Chichen Itza, Cenote And Ek Balam Tour With Lunch From Valladolid

Jose was our driver and tour guide. His knowledge of the Mayan culture runs deep through his own culture and his studies. He was a wealth of knowledge with great stories and interesting facts. We loved all three sites and highly recommend him.

I have only the very best things to say about MexiGo Tours and specifically our tour guide Gilberto! It ended up just being myself and my husband and Gilberto was so knowledgeable and friendly. I would go book again with Mexigo Tours in a heartbeat, and especially if it was with Gilberto. We also used MexiGo Tours for transportation services to and from the Cancun airport and back to the area after our stay in Valladolid. Again, Giberto was amazing and we really appreciated him (as he was also our driver to and fro). We could not have asked for better service or a better trip. We hope we can come back to the Yucatan in the future and we will absolutely book with this company again!

This tour goes to Chichenitza, cenote swimming and finally Ek Balam. Our guide, Gilberto, was excellent. I was worried that this might be too rushed to cover the two archaeological sites in a day - I can spend a lot of time in such places. But it was well-organised and well-timed. There were just three of us on the trip, which was great. From Valladolid (a lovely town), we got to Chichenitza pretty much as it opened at 8.00. This is great as you beat the rush. We had a guided visit and then almost 90 minutes to explore alone - although it's crowded, there are inevitably interesting places where you can escape. The cenote swimming was fabulous and the location spectacular - you can drop in from a trapeze - and not as cold as I feared. A delicious lunch also included. And cocktails at a few pesos extra! And Ek Balam is really interesting and relaxing after Chichenitza. The stucco 'carving' on the main temple, representing a jaguar's toothy jaw is wonderful. And you can climb the temples. It's also very quiet after Chichenitza. A convenient and wise way to visit both sites. Totally recommended.

Truly, I could not imagine a better way to experience these sites. Detailed review and walk-thru below but here's a TL;DR version: As long as you've got comfy shoes on, this is a perfect tour. Gilberto was a phenomenal tour guide: knowledgeable, a great story teller, funny, personable, and well-connected. The cenote is a perfect break in the middle of the day between two of the most incredible sites you'll ever see. What are you waiting for!? Book this tour!! FULL DETAILS BELOW BOOKING: We booked our trip directly through MexiGo's email. We sent them what trip we wanted (GoArchaeology) and when. They promptly replied with a PayPal link and pickup details. Efficient, and easy. We would have *maybe* liked a confirmation email the week of our tour, but that's ok. PICKUP/TRANSPORT: Gilberto showed up right at our hotel exactly when the email told us he'd be there. We had an Air-Conditioned sprinter van with extra water, some snacks, and umbrellas to block out the sun. It was comfy and nice to cool off in between stops. GUIDE: Gilberto was a highlight of our trip. Honestly could not imagine getting this tour from anyone else. He has personal and familial connections to Mayan history that made seeing the ruins through his eyes much more special. Smart, charming, fun, informative, everything you'd want in a guide. Cannot recommend him enough! RUN OF THE DAY: The tour starts early, but dang it is WORTH IT. We were one of the first groups at Chichen Itza (arrived around 8am) and to be able to feel like we had the ruins to ourselves was surreal. I saw some threads saying Chichen is overrated or not worth the effort. Those people are WRONG. Get yourself a great MexiGo guide and you will love it. Gilberto even gave us a class on Mayan Math when we were visiting the ruins of the observatory. I'm a nerd and it was awesome. You will see and learn about all the most significant buildings on the complex, not just the big one. Gilberto also provided some time to explore on our own, buy souvenirs, and take photos. We were at Chichen for ~3.5ish hours total. Bring water. After Chichen Itza, we got back in the van and drove to the Oxman cenote to go swimming. It was stunning (pics below) and a great way to cool off after being in the sun. If you do the GoChichen tour, this is where Gilberto takes you back to your hotel. We did GoArchaelogy which includes a lunch buffet by the cenote as well. Post-lunch, we got back in the van and headed to Ek Balam, just north of Valladolid. By this point, we were quite tired and had been walking a TON, but Ek Balam was definitely a unique experience. You can climb up the ruins and see things much closer up than you can at Chichen Itza. I'm definitely glad we went but it was tiring at the end of a long day. If you're not used to hiking a lot or are traveling with kids, I might opt for the shorter tour and book Ek Balam on a separate day. Gilberto dropped us back at our hotel around 5pm. All in all, it was a very full day, but worth every minute and every penny! COST: The price of the tours are 100% worth it. Gilberto alone was a fantastic guide but that the price covers lunch and the cenote as well makes it a no brainer. You will have to pay separate admission to the historical sites, so factor that into your decision making if you're on a tight budget - each site is ~700MXN (~40 USD) per person, so another $80ish to see both. The sites are visibly focused on conservation and reinvesting the money to make visiting the Yucatan a better experience, so I feel they're both worth the price. ALL IN ALL: Incredible way to see a world wonder and experience some of the Yucatan's majesty. A true 5 star tour, we loved it, just make sure you've got comfy shoes!

