Seeing buildings was one thing, but understanding why certain parts of the sire mattered changed the visit for us. Our guide "Angel" pointed out a few features we would have ignored completely on our own. After the guided section we went back to look at them again before meeting the group. One detail she mentioned made me look different at the alignment of the structures and that was probably the fact I remembered best later. We wish we had a little time in Valladolid, as is it very lovely. Apart from that, everthing was great! Great full-day, taxes and fees included Chichen Itza, two cenotes tour!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Buffet at the Hacienda Xaybeh
- Entrance to cenote Ik-kil
- Onboard breakfast: Ham and cheese sandwich, cookies and juice. (Or vegetarian option)
- Round trip aboard our luxurious panoramic buses with air conditioning
- Life jacket
- Quick visit to Valladolid.
- Pickup in shared transportation from your hotel or nearest meeting point
- Bottle of water in the beggining and in the end of Chichen Itza.
- Entrance to Chichen Itza archaeological site.
- Certified guides specialized in archaeology and Maya culture
- Entrance to cenote Suytun.
Excludes
- Locker rental
- Fee for the use of a video camera (charged by the park at Chichen Itza)
- Beverages at the restaurant
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Immerse yourself in the magic of Cenote Suytun, an iconic spot where the crystal-clear waters and the stunning stone platform will transport you to another time. Enjoy a relaxing swim in this mystical cenote, known for its beauty and unique atmosphere.
Discover the majesty of Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Explore the secrets of the Kukulkan Pyramid, the Ball Court, and other historical monuments while learning about the rich history and traditions of the Mayan civilization.
Continue your adventure at Cenote Ik Kil, where you’ll have the chance to swim in its refreshing waters surrounded by lush vegetation. This cenote, one of the most popular in the region, is the perfect spot to relax after visiting the ruins.
End your day with a quick but charming visit to the Magic Town of Valladolid. Admire the colonial architecture while taking some photos in this picturesque town, known for its peaceful atmosphere and colorful streets.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
I traveled alone and never felt awkward joining this group. There was enough guided time at the Chichen Itza to stay connected, but also enough free time to walk around on my own. At lunch I ended up chatting with two travelers from Texas and by Ikkil we were saving seats for each other. I appreciate that nobody treated solo travelers differently and the shared forma made conversation easy without forcing it. Thanks to Miguel and the whole Tourballoon Travel crue!
Would not recommend especially if you are English is your native language. A whopping 12+ hours of our trip went into picking up other guests, driving around, and finally reaching the destination and hotel. That alone was exhausting and a complete waste of valuable vacation time. Why was it such a big group ? The food was absolutely terrible. For the amount of money we paid, the overall experience was nowhere near worth it. We booked this tour expecting an informative experience and a guide who would share interesting facts and history about the places we visited. Instead, I would estimate that the guide spoke barely few things in English about the actual attractions. The rest of the time seemed to be focused on selling things and pushing purchases. Frankly, if you're traveling with friends and have the option to rent a car or drive yourself, **please do that instead.** You'll save yourself the frustration and have a much more enjoyable experience. We booked a guided tour specifically to learn more about the history and places we were visiting, but ironically, you're better off hiring a guide directly at the destination. They are likely to be far more willing to share the local history and actually explain what you're seeing. **Save your money and your time. This tour was a major disappointment, and I would not book it again.**
7:30 hrs from our trip went into picking guests up and reaching the destination and hotel. The food was not at all good. My 3 year old nephew makes better sandwiches. Not worth the money as guide might have said 15 total sentences in English about things and all other things are about selling something. Frankly if you are with friends and are able to drive I would definitely do that so that at least my time will be more enjoyable. We booked a tour to get more information but you can get a guide at the location who will be more willing to tell you about history
The absolute best part of this tour was the zero-stress vibe! Everything was so flawless organized. Etel from customer service had our pickup locked down and Paty our guide gave the clearest instructions at each location. I loved that the entrance fees were already covered. It let us just soak in the magic of Chichen Itza and the cenotes without constantly pulling out our wallets. We just brought a little cash for our own souvenirs. Not having deal with a million separate expenses all day was an absolute game-changer!
