Chichen Itza Early Access, Buffet Lunch & Cenote English Tour
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From $46.00
2,638 reviews (4.52)
Price varies by group size
Lowest Price GuaranteePricing Info: Per Person
Duration: 12 hours
Departs: Cancun, Cancun
Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Free cancellation
Overview
Connect with nature as you explore the ancient ruins of the Mayan tribe. Stroll through the pre-Columbian city of Chichén Itza, listening to captivating stories about the timeless architectural ingenuity of the Mayans and the ancient military prowess of the Toltecs in battle.
Be transported back to centuries before as we lead you through the famous Temple of Warriors (El Castillo), the Temple of the Jaguars, and the Temple of Kukulkan.
Some of our previous visitors have praised the friendliness and animated storytelling of our tour guides as they were led through Chichén Itza. Listen to them as they take you back to the Mayan era with colorful explanations that will induce vivid images of the ancient city that will forever remain in your mind.
After spending some quiet time exploring the ruined city, you will be treated to a Mexican buffet. Enjoy the experience of swimming in the closed-off area of the Saamal Cenote.
What's Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Buffet Lunch
Direct Entrance Ticket to Chichen Itza
Entrance to Cenote
Hotel pick up
Professional Guide (English only)
Toll Road
What's Not Included
Chichen Itza tax ($31) per person
Drinks
Life Vest at Cenote
Traveler Information
- INFANT: Age: 0 - 2
- CHILD: Age: 3 - 11
- ADULT: Age: 12 - 99
Additional Info
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- Face masks required for travellers in public areas
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- It is recommended that you bring comfortable walking shoes and camera
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- The visit be only in English
- We care about your safety and we guarantee a safe route by toll road to Chichen Itza.
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Gear/equipment sanitised between use
- Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Note: An additional fee is required for the use of video camera at the site. The fee depending on the device and must be paid directly on site on the day of the tour
- Please note that all visitors to Chichen Itza will need to pay a local tax fee.
- Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
What To Expect
Cancun
Ride from Cancún or Riviera Maya to Chichén Itzá
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Chichen Itza
Your tour begins with an early morning departure. Arriving at Chichen Itza, join your specialized guide for an in-depth tour of the site, and enjoy the tranquility of your early-morning visit before the crowds arrive.
Throughout the trip, your archaeological guide’s commentary provides essential background to the well-preserved site of Chichen Itza. Learn how this large pre-Colombian city played an important role in Mayan civilization from around A.D. 600 to 1200, and remained a center of worship and pilgrimage until the arrival of the Spanish. Even today, it is still considered a sacred site by the Yucatán peninsula’s Maya population.
Like many of ancient Mexico’s cities, the site was abandoned, and its ruins were hidden by jungle. Hear how the site was discovered and unearthed by archaeologists, gaining UNESCO protection and considered today one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Your guide will explain the philosophy, cosmology and mythology behind this ancient site, such as the meaning of the stone carvings, pyramids, platforms, ball courts and staircases.
Visit the Observatory, Temple of the Jaguars, Temple of the Warriors and of course the famous El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan.
Return around 3:00 p.m. With this Viator Exclusive, your early morning trip to Chichen Itza helps you to beat the crowds so you can enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your own leisure!
Throughout the trip, your archaeological guide’s commentary provides essential background to the well-preserved site of Chichen Itza. Learn how this large pre-Colombian city played an important role in Mayan civilization from around A.D. 600 to 1200, and remained a center of worship and pilgrimage until the arrival of the Spanish. Even today, it is still considered a sacred site by the Yucatán peninsula’s Maya population.
Like many of ancient Mexico’s cities, the site was abandoned, and its ruins were hidden by jungle. Hear how the site was discovered and unearthed by archaeologists, gaining UNESCO protection and considered today one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Your guide will explain the philosophy, cosmology and mythology behind this ancient site, such as the meaning of the stone carvings, pyramids, platforms, ball courts and staircases.
Visit the Observatory, Temple of the Jaguars, Temple of the Warriors and of course the famous El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan.
Return around 3:00 p.m. With this Viator Exclusive, your early morning trip to Chichen Itza helps you to beat the crowds so you can enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your own leisure!
