Chichen Itza Day Trip From Playa Del Carmen
Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Hotel pickup Available
- Free Cancellation
- Duration: 12 Hrs
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Language:
English
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Departure Time :
8:00 AM
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Departure Details :
1: Plaza Antigua, 10 Avenida Sur 10, Playacar, 77717 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico
2: La Bodeguita del Medio, 5ta Avenida, Calle 34 Nte Esq, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77720 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico<.. read more -
Return Details :
Returns to original departure point
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Cancellation Policy : For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Overview
Discover the mystery and allure of Chichen Itza, the ancient capital of the Mayan Empire, on a full-day tour from Playa del Carmen. At this UNESCO World Heritage site, marvel at the architectural wonder of the Kukulcan Pyramid, see the great ball court and learn about Mayan ceremonial customs. Before reaching Chichen Itza, swim at a nearby cenote, a deep natural well of clear water. End your tour with Mayan cuisine at a buffet lunch before heading back to your Playa del Carmen hotel.
Highlights
- Day trip (destination A to B)
- Free hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Led by a local guide
- All entrance fees included
Know More about this tour
Before Chichen Itza, stop at either the Ikil cenote . The cenotes, Mayan for 'collapsed cave,' are natural sinkholes in the limestone plateau that today offer unique swimming spots with sunlight streaming down from above. Note the lush vegetation growing all around as you make your way down the stairs to reach the cenote and admire the clear, deep water full of fish. Youll have time to frolic in this natural wonder, so make sure to bring along your swimsuit and towel.
Then head to Chichen Itza! Inside, youll be separated into smaller groups for a 1.5-hour tour, during which a certified guide shares the wondrous secrets of this Mayan city.
Admire the Kukulcan Pyramid, also called El Castillo, believed to have been built based on astronomical studies. This four-sided structure contains exactly 365 steps, the number of days in the solar year. Then peer over the sacred cenote, a sinkhole Mayans viewed as a gateway to the afterlife and used as a site for sacrificial offerings.
Walk across the enormous ball court, where the Mayans held athletic events. If the reliefs covering the walls of the court provide any indication, the Mayans took their sports seriously: the sculpted murals show the victor holding the decapitated head of an unlucky member of the team that lost.
At the conclusion of the guided tour, wander the grounds of Chichen Itza at your own pace. Be sure to visit the lesser-known but still very well-preserved temples.
After exploring the site, enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant that includes fresh salads, soups, rice, meat, chicken, fish, vegetables and other regional dishes (drinks at own expense). After lunch, you'll be transported back to your hotel in Playa del Carmen.
Inclusions
Certified guide
Brief visit to colonial Valladolid
Bottled water upon arrival at Chichen Itza
Lunch - Buffet lunch
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Visit to cenote
Entry/Admission - Chichen Itza
Exclusions
Gratuities
Optional drinks
State Tax applies Per Access of $260 MXP or its equivalent in USD
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Children ages 3 years and under are free, but seats are subject to availability; they may have to ride on parents' laps if seats are not available
Operated by a multilingual guide
It is recommended that you wear or bring comfortable lightweight clothing, walking shoes or sneakers, a hat, sunglasses, biodegradable sunblock, a swimsuit, towel and change of dry clothing
Traveler Reviews
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We enjoyed the tour. Did the 3 for 1 tour (Chichen Itza, cenote and shopping). We liked Chichen Itza but would skip the other stops as the day is way too long. It was about 13 hours from Playa del Carmen. About 6 hours on bus.
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First Cancun Vacation Experts telling you the experience include certain things and then you find out it does not. When you ask about it. Nobody knows anything. They tell you it includes lunch but yet the charge you the drinks at a high rate. It was a huge group the experience took forever around 14-15hr. They are always in a rush. Rushing everyone. Almost to the point of harassment.
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Marco, our guide was Amazing, maybe little hard to follow in the explannation, because is switching from spannish to english. Other than that, we maybe need some more time in Chichen Itza and the Cenote and less time in other places.
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This was an informative and immersive tour. Our guide Martin was very knowledgeable. He explained a lot of things to us on our way to Chichen Itza. However, he had to say everything in both English and Spanish which slowed things down a bit.
We got picked up exactly at the time we were given and after a few stops to pick up other people and a bathroom/snacks stop, we were on our way. First stop was Valladolid, a colonial-era town, which was fun to see and walk around. Next stop was a Mayan co-op, with authentic but on the more expensive side souvenirs. A demonstration on the making of corn tortillas and a type of Mayan BBQ followed. Then we had lunch which was a decent buffet drinks were extra. Here you had the opportunity to purchase a personalized Mayan birth certificate for 370 pesos.
We then drove to Chichen Itza. Things are kind of chaotic at the entrance so stick with the group. It's a short walk to the archaeological site, but the weather is much hotter than on the coast. We then split into an English-speaking and a Spanish-speaking group. We walked around for a bit more than an hour. The El Castillo pyramid is really cool, and Martin showed us some neat tricks regarding the acoustics of it. Afterwards, we toured a sacrificial building and a ballgame court. We then had 40min to walk around by ourselves take pictures, buy souvenirs, see the cenote that's a short walk North of the pyramid. I wish we were given a bit more free time.
Then we went back to the bus, and drove to a really scenic cenote that's closeby. It was very crowded, but it's so pretty to see and swim in. The amount of time we were given here was reasonable. We then headed back to the van and drove to Playa.My suggestion would be to spend less time at the co-op and instead be given extra time at Chichen Itza.
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Guides good, lunch ok, but seriously do yourself a favor and just take the ADO As then have 4 hr at Chichen Itza. Tour only 2 hr, guide talks for 1 hr in one way place. Can only see a little of site. Big regret. Wasted time at shopping area, useless 30 min stop at the colonial town.
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Our tour guide Martin was amazing. He is very knowledgeable and patient. He has been a multilingual tour guide for 27 years, and it shows. This tour is important to see and feel some of the beginnings of our current civilization. It is amazing to see where so much of our current technology actually started.
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Amazing experience to see this place. Very clever and helpful guides. But the trip lasted from 8:20 to 21:30, 13 hours, though it was scheduled 7-9 hours. More than 4 hours driving home by bus.
And, we would rather have had more time in Chichen Itza, instead of the shop with lunch. -
It is an interesting trip!
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Really great trip with amazing tour guide Alex is
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I had a great time on this tour. Tour guide Miriam was friendly and helpful.