There’s a bit of confusion in picking me up, the bus supposed to pick me up is not there, instead another tour to Pink Lake picked me up. After 3 transfers and changes, I finally got to my right tour bus an entire 1.5 hours later. The tour is awesome as promised, we visited Chichen Itza, Cenotes and old town. Just one note that this tour is mostly Spanish speaking, I’m the only English speaking person in my small group so it is 80% Spanish and 20% English guide. You should definitely check beforehand for that day’s profile if you mind
A great adventure exploring the ruins of Chichen Itza and incredible natural formations that we had only seen before in photos. Be prepared for an early start. The transportation service picks up other travelers in the area before heading to the first destination, Chichen Itza. Our guide Angel was a true "Mayan warrior", looked after all the group throughout the tour and even brought us towels at the cenote. We would have liked to spend a bit more time in Valladolid but we were told tthat the schedule is settled this way to avoid overcrowding. An excellent full day tour with great value and attentive service.
The experience was amazing! We choose this activity because it has not hidden fees or taxes. The staff is very helpful, they are so knowledge and experienced. We spent a full day on this tour, good thing is, no tourist trap feeling. Despite we had some rain on the way, everything went solid.
We did this tour from Playa del Carmen with our two kids, 11 and 15. Pickup was right on time and although it's a fairly long bus ride, it was comfortable and went by quicker than we expected. We really liked that this Chichen Itza day our included two cenotes. This allowed us to make the most of our time. Each location had its own special magic. Thanks to Paty, our wonderful guide. We had a great time as a family and would definitely recommend it to other families traveling with kids!
We reserved before arriving in Cancun and Anna from customer service answered a couple of practical questions that helped us plan what to bring. On the day tour, then main admission fees were already handled, which kept things simple. Chichen Itza was excellent and both cenotes are great for photos. Their message also reminded us about the timing, which meant we could pack the night before and avoid doing it half asleep in the morning. 100% great!
Just a joke. No pickup at 6am as scheduled, not a single message communicated while we waited for 1.5 hours. Whole day wasted.
We thought we had a pretty good idea of how amazing Chichen Itza would be from all the photos and videos we'd seen, but WOW! Seeing it in person is a whole different experience! The massive "El Castillo" pyramid and all the ancient buildings and monuments literally left us speechless. Our guide Miguel was fantastic! Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable but he was also such a genuinely wonderful person. One of the highlights of the experience was getting to meet local Maya people and learning about their history, traditions, and culture while exploring the incredible places their ancestors built. It made the whole experience so much more meaningful and special. We picked this tour because it checked all our boxes: Great value, amazing places to visit, a well-planned itinerary, excellent service and company we felt we could trust. And we're so glad we did! Hands down, a 10/10 experience!
We had such an amazing experience on this tour! We traveled in a small group with a few other couples, which made the whole trip even more enjoyable. Pickup was bright and early at 5:30 am and they were right on time! We actually left our hotel lobby at 5:20 am. Everything was well organized and the service was fantastic from beginning to end. They really take care of you every step of the way. Just a heads-up: this is a full-day adventure, so expect a few hours on the road. But honestly, it's totally worth it! No unnecessary stops or wasted time and everything is included in one upfront payment, even takex and entrance fees which we really appreciated! Our guide Alan, was absolutely wonderful! His knowledge of Mayan history, archaeology and local traditions was impressive, and you could tell he genuinely loves what he does. We got back to our hotel exhausted but so happy. Seeing so many beautiful places in one day was an unforgettable experience. If you're visiting Cancun, don't miss this tour! Highly recommended!!!
We loved both cenote plus Chichen Itza in this full day tour! At the first water stop we took forever deciding whether to get in, mostly because we didn't want to deal with the we hair and clothes the rest of the day. That concern disappeared once we say everyone else enjoying it. We took our best pics and the desirable Suytun platform one. Pro tip: once there you will have to choose between getting in the water or make line for the pick. In this case we were lucky since there was not much people. We enjoyed it a lot. Thanks to all the Tourballoon staff, specially to Angel our guide! Excellent Chichen Itza option!!!