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Hotel Zone
One of the meeting point options
• Admission Ticket Free
Enjoy a delicious Mexican Buffet at a local restaurant
60 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Playa Mujeres
One of the meeting point options
• Admission Ticket Free
Puerto Morelos
One of the meeting point options
• Admission Ticket Free
Playa del Carmen
One of the meeting point options
• Admission Ticket Free
Riviera Maya
One of the meeting point options
• Admission Ticket Free
Puerto Aventuras
One of the meeting point options
• Admission Ticket Free
Reviews
Great Experience Chichén Itzá
Erica_G, 18-09-2022
Great experience our family will book again. Rodrigo and Frank are very knowledgeable and grew up in the area they know the history, we learned a lot. Javier was our driver and got us to and from our destination safely.
The best tour! Marco and Rodrigo are awesome!
Carlos_C, 15-09-2022
If you want to beat the heat and large crowds this is it!!!! I am a morning person so getting up at 4-5am was a breeze. Yes, pick up is extremely early but so worth it! Please know what you’re getting yourself into with the early booking if you’re a night owl or just came back from the club that morning. We were first to every site and it was phenomenal! I got so many photos without random people in the background and the Centoe was empty when we arrived!!!! I had 30 minutes of solid swimming time before the rush came. The large amount of people we saw after wrapping each site was crazy. They definitely looked irritated and the heat only made it worse lol. I’m so glad this tour offers an early option. It was a breeze getting through and WE DIDNT WAIT AT ALL!!!! Our guides Rodrigo and Marco are the best! They are fun, charismatic people who’ve known each other for a very long time! They made sure we were well taken care of and gave us the best insight of the temple grounds as they are locals of the area. Also, Lil John the bus driver was solid! He got us there quick and the ride was smooth. 10/10 would recommend!!!
Best Tour ever! ...
Samlaree_B, 14-09-2022
Best Tour ever!
Punctual with their timing and an amazing tour guide
I learned so much, the food was delicious, and the cenote swim was breath taking
10/10
Punctual with their timing and an amazing tour guide
I learned so much, the food was delicious, and the cenote swim was breath taking
10/10
Great Chichen Itza photos!
Claire J, 08-09-2022
Really well organised tour. Went as family with 8 and 6 yr old boys. We looked for the earliest start time to beat the heat and the crowds and this was perfect. Marco was an excellent tour guide and provided just the right balance of fun information and opportunities to nap on the coach! Comfy coach for a long journey with toilet (important with small kiddos). Only issue was from playa del carmen we had to meet with the coach from Cancun which made the journey slightly longer than we hoped.
Rodrigo was an excellent guide around Chichen Itza - kept it interesting, very good spoken English. Our 8 year old was very engaged, 6 year old less so but it was still interesting and not too long. The tour guides also helped the group get some amazing photos.
Lunch was basic but tasty with soft drinks included and no overt pressure to buy souvenirs.
After lunch went to cenote to cool off - although didn’t need to as it was raining (!) but was still a great experience if you’d not done this before. Both boys loved jumping into the water. Need to pay on site for locker and life jackets.
Make sure you get an email with the pick up time (as mentioned in other reviews), it might be helpful if this was followed up with a text.
Thanks to Marco and Rodrigo for an enjoyable trip!
Rodrigo was an excellent guide around Chichen Itza - kept it interesting, very good spoken English. Our 8 year old was very engaged, 6 year old less so but it was still interesting and not too long. The tour guides also helped the group get some amazing photos.
Lunch was basic but tasty with soft drinks included and no overt pressure to buy souvenirs.
After lunch went to cenote to cool off - although didn’t need to as it was raining (!) but was still a great experience if you’d not done this before. Both boys loved jumping into the water. Need to pay on site for locker and life jackets.
Make sure you get an email with the pick up time (as mentioned in other reviews), it might be helpful if this was followed up with a text.
Thanks to Marco and Rodrigo for an enjoyable trip!
Couple of Mayans guiding us through Chichen Itza, doesn't get better than this
Argha_D, 07-09-2022
Chichen itza is a Mayan Ruin and who better to guide us through this than couple of passionate Mayan's themselves.
Frank our tour guide who was Mayan himself was extremely hardworking and passionate (we could see that by the way he explained things), he gave us ton of information and fun facts about the Mayan civilization which helped us understand and appreciate the place we were going to visit much more.
Rodrigo another passionate Mayan was our guide at Chichen Itza, he just blew our minds with all amazing fun facts and practical examples which we were all backed up by photographic evidence and proof.