10/10 would recommend this tour. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and spoke basically fluent English. Getting to Chichen Itza early was great, lunch was surprisingly really good, the Cenote was one of the nicer ones, and ending the day at Ek’Balam was a great way to end a very long day. You will learn so much about Mayan culture, swim in a beautiful Cenote, and if you’re lucky, Jose will be your guide and answer any and all questions you might have!

Had an amazing experience on this tour. Gilberto was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about the culture and architecture. The balance and pacing of the tour was excellent too -- we did a lot, but nothing felt rushed and the rest/relaxation time was appreciated (didn't feel like it was taking away anything).

My husband and I did the Go Monkey and Go Archaeology tours with Gilberto, it was an incredible experience! He was very knowledgeable and really made our trip special. We cant say enough positive things about him & the tours, would recommend to anyone considering. This is definitely worth it!!!

It is an amazing experience. Jose is very knowledgeable and authentic. The tour takes you to the most important sightseeings near Valladolid. It was a small group of five. We strongly recommend.

We had the most amazing time on our tour to Chichen Itza, Cénote Oxman, and Ek Balam! Jose was the best tour guide. He was so engaging, knowledgeable, friendly, and organized. My husband and I ended up having a private tour with him and the whole experience was perfect. We met Jose at their location (short walk from Valladolid ADO bus station in town). We took a comfortable, air conditioned van. Jose brought cold, filtered water and snacks for the trip. Our first stop was Chichen Itza and we arrived early morning and beat all the big crowds. Jose provided incredible insight and history of the Mayan culture. We knew the best places to take pictures and was our personal guide through the immense and impressive area. Next, we went to Cenote Oxman and it was the highlight of the trip. The cenote was absolutely beautiful and felt like you were stepping into a different world. We swam, used the rope swing, while Jose kept watch over our belongings. We enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch at the cenote after our swim. Finally, we drove to Ek Balam and we loved being able to climb and walk amongst the ruins. Jose provided a wonderful tour with in-depth details of the history and culture. We highly recommend this tour and Jose was the perfect guide! Thank you so much for providing the best part of our trip!!

Our trip with Jose was absolutely amazing. He’s very knowledgeable and had additional materials to show us about the ruins. We thought it would be much to see both Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, but it was absolutely worth it - Ek Balam is less crowded, some pyramids are climbable and the view from the top is amazing. We also loved the fact that Jose is and speaks Maya - it was a nice experience hearing him speak it with people at the sightseeing locations!

Excellent tour, well worth the time and cost. Our guide picked us up right on time from our hotel and we spent the morning at Chichen Itza before it got sooo busy. He was so knowledgeable and friendly - wonderful experience with him! I will say that if you have sensory challenges - bring earplugs! Chichen Itza is basically a flea market for local vendors and many of them sell and demo jaguar call toys, this was unexpected and somewhat of -_- for us! Chichen Itza was very interesting though and our guide's explanations really contributed to my experience! The cenote was DEFINITELY the high point though (we got rained out of Ek Balam!), beautiful blue water - adorable friendly catfish and emerald and sapphire motmots flying overhead - it was like taking a swim in a studio ghibli movie scene! The lunch was good too and very welcome! As noted above, we unfortunately got rather rained out of Ek Balam, but I would 100% go back to explore and learn more. Our guide really helped us stay dry AND SAFE! and was an absolute champ on the drive home that was a bit white knuckled!

