Ek Balam, Cenote & Valladolid Experience from Playa del Carmen
Description
Discover Ek Balam, a more recently excavated and restored Maya archaeological site, on this full-day guided tour. Stroll among the ancient city’s vegetation-covered temples, well-preserved sculptures, and make your way up the Acropolis pyramid for wonderful views at the top. After sightseeing, swim in the natural pools of Cenote Maya Park and then rappel and zipline in the Yucatán jungle. Enjoy a blessing ceremony led by a Maya shaman and a traditional buffet lunch. Currently, our archaeological sites remain temporarily closed for an unspecified time, meanwhile adaptations are taking place for the new health and safety measures procured by our authorities. We all are looking forward to this reopening. In the event of acquiring the activity in conjunction with an archaeological site and this should continue to be closed by the time of your visit. We will be able to carry out the rest of the activity and the cost of the visit to the archaeological zone will be reimbursed.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick-up at hotels in the Riviera Maya, providing transportation in small groups and without commercial stops.
Between 10:00 to 10:30 am is our arrival at Ek'Balam or Cenote Maya Park -according to logistics-. Ek'Balam means "black jaguar", is one of the most impressive ceremonial centers of the Mayan culture in the Yucatan Peninsula, you will be witness off the incredible infrastructure of temples and plazas. You will walk through remarkable buildings and get detailed explanations provided by your expert guide during the tour.
Arrival at Cenote Maya Native Park at 12:20 pm approximately. Refresh yourself in the most impressive cenote of 196 feet (60 m) diameter an almost perfect circular shape. You also can do optional adventure activities: swimming, diving and rappel down 85 feet (26 m). 120 kg or 264 lbs is the maximum weight for the rappel activity. Participate in an authentic mayan ritual, ceremony of blessings carried out by a maya shaman of the community. Finally you will enjoy a traditional menu made with organic orchard supplies and handmade tortillas.
Drop-off at hotels in Riviera Maya between 5:30 to 6:30 pm approximately.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If you cannot find your hotel on the list you will receive your pick-up from the nearest meeting point. Please contact us in order to confirm it.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 6 years
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring a swimsuit and sunscreen
Reviews(26)
Great unique experiences! While there was a lot of driving it was well worth it! Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely bring a card or more cash for cenote photos!
Thank you very much for sharing your experience. We are glad to see you enjoyed the trip. As you mentioned, it is a long drive however, you will enjoy it since our comfortable transportation will make this easier
Overall it was great! We would have preferred to go to the cenote last instead of first. The AC in the van was only hot air. Our tour guide, Ernesto was fantastic! We learned a lot and we are grateful! We loved meeting the Mayan shaman and learning more about the Mayan culture.
Thank you for the time to write this review. We are happy to see you learn and enjoy the mystic of Ekbalam, on the most important sites in the Mayan World, regarding the air conditioning we will verify the conditions on the vehicle to guarantee the best experience for our future travelers.
This was a fun trip! our guide, Mark, was knowledgeable and wonderful. The whole day went smoothly. We didn’t expect there to be fun activities in the cenote such as a zip line and platform for jumping. The doo was delicious. We had s great experience!
Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful experience on this incredible tour with us. We hope that you have been able to take with you an incomparable experience on your vacation. we will make sure to share your comments with Mark We hope to have you back with us very soon.
My wife and I went to the ruïnes and the cenote and the Mayan blessings. One word. Awesome. The cenote is so beautiful. You can climb down or take a zipraft. You also have stairs but they were not possible that day. The lunch after the cenote is real mayan food. Yummy 😋 The blessings is a experience you have to have when being in Mexico. The ruins are breathtaking. Throws you back in history. They were and are great people and builders. Take my word for it. If you are in Mexico in Quintana Roo, take the tour. You won’t regret it👍👍
Trip was very enjoyable and I’d definitely recommend it. Only 4/5 because the description says towels are included, so I didn’t bring one. Use of towels is NOT included and I had to put clothes back on while still wet from the cenote.
Great day our guide was extra passionate about the history maya cenote beautiful and friendly group Mood Bravo Nicolas Good continuation CORREIA family
First Cenote I have ever been to - tall cavernous rocks with deep mildly cool water - refreshing in the heat of Mexican summer. The cavern has ledges from which one can jump or dive. Families with kids of all ages enjoyed it. A nice restaurant/bar adjacent.
This was a really successful day trip characterized by culture, action, a great group and our very competent and warm tour guide Tamara. It was a lot of fun and you got to know some of the history and the country. We would always prefer Ek Balam, because it is probably much more relaxed there than on Chitzen Itza, besides, you can climb on the pyramid.
This is a smaller complex than Chichen Itza, but it is definitely worth seeing, particularly because there are not that many tourists, so the atmosphere is better. It is a relatively short, but a pleasant visit.
Very nice day and beautiful visit, accompanied by clear and interesting explanations. The swimming in the cenote was exceptional. Very professional team.
