enjoy panoramic views of the Yucatán jungle but also get a close look at one of the most well-preserved stucco facades in the Mayan world.

  2. Refresh in the Cenote X’Canché

    After visiting the ruins, we’ll take you to Cenote X’Canché, located just a short distance from Ek Balam. Nestled in the jungle, this open cenote offers clear, cool water and a peaceful natural setting. You can reach the cenote either by biking a short jungle path or riding in our van.

    Once there, you can enjoy a refreshing swim or snorkel in the deep, turquoise waters. A staircase leads you down into the cenote, where you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery and the echoes of birds and jungle life. Life jackets are available for your comfort and safety, making it a great spot for swimmers of all experience levels.

  3. Enjoy a Mexican Lunch in Temozón

    To finish the day, we’ll visit the nearby town of Temozón, well-known for its traditional Yucatecan cuisine. You’ll enjoy a hearty local meal in a small restaurant where regional flavors and hospitality take center stage. Think cochinita pibil, handmade tortillas, and refreshing local drinks—the perfect end to a cultural day trip.

  4. Why Choose Our Ek Balam Private Tour?

    Our Ek Balam Private Tour offers the perfect mix of history, nature, and local flavor in one seamless day. With expert guidance, exclusive access, and personalized service, you'll explore and enjoy at your own pace. It's an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking authenticity, comfort, and adventure in the Yucatán.

     

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
  • All entrance fees
  • Toll road when pick up from Playa del Carmen and Cancun
  • Bicycle rental to go to the cenote (we can also go to the cenote by car
  • Life vests
  • Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
  • Coffee and snacks in the van
  • 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
Snorkeling:
 Basic swimming skills required. This excursion suits everyone from novices to experts.
Which cenote will you visit? 
You will visit cenote X’Canché which is located near the ruins.
What’s on the menu?
Selection of best specialities from Yucatan Cuisime… with vegetarian, 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.

Ek Balam ruins and cenote

  1. Ek Balam ruins — 75 min
  2. Xcanche cenote — 60 min
  3. Lunch in Temozon — 40 min

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.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at Ek Balam, the cenote, and lunch, 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.

What to bring

  • Beach Towels
  • Swimsuit (We recommend wearing it in the morning and feel free to change after snorkeling activities)
  • Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
  • Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen and we recommend wearing a rash-guard/UV-Shirt for water activities*
  • Mosquito repellent*
  • Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
  • Camera/Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

5.00/5 · 49 tour reviews

Showing reviews 10–18 of 49

Fantastic tour! We had Arturo as our guide, and he was fantastic! Incredibly affable, knowledgeable, perfect English, flexible, and delightful. We learned so much and had the most delightful day from start to finish. I couldn’t recommend this company and this Guide more highly!

Jane · Feb 2026

my family and I had the most amazing day with Arturo. He was so knowledgeable, friendly, engaging and delightful. We visited Ek Balam and learned so much, swam in a beautiful cenote, and then had American a delicious vegetarian lunch to wander around Valladolid. It was a perfect day from start to finish!

Jane · Feb 2026

Would recommend. Took a trip to Ek Balam and cenote with Otoro. He was knowledgeable, accommodating, and personable. One of our group members were diabetic - he noticed and offered to take snacks/ juice with us on our walk. Also provided snacks and cold drinks while in the van. Offered to hold bags and belongings during the cenote swim. Could also leave belongings in the…

Read full reviewShow less

Would recommend.
Took a trip to Ek Balam and cenote with Otoro. He was knowledgeable, accommodating, and personable. One of our group members were diabetic - he noticed and offered to take snacks/ juice with us on our walk. Also provided snacks and cold drinks while in the van. Offered to hold bags and belongings during the cenote swim. Could also leave belongings in the van with the driver. Took group photos for us throughout the tour. Driver was cautious and ride was smooth. Offered to stop multiple times for bathroom breaks.
Cenote had a changing area with showers to rinse off bug spray and sunscreen before swimming. Life jackets were mandatory.
Stopped at an authentic Mexican restaurant on the way back. Shared a family style platter (with a plethora of foods) with the guide and driver. Was delicious and was nice to try a variety of foods. Food was included but paid for drinks.

Heather · Dec 2025

Juan was the best tour guide we could have possibly asked for! He was knowledgeable and kind and went to every effort to make sure our trip to Ek Balam was perfect. Truly exceeded our expectations, I would leave more than 5 stars if I could.