It was extraordinary. Our guide was amazing, friendly, and knew a lot about the culture and history of the sites. He was really professional. We really enjoyed it.

We used Mexigo for four different trips on a recent Roadtrip around the Yucatan. They collected us at Cancun airport to transfer to Valladolid. They transferred us from Valladolid to Merida, stopping on the way at a Cenote and swinging by Izamal on the way. They took us to Chichen Itza followed by an amazing Cenote with a rope swing. And they took us on an evening adventure to a candle lit cenote. Their service was exemplary in every way in all of these trips. Thank you Toon & Gilberto! We were slightly apprehensive when arriving at Cancun airport at night for our first visit to Mexico. Gilberto was waiting for us immediately outside the door and immediately eased our anxiety. All of the trips were very well organised, and 100% punctual. They flagged us interesting and appropriate things to do, and kept us away from the opposite. All three of the cenotes we visited were outstanding: clean, beautiful and fun to explore. Chichen Itza and all of its myths were spectacular to experience. I would thoroughly recommend Mexigo without hesitation for any sort of logistics planning into, out of and around Valladolid.

We did 2 tours with MexiGo and they were the best tours we have ever done! We got to see the famous sites but the great thing about these guys is that the know the area so well and will also take you off the beaten path to some local gems! GoArchelogy was a fantastic tour and we managed to fit both Chichen Itza and Ek-Balam into a single day. The food at lunchtime which was included with the tour was also delicious. The GoSnakes tour was honestly and adventure of a lifetime - like being in a nature documentary. On both tours we also got to go for a swim in a Cenote - both locations were absolutely beautiful! I honestly cannot recommend MexiGo enough! Shout out to Jose, Toon and Gilberto!

Guide Jose was excellent informing us of the difference between the peoples who build and lived in the Yucatán. He was detailed in describing the images on the walls and buildings of El Balam and Chichen Itza. Because we came from Valladolid we beat the crowds and could visit the sites comfortably.

A perfect day tour with an excellent guide. A big advantage is that one arrives early at Chitzen Itza so there is no huge crowds yet. Also the local vendors are still setting up. The lunch stop was at a very nice and calm cenote; food was very good and served from the local community. Last stop was the Yellow City. I can only recommend, it's 3 completely different experiences in one day tour!

Gilberto was an outstanding tour guide. And the tour, Chicha Itza, Cenote, and El Balam, was a perfect selection. Between the helpful service and informative nature of our tour guide and the significance of the sites, we highly recommend this Valladolid based tour. And lunch was very informal but delicious.

Wonderful tour of incredible Mayan ruins and a beautiful cenote. Tour guides were well informed and helped to understand the ruins and history of the area. Ek Balam is not as busy with tourists and was a great way to end the day - and I recommend trying to climb the temples if you are able - beautiful views and gives you a chance to see the carvings more closely. Pick up and drop off at our hotel worked easily and the van was comfortable and air conditioned which helped on such a hot day. Highly recommend!

We had one day to see the two attractions Chitzen Itza and Ek Balam. That's why we booked the tour. Even though it wasn't cheap, the day was totally worth it. Jose, our guide, knew a lot about the Mayan culture and their religious customs and brought them to life for us. He answered questions competently. Chitzen Itza impresses with its uniqueness, Ek Balam with its location in the jungle. The fact that we were able to refresh ourselves in a beautiful cenote at lunchtime was a very good break between the two cultural sites. We can fully recommend this tour to anyone who is really interested in the Mayans and is willing to appreciate their cultural heritage even today. Thanks to Jose this day will remain unforgettable for us.

