Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid Tour
4.8
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Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid Tour
By Sat Mexico Tours
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About
Discover the wonders of Chichen Itza, one of Mexico's most iconic archaeological sites. Marvel at the Kukulcan Pyramid and the mysterious serpent shadow during the equinox. Dive into a sacred cenote, swim in its clear waters, and enjoy a delicious buffet meal. Then, take a short break in the charming town of Valladolid to explore its historic main square. With hotel pickup and a bilingual guide, experience the culture, history, and beauty of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 0-99, max of 40 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
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Highlights
- Explore the magnificent Chichen Itza and the Kukulcan Pyramid’s grandeur
- Swim in the mystical cenote, a sacred Mayan underground sinkhole
- Savor a traditional buffet meal at a reserved area near the cenote
- Learn the rich Mayan history from an experienced bilingual tour guide
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Certified bilingual tour guide throughout journey
- Visit an amazing mayan "cenote" (sinkhole)
- Buffet meal
- 30 minute stop at Valladolid main square
- Transportation to and from the destination
- Entry/Admission - Valladolid
What's not included- Beverages in the Buffet (Only in All Inclusive option)
- Rent lockers and lifejackets at $4 USD each (included in All-Inclusive option).
- Chichen Itza access fee (Included in the all-inclusive option)
- Entry/Admission - Chichen Itza
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Option 1Ultramar, Av. José López Portillo Calle 49, Puerto Juarez, 77525 Cancún, Q.R., MexicoMEETING POINT FOR COSTA MUJERES AND PLAYA MUJERES HOTELS
- Option 2Smart Cancun, Av Tulum 4, capilla ecumenica, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., MexicoMEETING POINT FOR CANCUN DOWNTOWN HOTELS
- Option 3Hampton Inn by Hilton Cancun Cumbres, Luis Donaldo Colosio Supermanzana 310 Manzana 1, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
- Option 4Aquaworld, Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
- Option 5Forever 21, 5ta. Avenida Norte Mz 35 L. B21, Centro, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., MexicoAll our travelers stay in Playa del Carmen downtown hotels, the meeting point will be Forever 21 Quinta Alegría (Is located outside La Quinta Alegría Mall).
- Option 6ARIA Playacar, Av.10 lote 1 local 46, Playa del Carmen Quintana Roo Fraccionamiento, Fase II, Playacar, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., MexicoAll our travelers stay in Playacar hotels, the meeting point will be at 7-ELEVEN AT ARIA PLAYACAR.
- Option 7SUPER CHEDRAUI PUERTO AVENTURAS, Km. 270 Carretera Federal 307 Mz 012.002 Lt 001.060 Fraccionamiento, 77733 Puerto Aventuras, Q.R., Mexico
- Option 8Súper Akí Tulum, Carretera Federal Tulum Ruinas s/n, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., MexicoAll our travelers stay in Tulum hotels, the meeting point will be Super Aki Tulum.
- Option 9GOmart Agua verde, KM 2695 MZA 29 LTE 2, México 307, 77780 Puerto Aventuras, Q.R., MexicoAll our travelers stay in Puerto Aventuras hotels, the meeting point will be outside Go Mart Agua Verde. The Go-Mart is located next to the booth of the Puerto Aventuras complex.
- Option 107-Eleven, CARRETERA FEDERAL CHETUMAL-PUERTO JUAREZ, LOTE, Supermanzana 30 Manzana 01, 77580 Puerto Morelos, Q.R., MexicoIf you stay at Sensira Resort and Spa Riviera Maya, Margaritaville Beach Resort Riviera Maya, Desire Riviera Maya Resort, Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun, Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun
- Option 117-Eleven Regatta, Joaquín Zetina Gasca, 77586 Puerto Morelos, Q.R., MexicoIf you stay at Ocean Coral & Turquesa, Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa, Excellence Riviera Cancun, Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa the meeting point will be at 7-Eleven Regatta.
