From Merida, Chichen Itza Citadel, Cenote Tsukan with Izamal

This private tour from Mérida visits three places: the citadel of Chichen Itza, Cenote Tsukan and the town of Izamal. It is run by a guide-driver who speaks Spanish and English, and the itinerary lists a total of 570 minutes, with hotel pick-up in the morning and a return to your hotel in the evening.

The day starts with a 7:30 a.m. pick-up and a direct transfer to Chichen Itza, arriving around 9:00 a.m. There is time to buy tickets and use the restrooms, and the guided visit starts around 9:30 and lasts about an hour and a half. The guide explains the main buildings, the coexistence of Toltec and Mayan cultures, and the features seen in the glyphs, their religion and their trade.

Next comes the cenote named Tsukan, after the snake said to protect water and cenotes. Arrival is around 11:30 a.m. and the visit lasts about an hour and a half. The itinerary adds that you visit a traditional Mayan house, make your own tortilla on a comal and see how traditional Yucatecan seasonings are prepared. It also mentions the alternative of the Yokdzonot cenote.

Around 1:00 p.m. you head to Izamal, the first Magic Town of Yucatán, known as the City of Three Cultures. Arrival is around 2:00 p.m., with a stop at a local restaurant for food and drinks, which are not included. At about 3:30 p.m. you tour the convent, built on the ruins of an ancient pyramid, which the listing says has the second largest atrium in the world after St. Peter's in the Vatican. The return leaves around 4:30 p.m. and reaches your hotel about 5:30 p.m.

The tour is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels but is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health. Bottled water and umbrellas for the archaeological zone and Izamal are included, and the vehicle is air conditioned.

On costs, Chichen Itza admission is not included: 697 MXN for foreign visitors and 310 MXN for Mexicans. Lunch and tips are also excluded. There is a contradiction about the cenote: the inclusions and description say the ticket is included, while the itinerary says the guide helps you buy tickets that are not included. Confirm this when you book.

Pick-up is at 7:30 a.m. from the lobby of your hotel or Airbnb within the city. The early start is deliberate, to reach Chichen Itza before the groups arriving from Cancún or Tulum and to enjoy the cool morning. The drive to Chichen Itza takes approximately 1.5 hours.