Ek Balam, Cenote & Valladolid Experience

Poor tour guide and not much to explore

I'm giving this tour **2 stars** only because the cenote was beautiful. The scenery was amazing, and swimming there was the highlight of the day. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was disappointing. There were only two of us, plus the guide and the driver, so we expected a more personal and informative tour. The driver was friendly and professional, but the tour guide seemed tired, sleepy, and lacked enthusiasm. He spent about 15 minutes talking about Mayan traditions in the car, then at the Ek Balam Ruins he gave only a brief explanation before leaving us to explore on our own for about 30 minutes. When it was time to meet, we couldn't even find him and had to make our own way to the exit before spotting him. At the cenote, he simply told us to be back in one hour. He didn't explain where to go, how to get there, or that everyone is required to shower before entering the water. We had to figure everything out ourselves by asking other people. A tour guide should prepare guests with this kind of basic information. Lunch also felt like a sales stop. The restaurant didn't allow outside drinks, so guests were expected to buy drinks there, and we were also taken to a souvenir shop even though we weren't interested in shopping. At the end of the tour, we tipped the guide **200 pesos**, but instead of thanking us, he said, **"Really? Do you have any more?"** That was unprofessional and made us feel pressured. Overall, the cenote and the driver were the only highlights. The guide provided very little information, seemed disengaged throughout the day, and then pressured us for a larger tip. I would not recommend this tour

via Viator

Amazing tour and experience

The guide and driver were wonderful. Very knowledgable and friendly. Marcos was the best! Had a great time.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great time and that both your guide and driver made your experience so enjoyable. We’re especially happy to know that Marcos stood out—he will be delighted to receive your recognition. Our team takes great pride in delivering friendly, knowledgeable, and memorable service to every guest. We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you again on your next visit. Please feel free to reach out directly—we’d love to help you plan another unforgettable experience.

via Viator

A terrible disappointment all around!

Horrible experience! Pickup supposed to be 7:00 a.m. At 8;00 someone showed up to say two other groups had to be picked up first and we would be at 8:15 (no notice earlier). Then he said our tour does not go to Cenote Maya at all (the reason we were willing to pay for this tour instead of taking the free one offered by the resort). So we canceled and were promised a full refund, which we had better receive in short order or we will pursue all alternatives. One star only because that field is required--should be ZERO1

Response from the operator: We are truly sorry to read about your experience, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration caused. What you described regarding the delay, lack of prior communication, and confusion about the itinerary—especially concerning the visit to Cenote Maya—is not the level of service we aim to provide. We completely understand your decision to cancel under those circumstances. Please rest assured that your refund is being processed as promised. If you have not yet received confirmation, we kindly ask you to contact us directly so we can prioritize and ensure this is resolved for you as quickly as possible. Your feedback is extremely important and has been shared with our operations team to address both communication protocols and itinerary accuracy. Situations like this are taken very seriously, as we are committed to providing clear, reliable, and enjoyable experiences for all our guests. We regret that we were not able to deliver the experience you expected, and we hope you might consider giving us another opportunity in the future to provide the level of service we are known for.

via Tripadvisor

Unique, less crowded and adventurous trip for the whole family!

Amazing tour! The Cenote was our all-time favorite. It was quiet, peaceful, and adventurous for the kids. The whole family was able to repel down into the cenote, zip line, jump from various platforms, relax in tubes and kayak around the cenote. Our family was the only one down in the cenote and it was so great having it to ourselves. The tour guide was informative and friendly. Ek Balam wasn’t crowded at all, and it was fun to be able to climb to the top of the ruins. It was a little off the beaten path with the 2 Hour Dr. each way and a little more driving in between, but I would absolutely recommend it to get away from the crowds and enjoy a unique experience! The whole family gives this five stars!

Response from the operator: Many thanks for taking the time to leave your kind words and observations following your recent excurtion, activitie or tour. I was delighted that you’ve enjoyed all the details we take pride in offering our guests. As is our regular practice, we’ve been happy to share your lovely remarks to our team who take so much pride in ensuring that all of our guests only receive the very best service

via Tripadvisor

Would do this your hands down!

The cenote was amazing! Zip lining down into it was breathtaking and the Zipline and jumps made it a blast to stay and take in the beautiful rock formations and crystal clear water. The guide Luis was amazing and we learned so much from him about the Mayan culture. The ruins were just as amazing. The ability to climb on them still and see them up close and personal is why we chose them over the more popular ones. The lunch was decent and the shaman purification was a neat experience. We took our 18 year old daughter and she loved it. She said it was her favorite part of the trip.

via Viator