- Option 12Motel Sensaciones, Benito Juárez Sm 38, M 41, L35, Carr. Cancún - Tulum, 77507 Puerto Morelos, Q.R., MexicoIf you stay at Haven Riviera Cancun, Royalton Riviera Cancún, Royalton Splash Riviera, Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun, Hilton Cancun All Inclusive Resort, Waldorf Astoria Cancún, Dreams Natura Resort & Spa the meeting point will be at MOTEL SENSACIONES NEXT TO THE LETTERS “TEQUILA”
Pickup details- We can provide you pick up at most hotels located in the hotel zone of Cancun and Riviera Maya or a meeting point near your hotel at Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen & Tulum. If you are staying in a Boutique Hotel, Hostel or Condominium, we will look for a nearby location as a meeting point. Most Frequent Meeting Points: Cancun Downtown: Hotel Oasis Smart 7:10 AM Playa del Carmen: Forever 21 Quinta Alegria 6:30 AM Tulum: Super Aki Tulum 7:10 AM The pickup time will be between 6:30 AM - and 7:30 AM; you will get exact details via email 2 days before your activity date.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 110186P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The use of a life jacket is mandatory in the cenote
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 110186P2
From €55.71
€36.21
per adult (price varies by group size)
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 2travelisgreat0 contributionsGreat Historical SiteBeautiful and worth seeing. We used the steps from the beach. If you are not used to step climbing--you may want to choose a tour.Written 26 March 2025
- Rehan R0 contributionsAmazing insight into the Mayan cultureThis is a great tour. Our guide Ceaser was friendly, full of knowledge and made the trip memorable with his insights about the Mayan culture. The bus ride was comfortable and we felt safe throughout! Would totally recommend to book this tour!Written 25 March 2025
- 503ashal0 contributionsVery well organizedThis was a very well organized tour. I was initially concerned that we would have to line up at Chichen Itza to pay the foreigner fees of 40USD. However, Rey collected this while on the bus for us. Those who already paid online just needed to show the receipt. This helped us skip the lines, and saved a lot of time. We enjoyed the cenote. The food was great and safe. I am vegan, and there were options for me that were tasty and healthy. Highly recommended this tour. Well worth it.Written 20 March 2025
- Wanderer349256619300 contributionsQuality instead of quantityHonestly the buses are an absolute pain if you are taller than 1.5 meters. I‘m writing this literally with a pain in my spine and my knees pushed into the seat in front of me. How about throwing four seats out of the bus and make everyones journey less painful? Btw I’m only 5.8“ / 174cm. Also I needed to ask three times to get the right pick up time confirmed. Usually I would be absolutely not giving this a good rating, but the tour itself is great and our guide „moto-moto“ was doing an amazing job. He made the trip enjoyable. Solve the seat situation and be a bit more precise with your pick up timing and meeting point description and I happily give this a five star review, but I can only give it 3 because its freaking uncomfortable and another two hours drive. Seriously why..Written 20 March 2025
- juantW5019TE0 contributionsBeautiful experienceVery Nice tour learned a lot of the Maya culture but it will be nice if people get pick up from the hotel but overall was a very good experienceWritten 20 March 2025
- 688oswaldot0 contributionsAmazing!The guides were amazing, Moto Moto was a fun guide and the tours were informational! Danilo was a great driver and got us to every location safe and comfortable. The amount of time at each location was also appropriate for the time needed to discover the area.Written 20 March 2025
- 795normao0 contributionsUnforgettable!It was an amazing experience and thanks a Moto Moto for the information given made the experience even better.I would recommend other people to have the experience that I had.Written 20 March 2025
- naamamand0 contributionsGreat full day of activitiesWe had a wonderful full day of activities! Motto stories about the Mayan culture and history throughout the day was very interesting and insightful. Would highly recommend.Written 20 March 2025
- cielot9430 contributionsMoto was the best tour guide ever!Beautiful views with a great tour guide who led us through this adventure. We would not have learned/enjoyed so much of this experience without him. Thank you Moto!Written 20 March 2025
- nildaq20250 contributionsAmazing ExperienceAmazing experience! Very knowledgeable tour guide. Both Moto Moto and Richard were very thorough about the information provided! The bus driver Danilo made the trip feel very safe and smooth! Definitely recommend! 👍🏽Written 20 March 2025
- nelda q0 contributionsA true WonderGreat Experience loved our Tour Guide Richard, Chichén Itzá must be experienced by everyone. Safe, comfortable, affordable.Written 20 March 2025
- rubenrA8050DI0 contributionsMagnificent!Excellent Tour, tour guide and driver. Local tour guide (Richard) was excellent as well and very informative. Recommended!Written 20 March 2025
- annemariebX1125QQ0 contributionsLovely dayLovely day, Uli was an amazing tour guide. He was well-organized and told us a lot of information. We visit different place, get a little bit better understanding of the Maya culture.Written 20 March 2025
- D3755TVjamieb0 contributionsForever MemoriesA trip full of amazing experiences. Although the Chichen Itza was spectacular so was the cave swimming and with a amazing buffet. The guide Uli has many useful tips and a passion for sharing information. This together made for a unforgettable experience with my family. Thank you Uli and Sat Mexico Tours!Written 19 March 2025
- allisonbV4389KB0 contributionsFull day of fun, budget priceUli, our guide, was a wonderful time. 5/5 Very knowledgeable, very kind. Good spirits. This tour is pack full of activities, I only wish we had more time for the cenote and Valladolid. While our guide receives 5/5, I am taking off one star only because our bus was 40minutes late in the morning and I wish we could have had more time in the cenote and town. Lunch was delish!Written 19 March 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.8
18,998 reviews
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Very good
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322
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287
Ahmad M
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Couples
Our guide Miriam & driver Donillo (hope I spelt that right) were awesome hosts for the day. My rating would be 5/5 if it were based on them alone.
I’ve done my best to summarize the pros and cons of the day below and left some advice for others considering this tour.
Warning: this is a full day tour and it is exhausting. Of the 12 hours, I think we easily spent at least half on the bus (we were picked up on Playa Del Carmen).
Pros:
- Our guide, Miriam, gets a 5/5 for the level of knowledge, passion, enthusiasm and humour she brought to the experience
- The Chichen is a true marvel and seeing it with our own eyes and being able to explore the grounds made the day worth it alone
- The restaurant had plenty of options and buffet style was much needed as you don’t eat for the first half of the day
- The Cenote is one of a kind experience. You get to swim in a 25m deep hole with turtles and fish
- The bus was comfortable and our driver was very punctual
Cons:
- The first stop felt like a forced tourist trap in attempt to sell you overpriced souvenirs. We spent an hour here and felt like we could’ve done without it, especially considering how long the day already was.
