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 28–36 of 49

When we got back to our hotel, we debated on a third tour. We had one last day that was possible to take a tour, but we couldn't decide if we just wanted to relax. Since we enjoyed the first two tours so much, we decided to book the Ek Balam and cenote tour. We were lucky and got Juan as our guide again and…

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When we got back to our hotel, we debated on a third tour. We had one last day that was possible to take a tour, but we couldn't decide if we just wanted to relax. Since we enjoyed the first two tours so much, we decided to book the Ek Balam and cenote tour. We were lucky and got Juan as our guide again and he timed it so that we were at Ek Balam when it opened. We got plenty of pictures without other tourists. As of May 2024, you can still climb the pyramid, so we have bragging rights for climbing a Mayan pyramid. Juan explained the differences between the 3 sites we had visited and gave us the background on Ek Balam. As we were leaving, we saw all of the other tourists just starting their visits with the temperature rising and we had visited during the coolest part of the day.
After Ek Balam, we had the option of stopping for lunch. Since the last two lunches with Juan had been great, we decided it was a good idea. We relaxed during lunch which was another tasty choice. From there, we went to the Cenote XCanche. This was an open air cenote with a rope to swing from and a zip line. Again, when we arrived, we had it all to ourselves. Plenty of time for pictures before anyone else showed up. It never got crowded, so we could actually take pictures the entire time without getting any strangers in the shots. Then is was back in the van to the hotel. We were very glad that we opted to book this tour and highly recommend it, especially if you want to brag that you climbed a pyramid.
We were obviously very happy with Absolute Adventure or we would not have taken so many tours with them. When booking our last tour, we debated between Ek Balam and Coba. They explained the differences between the two sites to help us decide. They were always friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable. Juan had everything timed perfectly, but nothing was rushed and it was always up to us if we wanted to stay longer at any of our stops. My family and I highly recommend taking a tour, or two or three, with Absolute Adventure.

T.N. · Jun 2024

Wonderful guide and tour Great time with JJ! My teens were entertained as was I, not easy to make everyone interested. We also did a snorkeling tour and a tour with Alex to Tulum. Everyone was wonderful.

litespeedgal · Jun 2024

Took this tour with my family. No crowds, awesome vibes. Kids loved the cenote and biking! The ruins felt magical with hardly anyone there.

Sean · May 2024

Would highly recommend! Prompt, courteous service. Guide Juan & driver Omar were the best. Juan was extremely knowledgeable. Lunch was amazing!! All in all a wonderful day. Thank you so much.

Sally · Apr 2024

Juan was our tour guide and Enrique our driver, they are both amazing!! I highly recommend taking this tour, Juan is very knowledgeable in the Mayan culture, answers all questions, takes care of you like friends visiting. We were traveling with 3 kids, one who is a toddler and he was very accommodating and patient. Enrique drive safely and well!

Ami · Feb 2024

Highly Recommended! Juan was the guide for our trip to Ek Balam - he was the best! He was so knowledgeable about Mayan culture, the Yucatán peninsula and Riviera Maya, the history and ecology of the area, current events - everything! Our driver was great too. We were the first to arrive at the pyramid and were able to climb it and enjoy the views…

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Highly Recommended!
Juan was the guide for our trip to Ek Balam - he was the best! He was so knowledgeable about Mayan culture, the Yucatán peninsula and Riviera Maya, the history and ecology of the area, current events - everything! Our driver was great too. We were the first to arrive at the pyramid and were able to climb it and enjoy the views before any crowds arrived (if they did). The cenote was very relaxing and also just had a very few people to share it with. We had an incredible lunch at Restaurante Ahumados in Temozón - absolutely delicious! We highly recommend and will use Absolute Adventure Mexico again!

plntgrlsz · Dec 2023

Juan, our tour guide is hilarious and very friendly. The tour of Ek balam was really fun and we learned many cool facts about the Mayans. The cenote we went was very pretty and fun as there was a rope to swing from. Juan made sure that everything was going well and explained things clearly, he also avoided crowds and the hot sun! Would absolutely…

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Juan, our tour guide is hilarious and very friendly. The tour of Ek balam was really fun and we learned many cool facts about the Mayans. The cenote we went was very pretty and fun as there was a rope to swing from. Juan made sure that everything was going well and explained things clearly, he also avoided crowds and the hot sun! Would absolutely recommend.

Donia · Apr 2023

We did Chichén Itzá earlier—it was cool, but super crowded and you can’t climb anything. Ek Balam was a totally different vibe. Way quieter, barely anyone there, and you can climb the pyramids, which was awesome. The view from the top was wild—just jungle everywhere. Then we biked through the cenote and just swam and chilled. Way more relaxed than any other tour we’ve done.…

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We did Chichén Itzá earlier—it was cool, but super crowded and you can’t climb anything. Ek Balam was a totally different vibe. Way quieter, barely anyone there, and you can climb the pyramids, which was awesome. The view from the top was wild—just jungle everywhere.
Then we biked through the cenote and just swam and chilled. Way more relaxed than any other tour we’ve done. Honestly, if you’re in the area, skip the crowds and go to Ek Balam instead.

Marie · Mar 2023

Ek Balam - Incredible!!! My family took a private tour to Ek Balam and a Cenote and it was an amazing experience with Absolute Adventure and their team!!! Our tour guide, Juan (JJ), was FANTASTIC!! He was extremely knowledgeable, fun to hang out with, great with my two kids, and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great day! He literally ran…

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Ek Balam - Incredible!!! My family took a private tour to Ek Balam and a Cenote and it was an amazing experience with Absolute Adventure and their team!!! Our tour guide, Juan (JJ), was FANTASTIC!! He was extremely knowledgeable, fun to hang out with, great with my two kids, and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great day! He literally ran a mile to get our tickets before the crowds showed up; talk about incredible service! THANK YOU, again, JUAN!!! Claire, the co-owner, was also extremely helpful when we had to make a last minute change of plans and responded super fast! Without a doubt, I would highly recommend using Absolute Adventure Mexico for taking an excursion; I’ll definitely be using them again on my next vacation to Mexico!!!

Melanee · Jan 2023

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!

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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

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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.