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Chichen Itza & EkBalam: Mayan Culture Tour
4.9
136 Ratings
Cancún
Explore Chichen Itza and EkBalam with expert guides. Enjoy a cultural tour, buffet lunch, and bottled water. Book now for an unforgettable adventure.
Explore Chichen Itza and EkBalam with expert guides. Enjoy a cultural tour, buffet lunch, and bottled water. Book now for an unforgettable adventure.
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Zona Arqueológica de Chichen Itza - Arrive at Chichen Itza as the ruins open to enjoy a comprehensive 2-hour guided tour. Explore the ancient Chichen Itza, featuring structures like La Iglesia, Las Monjas, The Observatory, and view one of the two cenotes within the ruins.
Capture stunning photos at Kukulkan Castle without the crowds and enjoy a…
- Zona Arqueológica de Chichen Itza - Arrive at Chichen Itza as the ruins open to enjoy a comprehensive 2-hour guided tour. Explore the ancient Chichen Itza, featuring structures like La Iglesia, Las Monjas, The Observatory, and view one of the two cenotes within the ruins.
Capture stunning photos at Kukulkan Castle without the crowds and enjoy a delightful walk to learn about the history of Kukulkan Castle, the Temple of the 1000 Columns, the Jaguar Temple, and the largest Ball Game stadium of the Mayan Culture.
The total time at Chichen Itza is 2.5 hours, including a 1 hour 45-minute guided tour and 45 minutes of free time to take photos, explore independently, or shop for souvenirs within the ruins.
- Cenote Hubiku - Discover the breathtaking underground Cenote Hubiku in Yucatan, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim beneath hundreds of stalactites after visiting the Chichen Itza ruins.
After swimming, indulge in a regional buffet lunch at the Cenote restaurant.
- Zona Arqueológica de Ek Balam - Next, visit Ek Balam, a lesser-known Yucatec-Maya archaeological site with remarkable carvings hidden in a jungle setting. Climb the towering Acropolis pyramid, the highest point of the ruins.
Note:
The total time, including land transportation to the sites and return to your hotel or meeting point, ranges from 11 to 12 hours, depending on your accommodation’s location.
What's Included
- All visits guided
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Early access to Chichen Itza
- Professional guide speaking 100% English
- All visits guided
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Early access to Chichen Itza
- Professional guide speaking 100% English
What's Not Included
- Drinks at the restaurant
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Drinks at the restaurant
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Additional Information
Join this intimate group tour to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, where you’ll arrive early in the morning to fully explore the site before the large crowds gather.
This tour focuses on culture and history, without stopping for shopping. Our expert guides will share detailed insights into Mayan culture and Mexican history, ensuring an authentic experience….
Join this intimate group tour to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, where you’ll arrive early in the morning to fully explore the site before the large crowds gather.
This tour focuses on culture and history, without stopping for shopping. Our expert guides will share detailed insights into Mayan culture and Mexican history, ensuring an authentic experience. This is not a tourist trap.
Avoid cheaper alternatives that may waste your time and money with unnecessary stops. We offer the best value for the experience provided.
A buffet lunch and bottled water on board are included.
Additionally, enjoy the Mayan culture by visiting a second site, Ek Balam.
Note:
The total duration, including transportation to and from your hotel or meeting point, ranges from 12 to 13 hours, depending on your accommodation’s location.
- Note: Total time including the land transportation to the places to visit and come back to your hotel or meeting point is between 11 and 12 hours, depending on the location of your accomodation.
- What to bring: Towel, swimsuite, flip flops, change clothes and cash for the taxes and other expenses
- Itineray could be change for logistics reasons
- From 1st February 2026 Chichen and Ekbalam taxes are 1500 MXN per person
Location
Smart Cancun by Oasis
Avenida Tulum
We don´t provide pick up service at the hotels or places in Puerto Juarez, Playa Mujeres or Isla Blanca. Customers staying in these areas must arrive by their way to the meeting point in Oasis Smart Cancun at 6:00 am
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(136 Ratings)
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1 star
Sandy_c
Apr 19, 2026
History tour with “friends” - Great van pick up and driving by Albert. Interesting history lessons with Carmen. (37 years of experience) Temples were “cool” in the heat! Carmen took great pics, and led us to get the best out of our experience.
Cenote was cool, refreshing, and mysterious. Good filling food.
Felt like we made friends out of strangers in our small group before we were back! Thank you! Timm on a tiger, Sandy on a snail!
Review provided by Viator
Charity_s
Apr 16, 2026
Sis go Solo - Solo lady travelers go have fun. Carmen is an excellent guide and this tour is perfectly quaint. Not too large to get lost in big crowds or on tour busses. Not too small that you feel uncomfortably restricted in your ability to move freely about. OR feel like a bother constantly asking your guide to take photos(you'll have tourmates for that). This tour is safe and the group is small so you can easily describe your guide and they can describe you. Bonus is the reverse schedule for large crowds and high temps!
