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If you’re planning to visit Chichen Itza on your upcoming holiday, then you’ve come to the right place!
While living in Mexico, we had the privilege of visiting these famous Mayan ruins a few times and can confidently tell you that the best way to see them is on a guided tour from Cancun.
Guided tours make the experience so much easier and, frankly, less expensive than trying to book your tickets and transport separately. Plus, traveling with a guide means you’ll learn so much more and get to see parts of the archaeological site you may not think to explore on your own.
But not all tours are created equally, which is why I’ve gone ahead and created this list of the 5 BEST Chichen Itza tours available, to make sure you get the best experience possible!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this early morning tour of Chichen Itza! It includes exclusive early access to Chichen Itza, hotel transport, an expert guide, and a delicious lunch. It was the perfect way to enjoy Chichen Itza stress-free and beat the crowds!
Check out the 3,000+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
- Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
- 1. Full-day tour to Chichen Itza, Cenote, & Valladolid
- 2. Chichen Itza, Centote, & Valladolid Budget Tour
- 3. Early Access Chichen Itza Tour
- 4. VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour
- 5. Full Day Tour to Chichen Itza and Coba Ruins
- Why Book a Tour to Chichen Itza?
- Other Activities to do While You’re in Cancun
- Where to Stay in Cancun
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
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1. Full-day tour to Chichen Itza, Cenote, & Valladolid
This full-day tour from Cancun to Chichen Itza starts out with the highlight of the tour – the magnificent Chichen Itza! You will have 2 full hours at this historic site, most of the time will be guided, but you will also have some time to explore on your own.
After Chichen Itza, you will head to a nearby cenote, where you have about an hour to swim and take some photos of this beautiful natural sinkhole. After swimming, you will have a delicious buffet lunch provided to refuel from your morning of exploring. They even throw in a tequila tasting for an authentic Mexican day out!
Finally, you’ll stop at Valladolid, where you will have about 30 minutes to explore this wonderful colonial town on foot with a knowledgeable guide. On your visit here, you will see Plaza de Parque Francisco Canton, the main square in the town, and Iglesia De San Servicio, a Catholic Church that was built in 1545.
We love that this tour never felt rushed and visited the main highlights of the area. We left with an abundance of new knowledge and had so much fun exploring with our hilarious guide.
This tour includes pick up and drop off from your hotel in Cancun, a buffet lunch, and tequila tasting for only $49 USD per person, which is a pretty good deal considering this tour has over 4,000 5-star reviews! It doesn’t include your entrance fee to Chichen Itza, so be sure to bring some cash with you!
Check availability for this top-rated tour of Chichen Itza here!
Related Read: Chichen Itza is one of the best day trips you can take from Cancun, read about the others here!
2. Chichen Itza, Centote, & Valladolid Budget Tour
This Chichen Itza tour from Cancun is similar to the tour above, as it also includes a visit to Valladolid and Chichikan Cenote as well as Chichen Itza, of course!
This tour starts with visiting the colonial town of Valladolid before you head off to the magnificent Chichikan Cenote for a swim, buffet lunch, AND included tequila tasting!
Once you’re all fueled up from lunch, you will get to explore the amazing UNESCO World Heritage site of Chichen Itza for 2.5 hours. This is longer than a lot of the other tours on this list, so you’re sure to get an in-depth experience with your guide and still have free time to wander around on your own.
This full-day tour includes round-trip transportation from Cancun, entrance to the cenote, a buffet lunch, tequila tasting, and your guide for only $65 USD. This is one of the most affordable tours to Chichen Itza from Cancun, just make sure you budget extra for the entrance fee to Chichen Itza, as this isn’t included in the tour price (around $39 USD per adult).
Or if a private experience is more your thing, you can also book a private tour with prices starting as low as $86 USD per person, depending on the size of your group!
We think this tour provides great value for the experience that you get – just check out the thousands of 5-star reviews here!
Secure your spot on this top-rated tour here before it sells out!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Early Access Chichen Itza Tour
On this Chichen Itza early access tour, you will be one of the first people to enter the site, so you can enjoy it pretty much crowd-free. Plus, the temperatures are a lot cooler at this hour of the morning, making for a more comfortable experience.
Pick-ups start bright and early around 4:30 am, but don’t worry, you can always sleep on the bus ride there like I did. Once at Chichen Itza, you will have about 2.5 hours at the site with your archaeological guide, who will offer some in-depth knowledge about this Mayan city and the people who lived here. He will explain the meaning behind the stone carvings dotted throughout the site, as well as give some fascinating facts about the construction of the pyramids, ball courts, and staircases that make up this city.
After your early morning crowd-free tour of Chichen Itza, you will head to a Mayan Cenote to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. You will also have the opportunity to partake in a tequila tasting to try Mexico’s famous spirit. Then spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing and swimming in the refreshing freshwater cenote!
Included in the $58 USD ticket price is hotel transport from Cancun, a buffet lunch, tequila tasting, your guide, and the entrance to the cenote. But what’s not included is the Chichen Itza tax of $39 USD per adult and life jacket rentals at the cenote (which are required for swimming).
Check out availability and read all of the 5-star reviews here!
4. VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour
If you’re not keen on a large group tour from Cancun to Chichen Itza, then you will enjoy this private tour. It will just be your group and a knowledgeable guide exploring some of the most historic archeological sites of Mexico. And what’s great, too, is that you don’t waste time stopping at other resorts in Cancun to pick up more guests en route to Chichen Itza.
You will arrive at Chichen Itza early, before many of the crowd,s where your guide will show you around for 3 hours as they explain the structures, such as the Temple of Kulkulkan, and El Castillo pyramid.
You will then head over to Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman for a refreshing swim. This is one of my favorite cenotes in the area. I love jumping off the hanging rope swing!
Afterward, you will stop in Valladolid for a delicious à la carte lunch at a local restaurant before enjoying a guided tour around the town. This is the perfect opportunity to take some beautiful photos!
Prices for this popular tour (check out all of the 5-star reviews here) start as low as $190 USD per person, depending on the size of your group. This includes all entrance fees, round-trip private transport to Cancun, lunch, and your amazing guide, so you don’t have to worry about anything!
This VIP private tour is likely to sell out, reserve it in advance here!
5. Full Day Tour to Chichen Itza and Coba Ruins
This epic 11-hour tour not only visits Chichen Itza but also takes you to another area of famous Mayan ruins called Coba. Coba is a lesser-visited ruined Mayan city and is home to the tallest pyramid in the region, also called El Castillo.
We personally love this tour because it includes stops at two important Mayan archaeological sites as well as the Ik Kil Cenote, which actually inspired the Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza.
For $149 USD, it includes breakfast, lunch, your guide, Coba entrance fees, and Ik Kil Cenote entrance fees. You will just have to budget $40 USD extra for the Chichen Itza entrance fee and $15 USD for a Cancun pick-up/drop-off fee.
Honestly, you will learn so much about Mayan history on this tour. And it’s perfect if you want to check two different (but equally as magical) Mayan ruins off your bucket list!
Read more about this tour and secure your spot here!
Related Read: Check out the best cenotes near Tulum here!
Why Book a Tour to Chichen Itza?
Sure, you could visit Chichen Itza on your own, but the best way to fully understand this UNESCO heritage site is on a tour with a knowledgeable guide. It’s only then that you will truly get to know the stories of the ancient Mayans who once called this city home.
These guides are fountains of knowledge and will tell you all about the Mayan culture and their daily lives in Chichen Itza. On a guided tour, you will also hear how the Mayans constructed the magnificent structures you see there today without the aid of modern construction equipment. There are also many Mayan carvings dotted throughout the site, and without a guide, there’s no way you’d understand their true meaning!
I’ve visited Chichen Itza both on my own and on a guided tour, and I have to admit I learned so much from my guide that now when I visit any historical site, I have to book a guide!
What I’m saying is that a tour of Chichen Itza is a no-brainer, especially if you’re staying nearby in Cancun. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be missed!
Learn more about my favorite Chichen Itza tour from Cancun here!
Related Read: Want to pair your Chichen Itza tour with more time in the area? Our five-day Cancun itinerary maps out exactly how to fit it in without feeling rushed.
Other Activities to do While You’re in Cancun
Before or after your trip to Chichen Itza, there’s plenty to do and see right in Cancun! I’ve been coming to Cancun since I was a kid and I never get tired of visiting. There are so many fun things to do in Cancun, that will make for an amazing vacay. So if you’re looking for even more activities, check out some of my favorites below!
- Tour an underwater museum – Whether you’re snorkeling or scuba diving in Cancun, a visit to MUSA (Underwater Museum of Art) is a must. There are hundreds of sculptures down here and it feels like visiting the Lost City of Atlantis! This snorkeling tour takes you to MUSA along with visits to a shipwreck and a cenote!
- Eat, eat eat! – Calories don’t count on vacation right? The restaurants in Cancun deliver on amazing food – especially the Mexican restaurants of course. Mextreme has the best tacos and I always order the Aztec soup! If you want to try a bunch of different dishes in an evening – this taco and beer food tour will take you to five popular spots for a fun night you’ll want to arrive hungry for!
- Swim with whale sharks – For a totally unique and memorable experience, jump in the water to swim with whale sharks near Cancun! These gentle giants feast on plankton and fish, so you can relax on this whale shark tour and just admire these giant fish (they aren’t actually sharks!). Whale shark season is from May to September, so if you’re here at a different time of year, this half-day sailing trip is another way to get out on the water and cruise the beautiful ocean!
- Go ziplining – If you love an adrenaline rush like us, Cancun has awesome ziplining opportunities. Trust me, there’s nothing quite like flying high above the Mayan jungle! So check out this ziplining tour, which includes a 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) long ride!
Where to Stay in Cancun
The Hotel Zone is the most popular area to stay in Cancun. And since Cancun is the land of hotels, there certainly is no shortage of fantastic places to stay. Below, I’ll highlight some of my favorites.
Luxury – $$$
Of course, we all love a luxury all-inclusive stay, and for that, I love the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun. It has an incredible spa, a huge outdoor pool, watersports, a gym, beach access, and a kids club. They also offer 6 fine-dining options, and guests are constantly impressed with the food. This is the ideal option if you want luxury and if you’re traveling with children. Prices start at around $500 USD per night. You can check out their room options and reserve one online.
Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun Adults Only is another awesome option with a fantastic oceanfront location, delicious food, quality alcohol, several pools, and a top-tier spa and gym. It’s an adult-only, smoke-free establishment, so you can truly relax. Rooms are spacious, and some even come with hot tubs. This is a pricier place, starting around $1,000 USD a night. However, you’ll find the best deals when you book in advance!
Mid-range – $$
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort is one of our favorite mid-range hotels. It’s not all-inclusive, which I enjoy because there are so many delicious restaurants in Cancun! The hotel is located right on the beach and has a huge pool. Rooms are typically $300-$500 USD depending on the time of year. You can check prices and book the JW Marriot Cancun Resort right here.
Budget – $
For budget travelers, the Selina Cancun Laguna Hotel Zone is a great choice. It has the typical hostel vibes, which includes the woes of a shared living space, but overall I really enjoyed my stay. For the price (about $40 USD for a bunk or $100 USD for a private room) and fun atmosphere, you can’t go wrong! If you’re traveling solo or feeling social, it’s a great place to meet people too.
You can book the Selina Cancun Hostel on Hostelword or through Booking.com.
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Thanks for reading!
Throughout my travels in Central America, I’ve been lucky enough to explore many Mayan ruins and as I said earlier, doing a guided tour is really the best way to understand them! In fact, a guided tour of Chichen Itza from Cancun is definitely one of the best things I did in Mexico!
Traveling more in Mexico? Check out our other Mexico-related travel guides!
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