Playa del Carmen

Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour

Badge of ExcellencePlaya del Carmen, Mexico

From $85.00

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 12 hours
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Visit Chichén Itzá, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Ek Balam, and swim in a cenote in one day. Be one of the first visitors to explore Ek Balam and learn about one of the most important places in the Tlalol Kingdom. Then, learn about ancient Mayan culture and history as you explore Chichen Itza. Your day ends with a refreshing dip in a cenote and a delicious Mexican buffet lunch.
  • Enjoy early access to Ek Balam with an expert archeologist guide
  • Explore one of the New 7 Wonders of the World—Chichén Itzá
  • Tuck into a Mexican buffet lunch and swim in a cenote
  • Learn about the importance of both Mayan sites from your guide

What's Included

  • Round transportation
  • Bilingual guide
  • Buffet Lunch
  • Ticket to Ek Balam
  • Ticket to Chichen Itza
  • Admission to Cenote
  • Life vest (mandatory)
  • Drinks
  • Archeological sites' taxes (60 USD)

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Meeting points

Select a meeting point
Type to search

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Please provide the name of your hotel.

What To Expect

Arrive at the Ek Balam archaeological site, probably one of the most important places for the Tlalol kingdom. Climb the pyramids to have a panoramic view of the Mayan jungle. After knowing all the secrets of this archeological site, you’ll have free time to explore on your own.

Then, take a guided tour of the colossal Chichen Itza, the ancient capital of the Mayan empire, and follow your guide as you begin your archeological adventure through the atmospheric ruins.

Wander through the perfectly preserved ruins in relative solitude, listening to the insightful background information provided by your expert guide. Learn of Chichen Itza’s pivotal role in Mayan society, and why it is still considered a sacred place of worship today.

Discover the intricate processes undergone to unearth and excavate the magnificent monuments of the site, learning about how archeological discoveries provided Chichen Itza with UNESCO World Heritage status. In the context of history, philosophy and cosmology, the symmetrical staircases and intricate carvings of the ruins will suddenly become clear.

Gaze upwards at the legendary Kulkulcan Pyramid, or El Castillo, a sight you’re sure to recognize as one of Mexico’s most famous. Gain insight into the astronomical knowledge that influenced the construction of the temple. 

After admiring the views, have a break in the Cenote Saamal and get over the heat with a refreshing swim right next to its waterfall. Then we are ready to taste an amazing Mexican buffet lunch before heading back to your accommodation.

Ek Balam Village

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chichen Itza

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Hotel Real del Mayab

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

CENOTE CHICHIKAN

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • It is recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes.
  • Archeological sites' taxes (60 USD) are not included on the price and must be paid on-site.
  • Mexicans have a discount on the archeological sites' tax upon presentation of their ID on the day of the tour. The discount will not be applicable without the official identification.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

See more
Featured review
Julie G
This was our favorite tour on this trip! Marco was our guide and he was phenomenal. He was very knowledgeable and we could tell he was passionate about his work. The early access was worth it and I would recommend this tour to anyone.

