Playa del Carmen · EK BALAM TOURS

14 Ek Balam Tours to Book This Trip

14 tours  ·  from $69 a head

The good ek balam tours on this coast fill weeks ahead in the dry season. Below: the 14 to reserve early, what each includes and how they differ.

Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour - Why the early start is worth it
Buffet Experiences, Chichen Itza Tours, Ek Balam Tours, Lunch Experiences, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour

1.Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 588 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $89Our pick

Leave Playa del Carmen early for guided visits to Ek Balam and Chichén Itzá, with time to explore on your own at Ek Balam. Then cool off with a cenote swim and eat a Mexican buffet. Expect a small group of up to 15, a bilingual guide, round-trip transport, and extra archaeological taxes.

“We had a wonderful tour to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam. Kevin and Santos were excellent guides. I highly recommend this tour!!”

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Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Hubiku Cenote- Small Group - Hubiku Cenote: a swim and a proper lunch break
Chichen Itza Tours, Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews

Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Hubiku Cenote- Small Group

2.Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Hubiku Cenote- Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 176 reviews · from $179

Travel with a guide and a group of no more than 14 from Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya to Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Hubiku Cenote. Expect breakfast, a buffet lunch, and time to swim. Chichen Itza admission costs an extra $40 per adult; Ek Balam and the cenote are included.

“It involves a lot of driving, but it's worth the drive. Chichen Itza is amazing. So is the underground Cenote (Hubiku). Wonderful tour guide. Lot's of interesting facts. If you're looking for souvenirs, the many venders on site have some great things at very reasonable prices.”

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Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam- Small Group - Climbing the acropolis at Ek Balam
Chichen Itza Tours, Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews

Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam- Small Group

3.Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam- Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $185Top rated

Travel by minibus from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, or nearby Riviera Maya lodging to Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku, and Ek Balam. A guide leads the site visits, while breakfast, lunch, and two entrance fees are included. Chichen Itza’s separate cash access fee is extra.

“My partner and I ended up being the only ones on the tour (because we were unable to change days) and had a fabulous time!!! Our guide was Joel, and he was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. It was an amazing adventure day.”

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Ek Balam, Mayan Cenote and Valladolid - Valladolid is a short pause, not a full visit
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Ek Balam, Mayan Cenote and Valladolid

4.Ek Balam, Mayan Cenote and Valladolid

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $199

Travel from Playa del Carmen or Cancun with a bilingual guide to Ek Balam, where you can climb the Acropolis and learn about Mayan history. Then visit Yalcobá for a shaman ceremony, an obsidian workshop, tequila and mezcal tastings, a cenote swim, and regional lunch. Guides such as Ricardo and Felix, and driver Luis, have been part of the experience.

“A little long-10 hours from pickup to drop off-but very enjoyable. Great guide and everyone from Cancun Adventures. Really liked the ruins and cenote and lunch. And ample water and snacks. Could have skipped brief tour of Valladolid, come back after cenote/lunch.”

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From Riviera Maya: Ek Balam & Cenote Tour w/ Lunch & Pickup - Climb the Acropolis, not just admire it
Ek Balam Tours, Lunch Experiences, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Riviera Maya: Ek Balam & Cenote Tour w/ Lunch & Pickup

5.Ek Balam & Cenote Tour w/ Lunch & Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 84 reviews · 12 hours · from $77

Travel from Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, or Tulum to climb Ek Balam with a bilingual guide, swim at Chichikan cenote, and sample local dishes at lunch. The day also includes a stop in Uayma to see its distinctive church. Expect long drives, a full schedule, and an extra site fee.

“Overall this tour was great, though I do have a few suggestions for improvements. The good- Ek Balam is a fantastic site and I am so glad we saw it. It is really cool to be able to climb many of the structures. The cenote was also really beautiful. We ended that tour at Uayma. I was confused because I thought we were going to Valladolid but this town was cool and I loved seeing the church. To improve- We picked this tour because we thought it had rental/hotel pickup. We were staying in Tulum but upon booking it redirected us to a central meetup point about a 10 min…”

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Ek Balam Majestic Mayan Ruins and Cenote Tour - A cultural stop and lunch in Kaua
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Ek Balam Majestic Mayan Ruins and Cenote Tour

6.Ek Balam Majestic Mayan Ruins and Cenote Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 39 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $169

This roughly 10-hour tour pairs Ek Balam’s Maya ruins with a cenote swim, a regional buffet, and stops in Kaua and Valladolid. Expect an INAH-certified bilingual guide, a group of up to 15, and an early pickup. Ek Balam’s Acropolis has been climbable, but check current site rules before you go.

“Eli was a great guide. Repelling into the cenote was fun and something we haven’t done at the other ones. Lunch was tasty and visit to the ruins was wonderful. We enjoyed being able to climb the structures there which is not allowed most places now. Thank you!”

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VIP Ek Balam Private Tour - Cenote Oxman brings a welcome change of pace
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VIP Ek Balam Private Tour

7.VIP Ek Balam Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $320

Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle to Ek Balam for three hours with a certified archaeological guide, then swim at open-air Cenote Oxman and have included lunch in Valladolid’s main square. Pickup is offered across Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya. A guide named Benicio has led the trip, but your guide may vary.

“We had a really great day with our guide Benicio. He was able to tell us a lot about the Mayan history, about Ek Balam, Valladolid and a lot on the way.”