This tour is a super early access tour to the Chichen Itza (5 am pick up) seems crazy at first but it all makes sense when we see all the benefits. We literally beat all the traffic, all the long lines and the crazy heat. It was as smooth as it can get. I wouldn't do it any other way.
All in all this was one of the best guided tour experience which we had, this tour is definitely recommend and a must do
Frank our tour guide who was Mayan himself was extremely hardworking and passionate (we could see that by the way he explained things), he gave us ton of information and fun facts about the Mayan civilization which helped us understand and appreciate the place we were going to visit much more.
Rodrigo another passionate Mayan was our guide at Chichen Itza, he just blew our minds with all amazing fun facts and practical examples which we were all backed up by photographic evidence and proof.
This tour is a super early access tour to the Chichen Itza (5 am pick up) seems crazy at first but it all makes sense when we see all the benefits. We literally beat all the traffic, all the long lines and the crazy heat. It was as smooth as it can get. I wouldn't do it any other way.
All in all this was one of the best guided tour experience which we had, this tour is definitely recommend and a must do
This is a really good...
Haiqing_M, 12-12-2022
This is a really good tour. We did google search and this is a low price tour so our expection for this tour is just not high. But right from the beginning of the tour, the bus and tour guider already waited at our hotel even we arrived 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.
The tour guider organized every event very strictly follow the schedule and in very friendly way to notify all members of the tour.
The tour guider is very knowledgeable and funny, he explained the history backgroup and the ruins in a understanding way for everyone. His unique way for th Chichen Itza description is fantisic. The conclusion of the ruin construction is very nature whe he explained why it is designed this way by Maya. He is really a good tour guider, Amigo tour needs more tour guiers like him.
It is really worth for this tour with this price and excellent quality of the tour. Good job for Amigo tour organizer.
The tour guider organized every event very strictly follow the schedule and in very friendly way to notify all members of the tour.
The tour guider is very knowledgeable and funny, he explained the history backgroup and the ruins in a understanding way for everyone. His unique way for th Chichen Itza description is fantisic. The conclusion of the ruin construction is very nature whe he explained why it is designed this way by Maya. He is really a good tour guider, Amigo tour needs more tour guiers like him.
It is really worth for this tour with this price and excellent quality of the tour. Good job for Amigo tour organizer.
Awesome weekend
J4154RKjuanl, 12-12-2022
Rodrigo Cat very great tour guide super knowledgeable and patient. The Driver Ivan best one so far responsible with his job and friendly.
Great Company
Yagiz_O, 10-12-2022
Marco is a great guide. He explained everything very well. The tour leaves early so we didn't see any of the crowds. The bus was also very comfortable.
Worthwhile Experience
Crystal_L, 09-12-2022
Tour guide was Super Frank and the tour was super indeed. Frank was very informative and shed a lot of interesting facts about Mayan culture and facts about Chicken Itza. Definitely worth it to take the early tour and arrive before the flood of tourists come in. We were able to take photos without issues of people crossing in front of our shots. The cenote we visited was also beautiful and I would recommend this experience.
Marco was amazing- thank you!
Jenna_H, 09-12-2022
Marco gave us the best day possible! From start to finish he created a wonderful journey and we really had the best day! He was very knowledgeable and helped us get the perfect photo as my phone couldn’t accommodate them, he took some and sent to us! The tequila tasting was amazing and as was the swimming! All in all a brilliant day!
Best Way To See Chichen Itza!
Explore15444250780, 15-12-2022
Amigo Tours is lucky to have a wonderful your guide in Marco. I had my own personal reservations about doing a tour from 5am to 5pm in another country but Marco put my wife and the entire at ease. The tour was information packed and very informative by providing details about the life of locals, as well as the legends and lore of Chichen Itza. Unlike many tours I have experienced in my life, none match the expertise Marco has, through his schooling and passion for such remarkable features of our world. There is no better way to experience Chichen Itza than with this tour company. We were the first tour bus to arrive at Chichen Itza, and among the first few at the buffet and cenote. Everyone was accommodated and cared for regardless of what country they came from. I highly recommend this tour, and I never write reviews!
Must do!
