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Cancún UNESCO sites

Our most recommended Cancún UNESCO sites

Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour

1. Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour

Travel back in time as you explore the Mayan  archeological ruins of Chichén Itzá on a guided tour. Connect with nature as you swim in the azure waters of the cenote of Saamal. Eat a mouth-watering buffet lunch and take a guided walking tour of Valladolid. Benefit from pick-up at your hotel, or a nearby meeting point, and then journey to one of the most important monuments on the Yucatán Peninsula.   Upon arrival at Chichén Itzá, look at the step pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo), known for the play of light from the equinox that casts shadows on each step to create an image of a serpent descending.   Go to the ancient cenote of Saamal and experience one of the sinkholes that form part of a network of underground rivers sacred to the Maya people. Enjoy a delicious buffet meal and take a stroll around the colonial city of Valladolid to complete your experience.

Cancún/Riviera Maya: Chichén Itzá, Cenote, Valladolid & Meal

2. Cancún/Riviera Maya: Chichén Itzá, Cenote, Valladolid & Meal

Dive into Mayan culture on a guided day trip with optional hotel transfers from Cancún or Riviera Maya to Chichén Itzá, named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World for being one of the world's best-preserved ancient cities. Enjoy a Mexican buffet and tequila tasting, and stop at Valladolid and a cenote. Your first stop will be at a Mayan community restaurant for breakfast with coffee and bread. Take this time to wake up and then go to stock up on souvenirs. Then, at Chichén Itzá, follow the guide while learning all about the most important buildings. From the awe-inspiring Pyramid of Kukulcan to the ruins that once housed tens of thousands of Mayans, the Pyramid of El Castillo or El Caracol, this visit is filled with rarely heard stories, incredible details, and stunning photo opportunities. Discover why the huge city played such an important role from the Late Classic period (600 AD) into the early part of the Post Classic period (1200 AD), and why it remained a huge center of pilgrimage. At this point, the fun is just getting started as no visit to the area would be complete without a stop by a cenote, a refreshing, enchanting underground sinkhole, sacred to the Mayan people. Then, enjoy a Mexican buffet lunch and a tequila-tasting experience. Before returning to your starting point, stop by the charming town of Valladolid, famed for the ornate, 16th-century Convent of San Bernardino of Siena and the baroque San Gervasio Cathedral. Enjoy a quick panoramic visit to this magical place.

Cancun/Riviera Maya: Early Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote

3. Cancun/Riviera Maya: Early Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote

Explore the ruins at Chichen Itza on a guided tour from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Choose between a private or small-group tour and beat the crowds and the heat with early morning access. Learn about the history of Mexico with insightful commentary on one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Start your adventure with an early pick-up from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Beat the crowds and the heat as you arrive at the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza. Follow your guide around the once-bustling complex, learning about the rich history, religion, culture, and daily life of the Maya. Wander around the Mexican pyramids, gaze at the spectacular stone carvings, and take photos by the glorious steps of the ruins. Board an air-conditioned vehicle and leave right before the morning gets too warm and the crowds increase. Head to the charming town of Piste for a quick look around before making your way to Cenote Ik Kil. Marvel at its stunning views, take photos of the turquoise waters and lush vegetation, and maybe squeeze in a quick dip before going for lunch. After filling your belly with some local food, board the vehicle once more and make your way back to Cancun and Riviera Maya with nothing but knowledge and memories to remember your adventure by.

Chichen Itza, Coba and Ik-Kil Cenote: Private Tour

4. Chichen Itza, Coba and Ik-Kil Cenote: Private Tour

Enjoy a private 11-hour trip to 3 top Yucatan attractions, arriving at Chichen Itza before the crowds. Chichen Itza was recently named one of the New7Wonders of the World. Walk along the columns in the Temple of 1,000 Warriors. Climb El Castillo, the 98-foot-tall pyramid that towers over the ancient grounds. Learn about Mayan culture and history. Continue to Ik-Kil Cenote, a fresh water swimming hole that the Mayans considered sacred. Climb down into the cenote for a dip in the mineral-rich turquoise waters, then refuel with a traditional Mexican buffet lunch. After lunch you’ll visit Coba, yet another ancient city, where you can climb the tallest pyramid on the Mayan peninsula.

Riviera Maya: Cobá and Chichén Itzá Tour with Cenote & Lunch

5. Riviera Maya: Cobá and Chichén Itzá Tour with Cenote & Lunch

Embark on a day trip to Cobá and Chichén Itzá and explore the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula. Relax at Cenote Saamal, soak up the views at Nohoch Mul, enjoy lunch, and beat the crowds with an early morning departure. Head to Cobá first, whose ruins date back to 100-300 B.C. Learn about the significance of the five nearby lakes, and appreciate the striking architecture of the vast stone structures. Visit Chichén Itzá, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Feel lost in time in the lovingly-kept pyramids, and discover the genius of the city’s unique structures. Venture deeper into the jungle to relax at the mystical Cenote Saamal, the perfect place for a swim and some dazzling photos. Savor a delicious buffet lunch during your adventure. Finish the tour with a quick panoramic visit to Valladolid.