The tour is very fruitful, informative. The bus is quite comfy so you can relax and enjoy the journey even more. Our tour guide alan did really well (more English descriptions would be better, e.g A long paragraph in spanish but only a short English translation) Efficient whatsapp contact. Anna was very helpful. Although the pickup location seemed a bit sketchy, it was somewhere between two hotels, the bus actually drove past our hotel on its way to pick up passengers at another location. Therefore, it would be safer to arrange pickup directly at the hotel gate, or at least at the front gate of the hotel. Imagine you walk 15mins in an empty street at 5am in the morning, it is quite terrifying.
Excellent tour experience. Highly recommended this tour.
[Title] Exceeded All Expectations! A Seamless, Action-Packed Day Tour to Chichen Itza, 2 Cenotes & Valladolid Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Before the trip, I was a bit hesitant because this tour had relatively fewer reviews compared to others, and I wondered if it would be reliable. However, as soon as the tour started, all my worries completely vanished. It turned out to be an absolutely fantastic experience, and I couldn't be happier with my choice! Key Highlights of the Tour * 4 Iconic Spots in One Day Covering Chichen Itza, two different cenotes, and Valladolid in a single day was an incredible value. Doing all of this on our own would have been nearly impossible, but the tour made it completely seamless while giving us plenty of time at each location. * Well-Paced Itinerary * Chichen Itza: Our first stop. The guide provided excellent, detailed explanations, and we were given plenty of time to explore the ruins thoroughly. * Lunch: A smooth transition after the ruins. While the food itself was fairly standard, the logistics were well-organized, making it a stress-free meal. * Cenote Ik Kil: We had about an hour here, which was plenty of time to enjoy a swim. * Cenote Suytun: Also around an hour here—just the right amount of time to take iconic photos and dip in the water. * Valladolid: We spent about 30 minutes here. Rather than heavy sightseeing, it was a welcome break to stretch our legs and pick up some local souvenirs before the long drive back. * Smooth & Efficient Pickup I had read a few reviews mentioning inefficient pickup, but that wasn't my experience at all. They used multiple vans (HiAce) to group nearby hotels efficiently, and everything ran smoothly. * Outstanding Staff & Customer Support Unfortunately, I accidentally left something behind on the day of the tour. The team followed up with me so kindly over WhatsApp, and thanks to multiple helpful staff members, I got my item back safely. I am deeply grateful for their incredible hospitality! Estimated Schedule for Reference It is a full-day commitment, but every minute was worth it! * 06:30 AM – Hotel pickup * 07:00 AM – Boarded the main bus and departed * 10:00 AM – Arrived at Chichen Itza for the guided tour & free time * Midday – Lunch break * Afternoon – Visited Cenote Ik Kil & Cenote Suytun (~1 hour each) * Late Afternoon – Quick stop in Valladolid (~30 mins for souvenirs & rest) * Before 10:00 PM – Returned to the hotel Final Thoughts: While it’s a full 15-hour day, it’s hands-down the best way to hit all the top sights around Cancun in one trip. Between the great itinerary and the wonderful, supportive team, I highly recommend this tour to anyone! Thank you so much for an unforgettable day!
My husband and I were very satisfied with the service and attention provided by this company. They literally "held our hand" from start to finish. We felt secure the entire time and were very grateful to the whole team, who always greeted us with a smile. This specific tour option for Chichen Itza was the best we could find. We did a lot of research and came across other options with thousands of reviews but they were often confusing or misleading. This one included two cenotes "Ikkil and Suytun" as well as all taxes and entrance fees (I promise this isn't an ad). It was just a single payment checkout. September is a great time to visit Cancun, despite what many people say. THanks to the low season, we found many places uncrowded or at least comfortably so. It makes the day trip much more pleasant and convenient, giving you more time to truly enjoy it. The heat in unavoidable, outside the bus, our guide Angel, kept us inn the shade as much as possibnle, though we still felt like "little fried chickens" .P at times. Don't forget to wear comfy clothing and bring some sunscreen and an umbrella or a hat. Highly recommended... without a doubt, our best choice!!!