Review provided by Viator
Michael_e
Apr 15, 2026
A new shuttle bus was... - A new shuttle bus was very comfortable provided safe transportation to and from Chichen Itza and other historical and interesting locations. Wear sunscreen and prepare for a long hike.
Review provided by Viator
Corinne_r
Apr 14, 2026
The tour guide Carmen was... - The tour guide Carmen was awesome. Lunch was good, the cenote was beautiful. It's a long day in the sun so make sure you stay hydrated.
Review provided by Viator
Brett_f
Apr 9, 2026
Excellent way to beat the crowds and learn from an amazing guide. - After lots of research we settled on this tour so that we could avoid long pick up and drop offs of a large bus tour. Also so that we could arrive earlier in the day. The communications were excellent (though WhatsApp messages). They confirmed pick up time with us at 6:30am and even texted in the morning that they were running a few minutes late. We were the last pick up. I think the air conditioned van could hold 14 but we had 8 which made for comfortable ride. Before the toll road we stopped for a potty break and snacks at a local gas station (10 paso for the toilet). The drive is ~2.5 hours to Chichen Itza. One other plus of the small van is we were able to park much closer to the entrance than the big buses.
The highlight of this tour was Carmen our guide. It was clear she was extremely educated on Mayan history and culture. On the drive she taught us about the history, the beliefs and how the created the Mayan calendar which was all very interesting and informative. You could tell that Carmen had passion and pride for sharing the history with us.
Once we arrived, Carmen rushed us through the ticket area and entrance in the site. We first stopped at the iconic pyramid and she gave us some free time for photos and to walk the perimeter. Then Carmen taught us all about the construction and history of the site. At every point she had new informative details we would have never seen or understood if we went on our own. She had well informed details answers to every question we had. She was truly a joy to be with.
We did not expect the site to be so huge so then we moved to see other structures and areas of the site that many people likely miss. We spent a few hours there and found it to be really educational. It was in the 90s and there is little shade so be prepared for the heat.
After this we returned to the van to go to lunch at a Cenote about 30 minutes away. This was really refreshing after the heat at Chechen Itza. Again we beat the larger tours to this attraction so it was not very crowded when we arrived. After swimming in the cool water we had a buffet lunch which did not include drinks so have Pasos ready. The food was really good and then we returned to the van to go to Ek Balam.
Ek Balam was a real surprise as we were unaware of it before our trip. Its a more recent find and has not had much restoration. The highlight was that were were allowed to walk/climb on the structures and to the top of the pyramid.
The trip is not difficult but we were exhausted partly do to the heat so when we returned to the van most took a nap for the long drive home.
Review provided by Viator
Ruth_n
Apr 8, 2026
Trip - Very friendly staff.
Well organized on time. Small group of 7 participants was perfect to get the most out of it.
Review provided by Viator
Charlotte_l
Apr 2, 2026
Climb the ruins - The guide and driver took excellent care of our party. We learned so much and had a wonderful time. The member of our party ranged in age from 11 to 60 and everyone was very happy and entertained.
Review provided by Viator
Teresa_s
Mar 31, 2026
Exceptional tour! - This tour is worth every peso! The only thing you need to pay attention to is the taxes are a cash payment In pesos day of trip. I hadn’t prepared so day before was figuring it out. Viator sends you information in the app- I missed the message in the app.
Carmen our tour guide was exceptionally friendly and full of information. She helps keep you on schedule and handles everything with ease- even the occasional rogue passenger- lol. The tour is very educational and interactive and planned with a few stops both ways to stretch legs.
Communication was excellent- our trip moved a day and communication was quick and efficient. On our trip the first pickup was late we got a message right away letting us know the arrival change, when they arrived, etc.
Review provided by Viator
Maria_m
Mar 30, 2026
This tour was great. ... - This tour was great. Carmen was our guide and Edgar was our driver. They picked us up at our hotel. They was only one other family of three on the trip. We were all very comfortable in the van. The van was very nice with charging stations. The guide was very knowledgeable and you could tell she loved her work. The driver was always on time and greeted us with cold water. They also stopped at a nice gas station for us to buy snacks, water, and go to the bathroom. I only have one better if. Admission to the sites are not included in the fees. They want you to bring 1500 pesos per person for the tickets and tax. However, the tickets per person is actually around 1000 pesos (Chichen Itza 592 ticket + tax 105 & Ek Balam ticket 210 + tax 105). You have to bring pesos and give the 1500 to the guide. They buy the tickets for you. It says in the booking that admission and tips are not included. But not how much it will be and that this payment includes a guide fee. I don’t have a problem with any of it, but I would have liked to known up front. The guide and the driver deserve it. It just wasn’t clear. We did tip $20 a person for the tour in addition to paying this.
Review provided by Viator
Ran_z
Apr 2, 2026
Matched with the tour descriptions - Early morning is probably the best time to visit Chichén Itzá. I wish we could spend more time at cenote. Ek balam is worth visiting too. Overall, the tour meet our expectations.
Review provided by Viator
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