Gio · Nov 2025

We booked a tour to Ek Balam with a Cenote swim. It was the best money we spent this vacation! Anturo was an incredible guide. Knowledgeable, funny, and kind. At Ek Balam, he gave us exactly the right amount of information, answered all of our questions and their were EIGHT of us, from 10 to 74-years old. He was so patient with different abilities and…

Read full reviewShow less

We booked a tour to Ek Balam with a Cenote swim. It was the best money we spent this vacation! Anturo was an incredible guide. Knowledgeable, funny, and kind. At Ek Balam, he gave us exactly the right amount of information, answered all of our questions and their were EIGHT of us, from 10 to 74-years old. He was so patient with different abilities and interest and when my 10-year-old son was scared coming down the Ek Balam Temple steps, he stayed right with him and encouraged him down all 76 steps. Everything was seamless and the restaurant we ate at was so good, I'd book the tour again to have the food. It was well worth the money for the private tour and I saw lots of people listening to our tour as we walked around. It was so nice to go at our own pace and be able to accommodate our whole group. 110% recommend Absolute Adventure and will book with them next time we're here!

Monica · Nov 2025

Exceptional tours and fantastic experiences in Mexico We did 3 full day tours with Absolute Adventure (Tulum, Chechen Itza, Ek Balam). Our guides Christina and Arthuro were fantastic. They explained us lot of historical events, answered to so many questions we had on Mexico. They took care of us when swimming in the denotes and when we climbed the Ek Balam temple. The restaurants for…

Read full reviewShow less

Exceptional tours and fantastic experiences in Mexico
We did 3 full day tours with Absolute Adventure (Tulum, Chechen Itza, Ek Balam).
Our guides Christina and Arthuro were fantastic. They explained us lot of historical events, answered to so many questions we had on Mexico. They took care of us when swimming in the denotes and when we climbed the Ek Balam temple. The restaurants for lunch were also well chosen : good Mexican foods, pleasant places.
Our driver (Marius) was also perfect !
Don't hesitate to book a tour with Absolute Adventure !

elC3604CS · Nov 2025

Wonderful private tour of Ek Balam ruins with a driver and very informative guide. We were able to climb on parts of the ruins and our guide Arturo was very informative about the site and very helpful. The swim in the nearby Cenote was amazing. Our driver Rodrigo stayed with the van the entire time with our belonging and Arturo helped us traverse the Cenote,…

Read full reviewShow less

Wonderful private tour of Ek Balam ruins with a driver and very informative guide. We were able to climb on parts of the ruins and our guide Arturo was very informative about the site and very helpful. The swim in the nearby Cenote was amazing. Our driver Rodrigo stayed with the van the entire time with our belonging and Arturo helped us traverse the Cenote, where we stayed a while because it was beautiful and refreshing. We stopped for a really good lunch at a restaurant in town on the way back. All in all this was probably the best tour we’ve ever have had in Mexico, the others were to Tulum and Chichen Itza with other companies.

Licia · Aug 2025

Excellent Ek Balam private tour with Cenote swim The tour was wonderful from the first minute. Our guide Arturo and driver Rodrigo were right on time to pick us up at an out of the way hotel. Arturo was very informative during the tour with answers to all our questions. We were able to climb on parts of the Ek Balam ruins. The swim in…

Read full reviewShow less

Excellent Ek Balam private tour with Cenote swim
The tour was wonderful from the first minute. Our guide Arturo and driver Rodrigo were right on time to pick us up at an out of the way hotel. Arturo was very informative during the tour with answers to all our questions. We were able to climb on parts of the Ek Balam ruins. The swim in the nearby Cenote was also amazing. We spent a while as it was beautiful & refreshing. Arturo took photos for us & helped us traverse the Cenote. On the way back we stopped for a great lunch at a small restaurant in town. Rodrigo never left the van with all our belongings and Arturo was very kind. This was probably the single best tour we’ve ever had in Mexico compared to past tours with other companies to Tulum & Chichen Itza

Pioneer64027497285 · Aug 2025

Absolute Adventures was fantastic! We did not want to do the cenote that was with the Ek Balam tour so they allowed us to change it to another cenote more appropriate for the young children with us. Arturo was our guide and he was very knowledgeable and wonderful to us, especially the children. I highly recommend this company, and I would ask for Arturo every…

Read full reviewShow less

Absolute Adventures was fantastic! We did not want to do the cenote that was with the Ek Balam tour so they allowed us to change it to another cenote more appropriate for the young children with us. Arturo was our guide and he was very knowledgeable and wonderful to us, especially the children. I highly recommend this company, and I would ask for Arturo every time!

Janice · Jun 2025

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Ek Balam Cenote 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 Ek Balam Cenote tour take?

Please check the full itinerary in the “Itinerary” tab for more details.

It typically lasts between 8 to 9 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site. 

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

How much walking is involved at Ek Balam?

The site is relatively small, so the visit typically lasts between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes, and you can explore at your own pace.

Can we climb the pyramid in Ek Balam?

Yes! You can climb the Acropolis pyramid as well as several other temples at Ek Balam, giving you amazing views of the surrounding jungle.

Which cenote do we visit on this tour?

Yes, we visit Cenote Xcanche, which is close to the ruins.
We can reach the cenote by bike along an easy, flat road or by van if you prefer a more relaxed way to get there.

Can we remove the cenote from the tour?

Yes, in that case, check out and book our Ek Balam private tour.

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.

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

Ek Balam ruins and Swim in Cenote

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

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.