Lunch was fabulous and the gift shop was fun. Dating to 600 A. D., this ancient pre-Hispanic settlement is enshrouded in mystery, with pyramid temples protruding majestically from the surrounding rainforest. Note that I booked the Playa del Carmen meeting point tour. You can see the outlines of skulls, eagles, and snakes carved into this eerie monument. Aim to arrive early in the morning to swerve the midday heat its hot here all year round. The lunch was lovely and Reuben was very informative and friendly! And that's from the van parking in the lot to the time we have to be back, so realistically about 1.5 hours at the archaeological site itself. It was absolute chaos and we were told that this transport was not for us and we would have to wait until 7am ( I assume we were forgotten about). Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Chichn Itz Early Access, Ek Balam & Cenote Small Group Tour? We hope you come back soon and we will follow up your opinion to improve our services. Stroll aroundthe site with no rush. Hello :) We got picked up promptly at 5:30 am from a small van where we got transfered to a tour bus. I have read reviews about the vendors being an annoyance, but I did not find that to be the case at all. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. We booked the early access tour so we could avoid the crowds. Good afternoon Ryan! The ride back seemed really long and we were exhausted. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Ek Balam is definitely a must-do as you can climb the stairs and get up close and personal to everything! Q:What is the social distancing policy during Chichn Itz Early Access, Ek Balam & Cenote Small Group Tour? Worthwhile to enjoy some culture during your beach vacation. Mayan ball games were grisly and sacred, and their importance is signified by the large number of arenas found here at Chichen Itza. Beat themultitudes and conquer one ofthe New Seven Wonders of the world with our Chichen Itza early accesstour from Playa del Carmen or Cancun! After the tour I looked up Ek Balam online and learned so much about it that wasn't told to us on site. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Three hours was not enough!!! 1.5 hours guided tour in Chichen Itza Mayan ruins. Amigo Group, Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan, Rio Secreto Nature Reserve Tours & Tickets, Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo) Tours & Tickets, CoCo Bongo Playa del Carmen Tours & Tickets, Private and Luxury - Riviera Maya & the Yucatan, Archaeology Tours - Riviera Maya & the Yucatan, Historical Tours - Riviera Maya & the Yucatan, Full-day Tours - Riviera Maya & the Yucatan, Viator Exclusive Tours - Riviera Maya & the Yucatan, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Tours & Tickets, Fundadores Park (El Zcalo) Tours & Tickets, Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) Tours & Tickets, Face masks required for travelers in public areas, Face masks required for guides in public areas, Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff, Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized, Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons. Have a guided visit to Ek Balam.
If it weren't for her wonderful attitude, we would be much more disappointed. Buffet lunch was fine and was served in an outdoor setting used by all tour groups. Yep. We were told the tour would be about 40 minutes and we'd have an hour or so to wander around. National / regional public financial support | N.A. But still bring lots of water! Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews, Terribly managed trip; would not recommend, The tour guides were great but let down by Amigo Tours, Small van tour of Ek Balam and Chichen Itza, Nice trip to the Maya Pyramid and other buildings.