Cancun/Playa del Carmen: Chichen Itza, Cenote, Ek'Balam Tour

6. Cancun/Playa del Carmen: Chichen Itza, Cenote, Ek'Balam Tour

Discover the magic of the Yucatan on this day trip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Ek Balam and a visit to cenote Saamal. Benefit from a hotel pickup by air-conditioned van, lunchbox, and a guide. Journey to the ancient city of Chichen Itza, one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. Be accompanied by an expert guide throughout the day and learn fascinating facts and folklore of the Mayan civilization.  Next, visit Ek Balam, an off-the-beaten-track Yucatec-Maya archaeological site with incredible carvings hidden in a jungle landscape. Climb the soaring Acropolis pyramid, the highest point of the ruins. To recover from the Yucatan heat, dive in the crystalline waters of the underground, semi-open Cenote Saamal. Soak up the natural light illuminating the waters and the sight of tree roots cascading towards the sinkhole water.

From Cancún: Chichen Itza Tour with Dinner and Light Show

7. From Cancún: Chichen Itza Tour with Dinner and Light Show

Fall in love with the Kukulkan Nights light show on this day trip from Cancún. After getting picked up from your hotel in Cancún or Playa del Carmen, begin the journey to Chichen Itza where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch with regional specialties. After lunch, enjoy access to the Chichen Itza ruins and some time to explore this sprawling park. Next, continue to the spectacular Ikkil cenote for a dip in the cenote's crystal-clear waters followed by a delicious a la carte dinner. Then head back to Chichen Itza for a 45-minute tour of the main plaza before taking your seat in preparation for the spectacular display of light and sound projected onto the main pyramids. Watch as the history of the site and the culture of the Maya civilization is recounted before your eyes.  At the end of the light display, get dropped off back at your hotel.

Chichen Itza: Private Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya

8. Chichen Itza: Private Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya

Fall in love with the ancient Mayan civilization during a full guided tour of Chichén Itzá. Take up fascinating information about the Yucatan Peninsula's past from a local archaeologist, then visit a picturesque cenote where you can indulge in a refreshing swim. Discover the colonial city of Valladolid and enjoy a buffet lunch and tequila tasting. Begin your tour as the sun casts its rosy glow over the Mexican countryside. Arrive at Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO landmark and an important relic of the Mayan civilization. Learn why the massive city played such an important role from the Late Classic period to the early Postclassic period, and why it remained a major pilgrimage center. Follow your guide while you learn all about the most important buildings such as the Kukulcán Pyramid, El Castillo, or El Juego de Pelota. Enjoy this tour filled with fascinating stories, incredible details, and amazing photo opportunities. After your Chichén Itzá adventure, immerse yourself in Mexican culture and enjoy a tequila tasting and satisfy your appetite with an extensive buffet. Finally, no visit to the area would be complete without a stop in a cenote, a natural pool where you can cool off and enjoy a quiet moment of contemplation after your adventurous exploits. Enjoy this refreshing and enchanting underground sinkhole, sacred to the Mayan people, before heading back to your starting point. If you choose the option, you will also visit the Magic Town of Valladolid, a colonial town in the Yucatan Peninsula. Stroll the cobbled streets, take photos, and find souvenirs.

Chichén Itzá: Hubiku Cenote & Valladolid Tour

9. Chichén Itzá: Hubiku Cenote & Valladolid Tour

Embark on a guided tour of Yucatán on a full-day tour from Playa del Carmen. Visit the breathtaking Mayan city of Chichén Itzá and the colorful city of Valladolid. Explore the Yucatán jungles, swim in the Hubiku cenote, and enjoy a buffet lunch. Head into the dense jungles of the Yucatán and stop at the Hubiku cenote, a cavernous freshwater pool in a light-filled limestone cave and enjoy a swim. Dry off over a buffet lunch of typical Mayan dishes and then hop back on the bus for the last leg of the drive to Chichén Itzá. This dense and sprawling archaeological site features excavated ruins and well-preserved temples. The final stop is the quiet colonial city of Valladolid, where the pastel walls of shops and restaurants provide a colorful backdrop for photos.

Cancún: Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Cenote & Lunch

10. Cancún: Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Cenote & Lunch

See some of the most important sights while visiting the Cancun area with this day trip to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam. See an ancient wonder and take a refreshing swim in a cenote. Be among the first visitors to explore Ek Balam archaeological site and its Mayan ruins early in the morning. Climb the pyramids for a panoramic view of the Mayan jungle at your feet. Have some free time to explore on your own afterward. After admiring the views, head to Chichen Itza. Let your guide broaden your knowledge of archeology and Mayan culture. Imagine how the Mayans once lived in this city. Stroll through the well-preserved ruins as your guide tells you about Mayan mythology, philosophy, and cosmology. Gain a deeper understanding of the meanings behind the stone sculptures and platforms. To finish off your tour, savor a Mexican buffet lunch. Take a break in the Cenote Saamal. Get a break from the heat with a refreshing swim right next to its waterfall.

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Frequently asked questions about Cancún

What are the best day trips and excursions from Cancún?

The best day trips and excursions from Cancún are:

Tulum

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What people are saying about Cancún

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 443 reviews

Great tour ! Our guide called Appolinar was amazing ! He explained so much about the Maya culture and made us discover other places within the Chichen Itza site ! Our stop to the cenote was great, we experience a tequila testing as well. I highly recommend !!

Amazing guide and well planned trip. Chichin itza and the cenote were enough, all the extras made it even better. I have already recommended to friends.

Our guides Tino and Thor were amazing and funny. Picked us on time. Must do attraction no doubt about that

Pastor was our guide and he did a great job. Everything was organized perfectly. Recommended

It was a very successful trip! Thanks again to our excellent tour guide Rey.