- The restaurant staff do not allow you drink your own water, forcing you to buy water or pop (which is not included with your ticket) @ $5 USD per serving. Again, really just taking advantage of tourists.
- The day generally felt rushed between all the sites and stops and bus ride, so you don’t get to spend as much time at the sites as you’d probably like.
- Merchants will swarm you at every stop to try and sell you anything
Advice:
- Do not pay for the all-inclusive option as it is cheaper to pay for everything individually. Here’s a summary of what my partner and I spent in total (in USD): Hotel pickup package $120 + Chichen entry fee $70 + Lifejackets + locker $12 = $202 USD or ~$295 CAD
- Pay for your Chichen entry ticket in pesos. The tour guide will charge you either $40 USD or $645 MXP (which you can purchase for $35 USD at your hotel).
- Pack plenty of food and water for the day as stops for refreshments are limited and you’re only given 1 meal for the 12h day.
- The bus ride can be a bit nauseating so would recommend some gravol or ginger
Bottom Line: If you want a hassle free day with minimal planning on your part, this is probably for you. It was very effortless on our part in simply attending and tagging along for the day while the your company did everyone.
However, if you are looking to get the most of the Chichen Itza experience and don’t care for all the extra touristy stops along the way, I would recommend renting a vehicle and making a day of it on your own to get the full experience.
I’ve done my best to summarize the pros and cons of the day below and left some advice for others considering this tour.
Warning: this is a full day tour and it is exhausting. Of the 12 hours, I think we easily spent at least half on the bus (we were picked up on Playa Del Carmen).
Pros:
- Our guide, Miriam, gets a 5/5 for the level of knowledge, passion, enthusiasm and humour she brought to the experience
- The Chichen is a true marvel and seeing it with our own eyes and being able to explore the grounds made the day worth it alone
- The restaurant had plenty of options and buffet style was much needed as you don’t eat for the first half of the day
- The Cenote is one of a kind experience. You get to swim in a 25m deep hole with turtles and fish
- The bus was comfortable and our driver was very punctual
Cons:
- The first stop felt like a forced tourist trap in attempt to sell you overpriced souvenirs. We spent an hour here and felt like we could’ve done without it, especially considering how long the day already was.
- The restaurant staff do not allow you drink your own water, forcing you to buy water or pop (which is not included with your ticket) @ $5 USD per serving. Again, really just taking advantage of tourists.
- The day generally felt rushed between all the sites and stops and bus ride, so you don’t get to spend as much time at the sites as you’d probably like.
- Merchants will swarm you at every stop to try and sell you anything
Advice:
- Do not pay for the all-inclusive option as it is cheaper to pay for everything individually. Here’s a summary of what my partner and I spent in total (in USD): Hotel pickup package $120 + Chichen entry fee $70 + Lifejackets + locker $12 = $202 USD or ~$295 CAD
- Pay for your Chichen entry ticket in pesos. The tour guide will charge you either $40 USD or $645 MXP (which you can purchase for $35 USD at your hotel).
- Pack plenty of food and water for the day as stops for refreshments are limited and you’re only given 1 meal for the 12h day.
- The bus ride can be a bit nauseating so would recommend some gravol or ginger
Bottom Line: If you want a hassle free day with minimal planning on your part, this is probably for you. It was very effortless on our part in simply attending and tagging along for the day while the your company did everyone.
However, if you are looking to get the most of the Chichen Itza experience and don’t care for all the extra touristy stops along the way, I would recommend renting a vehicle and making a day of it on your own to get the full experience.
Written 9 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leslie C
2 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Going to Chi Chen Itza was an unforgettable experience; seeing just how intelligent the mayans were and utilized all organic material throughout the riviera maya. The views are amazing and is especially more breathtaking as you learn about its rich history. The tour although long )depending on pickup) is very well done and doesn’t feel long. They give the appropriate amount of time spending time with us and giving us free time. Our tour guides, Rey and Norma, were extremely knowledgeable and made the tour pleasant. Rene the bus driver drove smoothly throughout the ride and made sure to keep the Ac going(very much appreciated)! There is also an app they suggest to download to know what to expect and when to expect activities which was very accurate.
I do recommend taking light long sleeve clothes, water, a hat or umbrella and comfortable shoes as the weather was 99• F during chi chen itza.
I also recommend wearing water shoes for the cenote as going down the stairs is a bit slippery.
Lastly, in this excursion you are paying for the drive, tour guides providing you knowledge about the locations throughout the sites, a trip to the cenote, lunch and a quick trip to a nearby town. Having said that, you do have to pay to enter into chi Chen itza either through the tour guide(easiest route) or at the entrance.
Thank you Norma Rey and Rene for an unforgettable experience!
I do recommend taking light long sleeve clothes, water, a hat or umbrella and comfortable shoes as the weather was 99• F during chi chen itza.
I also recommend wearing water shoes for the cenote as going down the stairs is a bit slippery.
