Mayan ruins tours from Cancun take you to the great cities of the Maya civilization (Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba and Ek Balam) with hotel pickup, a certified guide and site admission included. This category brings together all our cultural tours, private or group, many of them paired with a cenote swim or a stop in the colonial town of Valladolid. If you want to understand the history of the Yucatan Peninsula, not just snap the photo, this is the place to start.
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Duration: 10 – 12 Hours
Experience a personalized private tour to Chichen Itza from Cancun and Riviera Maya. Explore the incredible ruins at your own pace, without itineraries, and discover one of the...
per person
Duration: Full day (7:30 am to 7:30 pm)
Join us on an exclusive guided tour of Chichen Itza, the sacred city of the Mayans, operated by Xcaret as part of their Xichen by Xcaret package, the colonial city of Valladolid...
Original price: $185.00 You save $28.00
per person
Duration: 11 hours (approx.)
On this tour we offer a cultural alternative as much fun to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will learn about the Mayan culture through its typical food and...
Original price: $189.00 You save $38.00
per person
Duration: 10 -11 hours
We will begin picking you up at your hotel to take you to the archaeological zones of Coba and Tulum. You will have an unforgettable day at your own pace in this private tour...
per person
Duration: 10 - 11 Hours
Discover Yucatan at your own pace and privately, explore two wonders of the peninsula in a single tour, visit two sites full of great cultural wealth, Ek Balam archaeological area...
per person
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Get to know the archaeological wonder of Tulum in just half a day, an ideal tour for those who want to return early and do another activity in the afternoon.
Original price: $149.00 You save $18.00
per person
Duration: 10 hrs aprox.
On this tour, we offer a cultural and fun alternative to experience the wonder of Chichen Itza combining history, local flavors, and nature.
Original price: $99.00 You save $20.00
per person
Duration: 8 hours
Enjoy a comfortable and affordable private transportation service to Chichen Itza, ideal for travelers who prefer flexibility and independence. Travel at your own pace in a...
per person
Duration: 7 hours approx.
Visit Ek Balam Mayan Ruins and Valladolid city on this one day tour from Riviera Maya or Cancun. This excursion also includes a visit to a Cenote
Original price: $159.00 You save $16.00
per person
Duration: 11-12 hours (approx.)
Live the perfect combination of culture and adventure in the Mayan world, Riviera Maya style. This tour will take you back in time for you to experience the architecture, culture,...
Original price: $219.00 You save $33.00
per person
Duration: 8 - 9 hours
Have an unforgettable day on this private tour that combines the beauty of Tulum with an amazing adventure through caves, sinkholes and underground rivers.
per person
It depends on what you’re after. Chichen Itza is the must-see if it’s your first trip to the peninsula; Tulum is the most photogenic and the closest; Coba pairs archaeology with jungle; and Ek Balam is your best bet for smaller crowds and remarkably well-preserved carvings. Here’s how they compare:
| Site | Approx. drive from Cancun | What makes it unique | Can you climb it? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chichen Itza | 2 hr 30 min | UNESCO World Heritage Site (1988) and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (2007). Its great pyramid, El Castillo, is a calendar in stone. | No | First-time visitors |
| Tulum | 1 hr 45 min–2 hr | A walled city perched on a cliff above the Caribbean; it was a key trading port. | No | Photography and half-day trips |
| Coba | 2 hr | A jungle city set among lagoons and linked by a network of white roads (sacbeob). Home to Nohoch Mul, one of the tallest pyramids on the peninsula. | No, climbing is restricted | Combining ruins and nature |
| Ek Balam | 2 hr–2 hr 15 min | An Acropolis over 100 ft (30 m) tall with exceptionally well-preserved stucco friezes. | Yes | Avoiding crowds |
Maya civilization didn’t end when its cities were abandoned. Today, more than 770,000 people in Mexico speak Yucatec Maya, and many of their traditions live on in the food, festivals and everyday life of local towns. That’s why our cultural tours go beyond the archaeological site:
Colonial towns: Valladolid, founded in 1543 and designated a Pueblo Mágico (“Magical Town”), is full of convents, churches and colorful facades that show how the peninsula changed after the Spanish arrived.
Yucatecan food: dishes like cochinita pibil (slow-roasted achiote pork) and panuchos (stuffed, fried tortillas) are part of the experience on tours that include a regional lunch.
Sacred cenotes: to the Maya, cenotes (natural freshwater sinkholes) were gateways to the underworld, Xibalba, and places of offering. Many tours include a swim in one after the site visit.
| If you want… | Your best fit… |
|---|---|
| To see the most famous site and you only have one day | A full-day tour to Chichen Itza, ideally with a cenote stop to break up the drive. |
| To be back at your hotel early | A half-day visit to Tulum, the closest site to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. |
| To see two sites in one day | A Coba and Tulum combo: they’re about 45–50 minutes apart. |
| To go at your own pace, with kids or older travelers | A private tour: your guide tailors the route and stops to your group. |
| Fewer crowds | Ek Balam or, at any site, getting there first thing in the morning. |
Go early: opening time is the coolest and least crowded part of the day; by midday, the sun beats down on open plazas with little shade.
Footwear and sun protection: closed-toe shoes or sneakers for uneven ground, plus a hat, sunglasses and water. If your tour includes a cenote, your sunscreen and bug spray must be biodegradable.
Cameras: phone photos are free; some sites charge a fee for video cameras or professional gear. Each tour page has the details.
Respect the structures: at most sites, climbing or touching the buildings isn’t allowed; always follow the signs posted by INAH, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History.
Best time to go: December through April brings drier, cooler weather. Around the March and September equinoxes, Chichen Itza draws much bigger crowds for the light-and-shadow effect on El Castillo.
Total time depends on the route you choose and what you agree on with your guide, split between the guided walk and free time. Average time at each site:
Chichen Itza: 2.5 to 3 hours (including 45 to 60 minutes of free time).
Coba: 2 to 2.5 hours (including 30 to 45 minutes of free time).
Tulum: 1.5 to 2 hours (including 30 to 45 minutes of free time).
Ek Balam: 1.5 to 2 hours (including 30 to 45 minutes of free time).
Chichen Itza, if it’s your first time in the region: it’s the most monumental site and the only one in the area named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. If you’d rather not spend so many hours on the road, Tulum makes for a complete half-day visit, with ocean views no other ruins can match.
No. Climbing has been banned for years at Chichen Itza and Tulum to protect the structures, and access to Coba’s great pyramid, Nohoch Mul, is also restricted. Ek Balam is currently the main site in the region where you can still climb the Acropolis.
About two and a half hours by road from the Cancun Hotel Zone, and a bit longer from Playa del Carmen or Tulum. That’s why Chichen Itza tours are full-day trips that usually include stops along the way, such as a cenote or the town of Valladolid.
On our guided tours, yes: site admission is part of the price. What may be charged separately is the fee for video cameras or professional photo equipment, and on transportation-only services, you pay admission on your own. Each tour page lists exactly what’s included.
Yes, and it’s the most popular combo. After walking the ruins in the sun, a dip in cool fresh water is the best way to recharge. Many of our Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Tulum and Coba tours already include one.
Yes, but keep in mind you’ll be walking on uneven ground in full sun, sometimes for several hours. For families with young children or travelers with limited mobility, we recommend a private tour, where the pace and breaks are adjusted to your group.
On a group tour, you share the bus and guide with other travelers, with set schedules and pickups at several hotels; it’s the most budget-friendly option. On a private tour, the vehicle and guide are just for your group: you leave when you want, decide how long to spend at each stop and dig deeper into whatever interests you most.