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Private Ek Balam, Cenote & Valladolid tour - Climbing the Acropolis at Ek Balam
Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Private Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tulum Tours

Private Ek Balam, Cenote & Valladolid tour

8.Private Ek Balam, Cenote & Valladolid tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $320

Travel privately from Tulum to Ek Balam, where you can climb ancient structures, then ride bikes to X’Canche Cenote for a swim. Lunch and drinks are included in Temozón, followed by time in Valladolid. The tour runs about 8 to 10 hours, with an English- and Spanish-speaking guide.

“Excellent driver and host Leo— helpful in very way and a joy to be with. Excellent transportation. Guide at Ek Balam, Guierrmo, very knowledgeable/ amiable. Cenote experience fun and uncrowded (wear hiking shoes at ruins if you wish to climb pyramids; change to flip flops when you arrive cenote). Mayan themed cultural lunch unexpectedly tasty home cooking. Highly recommend. May repeat trip someday with other family members.”

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Ek Balam, Mayan traditions and cenote Chichikan - Uayma’s Santo Domingo Temple is a short final stop
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Ek Balam, Mayan traditions and cenote Chichikan

9.Ek Balam, Mayan traditions and cenote Chichikan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $69Best value

Leave Playa del Carmen at 7 a.m. for a guided visit to Ek Balam, a swim at Chichikan cenote, a buffet lunch, and a short stop at Santo Domingo Temple in Uayma. The small-group tour runs about 10 to 11 hours and includes transport and a life jacket. Admission costs extra, and English-language guiding may include more Spanish than you expect.

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Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku and Ek Balam Reduced Group - Ek Balam: carved stone and a steep climb
Chichen Itza Tours, Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews

Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku and Ek Balam Reduced Group

10.Chichen Itza, Cenote Hubiku and Ek Balam Reduced Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $179

Travel from Playa del Carmen in an air-conditioned minivan with a guide and no more than 14 other people. Spend three hours at Chichen Itza, cool off at Cenote Hubiku, then explore Ek Balam. Hubiku and Ek Balam admission, a buffet lunch, one drink, and hotel pickup are included. Chichen Itza’s separate fee is cash only.

“Had an excellent time, guides were excellent, trip was well organized, and the sites were interesting and worthwhile.”

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FROM VALLADOLID: VISIT EK' BALAM AND 2 CENOTES + LOCAL FOOD - Palomitas: a swim in a Maya community
Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Food Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Valladolid Tours

FROM VALLADOLID: VISIT EK’ BALAM AND 2 CENOTES + LOCAL FOOD

11.VISIT EK’ BALAM AND 2 CENOTES + LOCAL FOOD

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4 reviews · 8 hours · from $103

Leave Valladolid by air-conditioned vehicle for Ek' Balam, then swim at Palomitas and Xcanahaltun cenotes before a regional lunch back in town. A driver handles transport, not an archaeological-site guide. Mica has driven recent trips. Budget extra for all three entrance fees and site parking.

“Ww had a fantastic day! Our driver, Mica, has great English and was super friendly and helpful! we ended up being the only 2 on the tour today, likely in part because of the rain. Ek Balam itself was incredible, as were both cenotes, particularly Cenote Xcanahultan! We had it to ourselves for 45 minutes, also perhaps due to it being a rainy day. Absolutely stunning!”

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FROM VALLADOLID CHICHÉN ITZÁ + EK'BALAM + CENOTE (PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION) - Ek’ Balam: a pyramid you can climb
Chichen Itza Tours, Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Private Tours, Playa del Carmen Transfers, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Valladolid Tours

FROM VALLADOLID CHICHÉN ITZÁ + EK’BALAM + CENOTE (PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION)

12.FROM VALLADOLID CHICHÉN ITZÁ + EK’BALAM + CENOTE (PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 reviews

Leave Valladolid at 7:20 am for Chichén Itzá, Ek’ Balam, and Cenote Hubiku, with private air-conditioned transport for a group of up to two. You’ll have time at both archaeological sites, then swim, sample tequila, and eat a Yucatecan buffet. The driver speaks Spanish; site guides are optional and not included.

“Nathanael drove us around all day in a comfy car with air conditioning. He took us to the attractions and helped us get a guide. At the agreed time, he was ready to drive us to the next attraction. Great!”

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Chichen Itza, Ek Balam & Cenote - Private Tour - Ek Balam brings a different kind of encounter
Chichen Itza Tours, Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Private Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Valladolid Tours

Chichen Itza, Ek Balam & Cenote – Private Tour

13.Chichen Itza, Ek Balam & Cenote – Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 12 hours · from $507

Spend 12 hours exploring Chichen Itza and Ek Balam with a private certified guide in English or Spanish. See Ek Balam’s royal tomb and climb its 32-meter acropolis, then enjoy a Yucatecan buffet and swim at Cenote Saamal. Transport, site admissions, bottled water, snacks, and the meal are included. No guide name is provided.

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From Valladolid: Ek Balam + 2 Cenotes + Traditional Food - Ek Balam: climb the Acropolis, then look closer
Ek Balam Tours, Playa del Carmen Food Tours, Riviera Maya Cenote Tours, Tour Reviews, Valladolid Tours

From Valladolid: Ek Balam + 2 Cenotes + Traditional Food

14.Ek Balam + 2 Cenotes + Traditional Food

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · from $98

From Valladolid, travel by air-conditioned transport to Ek Balam, Cenote Palomitas, and Cenote Xcanahaltun, then have a traditional lunch. The eight-hour trip includes pickup, a Spanish-speaking driver, and groups of up to 10. Ek Balam and cenote entry fees are extra, and a guide at the ruins is optional.

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