Lastly, in this excursion you are paying for the drive, tour guides providing you knowledge about the locations throughout the sites, a trip to the cenote, lunch and a quick trip to a nearby town. Having said that, you do have to pay to enter into chi Chen itza either through the tour guide(easiest route) or at the entrance.
Thank you Norma Rey and Rene for an unforgettable experience!
Written 19 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph L
6 contributions
Mar 2025 • Family
If you are in Mexico and in the Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum area, it is a definite “must see” to visit Chichen Itza. As a bonus, on this tour, you also get to visit the old city of Valladolid and a memorable sinkhole (cenotes).
Our tour guide, Norma, was engaged, informative and full of helpful information. She was able to seamlessly transition between Spanish and English (as our group had members that spoke both languages) and made the tour work well for groups with young families.
Sat Mexico did a great job coordinating the day and was very clear when to meet and how long we would spend at each stop.
Highlights included a great personalized tour guide inside Chichen Itza and swimming in the Chichikan cenote. There was a free tequila tasting session which was also very nice.
The tour group did a good job touching base with us (via WhatsApp) to confirm pickup time and location in the morning. The app also provided good information on what to bring with us.
Things to know before you go:
- The pickup time is early (between 6:30 and 7:30am) and there is no breakfast provided
- The pickup was at the entrance security gate to our resort. We we responsible to get ourselves to the gate (which was a 25 min walk/5 minute taxi away from the entrance to the resort). Similarly, we were dropped off at the same location.
- To access the cenotes for the option swim, there is an additional fee (~65 pesos per person) for the mandatory life jacket rental
All in all, it was a great trip to see one of the seven wonders of the modern world with an excellent tour guide. The swim in the Chichikan cenote was special and for the kids, it was a good experience (no need to go fancy with cenote Ik Kil or Suytun).
Our tour guide, Norma, was engaged, informative and full of helpful information. She was able to seamlessly transition between Spanish and English (as our group had members that spoke both languages) and made the tour work well for groups with young families.
Sat Mexico did a great job coordinating the day and was very clear when to meet and how long we would spend at each stop.
Highlights included a great personalized tour guide inside Chichen Itza and swimming in the Chichikan cenote. There was a free tequila tasting session which was also very nice.
The tour group did a good job touching base with us (via WhatsApp) to confirm pickup time and location in the morning. The app also provided good information on what to bring with us.
Things to know before you go:
- The pickup time is early (between 6:30 and 7:30am) and there is no breakfast provided
- The pickup was at the entrance security gate to our resort. We we responsible to get ourselves to the gate (which was a 25 min walk/5 minute taxi away from the entrance to the resort). Similarly, we were dropped off at the same location.
- To access the cenotes for the option swim, there is an additional fee (~65 pesos per person) for the mandatory life jacket rental
All in all, it was a great trip to see one of the seven wonders of the modern world with an excellent tour guide. The swim in the Chichikan cenote was special and for the kids, it was a good experience (no need to go fancy with cenote Ik Kil or Suytun).
Written 25 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan C
Montreal, Canada9 contributions
Unfortunately, the experience did not meet the advertised expectations. I wrote 3 times to SAT and they never replied. I would give a 1 star rating.
Overbooking: The advertisement stated a maximum of 40 participants, but there were 52 people on board, which significantly reduced comfort (insufficient space in the bus, worse than an airplane) and caused multiple delays.
Poor Organization and Delays: The pickup time was 40 minutes later than scheduled, and the participant collection process took 1.5 hours after our arrival, including detours to various resorts.
Program Not Respected: The first stop was not listed in the announced itinerary. It was clearly a tourist trap aimed at encouraging us to spend money, with contradictory explanations about the stop duration (originally announced as 30 minutes but lasted over an hour). We also lost time on the bus without valid reasons.
Meals and Organization: The lunch timing was not respected. Lunch was served at 3 PM despite no breakfast being provided. This was very inconsiderate, especially as my children were very hungry, and we had to pay $30 USD for two hot dogs and chips at the Maya site. Additionally, pieces of aluminum foil were found in the pulled pork. (See attached photo.) We were aware that drinks were not included, but the prices were excessive ($5 USD for a Coca-Cola).
Limited Access: There was no internet access on the bus, while other buses around us had it. The seats were extremely cramped, worse than an airplane, lacking the comfort expected for an excursion involving over 7 hours of transport.
Missed Dinner Reservation: Due to the late return, we missed our 8 PM dinner reservation and had to pay a considerate penalty fee.
Overbooking: The advertisement stated a maximum of 40 participants, but there were 52 people on board, which significantly reduced comfort (insufficient space in the bus, worse than an airplane) and caused multiple delays.
Poor Organization and Delays: The pickup time was 40 minutes later than scheduled, and the participant collection process took 1.5 hours after our arrival, including detours to various resorts.
Program Not Respected: The first stop was not listed in the announced itinerary. It was clearly a tourist trap aimed at encouraging us to spend money, with contradictory explanations about the stop duration (originally announced as 30 minutes but lasted over an hour). We also lost time on the bus without valid reasons.
Meals and Organization: The lunch timing was not respected. Lunch was served at 3 PM despite no breakfast being provided. This was very inconsiderate, especially as my children were very hungry, and we had to pay $30 USD for two hot dogs and chips at the Maya site. Additionally, pieces of aluminum foil were found in the pulled pork. (See attached photo.) We were aware that drinks were not included, but the prices were excessive ($5 USD for a Coca-Cola).