We had a great day exploring Chichen Itza, Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman, and Ek Balam with our guide Gilberto, who was very knowledgable and friendly. The early entrance into Chichen Itza at the start of the day before all the big tour buses arrived, and before the heat became too much, was ideal. Gilberto took us round the site and shared lots of interesting information and was great at finding us shady spots to stand in. It was incredible to be walking around Chichen Itza and the ball court was particularly amazing. The cenote was an interesting experience and it was lovely to have a refreshing dip in the middle of the day. Compared to other cenotes, this one was busier and it didn’t feel as relaxing or to be honest as safe (people were left to choose their own life jackets which meant many opted for sizes that were too big, and there was one entry point into the cenote which was rather rickety and very slippery - people were falling over - and it also happened to be the same part as the rope swing which dominated the main part of the cenote). As we were leaving there was big tour group arriving, and we’re so glad to have just missed them. By contrast Cenote Samaal that we had gone to the day before ourselves just outside Valladolid was amazing - very clean, professionally run, felt safe, lots of space to really enjoy the cenote. These comments are not a reflection of the tour, just observations about the cenote. We had a nice buffet lunch after the swim, which was tasty and had lots of variety. After lunch we went to Ek Balam, which was incredible and amazing to see a site which is mid way through being excavated. There was hardly anyone there, which was great for us as it felt like we had it to ourselves. Gilberto took us round and shared so much interesting information. We had a great day and would highly recommend Gilberto for a very interesting and enjoyable day; he is a fountain of knowledge for Mayan culture, very professional, and had a great sense of humour.

We had a great day exploring Chichen Itza, Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman, and Ek Balam with our guide Gilberto, who was very knowledgable and friendly. The early entrance into Chichen Itza at the start of the day before all the big tour buses arrived, and before the heat became too much, was ideal. Gilberto took us round the site and shared lots of interesting information and was great at finding us shady spots to stand in. It was incredible to be walking around Chichen Itza and the ball court was particularly amazing. The Cenote was an interesting experience and it was lovely to have a refreshing dip in the middle of the day. Compared to other cenotes, this one was busier and it didn’t feel as relaxing or to be honest as safe (people were left to choose their own life jackets which meant many opted for sizes that were too big, and there was one entry point into the cenote which was rather rickety and very slippery - people were falling over - and it also happened to be the same part as the rope swing which dominated the main part of the cenote). As we were leaving there was big tour group arriving, and we’re so glad to have just missed them. By contrast Cenote Samaal that we had gone to the day before ourselves just outside Valladolid was amazing - very clean, professionally run, felt safe, lots of space to really enjoy the cenote. These comments are not a reflection of the tour, just observations about the cenote. We had a nice buffet lunch after the swim, which was tasty and had lots of variety. After lunch we went to Ek Balam, which was incredible and amazing to see a site which is mid way through being excavated. There was hardly anyone there, which was great for us as it felt like we had it to ourselves. Gilberto took us round and shared so much interesting information. We had a great day and would highly recommend Gilberto for a very interesting and enjoyable day, he is a fountain of knowledge about Mayan culture and has a great sense of humour too.

We had wonderful tour guide that made all the difference! Jose was kind, super informative knowledgeable, and very attentive to our tour group. Jose really knew his history. The tour was on time picking us up returning us, and he took care of every detail, including cold water and cookies before we got to lunch! Totally would book this again!

Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and visiting any cenote is a must, While there's a lot of information and history that you could easily immerse yourself in. The experience was interesting not only from a historical perspective, but to see the flagrant overwhelming number of vendors selling tourist trinkets and souvenirs was disappointing.

I was collected at my hotel early morning and dropped off at day's end. Our guide Gilberto was prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable. The day was thoroughly enjoyable: I especially enjoyed the visit to the ruins of Ek Balam, so lovely and green, so quiet and peaceful.