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. Plus the driver was texting while she drove. Playa del Carmen is only112.7 miles (181.4 km) from Chichen Itza.The ride to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen is about 2.5 hours. Like, a whole level of hot that I've never experienced before. Basically, you get three hours onsite, of which half is supposed to be guided. We only have time for the tour (and even that felt rushed). The tour guy doesn't have us on his list. Raymnd got us to the destination safely. From online research and from looking at the prices listed at the point of entry, this is wrong. Approval date | 2020-11-13 Thank you so much for your comments, we're glad to know you had a wonderful time with us. Our tour guide was very, very nice and tried very hard to give us a great time. I would highly recommend :). We got back to our hotel at 3 pm since it was an AM tour. Hello, Steve.Thank you very much for your comments, it's good to know you had a good time. Combine some of the best Yucatn sights with this fun day tour to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen. I was worried it would be so hot but there was lots of shade. Hello,Thank you very much for your comments, it's good to know you had a good time. The second hour we could explore on our own, but it did feel rushed. I agree to sign up to the newsletter and receive occasional emails from TourScanner. Frank provided us a lot of knowledge of Chichen itza. With this Viator Exclusive, your early morning visit to Chichen Itza allows you to explore the site before the crowds so you can enjoy the rest of your day on the beach. Its probably the most visited archaeological site in Mexico, with a whopping 26 buildings to discover. Cenote visit was at Selva Maya, a site also used by many tour groups. They were notified two hours after their pick up was supposed to happen that their trip had been cancelled. 4) The trip advertises that entry tickets to the two sites are included, but that you have to pay additional "taxes" to enter. We were there for 2 hours. Transport was terrible. Good afternoon! That said, there were no clocks anywhere and we were on a tight schedule. We didn't visit several of the sites the guide pointed out at the beginning of the tour, and so only saw a fraction of the complex. Someone said it was 110 degrees and also very humid . Amigo Group. You have to get up early, but the buses are very comfortable and you can catch up on a little sleep in transit.If you plan on video taping with a hand held personal video camera, please note that you are supposed to get a ticket at the entrance that costs 45 pesos (around $2.50 US). Forget about commissions and hidden fees. Then you'll have free time to explore on your own. The company cancelled on me once and never showed up when they rescheduled. Meet your certified English speaking guide who will give you a detailed explanation of architecture, culutre and the history of the Mayas.
The Mayan sites are worthwhile and I always recommend them. Theres a lot to see on your Chichen Itza day trip, with enough pyramids to keep you amused for hours. We saw almost no mosquitos of any kind at either. COVID protocols were not followed. The drive there took us through some of the more rugged and realistic Mexico. To give a balanced review, that said, the tour guides were great and they did give us a really good experience and they managed the rest of the tour very well. I'm generally a laid back person, and don't write reviews because, "hey, sometimes things happen and we just go with the flow." 4.8 / 5. Overall, I was happy with the tour. Had one stop at a convenience store on way for break (heartbreaking to see a nursing female dog with porcupine quills imbedded in its mouth so that it couldn't eat) Wished they had a humane society that could have put it out of its misery and rescue the pups. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experiences start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Getting to Chichen Itza early is highly recommended to not only beat the heat but also the crowds. When it did, it was clearly someone's personal car, which would be fine, except that it was dirty (full of the person's personal items, used maskes on the floor), and the window on the passenger's seat was missing (instead the open window was covered in layers of plastic wrap). 5) I came from Playa del Carmen and it was the most inefficient pick up/drop off. Make any change to your reservation with no extra cost until 24 before your activity, no questions asked! The last stop was Ek Balam. Most operators will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you directly to the ruins, making for a smooth day out. Usually 60 to 70% of the asking price was enough to close the deal. Our tour guide made all the difference. We're glad to know you had a wonderful time with Super Frank in Chichen Itza. He was fantastic and the stories and insights enriched the experience of being in a place with such a rich history.
If they'd have taken us to a cenote that was closer, it would've been nice to spend less time in the car. The best attention and recomendations from real local experts. Everything went better afterward. If its canceled because the minimum isnt met, youll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. We did this tour as part of a two day early access w/archaeologist package that also included Tulum. Enjoy early access to Chichen Itza with an expert archeologist guide, Skip the crowds at this World Heritage site, and visit parts of the ruins that other tours don't include, See the Kukulkan Pyramid, ball court and sacred cenote, Learn about the mysteries surrounding the site and experience its majesty with your specialized guide, Confirmation will be received at time of booking, It is recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes, Taxes of Archeological Sites are not included (48USD), This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers. You can easily visit the ruins from Playa del Carmen. No BS just good archaeological and historical facts and when something wasnt backed up by facts he said so! Greetings, Amigo Group. Super frank was our guide and extremely knowledgeable about the site. The Cenote was magical and so refreshing Please come back soon!! Mariana, Amigo tours. The "taxes" that you are asked to pay by the tour company are actually the full entry fee. Chichen Itza Early Access tickets to the archaeological site. We drove all the way there, arrived at 4:20. Early birds get the worm, everybody knows it! Good morning! Keep this in mind if you arrive and they say they're closed - I almost think they were angling for a bribe and we, with a new tour guide who didn't know, coupled with a bunch of American naivet, didn't figure it out. Knowing so helps us to improve in what we do, we work everyday to provide the best service to all our friends. You could try to game the system and hide your camera until you are in the park, but we just went ahead and paid the fee. I filed for a partial refund from Amigo and am told I should have it in a few days, though I'd much rather have visited Ek Balam. On the bus we had to pay around $50 more person for the Chichen Itza taxes and tickets. I don't think walking to the cenote was worth the time it took as you can barely see into it.
Find amazing things to do at the best price, Adults (12 years and above): 533 MXN ($26). DetailsWith this Viator Exclusive, your early morning visit to Chichen Itza allows you to explore the site before the crowds so you can enjoy the rest of your day on the beach. And the ceynote was so refreshing! Beneficiary entity | Nomad Celebration - Software, Unipessoal Lda. After lots of internet research, we settled on this tour that included Ek Balam. Rest well the night before, pickups are early The "Early Access to Chichen Itza" is a shared service and the pick up time is early in the morning. I write this as I am on the second transfer bus for our visit to Coba from Cancun. Youll then travel in an air-conditioned minivan or coach into the heart of the Yucatn Peninsula. Up the luxury with a private day trip from Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza. The visit to Chicken Itza covered a few highlights. For $49 you can enjoy early access to the site, a tour with an expert archaeological guide, and lunch. I highly recommend this tour and I have been on another tour of Chichen Itza less than a year ago that was also good. That said, I did the itinerary on my own (well, with the two others that were left stranded). Buffet lunch was underwhelming and the signs outside the location said that the buffet cost 120 pesos (about $6 USD). Bottle water and a delicious box lunch is offered for you to enjoy at any time. I guess they had transportation issues, but didnt tell me until I called (after waiting an hour). This one was way better. Daniel was a very knowledgeable guide and and so much information to give us.
This cost around 500 pesos ($25) per person and was not included. The food was great and we bought a souvenir. If you want to include a visit to the Ek Balam archaeological site on your Chichen Itza jaunt, then this is the tour for you. It was also, and I can't overstate this, VERY HOT. They were very knowledgeable about the pyramids. The Chichen Itza archaeological site is located on the Yucatn Peninsula, near the town of Valladolid. We had taken another trip with Frank before and live his matter of fact attention to detail. Skip the lines to get accessto ChcihenItza mayan ruins, and enjoy a 1.5 hour guided tour, plus 1.5 hours free time toexplore by yourself and get amazing pictures (while avoiding vendors and regularly scheduled groups). If you want to include Valladolid on your day tour to Chichen Itza, expect to pay $44 including hotel transfers and lunch.
Completion date | 2022-12-31 We truly enjoyed being able to climb around at Ekk balam and how few people were there. Took about 2 hours each way. So, now we are on the way to our van that I expected to get at the hotel. I'm not sure if it was worth it.
5:20am he tells me.
At Chichen Itza, our guide, Marco Antonio, was absolutely phenomenal, and kept everyone entertained for 2 hours. You cant climb the pyramids at Chichen Itza, but if you do want to bag a temple, opt for the tour that includes a visit to the Coba ruins. In addition, we can solve any possible problem at any time of the day within minutes. Cut-off times are based on the experiences local time. Oh, you will get in your van in Playa del Carmen. Best value for your money. There were some bees at Chichen Itza, if you avoid wearing bright, flower colored garments (yellows, pinks, reds, etc) you will dramatically reduce these inquisitive fellows, who just think they have hit the mother lode of nectar by mistaking you for a giant flower.One important note. Don't forget to bring snacks!
What a joke! Our Chichen Itza Sunrise Tour can be considered a Chichen Itza express tour from Playa del Carmen since there's no time wasted. Our tour guide, Daniel, and driver, Jorje, were amazing!
Would not recommend at all. Not sure why other tours overlook it. The Kukulkan Pyramid El Castillo in Chichen-Itza (24 m. high), was claimed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World elected in July, 7th, 2007 by the UNESCO.Chichen Itza city declined after around 1440 A.D and was not excavated until 1841 A.D. With hotel pickup and drop-off, Chichen Itza early access, guide and box lunch, this is a great option for everyone that values service and personal attention. Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Chichn Itz Early Access, Ek Balam & Cenote Small Group Tour? Ek Balam is small but underrated. Round-trip transport keeps travel logistics simple on this full-day adventure. He is very professional and loves that the customers enjoy the experience. My kids practiced climbing 106 steps for weeks before we left and were determined to get to the top of the pyramid. There is plenty of very interesting stuff for sale, and the prices are better than you will find in your resort lobby. In other words, the only ticket that's included is to the cenote (but it's a grand total of $80 pesos, and you still have to pay $50 pesos for a mandatory life jacket). But this trip was so horribly managed that I had to write something. This Tour is a shared activity and the pick up time is assigned according of each zone and the distance from each zone plus the time from the last meeting point to Chichen Itza is 2.5 - 3.0 hours approximately. Basically, I spent double for a 15 hour day where we got 1.5 hours at Chitzen Itza, a 30 minute swim in a cenote, and an underwhelming lunch. Visiting times are between 8 AM and 5 PM, with the last entry at 4 PM. This was a great trip for our family of seven. After exploring the archaeological site, youll swim in a cenote and have a short stop in the colonial city of Valladolid. BUT, it was spa-like and clearly a higher end cenote. We left at 6am and got back at around 7pm. I decided to splurge on this trip for two reasons: (1) it advertises 3 hours at Chitzen Itza and (2) it includes a visit to Ek Balam. We enjoyed stopping at the shop run by local Mayans as well. Regardless, the van waited with us for the 30 minutes it took for the car to arrive. Arrive back at your hotel at approximately 4pm. The only downside was the 'detour' on return trip to drop 2 people in Playa del Carmen (the rest of us were based in Cancun - this added c. 1 hour to the return. We arrived at 9am local time (it is 1 hour earlier there than on the coast). Bottom lineAmigo is not the way to go. Seems early to me, but OK. We were given the excuse that the archaeological society decided to close the site early, but clearly it was poor time management on the guide's part that caused us to be so late. Of course, that's not true. The food was OK, what you would expect from a buffet. There is a bar and places for people to hang out who don't want to swim. Beating the crowds to the grounds of Chichen Itza is worth getting up early for. Your Chichen Itz early morning tour (sunrise) ends with return transport to your Playa del Carmen hotel. The visit to Chichen Itza, El Bakam and the cenotes was excellent. At Tulum, they are all located outside the entrance, and at Chichen Itza they are located along the periphery of the site under some welcoming shade trees. Keep an eye out for the hoops which have remained intact over the centuries. Hopefully we make it to Coba. We also accept Paypal payments, the most widely used secure payment method in the world. Every day trip to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen is different, but all start with a hotel pick-up or collection from a central meeting point.
The tour van driver was personable but was driving somewhat recklessly as we approached and entered Cancun. Timing was perfect as we seemed to be leaving each spot as the big crowds arrived. Photography is OK and does not require any ticket. Heres what you shouldnt miss: Also known as El Castillo, this towering pyramid is the most dramatic structure youll see at the archaeological site. When the van arrived to pick us up at our hotel in Cancun, our tour guide let us know that her English is limited, even though we had booked an English tour. A quicker way of reaching Chichen Itza is on an organized tour. Be sure to check your email the night before. Thank you so much for your comments, we're glad to know you had a great time with Marco in Chichen Itza. We were picked up promptly by a very nice bus, had to transfer to another very nice bus at a meeting point as the original was headed to Tulum, and arrived before 9am. The ruins themselves are amazing, it is truly a magical place. But we never made it to Ek Balam. We got up at 4.30 am to ensure we were there in plenty of time. Normally I prefer just wandering around myself and taking pictures etc but our tour guide Marco Antonio's knowledge of Chichen Itza was outstanding, he was extremely engaging and made the whole trip a fantastic experience. After that was lunch. Even though the language was a barrier, she was great and I have only nice things to say about her. You can climb on the ruins and there is a really steep and scary set of stairs you can climb to the top of the main structure. Camera tripods of any size are prohibited at Chichen Itza so leave those at your hotel. Selva Maya is ok but not the best cenote by any means. This group tour throws in a stop at the famous Coba ruins, as a contrast to the site at Chichen Itza. Best Regards, Was meant to be early access but the bus was so late we werent there with early access. We did eat around noon local time, which was 1pm our time, so we were very hungry. Ek Balam is small so it shouldn't be a problem for any guide to describe it in depth. 1 hour 30 minutes Admission Ticket Included, DetailsHave a guided visit to Ek Balam. The Mayans used to display the severed heads of sacrificial victims and enemies on wooden spikes. My only issue with the cenote was that it was quite far from our route to Ek Balam. Once at Chichen Itza you will enjoy free time to explore at leisure or take a guided tour. We stopped once to pick up before heading to the ruins. I hadn't received notice of pickup time, so I called Amigo the day before the tour and talked to Bruce. Then you'll have free time to explore on your own. Increase the capacity to generate traffic, increase the value of completed transactions, increase the export rate in 2022, contribute to the diversification of national export markets. Visualize the prosperous Mayan empire as you gain insight into one of the ancient worlds most powerful civilizations with captivating commentary from your knowledgeable guide. Good morning Torben! The transportation to and from was great and the tour guide, Marcos, was fantastic. You can expect to be back around 4 pm. We offer a 2048-bit SSL encrypted payment platform and easy booking process. Total eligible cost | EUR 383,452.75 Enjoy Chichen Itza without the noise and hassle of crowds on this early morning tour. By the other hand, We will be on the look out for the improvement of the transportation services- I would actually recommend requesting him as a tour guide when booking this tour!
When we finally arrived a little after 4pm the tour guide went to speak to the gate admission and came back a few minutes later to explain that they'd closed early and we couldn't go in. josearo, Director de Relaciones Pblicas at Amigo Tours, responded to this review.
After another phone call to Amigo and 45 mins later, a huge tour bus pulls up. The cenote was gorgeous and very nice and cool. I am not big on group tours, I prefer to do my own thing, but I strongly recommend this tour with an archaeologist, you will get much more out of the site than you would by just wandering around. Private tours with lunch and an exclusive vehicle are $170. All your travel is taken care of, with time for independent exploration at the different destinations. 1.5 free time to explore Chichen Itza on your own. You will have an exclusive vehicle, so itinerary timings can be tailored to your requirements. It was very refreshing and I loved it!
We all loved every bit of Franks Amigo tour. The mathematics and science were honey to needs like us. Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experiences start time will not be accepted. Arrive at the colossal Chichen Itza, the ancient capital of the Mayan empire, and follow your guide as you begin your archeological adventure through the atmospheric ruins. Intervention region | Lisbon This small-group tour offers hotel pick-ups for your convenience. Enjoyed a lovely day with Frank and Ramon to Chichen Itza! You are the only ones on the trip he tells me. Cash or credit card for extra personal expenses and souvenirs. There was no communication about what had happened and it was lucky for us that we were with another couple who spoke Spanish otherwise we would have not have had a clue about what was happening and would have returned to out hotel thinking that it was all cancelled again. These unfortunate individuals were then memorialized on a stone platform, which served as a warning to the people of the city as well as outsiders. Top quality service is always guaranteed! Had a nice swim at the cenote. And it was great!!! Mask use was not enforced and in a passenger van it should be enforced. However, it was quiet during my visit. The policies on face masks and attendee health are: The policies on staff health & safety are: We took this tour with our two younger kids (ages 8 and 6). Chichen Itza Early Access with Archaeologist- Phenomenal. I would've gladly spent another $20 to get in, even if only for a few minutes. Amigo Group. This was a long day but an incredible experience! Then we began the drive to Chichen Itza. You can enjoy a Chichen Itza day tour from Playa del Carmen at any time of year.
Swap Valladolid for Ek Balam or the ruins at Coba and it costs $115 per person for a full day out. She was very nice and clearly trying very hard to accommodate us. Our tour was cancelled on the Monday but rearranged for the following day. The only downsides were being informed the day before we'd be meeting at 5am (not 6 as described) and returning for 7pm which was both earlier and later than expected. Our tour guides are Frank and raymnd. 6) Another couple on the tour mentioned that they were supposed to go the day before. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat or cap.
Daniel is Mayan and his insights into Chichen Itza were fascinating!
The trip takes 2.5 hours one way. I am the kind of person who wants DETAILS before I book a tour. Box Lunch: ham and cheese croissant or baguette, fresh fruit, 1 package of cookies, 1 bag of lays. Then we went to Cenote Saamal. Frank will be happy to receive your comment. European Union financial support | FEDER - EUR 153,381.10 Spend a little more money and book a private tour. Sorry to be critical. The positive stars are for the guides only - I cant give five stars because of the poor customer service of Amigo tours themselves. We are told that there will be a tour and then some time to wander and explore the site. But nice place to see and a good guide. Friendly English speaking guide during the whole tour. At Ek Balam I felt the guide could have been more engaging in his description of the site. You haveother90 minutes to spend on your own. It seemed quite poor and I was glad we could contribute to the local economy with our visit. Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the world. Best Regards, December and January are the peak months so avoid traveling at this time if you want to miss the crowds. Start date | 2021-01-01 You choosed the best option "Early Access to Chichen Itza" because avoid the crowds and the site is completely for our group. Create an account to save tours, things to do and travel guides to your wishlist. Our meeting time was changed from 6am to 625am. Just head northwest on the 305D and then take the 180D all the way to the site. Be prepared with frozen water bottles and towels to cover your head. Apparently no professional gear is allowed, so leave the tripod, etc at home.We went on both tours with permethrin sprayed clothes and deet on exposed skin, and did not get one bite between us at both places. The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers questions. Additional meeting points for Airbnb, hostels, etc. If you have a rental car you can journey to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen on major highways. At the end of the day, you will be driven back to Playa del Carmen. Well worth beating the crowds! Take some water and a sunhat as there isnt much shade and it does get hot. Cultural Tours, Archaeology Tours, Sightseeing Tours, Multi-day Tours, Archaeology Tours, Boat Tours, 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours, Sightseeing Tours, Fishing Charters & Tours, Sightseeing Tours, Private Tours, Archaeology Tours.
We were still waiting at 6.30 am when two other mini buses arrived full of passengers from Amigo tours , all of whom were transferred to another coach. Free USA and Canada:1 800 247 1641 You'll have early entry to the ruins he tells me. Overall a nice trip. The access to the site is "Early Access" because from Playa Del Carmen 06:00 am to Chichen Itza are 2 hours on the way and the site is open 08:00 am. There is a lot of time on the road, but this is unavoidable given the number of places we visited.