Limited Access: There was no internet access on the bus, while other buses around us had it. The seats were extremely cramped, worse than an airplane, lacking the comfort expected for an excursion involving over 7 hours of transport.
Missed Dinner Reservation: Due to the late return, we missed our 8 PM dinner reservation and had to pay a considerate penalty fee.
Written 12 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex B
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • Couples
Negatives
1) They had us walk 2 miles at 5am to the pickup location saying they “could no enter our community gates” only to pick us up within our community gates
2) They were an hour late picking us up and we were in the dark in front of a 7 eleven
3) The bus squishes as many people inside as possible with no regard for adult size. My wife is only 5’4 and she was squished, as a 6’4 man it was impossible to sit comfortably on a 3 hour bus ride
4) first stop was an hour at a gift shop where they are very pushy for you to buy things. At one point we were told “no more looking, only buying”. Everyone minute spent here would have been better spend at Chichen Itza
5) Valadoid stop started with us going to a “free” tequila tasting where they just try to sell you overpriced bottles. The amount of being forced into sales pitches really rubbed us the wrong way
Positives
1) Chichen Itza is as beautiful as advertised. The tour guide Paul was very knowledgeable and humorous
2) The Cenote was absolutely stunning, that may have been the highlight of the trip
1) They had us walk 2 miles at 5am to the pickup location saying they “could no enter our community gates” only to pick us up within our community gates
2) They were an hour late picking us up and we were in the dark in front of a 7 eleven
3) The bus squishes as many people inside as possible with no regard for adult size. My wife is only 5’4 and she was squished, as a 6’4 man it was impossible to sit comfortably on a 3 hour bus ride
4) first stop was an hour at a gift shop where they are very pushy for you to buy things. At one point we were told “no more looking, only buying”. Everyone minute spent here would have been better spend at Chichen Itza
5) Valadoid stop started with us going to a “free” tequila tasting where they just try to sell you overpriced bottles. The amount of being forced into sales pitches really rubbed us the wrong way
Positives
1) Chichen Itza is as beautiful as advertised. The tour guide Paul was very knowledgeable and humorous
2) The Cenote was absolutely stunning, that may have been the highlight of the trip
Written 5 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily W
2 contributions
Mar 2025 • Couples
Overall, this was a good tour and it was really nice to see and do so many things in one day. I’ll break it down into pros/cons:
Pros:
— Our tour guide, Uli, was wonderful. I learned so much from him and he was entertaining and fun to be around.
— Getting to do so much in one day was a bonus. If you’re staying at a resort and don’t want to do multiple excursions, this is for you. (But more on this below.)
— The price is right! It’s a great price considering the resorts are charging 3x this much for the same tours. That’s why we booked here instead.
Cons:
— It’s a long day. We were gone exactly 12 hours. We’re travelers and used to being up and out early and active all day, and even for us this was an exhausting day. It’s hot and you’re on and off the bus a lot. If you’re not used to doing so much, this might be a lot for you.
— There were two extra stops not included on the tour description. The first stop is in a little town where you stop at a large gift shop. This place is clearly working with the tour company as they try and sell you everything here and claim it’s the highest quality. Maybe it is, or maybe it’s just really expensive because you’re a tourist. Who knows. We spent about 45 minutes here and it would’ve been nice to have that time at Chichen Itza or Cenote instead. The second thing that wasn’t included in the description was a tequila tasting in Valladolid. I was under the assumption we’d have a small tour and free time in Valladolid, but instead we spent 30-40 minutes inside a tiny gift shop (like we were crammed in there) doing a tequila tasting. No free time to walk around at all (though you could leave the tequila tasting if you wanted to, but you’re left with like 15 minutes and that’s it).
— The large bus was mostly comfortable but it was very tight (if you’re tall or big, be warned!) and there were points where it was WAY too hot.
— The cenote is really cool and a fun place to swim, but it is very tourist-ey so expect crowds. If you’re not swimming, it’s a lot of time to spend there.
This would’ve been a perfect tour if we had skipped the first gift shop stop, had more time at the Chichen Itza and more time to explore Valladolid. The tour seems pretty focused on selling you things from their preferred vendors, which is why they make the extra stops.
We had a good time on the tour and are glad we went, it was just a very long day and the extra stops were annoying.
Pros:
— Our tour guide, Uli, was wonderful. I learned so much from him and he was entertaining and fun to be around.
— Getting to do so much in one day was a bonus. If you’re staying at a resort and don’t want to do multiple excursions, this is for you. (But more on this below.)
— The price is right! It’s a great price considering the resorts are charging 3x this much for the same tours. That’s why we booked here instead.
Cons:
— It’s a long day. We were gone exactly 12 hours. We’re travelers and used to being up and out early and active all day, and even for us this was an exhausting day. It’s hot and you’re on and off the bus a lot. If you’re not used to doing so much, this might be a lot for you.
