Mayan Majesty: Chichén Itzá, Sacred Cenote & Valladolid

Trying to save a few dollars, I chose to book this tour rather than the one organized at my hotel in Playa del Carmen. This tour began to disappoint literally 30 min after booking. I did not realize that the tour price does not include tickets to Chichen Itza which are 40USD extra per adult so right there I was already paying more. They offer pick up from your hotel when booking, but dont be fooled. If your hotel is not on a main road, you will be asked to go to a different pick-up point. For us that meant a 40 min walk or taking a taxi which added $25 to the cost. We were asked to be there at 7:20AM but they did not show up until 7:55AM. I texted 3 times and received one text that the bus was delayed and will be there shortly. No apology. When the bus finally arrived, I discovered they were picking from other hotels and we were 50 people in total. It took another hour to finally be on the road. Over the next 2 hours, two guides, one in English/Spanish and one in French talked about the Maya civilization, Yucatan and traditions. The English/Spanish guide delivered a lot of info but was mixing English and Spanish at a fire speed which made keeping up with him really difficult. I wanted my kids - 8 and 13 - to learn something but they quickly lost interest. Recommendation: delivery 2 consistent speeches - one in Spanish and one English of 15 minutes. That way people will follow. Mixing the two languages is tough to follow, especially when you speak fast. We were dropped at the cenote and we had 1h and 15 min total to get lifejackets, go in the cenote, dry-off, change and eat. This is not enough time when there are 200 people from other buses as well. When we finally made it to eat, most of the food was gone. The drinks that were included were a joke, poor service. I asked to take a can of coke, they said I had to pay for it as only a cup poured from a 2L bottle was included in the tour price. They said they will bring drinks to our table and never did. Really poor organization. After eating, we were herded onto the bus and after another 1:30h, reached Chichen Itza around 2:15PM. There we listened to the guide for about 1h and were given another 1h to walk around. We got back to the buses at 4:20PM and were back on the road at 4:30PM, heading to Valladolid which we reached around 5:30PM and were given 40 min to walk the square and visit the 16 century church and get some snacks. Definitely, not worth the hassle if you are only going to spend there 40 min. Not enough time to do anything worthwile. Then back on the bus at 6:15PM for another 2 hours back to Playa del Carmen. To top it all, the bus had a toilet on it which people were using on the way back. I have never smelled such a stench so please clean nd sanitize the thing. It is ridiculous. We were dropped off at 9:15PM at the morning pick-up spot and again had to take a $25 taxi back to our hotel. Overall, poor organization and service. I would definitely make sure next time to go with smaller group or even private tour even if it costs more.

Great experience! Get to do many activities and will take the majority of your day but it’s definitely worth it. Many places do accept credit card but suggest you take cash just in case. They give you time to explore but don’t stay in one place too long because time flies when you’re exploring. Make sure you try the tequila and hot chocolate they have both taste really good and will have you feeling right!

I enjoyed this tour with my son He is 11 and loved swinging in cenote It was long drive But it was worth

It was the best tour I had. The tour guide and staff were great. It was my first time and I learned so much about the history.

I had an incredible experience on this tour. Ismael was truly an exceptional host, and I’m very grateful for the way he made sure I felt included and comfortable throughout the day—especially since I was the only native English speaker while the rest of the group spoke Spanish. He took the time to translate and explain everything clearly, and his passion for the history and culture really shone through. I learned so much about Mayan traditions, the significance of Chichén Itzá, and how it played a vital role in the civilization of its time. The knowledge shared made the visit feel meaningful and memorable rather than just a sightseeing stop. The highlight of the tour for me was the cenote. It was absolutely magical—peaceful, refreshing, and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Swimming there felt like stepping into another world, and it’s a moment I will always cherish. I highly recommend this tour to anyone considering it. The experience was well-organized, educational, and truly unforgettable.

The tour was great! Our tour guide was very passionate about Mayan history and shared a lot of interesting information, which made the experience really enjoyable and educational. I would recommend visiting Chichén Itzá first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot. Walking around in 40°C heat can be quite exhausting, especially since the area is huge and there’s so much to see. Also, it would be great if the tour allowed more time to explore the site, as 45 minutes just isn’t enough to fully appreciate everything. Finally, it’s best to leave the cenote visit for last — it’s the perfect way to cool off and relax in the refreshing water after spending time in the sun.

We woke up late and missed our meetup time. The tour was able to contact me and provide alternative options to “catch-up”. I greatly appreciate the tour’s ability to provide immediate responses and updates. The tour itself was amazing! What made it more special is Samuel, our bilingual guide, who was upbeat, funny, knowledgeable, and kept everyone engaged which made the long day trip fun and exciting. I would give this tour 6 out of 5 stars.

We got stuffed in a cramped 12 seat van for 5 hours of travel. Seats were uncomfortable, no knee room at all. Got sick from the guy coughing all over us in the back. No water or anything was provided. Lots of sell jobs at the cenote, took 25 min to walk through the souvenirs with around 40 min at the cenote itself. About 40 min for lunch, consisted of pasta, salad, tacos, soup and jello. Chichen itza was full of vendors selling over priced souvenirs. The tour guide Ismael explained for quite a long time leaving only about 40 min to roam. Wish we had more time to look around, there was a whole section we missed because we ran out of time. Valledoid was okay, but more sell jobs there with tequila tasting. About 30 min to look around the main square. Driving back in the sunset, driver was going like 170km/h and using the oncoming lane to pass. Not sure if that's safe or legal but I guess you get what you pay for? Would not recommend this tour company.

The experience and the tour guide was very good!! I would recommended it. The Mayan people in the cenote were very friendly and very welcoming. The guide in Chichén Itzá was amazing and very informative.

Our tour guide Sergio was so informative-Was a long day of travel, but all worth it. Would Of like to do the Cenote after the ruins though- not before.