Mar 29, 2025
Fabulous day visiting Chichen Itza with Absolute Adventure tours! - Our family recently returned from Mexico having visited Chichen Itza and swimming in a cenote through a tour with Absolute Adventure. Considering it was going to be an all day trip, we splurged on a private tour to cut down on travel time. I booked directly through their website for considerable savings compared to resellers of similar tours. Our guide Cristina was full of knowledge and passion about the history of Chichen Itza. We got there right when the site opened shortly after 8am; be prepared to spend up to 4 hrs if you want the full experience. There are numerous vendors on site who are super talented artists from the nearby town. You can get a kitschy alien themed Chitzen Iza T-shirt but also beautiful one of a kind wooden masks, sculptures, obsidian carvings and a 'jaguar' (you will know when you hear it). Many vendors take credit, but recommend bringing extra pesos.
Our driver Enrique was always ready for the next trek waiting with refreshments. The second stop was a swim in the Samula Cenote which is in an enclosed cave with a small opening. Yes there are bats in the cave, not scary, but they poop. Our third stop was in Valladolid for an authentic Mexican lunch at a restaurant frequented by locals. The ala carte meal was delicious. Recommend having breakfast at your resort/rental, there are snacks provided but lunch is later in the day. Valladolid town square was a quick walk through the park as the church was closed and we already had our souvenirs. Set out at 6:15am and back at 6:00pm at our resort.....long day but so very worth it!
Thank-you Cristina and Enrique!
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Mar 23, 2025
Incredible Day! - What a fantastic tour! The guide, Alex, was passionate about what he was sharing with us. Getting to Chichen Itza before the crowds and the heat was great. Alex educated us on the Mayan culture so that we really appreciated what we were seeing. Cenote Samula was beautiful and uncrowded, cool yet not cold. The lunch at Valladolid was very good, offering a nice variety for our group of eight.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 6, 2025
Thank you Juan!! - This trip is so worth the money. Juan our tour guide was so incredibly knowledgeable about Mexico's history. He made sure we got to chichen half an hour before opening, so we were able to have pictures with the pyramid with no body else there. We went the opposite way to the other groups so everywhere we went there was only us. Him and Omar (driver) took great care of us through our the day and the food in Valladolid was amazing. We set off from our hotel at half 6 and arrived back at half 3 so it wasn't too long of a day. Can not recommend this company enough. Great value for money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 26, 2025
Creating wonderful memories - We booked a private tour to Chichen Itza, which included a cenote swim and a visit to Valladolid. The booking process was seamless: you initially pay a down payment, with the remainder due after the tour. You'll receive a confirmation via email and text, as well as a reminder two days before the tour, which includes a request for your gear size for the cenote swim.
From the moment the tour began, it was evident that Absolute Adventures is committed to providing exceptional service and creating memorable experiences tailored to individual preferences. Our pickup was scheduled for 6:30 a.m., and we were collected promptly. We met Alex, our guide, and Enrique, our driver. Alex set the tone for the day by clearly outlining the expectations and itinerary. He was considerate of our time zone difference (we are from the West Coast) and respected our need to rest on the way to Chichen Itza. He was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about the history and culture of the Mayans, ensuring we had a rich and informative experience. Alex was attentive to our needs and made adjustments to the itinerary to enhance our experience. Throughout the tour, we felt secure and well cared for. The transportation was comfortable and reliable, and all activities were conducted with a strong emphasis on safety protocols.
A highlight of the day was the cenote swim at Samula Cenote, which Alex recommended. It was not too crowded and had a magical atmosphere. He gave us ample time to enjoy it. The lunch was also excellent—my son had the cochinita pibil and declared it the best on the Yucatan Peninsula. The restaurant was uncrowded and had a very authentic feel.