This was our second trip to Cancun, this time we wanted something different so we pick this two cenote experience. You do have to wake up early and spend some time on the bus, but it goes by quickly. Chichen Itza was incredible (definitely bring a hat and sunscreen) and the cenotes made this tour worth it. Once we step on Suytun we went jaw dropped, definitely the most beautiful cave we have ever been to! We choose to wait in the line for the photo and leave the other cenote for swimming. Long day but came back with photos of ancient pyramidds and underground caves was way better than just doing another pool day.
We don't know much about Maya history and that was actually fine. Paty our guide explained enough at Chichen Itza for us to understand what we were seeing without assuming everyone already knew the background. We left with a few facts we will probably remember and a lot more context that we started with. A few explanations gave us enough knowledge to see why certain structures mattered and free time let us process it without more information coming. We left curious enough to read more later. Great cenotes, great tour overall!
Chichen Itza gave us the big history moment and the included fees and taxes made it all simple. At Suytun, the light hit the water in a beautiful way, right when our group was getting ready for photos. Everyone got excited like we had planned it perfectly. Rodrigo was super helpful guide through it all. The photo came out great and that little ray of light from above became our favorite story.
The itinerary has a lot included, but it didn't feel like we were being dragged from place to place. Angel our great guide, explained what mattered at Chichen Itza, then gave us room to enjoy cenotes in our own way. Food, tickets, taxes and timing were all taken care of. The stops were different enough that the day never felt like one repeated activity. We learned, walked, ate, swam, rested and then talked about all of it on the way back. That balance is what made it work. Great choice!
Everyone got excited when Chichen Itza came into view, the group in the bus had a great energy from the beginning. Someone was celebrating an anniversary, a few people were comparing sunscreen brands and Miguel our tour guide kept the day light. The cenote swim later felt like the perfect shared moment. By the end, it felt like we were with people we'd knowun for a long time.
Really lovely trip to tick off a bucket list venue. Beautiful cenotes, perfect to cool off after the hot tout around Chichen Itza. Lunch was ok, not great for the vegetarians but spent time talking to the other attendees and that made up for it. The time in Valladolid was ok, but would have been happy to miss that part of the trip. Allan was knowledgeable, funny and attentive to his guests needs.
Great the 2 cenotes in the natural park
We stayed at a boutique hotel in Playa del Carmen and then meeting point was right around the corner, so it took us about 5 minutes to get there, it was an early morning, but everything ran smoothly and we got to the stops at a good time, before the places got too crowded. Angel was a great guide and really knew a lot about Mayan culture. Our kids got into the explanations more than we expected, especially the Mayan symbols and calendar. They were pretty excited when they noticed some of the carvings on one of the pyramids and connected them to what Angel had explained earlier. The cenotes were beautiful and each one was different enough to make that part of the day really worth it. The food was very good too. You can tell this company knows what they're doing. We'd definitely come back with the rest of the family and do this tour again.
We had an amazing time on this tour and would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Cancun. It's a fantastic way to see some of the most beautiful spots in the Yucatan without having to worry about the boring and stressful arrangements yourself. What really makes this tour stand out are the hosts, Angel and David. They're both incredibly charismatic, funny and genuinely friendly. You can tell they love what they do and they keep the group entertained and engaged the whole day. The drive is on the longer side, but that's to be expected since you're actually crossing into another state in Mexico. In our opinion, it was totally worth it for the places we fot to see and the overall experience. If you're okay with a full day out, this is absolutely worth your time.
