Private Day Trip: Chichen Itza, Valladolid and Two Eyes Cenote

This private day trip from Tulum covers the same broad Yucatan territory as a classic Chichen Itza outing but does it in a private vehicle with an itinerary shaped around three stops: the ruins of Chichen Itza, the colonial streets of Valladolid, and a swim at the Two Eyes cenote. Traveling privately means the group in the van is just your own party, with a driver and transportation dedicated to your schedule rather than a shared bus route.

The day opens at Chichen Itza, the pre-Columbian city built by the Maya during the Terminal Classic period in what is now Tinum Municipality, Yucatan. Walking the grounds here gives you a firsthand look at a city that shaped the region's history long before European contact. From the ruins, the trip continues to Valladolid, a colonial town known for its colorful streets and historic architecture, where there's time to explore at your own pace rather than on a fixed group timetable.

The final stop is a cenote, one of the natural sinkholes formed by collapsed limestone bedrock that expose the groundwater below — a geological feature specific to the Yucatan Peninsula and one the ancient Maya relied on for water and used for ceremonial purposes. At the Two Eyes cenote, there's time to get in the water and cool off after a day of walking and sightseeing under the sun.

Because the tour is private, it's a good fit for travelers who want to set their own pace between the ruins, the town, and the cenote, or who are traveling as a family or small group and would rather not join a larger coach tour. The additional info notes at least moderate physical fitness is expected, and service animals are welcome, while specialized infant seats are available for families traveling with young children — details that point to a trip that can flex around different traveler needs more easily than a fixed-departure bus tour.

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, the entrance fee to Chichen Itza, lunch, and welcome drinks and snacks served in the van are all included, so the main costs of the day's stops are handled before you even leave. Alcoholic beverages are the one exclusion called out, so if you'd like a drink with lunch or along the way, plan to purchase that separately.

Because this is a private transfer rather than a scheduled group departure, logistics are handled directly with the operator: once you've booked, you send over your pickup address and preferred time, and they'll work with your schedule, including picking you up straight from the airport if that's more convenient. Given the walking at Chichen Itza and the swim stop at the cenote, it's worth packing a swimsuit, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes for the day, as the description itself points out.