Reviews

4.5
528 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 528 reviews
Well worth it!
Rowenna_S, Apr 2024
Great tour! As a solo traveler I wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy it or not but Pastor and Jose made it absolutely brilliant. Completely inclusive of everyone I didn’t feel I was on my own at all. Extremely knowledgeable, I saw so much throughout the day and learnt so much but had doing learning it all. Very highly recommended.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Rowenna_S, We are thrilled to hear that your experience on our tour exceeded your expectations! Pastor and Jose are indeed gems, and we are delighted to hear that they made your solo travel experience so enjoyable and inclusive. Kind regards from the entire quality team at Amigo Tours, Chelsea
Great trip. Affordable price.
Xuping_L, Feb 2024
Overall great experience! I go with my parents, and we all had funs in the trip. The guide is very professional and friendly.
Disappointed in Viator
VERONIKA_V, Jan 2024
Communication was very confusing and botjthe date of the trip and the content of the excursion kept on changing. Finally Ek Balam was replaced by Valladolid, which was just a 20 min stop on the way back. We should have organised everything on our own or taken a different agency.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Dear VERONIKA_V, Thank you for let us know about your opinion with our tour. We want to tell you that it was not our intention for this misunderstanding to affect your experience, when we have been to make any changes to our tour we are transparent and communicate what is happening for avoid any issue with our customers. We are really regret for your experience and we will take into account your feedback for future improvements. Kind Regards from Amigo Tours Team
Chichen Itza & Ek Balaam for the Archeology Enthusiasts
Jeremy_P, Jan 2024
Alex's driving skills are superb! Isaac was extremely knowledgeable and made both the tours extremely enjoyable. I appreciated that he didn't waste our time at both the Archeological sites. He answered questions engaged and interacted with our group in a highly professional manor while keeping the experience light and entertaining. Will absolutely request him as our guide and recommendations will be given to friends who travel this way.
Great tout, thanks to...
eric_d, Dec 2023
Great tout, thanks to Amigo Tour's Marcella knowledge of the Maya culture. The archeological sites are diverse, from the bulk size of pyramids to the amazing engravings on pillars. The cenote is very deep and can accommodate many visitors at once.
Yucatan activities
Bentley_W, Dec 2023
I have never been to the region before. I was happy to be able to see several different things that are common, Mayan sites, large Cenotes, etc. All were new to me. Many people visit these places by themselves if they rent a car, which I did not. It seems more expensive to book with an activity service to include transportation to and from the hotel to the activities, and to include a guide, but I think this is the way to go. The drive is long and sometimes the way is not always so obvious. But by far the best element is having a great guide. You can go take pictures of an old Mayan structure, and do a selfie, but what is interesting to me is what the guide tells you about the structure, the history of the location and people. Yes, you can go look things up on the internet if you want, but will you? And, concerning the Mayans, a lot of misinformation has been sensationalized by the film industry and having a Mayan guide to tell you the real history is much better. Even now that I know some things about this, when I go back someday, I will definitely get a guide again anyway. Visiting a tremendous place like this and just taking some pictures is not nearly as rewarding.
Great Trip
Oscar_H, Dec 2023
Frank was an excellent and extremely knowledgeable guide. We appreciate him and Jesus (the driver) for a great time and keeping us safe
Chichén Itza outstanding, guide disappointing!
david_a, Dec 2023
The trip start early (6 am) with a 2 hour bumpy and squeaky bus ride. Our somewhat enthusiastic guide talked about his Mayan heritage and their culture, unlocking the 365 calendar thousands of years ago etc. Chichén Itza was spectacular and much less crowded arriving early. Great to avoid heat and the sea of humanity. We got a quick hand clap demo and a Mayan game overview and our guide vanished. Ek Balam was also impressive with a quick overview by the guide, then he’s disappeared again. 3/4 of our group spoke English, one Spanish who had very good English. So why was 3/4 of the tour in Spanish? The last stop and we got pointed to the buffet line and cenote and he’s gone again…..At this point his touring guide rating fell from a 7 to 2. Maybe he didn’t care, lazy, or figured for a long day wasn’t getting paid enough for only 4 clients or wasn’t going to get tipped enough? I was certainly impressed by his cultural pride but very disappointed in his effort to be a tour guide. So I figured 10% tip was all he gets….he didn’t take my 280 pesos tip…lol. Likely pride and figured he deserved more. Amigo Tours…never again! P.S. the real price is double after taxes, rentals etc and thanks for tip money 😁
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Dear david_a, We're deeply sorry about the bad experience on the tour. For us it is important to provide the best experience in each trip, that's the reason that the guides allocate time in such a way that all the passengers enjoy the stops. Usually the guide not disappeared, they give you a few minutes for take a picture in the points, also the tip is not mandatory. However, we will check this details with our team and take your comments for future improvements. Kind Regards. Amigo Tours.
A dive in the Mayan culture
Mario_M, Nov 2023
Gabriel has been a great guide, very informative about the archeological sites and the Mayan culture. The cenote was stunning, too. Great experience!
Amazing Ek Balam climb
Achraf_K, Sep 2023
The experience was amazing, especially the EK BALAM climb. The view from up top was breathtaking. The guide Frank was great and explained the history of each site. He was clearly very knowledgeable on the subject. I'd highly recommend it
Maya ruins and an unforgettable cenote...
Charles_S, Jul 2023
Wonderful excursion... our family of four and another family were the total number of guests, and Carmen, our guide, did a great job of preparing us for and walking us through Chichen Itza. The cenote was spectacular, too, and Ek Balam provided an exquisite view of the surrounding jungle. A great time for all!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hello Charles_S! Thanks a lot for taking the time to rate our work, it´s so kind from you to say that it was a wonderful excursion! We look forward to sharing another experience with you. Mariana, Amigo tours