This was our worst experience in Cancun compared to every other tour we did. We stayed at Canopy hotel in Cancun. We were the first 3 groups to be picked up. Our pickup time was 6:10am. We waited on time, they were 10 minutes late picking us up (which is totally fine we understand things happen). It took over 2 hours to pick everyone up because they also picked up several people in Playa Del Carmen. After taking two hours to pick everybody up it was another 2 hour drive (again the 2 hour drive we were expecting we weren't expecting the 2 hour pick up time). In total in the morning we spent 4 hours in the bus. The most frustrating point was the drop off. It would make sense that the people who were picked up first should be dropped off first. Nope. They dropped off everyone in reverse order so again it was a 2 hour drive for us and another 2 hours to drop everyone off. In total that was 8 hours in the bus…. I guess if you were the last group picked up/dropped off and only spent 4 hours of your day in the bus you may have a different experience but for us we found it completely unfair. We arrived back to our hotel just before 10pm completely exhausted- and not from activities but from spending 8 hours in a bus. We did several other tours while in Cancun and did not experience the same issues with pickup/drop off. This company is just greedy trying to over charge people for an activity and spending most of the time picking and dropping people off. Theres no reason pick up/ drop off could not be split from Cancun to Playa del Carmen like literally every other tour we did. Finally, our tour guide’s attitude and behaviour was as if we were annoying him. He was unenthusiastic and basically did 85% of the tour in Spanish. This was actually the biggest waste of our money and completely not worth it.
We booked this tour directly with the agency and everything online was super fast and easy. We honestly didn't realized Chichen Itza was so far from Playa del Carmen, but once they explained the timing and distance, it made sense. The package is great and complete with the pyramids, cenotes, food and comfy rides. You never feel rushed, which really appreciated. If anything, the only thing I wish we had more of was time in Valladolid at the end. The tour lasts the whole day but never feels boring. The team is very attentive and seems to know exactly when to give information, when to crack a joke and even when to just let everyone relax and nap on the bus. Big shoutout to "Jose" who patiently answered all our questions about Mayan history and culture throughout the day. Overall, we had an awesome time and would definitely recommend this tour.
Last December I was going to book this tour, but I waited until the last minute and missed out. Now that I finally took it, I found out prices and taxes went up because of a government change. Oh well, that's how it goes... I usually travel solo, so feeling safe and not having any hassles is really important to me. This all-day tour delivered on that, even if it's a bit more expensive now. Everything was very organized, the guide was great and both Chichen Itza and the two cenotes were absolutely worth it, especially with tickets and taxes already included. I definitely recommend this company. And If you can, ask for Lilly. She's an awesome guide and really makes the whole experience better.
What we appreciated most was that this company does all for you. From the start, it felt like the day was already mapped out. Also, this tour has tickets and taxes included, we never had that "wait, do we owe something here?" moment. Chichen Itza was the big highlight of course, but what surprised us was how much we enjoyed the time between the "main" moments, small breaks landing at the right time, clear regroup points and enough space to take photos and walk around. Later, the cenute gave the day a totally different feel. At ikkil we actually swam and stayed in longer than we expected and Suytun was quieter and more scenic. Our friend and guide Rodrigo kept things cool (legit). Overall it felt like a very well-run day.
We were in Cancun from L.A. for a conference and had one day to do something outside the hotel. We're a large group of friends (we work in wedding events) and we wanted something organized that wouldn't turn into a planning headache. This tour delivered. It helped that taxes and fees were included, so we weren't splitting up to figure out extra costs. Our super guide Angel, kept things simple and made regrouping easy, which matters when you've got a lot of people and a couple who are a little lost half the time. Chichen Itza was the main stop and it was worth seeing. The two cenotes were a nice add-on. Since the day wasn't hot, we hesitated, but once we got in, it was great. Overall: Reliable, well run and a good choice for groups.
After our nine day Cancun vacation, we were trying to pick "the" day we'd talk about most back home... and this tour made the short list instantly. The online help was fast and friendly. Shout out to Anna Vega. Fun fact: Someone warned us it might be chilly. We're from Utah, so we laughed, this felt like warm weather to us. Once we got rolling, the whole experience felt professional and well organized. Chichen Itza was the big one, and seeing it in person was impressive. Our kid had a great time too, especially when asking our guide about the photo spots. Then the cenotes were the perfect contrast and having the two most iconic stops in one tour matched exaclty what we'd been hoping for based on our research. We came back with beautiful memories and a really good feeling about the area. Cancun isn't the scary story headlines try to sell, if you choose trustworthy people and places, you'll be more than fine.
This was the only tour I found that takes you to Suytun and Ik-Kil cenotes along with Chichen Itza and Valladolid. It may seem like a lot for one day but I'm happy we did it. Both cenotes are amazing. My favorite one was Ik-kil. On the bus, the tour guide spoke English and Spanish, but at Chichen Itza the groups split. We were only 4 people for the English tour so it felt like a private tour at Chichen Itza. The trip was long starting in downtown Cancun. We got back between 9:30 and 10 pm because the bus goes through Playa del Carmen as well. I recommend this tour.
This is a full day (15 hours for us) of activities with a great tour guide. I enjoyed that all of our entrance tickets for Chichen Itza and two cenotes were already covered so we didn't have to spend more money. Our guide was really good about setting "house rules" to make sure everyone was well prepared for the trip and how to safely return to the correct bus. I enjoyed the cultural explanations along the way. I would recommend this for anyone wanting to have a great experience at Chichen Itza and some cenotes. Make sure to bring a tip for lunch, driver, and guide.
We felt so blessed to be able to travel to such beautiful places as Chichen Itza and the cenote during this time of the year. All the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Even though the Maya didn't celebrate Christmas, the whole trip felt very special and our group was very enthusiastic. This is an excellent option for exploring the Mayan ruins and cenote s on a single "full-day" tour that includes taxes and entrances fees. Happy holidays to the entire team! Highly recommended!
Despite what the news says, we love Mexico and all of its beautiful spots, and this tour was a great example of that. I visited Chichen Itza with my parents when I was a child, so going back with my husband brought back a lot of memories. Chichen Itza was the main highlight. Meet-up points were clear, so regrouping was simple and we had enough time for photos and a little free exploring. Both cenotes were worth it. Suytun was more calm and photo-friendly and our kind guide "Angel" surprised us with towels there. Ikil was the more "jump in and enjoy it" stop. We sincerely recommend this tour overall if you want strong Yucatan locations at a very affordable fee.
Now we can say we've seen one "World Wonder". Visiting the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza was incredibly fascinating for us. We learned so many interesting facts from the guides (David and Jose). The Mayans created their own precise calendar. There's a cenote beneath the main pyramid, rock carvings and other things I won't spoil here. The cenotes, each with its own unique magic, and finally, Valladolid. You absolutely must visit. Pay close attention to the history behind it all. The tour lasts about 12 hours and includes food, pickup, entrance fees and all taxes. It's completely hassle-free. Pro Tip: Ask your guide about the best spots to take pictures. There's many people taking pictures everywhere, they tell you when and where to get the best snap.
We booked this pretty late in the game, but Maru from the reservations team helped us out and grabbed three spots for us. I'm glad she did because this package is a great deal and hits two cenotes. Chichen Itza was a mission accomplished, the main goal visiting the majestic pyramids. It was huge for us because we really wanted to see Suy tun and this saved us from booking a second tour just for that. Full-day and full fun! Tourballoon has fast support and they seems very professional.
Vacations are short. It took us almost a month to plan ours. This tour was or second activity on our trip (still celebrating our honeymoon) and it was definitely the highlight, a real showstopper in everyway. First, we visited the Suytun cenote, after seeing so many photos online, we were so excited to finally visit it. This place is amazing and you have to be there at the exact right time to get that perfect Instagram shot. The we visited Chichen Itza, another iconic and unmissable site. We loved it. The time allotted was just the right for exploring with our great guide Jose and on our own. We finished with a visit to Ikkil a cenote with platforms surrounding it and open to the sky. This full day trip includes entrance fees, taxes, food, bottle water and most importantly, the whole crew is super cool! You can't miss it!
This trip is the perfect example of "know how" for a well organized sightseeing adventure, probable the best choice for Chichen Itza including the Suyatun and Ikkil Cenotes. Everything else, from the flavorful lunch to the smooth coach ride, just ran seamlessly in the background. This allowed us to fully enjoy the beautiful sights. David, our guide was outstanding, he has a real talent for storytelling, adding just the right mix of with and wisdom that brought the history to life. Seamless from star to finish.