— There were two extra stops not included on the tour description. The first stop is in a little town where you stop at a large gift shop. This place is clearly working with the tour company as they try and sell you everything here and claim it’s the highest quality. Maybe it is, or maybe it’s just really expensive because you’re a tourist. Who knows. We spent about 45 minutes here and it would’ve been nice to have that time at Chichen Itza or Cenote instead. The second thing that wasn’t included in the description was a tequila tasting in Valladolid. I was under the assumption we’d have a small tour and free time in Valladolid, but instead we spent 30-40 minutes inside a tiny gift shop (like we were crammed in there) doing a tequila tasting. No free time to walk around at all (though you could leave the tequila tasting if you wanted to, but you’re left with like 15 minutes and that’s it).
— The large bus was mostly comfortable but it was very tight (if you’re tall or big, be warned!) and there were points where it was WAY too hot.
— The cenote is really cool and a fun place to swim, but it is very tourist-ey so expect crowds. If you’re not swimming, it’s a lot of time to spend there.
This would’ve been a perfect tour if we had skipped the first gift shop stop, had more time at the Chichen Itza and more time to explore Valladolid. The tour seems pretty focused on selling you things from their preferred vendors, which is why they make the extra stops.
We had a good time on the tour and are glad we went, it was just a very long day and the extra stops were annoying.
Written 12 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anonymous
8 contributions
Pros:
We had great time on this tour. The guides were very knowledgeable, kind and funny.
You don’t have to stick with the group at Chichen Itza - you can go by yourself which is great if you want to get away from the large crowd for better pics.
The buffet lunch was excellent with lots of options.
The bus in air-conditioned and comfy.
Tequila tasting was great - they barely tasted like alcohol!
Cons:
The tour group is huge (60 ish people) and you take a large bus. It feels very touristy and crowded at times.
The itinerary is not as advised - we had an extra stop at a village in the morning which was a bit boring - we wanted to get to Chichen Itza early as stated to beat crowds.
There is a lot of information overload (this is fine if you are just on a singular holiday to Mexico and want to learn about the Mayan culture - but we have been travelling through Central America for 2 months now and already knew most things they told us).
The cenote is a bit of a scam. It is mandatory to buy and wear life jackets, despite the water being shallow. I wasn’t going to swim so did not get a life jacket, but wasn’t even allowed to go down to the cenote for pictures, even if I wasn’t swimming.
The cenote itself is quite underwhelming compared to others - I’d recommend finding a tour that goes to a closed cenote such as Cenote X’ux Ha or Cenote Suytan (they are much more spectacular, and you don’t need a life jacket!)
We had great time on this tour. The guides were very knowledgeable, kind and funny.
You don’t have to stick with the group at Chichen Itza - you can go by yourself which is great if you want to get away from the large crowd for better pics.
The buffet lunch was excellent with lots of options.
The bus in air-conditioned and comfy.
Tequila tasting was great - they barely tasted like alcohol!
Cons:
The tour group is huge (60 ish people) and you take a large bus. It feels very touristy and crowded at times.
The itinerary is not as advised - we had an extra stop at a village in the morning which was a bit boring - we wanted to get to Chichen Itza early as stated to beat crowds.
There is a lot of information overload (this is fine if you are just on a singular holiday to Mexico and want to learn about the Mayan culture - but we have been travelling through Central America for 2 months now and already knew most things they told us).
The cenote is a bit of a scam. It is mandatory to buy and wear life jackets, despite the water being shallow. I wasn’t going to swim so did not get a life jacket, but wasn’t even allowed to go down to the cenote for pictures, even if I wasn’t swimming.
The cenote itself is quite underwhelming compared to others - I’d recommend finding a tour that goes to a closed cenote such as Cenote X’ux Ha or Cenote Suytan (they are much more spectacular, and you don’t need a life jacket!)
Written 5 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Austin A
2 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Tour guide was enthusiastic, nice and took good care of the group overall. The tour bus could have been a little colder but was in good working condition and generally clean. They had cold bottles of water for us at multiple points which were nice in the Yucatan heat.
Made a stop on the way for a short learning experience that seemed geared toward getting you to spend money in an overpriced shop. It was clear that the guide or company was getting a commission on this due to them asking for our group number (we weren’t wearing ours) during checkout.
Chichen Itza was super cool, but the enormous amount of vendors selling the exact same products kind of ruined it for me. For perspective, I would estimate that my girlfriend and I were probably solicited atleast 300 times - if not more. The vendors are lined along every trail and corridor and use shady (and extremely annoying) sales tactics to try to get business. Almost all of them are selling the exact same products. We decided to grab a cocktail on the way out and the drinks were low quality and 50% more expensive than the high quality drinks we have received from various bars and restaurants throughout the week in Cancun and at Isla Mujeres. They also tried to slide in a 10% gratuity without our knowledge or clear labeling on the check. We typically tip 20% if the service is atleast average but in this case we kept our pesos and moved on.
We then arrived at the cenote location where we had a quick buffet lunch (it was buffet food - but no complaints) the drinks were very well priced (approximately 120 pesos for a standard cocktail) and I would say average quality.
We were required to rent a life jacket for the cenote and decided to rent a locker as well to store our valuables - neither were particularly expensive.
The cenote swim was a 10 out of 10 - beautiful cool water, great atmosphere and a nice wooden deck to jump off. For me this was the highlight of the tour). There were also 3 sets of stairs leading down to the water for those that didn’t want to jump from the platform.