The Go Archaeology tour by MexiGo Tours was fantastic and exceeded our expectations! We got an early start for Chichen Itza, cooled off in a cenote, had a delicious lunch, and ended the day with a tour of Ek Balam. The highlight for me was Ek Balam, which has stunning and well preserved facade art, impressive structures and no crowds. Gilberto, our guide, was fun and knowledgeable, and he shared stories of Mayan history and culture he learned from his parents and grandparents.

We booked 2 tours with Mexigo and both were amazing! The tour guides were very knowledgeable, kind and funny. The lunch was delicious and they were able to cater for gluten free. The company was great and the tours themselves were incredible. All very comfortable, easy (picked us up from the hotel) and overall very very well organised. They were extremely flexible as we had to cancel our tour the morning we were meant to go as my partner was unwell and they kindly booked us on a tour the following day which they arranged especially for us. Thank you to you all- such an amazing experience and would recommend anyone to book on!

We had such a great tour with Gumberto. Really fun tour and the guide was excellent - fun and informative. Would book another tour for sure.

A superb experience that I recommend 100%! 🇲🇽 An incredible day discovering Chichén Itzá, and a magnificent cenote. The landscapes are magnificent, the Mayan sites impressive, and swimming in the cenote is a real plus! A very complete excursion that allows you to discover several wonders of the Yucatán in a single day. An excellent memory of my trip to Mexico! 🌴☀️

I found the MexiGo Tours page on Google while looking for options to take tours in Valladolid. The Go Archaeology is perfect for what I was looking for and it was the best decision. From the moment of requesting a reservation, there was constant communication with them. On the day of the tour, our guide Jose Reynaldo arrived on time to pick us up at the hotel. He is the best guide: attentive, kind, charismatic, it is clear that he is very prepared with books and stories. He knows the history of the places he takes you to very well and is an excellent photographer. We really spent a spectacular day with him. Definitely when I return, I will hire MexiGo again for other experiences. Highly recommended!

Our day trip to Chichén Itzá, Cenote Oxman and Ek Balam was great. José was an excellent guide: friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and super organized. He also had enough water and even apples. We were picked up at 7.15am from our hotel and arrived at Chichén Itzá around 8am. This made us for the big crowds, which made it very pleasant. José told in a fascinating way about the history and culture of the Maya. He also had a lot of material to explain everything even more. Then we visited Cenote Oxman, again perfect. Blissful refreshing lunch break. The cenote is truly breathtaking and feels like a hidden paradise. José had also chosen a good time for the visit because we were already busy for this. We swam there and tried the rope sling, while José looked after our stuff. The lunch buffet at the cenote was super very tasty. Finally we went to Ek Balam. It was great to walk among the ruins and even be able to climb them. Here too, José brought history to life with interesting stories and background information. We can highly recommend this tour and especially José as a guide. Thanks to him, this became not only a wonderful excursion, but one of the most beautiful experiences of our trip to Yucatán. Thank you so much again! Liesbeth, Emma, Robbe, Jef

We did this tour with my mom, and it was truly worth it. From the very first moment, Javier was very kind and attentive, helping us with the reservation and waiting for us to make the payment before starting the tour. Our guide was José, whom we especially recommend. Throughout the tour, he explained the history and culture of the Maya in a very interesting way, accompanying his stories with images that helped to better understand each site we visited. We visited Chichén Itzá, the Oxmán cenote, and Ek Balam, and at each place, we received detailed information and enough time to explore and enjoy. A great advantage is departing from Valladolid, as it allows for an early arrival at Chichén Itzá and exploring the archaeological site with much fewer people and less heat, making the experience much more pleasant. Ek Balam was one of the great surprises of the day: an impressive site, less crowded, and with incredible views. The Oxmán cenote was also spectacular, ideal for refreshing after the visit to the ruins. Without a doubt, we recommend this tour to those who want to learn about Maya history, enjoy incredible landscapes, and have a more tranquil and authentic experience than mass excursions.

If you are going to the south of Mexico, then this is a must here ! very good organization (the organizer speaks 6 languages fluently) . our guide Gilberto was a perfect host of our trip with lots of explanation and good humor.... Mighty tour.... don't doubt......do.......