As a mom vacationing with my hubby and our energetic boys, this Chichen Itza tour with stops at Suytun and Ikille cenotes was pure magic. We were hooked from the start. The ancient pyramid and ruins sparked endless "wows" from the kids, but plunging into those glowing underground pools turned it into an epic family quest we'd never forget. Our early pickup whisked us away in a comfy bus and the full day journey was zipped by with onboard snacks and hydration keeping everyone fueled. Lilly our guide wove captivating tales of Maya legends that had the boys wide-eyed, turning history into an amazing story. The sites felt alive and serene, with sunlight filtering through vines in the cenotes for that dreamy, otherworldly glow. Perfect for splashing and snapping pics without feeling rushed. We forgot our youngest's shoes at Suytun but the team's quick thinking got them back to our hotel the next day, true lifesavers! Lunch was a tasty Mexican spread that hit the spot. Everything blended adventure and chill vibes seamlessly. If you're chasing Yucatan family memories from Cancun, this is it!
This is certainly a highlight your for anyone visiting the Yucatan. For us, coming from a big city in the UK, it resulted in a very "pleasant tiredness" by the end. I was particulary impressed by the organization. We we're told that by government regulations the time at each site is limited, which is actually a brilliant system. It prevents the locations from becoming overcrowded and gives everyone a fair chance to enjoy the space properly. This was specially helpful at Cenote Suytun where the chances for great pictures are amazing. Miguel our tour host is a Mayan guru. The dip in Ikkil Cenote was just the ticket. Tourballoon is top notch outfit!
Our tour guy Kevin was amazing with the Amigo Tour Company! He was very informative amd helpful during the tour! Tour was timely and very thorough!
Tour was excellent. The driver and Cristian the tour guide was hilarious and great knows a lot of language. He was very enthusiastic with sharing us a lot of information which goes to show how much he loves his job. We haven’t encountered any scam like what I read from other reviews. All I can say is if your offered something you don’t like learn to say no. Also tip generously to the locals you meet as tourism is mostly their way of living and their eager to share their culture to tourists. There was no wasted time on this tour I’m glad the group we joined were punctual as there was little to no delay to the next spot to go to. We started in Villadolid 30 mins. Chichen Itza 2 hrs, Cenote Ik kil 1 hr and Cenote Suytun 1hr. With travel from Cancun and back around 2.5 hrs. Food buffet was decent. Overall it was a tour well spent. Highly recommend this one for sure!
Being a family with traveling with two little ones is no easy feat. We thought this trip would be a copmlete oddyssey but the staff from Tourballoon was very supportive with our "little menaces" . We enjoyed the stories of astrology and Mayan knowledge shared with us by the kind Lilly. The Chichen Itza site blew me away. In the entrance,, you can see a lot of vendors. We didn't have to wait to getin and the guide gave us the best explanation of each of the pyramids. The day was cloudy, which made the weather feel cooler. The Suytun cenoth is beautiful! The effect created when the light enters through the opening in the dome, (If your time is right) this light is projected onto the round platform in the center. That's amazing! Cenote Ikkill has a waterfall and is completely open. (Life jackets mandatory). This tour is a must see and very affordable, perhaps a bit underrated. We would do it again!! (Without kids this time).