The last stop was a quick 30 minute pause in Valladollid - the city had some unique architecture and seemed like it could be a cool place to spend some time, but I kind of felt like we were just dumped out in the street to spend our last couple pesos. We had some delicious ice cream from a local shop and set out.
Overall - I would say it was a great day with some minor annoyances that just kind of pile up on you.
Made a stop on the way for a short learning experience that seemed geared toward getting you to spend money in an overpriced shop. It was clear that the guide or company was getting a commission on this due to them asking for our group number (we weren’t wearing ours) during checkout.
Chichen Itza was super cool, but the enormous amount of vendors selling the exact same products kind of ruined it for me. For perspective, I would estimate that my girlfriend and I were probably solicited atleast 300 times - if not more. The vendors are lined along every trail and corridor and use shady (and extremely annoying) sales tactics to try to get business. Almost all of them are selling the exact same products. We decided to grab a cocktail on the way out and the drinks were low quality and 50% more expensive than the high quality drinks we have received from various bars and restaurants throughout the week in Cancun and at Isla Mujeres. They also tried to slide in a 10% gratuity without our knowledge or clear labeling on the check. We typically tip 20% if the service is atleast average but in this case we kept our pesos and moved on.
We then arrived at the cenote location where we had a quick buffet lunch (it was buffet food - but no complaints) the drinks were very well priced (approximately 120 pesos for a standard cocktail) and I would say average quality.
We were required to rent a life jacket for the cenote and decided to rent a locker as well to store our valuables - neither were particularly expensive.
The cenote swim was a 10 out of 10 - beautiful cool water, great atmosphere and a nice wooden deck to jump off. For me this was the highlight of the tour). There were also 3 sets of stairs leading down to the water for those that didn’t want to jump from the platform.
The last stop was a quick 30 minute pause in Valladollid - the city had some unique architecture and seemed like it could be a cool place to spend some time, but I kind of felt like we were just dumped out in the street to spend our last couple pesos. We had some delicious ice cream from a local shop and set out.
Overall - I would say it was a great day with some minor annoyances that just kind of pile up on you.
Written 12 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JW
3 contributions
Sites are definitely worth visiting, but there is something very fishy about this company.
Hotel pickup:
- They changed our pickup spot the night before, we had to walk 3 hotels down from where we were staying. The bus was late to pick us up, and then they drove right by our actual hotel later, so not really sure why our pickup spot was changed.
- They assign seats. When we asked if we could sit more towards the front because we get car sick, Cesar said “no, it’s assigned. You can sit closer to the bathroom if you want. Or, I’ll get you a bag.” First four rows were using for loose pamphlets, a couple bags, and the guide.
- Hotel pickup took a long time, waited around for people who were late.
Cesar’s (Guide’s) “info” along the way:
- “tourists just want to take some pictures and complain about the heat. Don’t be a tourist, be a traveler. I don’t like tourists. If you’re going to stand there and look around and not be interested in the culture and history, then you can go explore by yourself, we don’t want those vibes.”
- “Tips are not included, but if you think we deserve them, we appreciate them. Some people just walk off the bus at the end without giving anything, and that’s fine I guess but i mean, we get up at 4am and probably wont be done until 9pm.”
Cenote:
- Food was okay. No beverage included, can’t bring drink your own water that you brought.
- Life jacket mandatory, another fee to pay if you want to go swimming
Gift shop stop seemed unnecessary. Not enough time in the colonial town to really explore, so wasn’t worth the stop either.
They passive aggressively shame you for not spending money at the local shops they promote.
At the end, they ask you to review the trip, and they come by with a QR code for you to scan. That takes you to a Trip Advisor site that reviews “Prime One Tours,” which is obviously NOT what you booked. This trip is “5.0 stars with 18k+ reviews.” Prime One Tours has 702 reviews. I went to the Trip Advisor app to review it directly.
Take home advice: go with a different company, perhaps Xcaret, who have a much bigger presence on all things tourist.
Hotel pickup:
- They changed our pickup spot the night before, we had to walk 3 hotels down from where we were staying. The bus was late to pick us up, and then they drove right by our actual hotel later, so not really sure why our pickup spot was changed.
- They assign seats. When we asked if we could sit more towards the front because we get car sick, Cesar said “no, it’s assigned. You can sit closer to the bathroom if you want. Or, I’ll get you a bag.” First four rows were using for loose pamphlets, a couple bags, and the guide.
- Hotel pickup took a long time, waited around for people who were late.
Cesar’s (Guide’s) “info” along the way:
- “tourists just want to take some pictures and complain about the heat. Don’t be a tourist, be a traveler. I don’t like tourists. If you’re going to stand there and look around and not be interested in the culture and history, then you can go explore by yourself, we don’t want those vibes.”
- “Tips are not included, but if you think we deserve them, we appreciate them. Some people just walk off the bus at the end without giving anything, and that’s fine I guess but i mean, we get up at 4am and probably wont be done until 9pm.”
Cenote:
- Food was okay. No beverage included, can’t bring drink your own water that you brought.
- Life jacket mandatory, another fee to pay if you want to go swimming
Gift shop stop seemed unnecessary. Not enough time in the colonial town to really explore, so wasn’t worth the stop either.