I would definitely take another private tour with Absolute Adventures. Their commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and passion for creating unforgettable experiences truly set them apart. They ensured that our tour was nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 19, 2025
A fantastic Mexican experience! - What a fantastic day! Absolute Adventures runs a top notch operation, and we were so happy with our tour guide Josh. He was so welcoming and friendly, and did everything to make sure we had an enjoyable day. From the on time pickup, to the tour he gave us filled with the rich history of Chichén Itzá, to the refreshing dip in the cenote, everything surpassed our expectations. The restaurant in Valladolid where we had lunch was delicious! Great job Absolute Adventures and Josh, keep up the great work, we truly enjoyed our day with you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 12, 2025
Amazing experience with Absolute Adventure Mexico - Chichén Itzá and Cenote - My husband and I had the most incredible day with Absolute Adventure Mexico on the Chichén Itzá and Cenote tour. From the start, our guide, Juan, was amazing. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable about Mayan culture, but he was also hilarious and made the whole experience feel personal. We had great conversations on everything from personal stories to world issues, and Juan was always accommodating and engaging.
Our driver, Omar, was wonderful as well. Although his English wasn’t perfect, he made sure to join in on the fun by communicating through Juan, which made it even more enjoyable. We felt like we were able to fully be ourselves—sarcasm and all—without any hesitation.
One of the highlights was arriving early at Chichén Itzá, which helped us avoid the crowds and heat. Juan was thoughtful enough to guide us to quieter areas, which was much appreciated, as we prefer avoiding large crowds. We were able to decide what pace we moved at as well. Juan told us we could let him know if we'd like to move through things faster. It was up to us!
I highly recommend this tour! Both Juan and Omar went above and beyond to ensure we had an unforgettable day. They made sure we were comfortable, even accommodating our motion sickness. We couldn’t have asked for a better tour experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 29, 2025
Amazing private tour to Chichen Itza and cenote! - We had a great day with our guide Arturo and driver Omar! They arrived at the agreed time at our hotel and then we started the journey towards Chichen Itza. Along the way we had the opportunity to stop for coffee and use the restroom.
As we arrived early in Chichen Itza there was no line to enter and inside we were able to walk comfortably as we were there before the big tour buses arrived. Arturo was very knowledgeable and gave us the complete tour of the 3 areas inside Chichen Itza sharing fascinating facts about the Mayan civilisation. We moved at our own pace and took group pictures whenever we wanted. I also appreciated that Arturo was very respectful towards other guides waiting for our turn at different spots while other guides do not do the same.
On the way to the cenote Arturo offered us some tortas (Mexican sandwich) that were delicious and perfect after waking so much! We chose Cenote Samula because Arturo said it was normally calmer and we even got to be the only ones swimming at one moment, almost felt like our own private cenote!
The last stop was for lunch in Valladolid in a traditional Mayan restaurant and the food was excellent. This was not a touristy place just a regular restaurant with Mayan dishes that cannot be found in many places.
One thing to mention is that the driver stays in the van the whole time to we were able to leave our belongings safely there while doing the different activities.
I highly recommend this tour if you are looking for a private more customised experience, the service from the guide and driver was excellent!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 12, 2025
First in line at the gate to Chichen Itza! - Incredible experience today with Absolute Adventures doing a 2-person private tour to Chichen Itza, Cenote (Oxman), Valladolid and a stop for restaurant lunch. Thanks to our wonderful guide, Josh, and our driver, Enrique, we arrived FIRST at the gate to enter Chichen Itza and managed to get several photos with no other tourists in the background. Awesome!! They picked us up at our hotel in Playa Del Carmen at 6:15AM in the morning - and we still managed to stop for free coffee/juice/pastries and a bathroom break on the way. Thanks again to our guide Joshua who taught us a lot about the history of Chichen Itza and the surrounding area! Highly recommend - do not hesitate to book!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 10, 2025
Very informative and fun- Worth it to get there early! - It was SO worth it to book VIP and private. We got in right as it opened so we beat all the crowds inside the ruins and the long line of cars just trying to get in the area. Seeing the ruins was an amazing experience. We went to Cenote Samula and it was beautiful and not too crowded. We stopped and had a delicious authentic Mayan dinner in Valladolid. They had a great mezcal selection as well.
Arturo was very kind, informative and respectful and had a nice soothing tour guide voice.
Omar was also a great driver.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 30, 2024
Amazing guides. Great private tour company in the Riviera Maya! - Joshua our tour guide and Enrique our driver were amazing. Joshua was very knowledgeable and gave us an amazing tour of Chichen Itzá. Followed by a visit to an amazing Cenote and ended with a delicious lunch at a true authentic Yucatán food restaurant. They were on time and were paying attention to every single detail to make sure we had an amazing experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor