This Chichen Itza and Ek Balam tour pairs the famous ruins with a visit to Ek Balam, a quieter Maya site where you can still climb the main pyramid for a jungle view. The day also includes a buffet lunch and a swim at Cenote Chichi Kan. Prices start from around $59 per person for a 12-hour day with an early 6 am meeting time.

What makes this Chichen Itza & Ek Balam tour different?

Ek Balam gets a fraction of the visitors that Chichen Itza does, and unlike the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, climbing is still allowed at Ek Balam, which makes it a genuinely different kind of stop rather than a smaller copy of the same experience. Visiting early in the morning also means fewer crowds at both sites before the bigger tour buses arrive.

What does the Chichen Itza, Ek Balam & cenote tour include?

The price covers a bilingual guide for both archaeological sites, admission to the cenote, and a buffet lunch. Hotel pickup is included only on options that specify it; otherwise you meet the guide directly at Plaza Las Perlas at 6 am. The cenote life vest, lockers and the roughly 56 USD combined site fees are paid separately.

Who should book this tour?

This suits travelers who want to see more than just Chichen Itza and do not mind a very early start to fit in a second site. If climbing a real pyramid matters to you and Chichen Itza's own pyramid is roped off to climbers, Ek Balam is the place on this itinerary where that is still possible.

Is the Chichen Itza & Ek Balam tour worth it?

Yes, if seeing a second, less crowded Maya site and climbing a real pyramid matter to you. At around $59, it is one of the cheaper full-day options on this site, largely because Ek Balam itself has lower entrance costs than Chichen Itza alone. If an early 6 am start does not suit your trip, a later-departing single-site tour like the Cancun departure will be more convenient.

Getting to the Plaza Las Perlas meeting point

The default meeting point is Plaza Las Perlas at 6:00 am; check whether your specific booking option includes hotel pickup instead, since that changes where and when you need to be ready. Being even a few minutes late can mean missing the vehicle, given how early the departure is.

Insider tips for the Ek Balam and Chichen Itza combo

Wear shoes with real grip if you plan to climb the pyramid at Ek Balam, since the steps are steep and uneven. Bring cash for the combined archaeological site fees, which must be paid by credit card at Chichen Itza specifically, so carry a card as well in case cash is not accepted at every point.

Prices and what to expect

Prices start from around $59 per person and can vary with season and the hotel pickup option selected. Expect a very early start and a long day, typically returning in the early evening.

How does it compare to other Chichen Itza tours?

Against the Coba and Chichen Itza combo, this tour swaps Coba's jungle causeways for Ek Balam's climbable pyramid, and adds lunch as standard rather than optional. Against the single-site Cancun departure, this is the pick for anyone who wants a second archaeological site in the same day.