Chichen Itza Tour: Guided Trip, Mexican Buffet and Saamal Cenote

1. Tulum
   3h
   The day starts inTulum or Riviera Maya, where travelers are picked up from their hotel or previously confirmed meeting location. After boarding the transportation and completing the initial organization, the route leaves the Caribbean side of Quintana Roo behind and continues toward the inland landscapes of Yucatan.
   
   This first stretch is the transition into a different side of the peninsula: ancient Maya heritage, traditional flavors, freshwater cenotes, and the colonial atmosphere that surrounds the Chichen Itza region.
2. Chichen Itza
   3h
   Before the main archaeological visit, the route includes a brief stop near areas of interest located close to Chichen Itza. Around this part of the day, travelers will also enjoy a buffet lunch at a nearby restaurant, with regional dishes and traditional Mexican flavors available.
   
   After the meal, the group will continue toward the entrance area of Chichen Itza with the guides. Once inside the archaeological site, travelers will take part in a guided visit of approximately 1 hour through one of the most important ancient Maya cities in Mexico.
   
   During this guided portion, the guide will share context about the site’s history, architecture, cultural value, and the role this city played in the Maya world. Afterward, travelers will have around 1 hour of free time to explore the area independently, take photos, walk through the site, and enjoy the atmosphere of this world-famous landmark at their own pace.
3. 3h
   The experience then shifts from archaeology to nature as the group continues toward Cenote Saamal. The drive to the cenote takes approximately 1 hour.
   
   Surrounded by the natural scenery of Yucatan, Cenote Saamal offers travelers a refreshing pause after the visit to Chichen Itza. Cenotes were deeply meaningful to the ancient Maya and were often associated with sacred beliefs, water, and the hidden world beneath the surface.
   
   During this stop, guests will have time to swim, cool off in the clear freshwater, and enjoy one of the peninsula’s most representative natural landscapes.
   
   After the cenote visit, transportation will continue toward Valladolid. The drive to the city takes approximately 1 hour.
4. Valladolid
   1h
   The final visit of the day takes place in Valladolid, a historic colonial city with colorful streets, traditional architecture, calm plazas, and a strong Yucatecan identity.
   
   Travelers will have approximately 30 to 45 minutes of free time to experience the area at their own rhythm. This time can be used to walk around, take photos, admire the surroundings, and enjoy the local character of one of Yucatan’s most charming towns.
   
   This stop adds a cultural closing moment before the return journey begins.
5. Riviera Maya
   3h
   After the time in Valladolid, travelers will board the transportation again and begin the return route toward Tulum and the Riviera Maya.
   
   The return drive takes approximately 2 hours. This final part of the tour gives guests time to rest after a full day that brought together Chichen Itza, regional food, Cenote Saamal, and the colonial charm of Valladolid.

Pickup details

We offer roundtrip transportation (from hotel or meeting point, as applicable) for all travelers who book this tour.

Areas to which the transportation service applies:

TULUM:
• Downtown Tulum, hotel zone and metropolitan area: Only one meeting point applies within the city, Super Akí Tulum supermarket.

The time that appears on your ticket (9:30 AM) is the general pick-up time in Tulum, where our buses depart and pick up.

*** If your hotel is not listed, please ask us if we can pick you up there, or what would be the closest possible meeting point. ***

*** You will receive a final confirmation message (one day before the scheduled date of your excursion) with the exact pick-up time and point, to your contact information. ***

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Suitcases, large bags, or extra luggage are not automatically accepted on this experience. They may only be brought when our team has reviewed the request before the tour date and confirmed that the assigned vehicle has enough available space. If you need to travel with luggage, please contact us in advance. Our team will check the transportation assigned to your reservation and let you know whether it can be accommodated. Space is limited, and authorization is never guaranteed.
• Archaeological sites in Mexico have applied stricter entry controls since April 21, 2026. Under these measures, visitors are not allowed to enter with luggage, backpacks, or similar items. We recommend carrying only what you truly need for the visit, such as small personal belongings that fit in your pockets or in a compact personal bag. Some items, such as diaper bags, may be considered exceptions, but the decision is made only by the security team at the entrance of the site. We cannot be held responsible for belongings that site personnel refuse to allow inside. During this tour, guests may leave personal items inside the transportation vehicle while completing the scheduled visits.
• Once the group arrives at a stop, guests may not return to the transportation vehicle until the guide or staff announces the official boarding time. Entering the bus or minibus before the scheduled return time, or staying inside the vehicle while the rest of the group is away, is not permitted. Other travelers may have belongings stored inside, so vehicle access must remain controlled for security reasons.
• Vehicles and seats are organized by the operations team according to the day’s logistics, route, group size, and availability. Guests are not able to select, reserve, or request a specific bus, minibus, vehicle, row, or seat through the booking platform, during pickup, or directly with our staff. Our team will always try to make the ride comfortable, but specific seats or vehicle spaces cannot be guaranteed.
• If your friends, relatives, or travel companions booked separately and you would like to ride in the same vehicle, please notify our team before the tour date. We may try to coordinate this when all travelers are departing from the same accommodation, but it is not guaranteed. If the pickups are located in the same city but at different hotels, we can review the possibility, although traveling together still cannot be assured. When reservations depart from different cities, this type of coordination cannot be arranged.
• This experience only includes pickup from the cities and areas listed in the Transportation section of the product. Travelers may not join the tour directly at Chichen Itza, at any attraction included in the route, or at any place outside the authorized pickup zones. For example, arriving at Chichen Itza in your own car and joining the group there is not allowed. Pickup from a hotel located within the listed service area, such as Moon Palace Resort, may be possible depending on the coverage shown for the product. For safety, communication, and proper organization, every traveler must meet the team in the morning at the assigned pickup location, board the official tour transportation, and complete the required check-in process before the experience begins.
• If your reservation still does not include a confirmed hotel or meeting point, you must send this information to our team no later than the day before the tour. From Monday to Saturday, the cutoff time is 21:50 hrs, GMT-5. On Sundays, the cutoff time is 8:00 PM, GMT-5. You may provide the information through any available contact channel. After the cutoff time, last-minute pickup arrangements can no longer be processed. If the hotel or meeting point is not received before the deadline, the booking will be automatically rescheduled to the next available date. This change does not generate an extra fee, penalty, or additional charge. However, once the reservation has been rescheduled for this reason, it will no longer be refundable.
• The durations listed in the itinerary represent the complete time assigned to each part of the route. These times may include transfers between locations, time at the stop, activity time, boarding, group organization, and the time required to continue or return along the route. They should not be interpreted as the exact amount of time spent only inside each attraction. Please review the itinerary as an approximate guide to the flow of the day.
• Our team works to keep the tour as close as possible to the scheduled plan. However, the timing of the experience also depends on travelers being ready at the assigned pickup time and returning promptly at every stop. Traffic, road conditions, and route-related delays may also affect the schedule and are outside our control. Please respect the meeting times indicated by the guide and the time allowed at each location. Even a very short delay can accumulate during the day and affect a large part of the overall itinerary.
• The box lunch included with this tour is a fixed standard option. It cannot be changed, replaced, or adapted for special diets, allergies, food restrictions, or personal meal preferences.
• This experience includes extended walking during the day, especially during the visits and sightseeing portions of the itinerary. Comfortable footwear and light, practical clothing are recommended so travelers can move around more easily.
• Lunch is served buffet-style with regional Mexican dishes. Guests may choose from the food available at the restaurant, including vegetarian options. At this time, the buffet service cannot be customized for other specific diets, food restrictions, allergies, or personal meal preferences.