Updated November 2026
From Playa del Carmen, Chichen Itza is about two and a half to three hours away by road. You do not need to go to Cancun first: these tours pick you up in Playa and the Riviera Maya.
Top-rated tours from Playa del Carmen
Chichen Itza Tour from Playa del Carmen with Valladolid, Cenote & Buffet
Staying in Playa del Carmen? This day trip picks you up locally, so you do not have to travel up to Cancun first. The route covers Chichen Itza with a guide, a swim in a cenote, a buffet lunch and free time in Valladolid. With more than 1,000 reviews it is the most-booked option from Playa.
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Chichen Itza Guided Tour with Valladolid & Cenote Chichikan
A full day from the Riviera Maya with a guide at Chichen Itza, a swim in Cenote Chichikan near Valladolid and time in Valladolid itself. More than 1,200 reviews; pick-up available. About 12 hours.
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Small-Group Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid Tour from the Riviera Maya
The highest-rated Chichen Itza tour in this guide, at 4.9 stars: a small group, a guide who knows the site in depth, a cenote and Valladolid, with pick-up on the Riviera Maya. Costs more than the big-coach tours. About 11 hours.
Book This TourHow the day works from Playa
Pick-up is early in the morning from your hotel or a central meeting point. The route usually goes inland via Valladolid to Chichen Itza, where a guide shows you El Castillo, the Great Ball Court and the Temple of the Warriors. After free time on the site, you swim in a cenote, have lunch and spend some time in Valladolid before driving back to the coast in the evening.
Which tour should you choose?
- Most reviews from Playa: Chichen Itza, Valladolid, cenote & buffet.
- A famous cenote: the tour with Cenote Chichikan, a large open cenote near Valladolid.
- Top rating: the small-group tour, with fewer people and more time with your guide.
Playa del Carmen or Cancun departure?
Choose the departure that is closest to where you sleep — joining a Cancun tour from Playa adds an hour each way. If your hotel is further south, around Akumal or Tulum, see Chichen Itza tours from Tulum.
Want to combine Chichen Itza with another Maya city? The Coba and Chichen Itza tour picks up along the Riviera Maya.