The whole day was over 15 hours, and my 15-year-old daughter says it was worth it and glad we did it. I've rated this experience 5 stars for delivering what was advertised 100% and a solid value. I hope my recap below helps set your expectations correctly. I picked this package as it offered pick-up from Playa Mujeres, which I could not find with other tour package with similar pricing, same 3 sites and numerous positive ratings. As I have taken a similar package years ago, I know there would be a pick-up by van for other tourists at nearby hotels, and then be taken to a central spot where the tour bus/coach would be. If you're in the Cancun hotel zone, your experience might be more direct. The tour bus then travelled down to Playa Del Carmen to pick up more passengers. There were delays with the pick-up by the van. That may have been for a variety of reasons, in or out of the control of the operator/driver. We were provided timely updates via text by the operator, so there was no panic or worries. We and other tourists were instructed to wait for the van OUTSIDE of the security gate of our resort. For our resort in Playa Mujeres, that wasn't a big deal, and I know it would save time with the pick-ups. Once on the tour bus, it was comfortable, clean, but not luxurious. Again, well within expectations. The breakfast sandwich was basic. Lunch was a buffet with okay choices. My daughter and I had no problems finding something we liked. If you're picky, bring your own food. There are places to get food & drink at each main stop. Suytun and Ik Kil are two of the best cenotes in the Yucatan, and they complement each other by their differences. At Suytan, there are no free lockers, but paid available. Most people just place items along the walkway down in the cenote. You'll have to remove your shoes (including water shoes) at Suytun if you go into the water. I recall the steps down to the cenote are tall/steep. Have tip money if interested in taking a picture with a local dressed as a Mayan warrior. At Ik Kil there are free locks. You'll have to shower first at Ik Kil if going into the water. Again, have tip money if interested in taking a picture with locals dressed as Mayan warriors. We had one tour guide on the bus, and he was able to provide information in perfect English, presumably perfect Spanish, plus Portuguese. Once at Chichén Itzá, we were divided into two groups: those who understood English and those who understood Spanish. A guide at the site led those who understood Spanish. Few vendors accept credit cards out on the site. I ended up buying a souvenir by credit card in the Marketplace on the way to the tour bus. I can't say I got the best deal, but I felt like I had more access to vendors who accepted credit cards in the Marketplace, versus just one out on the site. Be prepared to haggle and lure of just one dollar for a small souvenir. We had ~15-20 minutes getting into the site. Then ~45-50 minutes with the guide. Then 60 minutes on our own, including getting back to the buses. This might not be enough time for some people, plus we got to Chichén Itzá last, so during our last hour, some areas were closing. If Chichén Itzá is your priority, find a tour package that offers 3+ hours, as it is a large site. For what we paid for the whole tour, it would have been worth the price had we just seen one of the three main sites. There was a swap of passengers after we left Chichén Itzá. This was to put those headed back to Playa Del Carmen on one bus, and then those headed back to Cancun on the other. The drop-off process was different than pick-up. The tour bus dropped passengers off throughout the hotel zone and then ended at a central spot in Cancun. We then got to our vans for the last leg. It was well lit where this occurred, and I had no worries about safety. Additional recommendations & tidbits: ~30 min at Valladolid (enough time to use the restroom at the tour operator's partner souvenir shop and walk around the town square. 60 min at Suytan 60 min at Ik Kil 120 min at Chichén Itzá Bring a towel or two for each cenote. Bring headphones and a power bank for your cellphone for the trip. Don't forget tip money for the tour guide. Don't be late getting back to the bus at each stop.
This is a highlight tour for anyone visiting Yucatan. The photo opportunities at Cenote Suytun are incredible, thanks to the famous light beam inside the cave. A swim in the refreshing cenote waters is a great experience after the Chichen itza portion of the tour. The trip was very well organized with a friendly, knowledgeable guide named Miguel. Highly recommended!
A masterclass in how an excursion should be run. Our guide Miguel "Mike" was a great storyteller, breathing life into the ancient world with his wisdom and wit. The sights themselves, the majestic Chichen Itza and the gorgeous cenotes, were the stars of the show. Everything else, from the flavorful meal to the relaxinf bus ride, worked like clockwork in the background, making for a truly seamless and memorable day.
I never usually leave reviews but my experience with Maru Lopez was so exceptional that I asked for a link to leave a review. The excursion itself was good but it really is a long, long, long day so be prepared. We left our hotel in cancun at 6am and returned at 10:30pm. What stood out the most for me was the excellent communication with Maru Lopez at any time of day via WhatsApp. I got immediate replies, even late at night and they also messaged me during my excursion to check if everything was okay. This kind of communication made me feel a lot safer and secure!
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