Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Day Trip with Lunch from Tulum

Chichén Itzá and the Pyramid of Kukulkán

The first and longest stop is Chichén Itzá, the great Maya city that dominated the northern Yucatán for centuries and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You spend about two hours here with a certified guide, who explains the history, the astronomy and the rituals behind the monuments while you walk the main plaza.

At the centre stands the Pyramid of Kukulkán, a stepped temple built so precisely that on the equinoxes the sun draws the shape of a serpent down its northern stairs. Around it you see the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors with its forest of carved columns, and other temples. The site does not allow climbing, drones or touching the plants, and professional cameras are restricted. A Chichén Itzá day trip from Tulum begins early so you reach the ruins at a good hour.

Cenote Chichikan near Valladolid

After the ruins, a short drive brings you to Cenote Chichikan, a natural sinkhole surrounded by lush jungle and limestone walls near Valladolid. Cenotes form where the roof of an underground river collapses, leaving a deep pool of clear, fresh water; for the ancient Maya they were sacred places linked to the underworld and to the rain god.

Here you have about two hours for a swim, a break and lunch. Life vests are mandatory in the water for safety, and in the all-inclusive option both the life vest and a locker are already covered. Bring swimwear, a change of clothes and biodegradable sunscreen, which helps protect the delicate water. If you are wondering whether it is worth adding a cenote to a Chichén Itzá tour, the answer from most travellers is a clear yes.

Yucatecan buffet lunch in the jungle

Lunch is a traditional buffet served at the peaceful on-site restaurant at the cenote, surrounded by trees. Yucatecan cuisine has its own character within Mexican cooking, built on Maya ingredients such as achiote, sour orange, corn and habanero, and the buffet gives you a chance to try several regional dishes in one sitting. Vegetarian food is available.

In the all-inclusive option the lunch comes with one soft drink; in the option with hotel pickup and lunch, drinks are extra. The basic option from a meeting point does not include lunch, so you would buy food on the day. After lunch there is time for shopping for local crafts before you board again for the short drive of about 15 minutes to Valladolid.

Valladolid, a colonial town of colour

Valladolid is one of the most attractive colonial towns in Yucatán, founded by the Spanish in the sixteenth century, with streets of brightly painted houses, shady plazas and old stone churches. Its main square, watched over by the Church of San Servacio, is the lively centre of town, with vendors, benches and craft shops all around.

The tour includes a panoramic visit of about 30 minutes, enough to walk the central streets, take photos of the colourful facades and pick up a souvenir. Many visitors searching for a Valladolid day trip combine it, as here, with Chichén Itzá and a cenote, because the three sit close together. From Valladolid the drive back to Tulum takes about two and a half hours.

Choosing your option

This tour comes in three versions. The all-inclusive option, shown by default, covers hotel pickup in Tulum, the buffet lunch with one soft drink, the Chichén Itzá entrance tax and the life vest and locker at the cenote, so you only bring money for souvenirs and tips. It is the simplest choice for most travellers.

The option with hotel pickup and lunch leaves the entrance tax and the life vest for you to pay; the tax is paid on arrival or the day before. The basic option starts from a meeting point in Tulum at 06:00 and includes the transport, the guide, cenote access and the visits, but no lunch, tax or life vest. Mexican residents, students, teachers and children may receive a discount on the tax when they show ID.