Chichen Itza & Ek Balam Tour From Cancun

Julio is a VERY...

Julio is a VERY PASSIONATE GUIDE an a good care taker too! Deep knowledge of the Mayan history! Both Sites are a MUST SEE!!!

via Viator

Option for ek Balam and chitzen itza.

We really enjoyed seeing both Ek Balam and Chichen Itza on the same day. There are limited tours that offer this option which is why we chose this. We were picked up at hotel (Cancun hotel zone) at 7:45 am. Picked up another group south of Cancun which significantly added to drive time. Went to Ek Balam first & had time to walk around and climb to top and see the carvings. Then we went to lunch at a tourist trap store and lunch. Lunch was buffet and good. Do not buy the added drink package as not worth it- 20$ for 2 drinks. After lunch drove to chichen itza which was truly amazing! Our guide did discuss the Mayan calendar, showed us photos of the snake. Then we had 45 minutes to explore the site. We walked to the cenote and also viewed the ball court. We could have spent hours here which is the downside of this tour option. The cenote was fun but a little chaotic to get the lockers, changed, into the cenote, changed and back to the van. We made it back to our hotel at 9pm. There were water bottles offered at the sites but no other drink options offered as advertised for your extra drink package. This was a lot of drive time but we really enjoyed seeing Ek Balam and Chichen Itza in the same day. I would have preferred a picnic lunch and more time at the sites.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed visiting both Ek Balam and Chichen Itza on the same day—it’s definitely a unique and ambitious itinerary, and we’re glad it gave you the opportunity to explore both incredible sites. We appreciate your honest feedback regarding the long drive time, lunch stop, and the drink package.We’re also glad you found the lunch buffet enjoyable and that your guide was informative and engaging during the Chichen Itza visit. It’s such a special place, and we completely understand wanting more time there! Thank you again for traveling with us and for helping us improve with your detailed review. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!

via Tripadvisor

Biggest issue was late...

Biggest issue was late pickup, and surprise fees. It took a few times reaching out to the tour operator or get a confirmed pickup location and time, and once it was confirmed, they were very nearly an hour late. Calling the three phone numbers provided got no answer, but after a while I did receive a text. We were told they'd be ten more minutes, but it was closer to 30, and the van arrived to pick us up at the hotel, where we waited close to five more while they called out the wrong name. Read the fine print carefully to not be surprised by "taxes" that nearly double the cost of the tour, after you've already paid through Viator. And then, be prepared for a surprise charge of $4 USD per person for life vests which are mandatory to swim at the cenote. Add in fees for lockers at the cenote, and tips at lunch (which servers are somewhat aggressive in seeking), and you should be prepared to spend much more than you thought. ...but. The tour itself was quite good. Knowledge guide, and incredible sites. It's a lot to do in one day, so you won't have enough time to really go in depth at either archaeological site, but that's the cost of hitting both in one go. Chichen Itza is a vast site, which goes WAY beyond the iconic pyramid temple. Take the opportunity to explore it. Ek Balam is less well known, but also less crowded and not at all overrun by Instagram tourists. It gives you the chance to feel more immersed in the historic experience. You can climb the main structure to see the incredible carvings and the view from the top, and enter smaller rooms in another structure. Parts of the site are unexcavated, with the jungle still covering the stone buildings. Highly recommend visiting either, or both ruins. I'd recommend shopping around before committing to this particular tour operator though.

via Viator

Highly recommended

This is such a great tour and experience. The whole day was filed with educational learning. The bus transportation was great. Thank you

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Trip Cancelled without notice

We woke up the morning of the trip to find that, upon checking the website, our tour had been cancelled. I received no email or any type of message to alert me of the cancellation. We were not charged.

Response from the operator: Hello logant531, thank you for sharing your observations with us. We understand your concerns and have noted your observations to improve our service and bring only the best experiences to our clients.

via Tripadvisor