Krista_L, 14-12-2022
Rodrigo was our tour guide and Ivan was our driver. Rodrigo is half-Mayan so he has a personal perspective that he shared so beautifully. Going early in the morning is a must-do! Fewer people, beautiful light for pictures, and cooler temps. We stopped at Kaua for a yummy buffet and some shopping, then off to the cenote. My dad and his fiancée were blessed by a Mayan shaman (the $10 per person charge was unexpected for something religious) and enjoyed it. If you are American and don’t look like you speak Spanish, the people who work in the store at Kaua will make fun of you in Spanish. I lived in southern Spain for 3 years but I’m white as a snowflake so they just assumed. The called me little piggy like I couldn’t understand them. We didn’t swim in the cenote but it was beautiful. We bought 4 bottles of tequila after the tasting and were sadly the only ones who bought anything.
We felt very safe with Ivan at the wheel and Rodrigo is a top-shelf tour guide!
We felt very safe with Ivan at the wheel and Rodrigo is a top-shelf tour guide!
Viator and The Great Marco
james_s, 14-12-2022
The transportation was on time and the tour guide Marco was the Star of the Show so rarely do you ever get to meet a person so genuine and nice and kept things fun and lively. We had a blast 5 Stars I would've liked to give them 6 stars. Oh the food was delicious
Worth the extra coffee!
Ankita_T, 13-12-2022
Thank you to Luna and Frank for making this a smooth, eventful day for our family. The early access is worth it! You beat the crowd and heat! Frank was full of information and Luna made the drive a breeze so that we could nap the whole way there and back!
Marco is the best
Trevor_G, 15-12-2022
Amazing amazing! Marco was a great guide and his experience made our tour even better. Group size was ok, very organized tour. Marco had a wealth of knowledge of Chichenitza. Highly recommend!
Fun and informative. Beautiful memories.
Susie_Q, 05-01-2023
Our tour master, Marco, is a good historian. We enjoyed listening to him.
Another good thing was that the pick up came on time and Marco walked to the hotel to meet us.
The early access/early morning tour were good. No traffic and we can sleep in the bus. He turned off the light. Thumbs up.
The only thing that I can suggest is for Marco to give the people or group the chance to take picture of each area after his presentation to give us a good time to have memories of each area especially in Chichen Itza. We want to listen to the history but we also want to bring the memories back home. Few times we missed the history to steal moment to take picture. Sorry.
Otherwise, overall satisfied.
Another good thing was that the pick up came on time and Marco walked to the hotel to meet us.
The early access/early morning tour were good. No traffic and we can sleep in the bus. He turned off the light. Thumbs up.
The only thing that I can suggest is for Marco to give the people or group the chance to take picture of each area after his presentation to give us a good time to have memories of each area especially in Chichen Itza. We want to listen to the history but we also want to bring the memories back home. Few times we missed the history to steal moment to take picture. Sorry.
Otherwise, overall satisfied.
Wonderful tour
Wafa_travels, 04-01-2023
We really enjoyed the tour it was really worth the early wakeup and reasonnably priced. Rodrigo our guide was so passionate and experienced, he even showed us how to take take good pictures. We loved learning about Chichen Itza and the mayan culture/traditions.
Saamal cenote was very beautiful and we had enough time to enjoy it.
Our driver Israel was also very good.
This excursion was the highlight of our week.
Saamal cenote was very beautiful and we had enough time to enjoy it.
Our driver Israel was also very good.
This excursion was the highlight of our week.
Worth the visit
Tejaswi_G, 03-01-2023
The guide was really good. He explained a lot about Chichen Itza. On the way back, we visited Yaxunah, one of the least explored Mayan ruin which is a great experience. It is also a must to visit Chichen Itza early in the morning to avoid huge crowds.
Great tour!
Minal_S, 03-01-2023
Frank and Luna were amazing! Frank provided us with a great amount of stories and details and Luna was a smooth driver! We enjoyed the site seeing and loved the Cenote. Everything was done in a timely manner and on schedule!
(until our return to the hotel, we got stuck in a lot of traffic but that is something Frank & Luna couldn't control!) It would've been great to been able to have stopped for a bathroom break or snacks with such a delay.
(until our return to the hotel, we got stuck in a lot of traffic but that is something Frank & Luna couldn't control!) It would've been great to been able to have stopped for a bathroom break or snacks with such a delay.
Incredible mix of history, nature and laughs.
Kristi_G, 01-01-2023
Marco of Amigo tours was an exceptional guide. He was friendly, funny and very knowledgeable. The tour was a perfect mix of activities and the coach trip was very comfortable.
Thanks!
Thanks!