Very long day but worth it
Alyssa_H, May 2023
This was a great trip and the activities were amazing, but the pick up and drop off were much longer than we were told it would be, adding up to a 17 hour day, which was very long.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Dear Alyssa_H Thanks for letting us know your feedback, we know that the long ride might be exhausting! We appreciate you gave us the opportunity to take you on this trip. Mariana, Amigo tours
Beautiful, breathtaking, so informative, one of a kind experience.
Cristian_V, May 2023
It was amazing, not only where the place breathtaking, but the tour guides where excellent they really went out of their way to provide for us the best experience, I will for sure recommend you guys with friends and family. Thank you so much Esther, Danny, & Henry you guys where amazing.
Response from Host, May 2023
Dear Cristian_V, we are very happy to know that you have enjoyed the tour alongside our dear colleagues, we hope to see you again! Ivana, Amigo Tours
Great day but pick up/drop off procedures need address
Robert_C, Apr 2023
The tour was excellent. Guide and driver superb (Juan and Jesus). The hotel pick up and drop off procedures were terrible though. Nearly 2 hours spent driving around at 5.00 am for one other couple to be picked up from their hotel! 5 of us were unable to get a hotel pick up/ drop off.! 5 am - 8pm , huge day made longer by the pick up/drop off procedures .
Response from Host, May 2023
Dear Robert_C, we are very glad to read you had a joyful time throughout this exciting experience, hope to hear from you again, and have a happy weekend! Ivana, Amigo Tours
Great overall tour!
Janet_C, Feb 2023
Our tour guide Daniel was a fantastic guide. His expansive explanations of the various Chichen Itza history and the Mayan culture were excellent. My most beautiful companion Janet also greatly enjoyed Daniels tour as well
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Dear Janet_C, we are thrilled to know you had a wonderful day with our dear colleagues, thank you for your kind words, we really appreciate them, and hope to have you again! Ivana, Amigo Tours
Good, but beware of hidden fees.
Samantha_H, Jan 2023
This tour was good. The guide at Chichen Itza was very knowledgeable and explained a lot about the complex and its history. Our tour guide Esther was very nice and helpful throughout the day. I think instead of 3 stops, it should be two stops so that you have more time at each place. We had only 15 to 20 mins to swim in the cenote before we had to leave for Ek Balam. We would rather have done either Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, or Chichen Itza and the cenote Salaam so that there was sufficient time to enjoy each place. The food on the lunch buffet was not the best. The tacos and chilaquiles were pre-made and cold by the time we were served. Be aware also that the tour price was listed as $90 per person, but on the day of pickup, you will be charged an additional $51 per person for "taxes". This charge should be included in the advertised price since it is mandatory and I would prefer to know up front the entire cost. With all of that said, the Chichen Itza complex is well worth seeing. Absolutely amazing.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Dear Samantha Thank you so much for taking the time to share your opinion with us, we deeply appreciate it. We are sorry that the tour was not a 5 stars experience to you, we are working hard to improve our services. Mariana, Amigo tours
Good sites, bus crowded and rushed at Chichen Itza.
Jerod_F, Jan 2023
Bus was very small and crowded. Tour guide was good but could have let us have more time to ourselves at Chichen Itza. Driver almost left a couple at the cenote even though they weren’t late for the meeting time.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Dear Jerod_F, we are very sorry to know you did not quite enjoy the tour, unfortunately, we can not provide all the time we would want due to being a whole day touring and have to get to all the sites on schedule in time, otherwise, we wouldn't make it. Thank you for sharing your comments, we will share them with management to make improvements, have a great day! Ivana, Amigo Tours
Not bad, good starting time
Gabriel_B, Dec 2022
The tour is nice since it starts really early and you avoid the queues, but the van was freezing cold and the guide did not give us lot of information about the different places that we visited.
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Amig@ Gabriel_B We are sorry that the tour was not 5 stars for you, we appreciate your comments to continue improving. Dulce, Amigo Tours
Great tour
schenschen, Nov 2022
Very good trip. We were picked up around 5:45 from our hotel. The tour went to Ek Balam first, then a Mayan village with lunch, the chichen itza and finally saamal cenote. We got back to the hotel around 6pm. This is a small group so it was much more efficient and little waiting around. A long day but a very worthwhile one.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Dear schenschen, we are very happy to know you had an amazing time with our team, we will be looking forward to having you again! Ivana, Amigo Tours
Cancelled tour
Luis_T, Nov 2022
We were very exited about this tour, BUT The tour company cancelled a day before. We are very disappointed.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Amig@ Luis_T We thank you for your comment and regret that the tour could not take place. Our team has the duty to give as much notice as possible in advance of the cancellation of service. We assure you that we always try to operate unless it is an issue that is out of our hands. Dulce, Amigo Tours
...

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
No Photo
Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour
527
12 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$85.00
No Photo
Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam Reduced Group
113
12 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$169.00
Special Offer
No Photo
Coba and Tulum, cenote swim and buffet lunch
47
12 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$89.00
$66.75
No Photo
Full-Day Guided Tour to Chichen Itzá with Buffet
0
12 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$50.00

Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Explore Similar Things to Do

Help CenterCustomer CarePrivacy and Cookies StatementAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
© 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.
Terms & Conditions