They passive aggressively shame you for not spending money at the local shops they promote.
At the end, they ask you to review the trip, and they come by with a QR code for you to scan. That takes you to a Trip Advisor site that reviews “Prime One Tours,” which is obviously NOT what you booked. This trip is “5.0 stars with 18k+ reviews.” Prime One Tours has 702 reviews. I went to the Trip Advisor app to review it directly.
Take home advice: go with a different company, perhaps Xcaret, who have a much bigger presence on all things tourist.
Written 16 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VICTOR
Libreville, Gabon28 contributions
I had an amazing experience with SAT Mexico Tours on their Chichén Itzá, Cenote, and Valladolid tour! Everything was well-organized, smooth, and truly unforgettable.
Our guide, Tony, was absolutely fantastic—knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about Mayan history and culture. He made our visit to Chichén Itzá incredibly informative and fun, sharing fascinating insights and answering all of our questions with enthusiasm. His storytelling really brought the ruins to life!
After exploring Chichén Itzá, we headed to a stunning cenote for a refreshing swim. The experience was incredible—until I realized I had lost my Apple Watch in the cenote! I was devastated, thinking there was no way I’d ever get it back. I immediately informed Tony and the SAT Mexico team, and they were so supportive and willing to help. They went above and beyond, speaking with the cenote staff and arranging for a professional diver to search for it. The diver charged $200, but incredibly, within 48 hours, he found my watch! I couldn’t believe it.
The fact that SAT Mexico Tours took the time to coordinate everything and genuinely cared about helping me recover my lost item speaks volumes about their dedication to customer service.
To top off an already incredible day, we visited Valladolid, a charming colonial town where we explored the streets.
If you’re looking for a professional, reliable, and customer-focused tour company in Mexico, SAT Mexico Tours is the best choice! A huge thank you to Tony and the entire team for making this experience so special—and for helping me get my Apple Watch back! Highly recommended!
Our guide, Tony, was absolutely fantastic—knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about Mayan history and culture. He made our visit to Chichén Itzá incredibly informative and fun, sharing fascinating insights and answering all of our questions with enthusiasm. His storytelling really brought the ruins to life!
After exploring Chichén Itzá, we headed to a stunning cenote for a refreshing swim. The experience was incredible—until I realized I had lost my Apple Watch in the cenote! I was devastated, thinking there was no way I’d ever get it back. I immediately informed Tony and the SAT Mexico team, and they were so supportive and willing to help. They went above and beyond, speaking with the cenote staff and arranging for a professional diver to search for it. The diver charged $200, but incredibly, within 48 hours, he found my watch! I couldn’t believe it.
The fact that SAT Mexico Tours took the time to coordinate everything and genuinely cared about helping me recover my lost item speaks volumes about their dedication to customer service.
To top off an already incredible day, we visited Valladolid, a charming colonial town where we explored the streets.
If you’re looking for a professional, reliable, and customer-focused tour company in Mexico, SAT Mexico Tours is the best choice! A huge thank you to Tony and the entire team for making this experience so special—and for helping me get my Apple Watch back! Highly recommended!
Written 14 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quiero reservar y estaré en el hotel Mezcal, calle Mero 12. Pasan a recoger por este hotel? En el caso de que no, cual es el punto de recogida más cercano?
Written 18 March 2025
É destinado um tempo para quem não tem ingresso comprado adquirir o ingresso na entrada de Chichen Itzá?
Written 25 February 2025
Hi, how safe is this tour? I have heard certain parts of Mexico can be a bit unsafe in terms of scams and thieves.
Written 15 January 2025
We felt very safe. A big group helps. Cesar even took the time to explain how to avoid getting scammed by unscrupulous vendors.
Written 9 March 2025
Can you buy the Chichen Itza entrance ticket online beforehand instead of paying on the bus?
Written 5 January 2025
You can pay an extra package online with other perks (additional drinks etc). I guess you can but it online directly on the website of chichen itza but tou would have to queue to redeem it which can be longer
Written 27 February 2025
LKN
Knoxville, Tennessee
Hola. Podemos comenzar en Akumal y terminar cerca del aeropuerto de Cancún? En un minivan para 10 personas?
Written 31 December 2024
Would you say its worth the money?
Written 28 December 2024
Absolutely. We had five of our grandchildren with us. We loved our tour guide (and our driver). She made it very nice and informative both for adults and children. I definitely recommend it. Keep in mind that we had a private tour, which I also definitely recommend. This is a long tour from Cancun and tour busses spend extra time picking up tourists from different resorts. We were more grateful on our way from Chichen Itza to Cenote when we saw the long lines of tourists waiting to board numerous busses (under the sun) and we got on our vehicle and left.
Written 19 March 2025
Hi! We are staying at Hotel Planet Hollywood Cancun in playa Costa Mujeres. Can you come pick us up from the hotel?
Written 16 December 2024
Hola, quería consultar si hay alguna opción para luego de que termine el tour trasladarme nuevamente a mi hotel en zona hotelera? O de la contrario dónde finaliza el tour y si hay alguna opción que me recomienden para volver a la zona hotelera,gracias
Written 17 November 2024
Hello
Is it possible for Vegetarian lunch?
Written 15 November 2024
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.