Coba, Cenote and Chichen Itza Private Tour with Photographer

This full-day private tour pairs two of the Yucatan Peninsula's best-known Mayan sites, Coba and Chichen Itza, with a stop at a wild cenote, and it comes with a photographer along for the ride to capture the group throughout the day. It's designed as a private outing rather than a group bus tour, and pickup and drop-off from hotels in Tulum and the Riviera Maya are built into the day.

The day begins at Coba, an ancient Mayan urban center whose name translates to 'water stirred by wind,' set among rain forest, lakes, and cenotes. You'll have around two hours to explore the site on foot beneath tall trees where birds and other wildlife are commonly seen, with the option to climb Nohuch Mul, the tallest pyramid on the Mayan Peninsula, for a view over the surrounding forest. Your photographer works through this portion of the visit, taking pictures of you and your group so you can move through the site without stopping to manage a camera.

From Coba, the tour heads toward Chichen Itza, arriving around midday. Before the midday heat sets in, you'll first stop at a wild cenote to swim in its natural pool, set inside a cave draped in vegetation — a roughly hour-long break that also serves as a cooldown ahead of the afternoon at the archaeological site. The day then culminates at Chichen Itza itself, once a center of commercial and religious power and among the most significant remaining sites of pre-Hispanic culture. With your guide, you'll spend two to three hours exploring the grounds, including its main landmark, El Castillo, timed to visit outside the busiest crowds.

Because it's a private tour with a required minimum of two people per booking, it suits travelers who'd rather move through Coba and Chichen Itza on their own schedule than join a large group, and who want a documented record of the trip without hiring a separate photographer. The itinerary asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness, given the walking and pyramid climbing involved, so it's a better match for travelers with some stamina for a long day outdoors than for those seeking a light sightseeing pace.

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, the services of a photographer with all trip photos, entrance fees, and transport in an air-conditioned Toyota HiAce are all included. Gratuities, drinks, and lunch are not covered, so plan to budget for meals and tips separately. Infant meals also aren't included, and infants are required to sit on an adult's lap. It's recommended to bring biodegradable sunscreen, a swimsuit, and a towel for the cenote stop. The meeting point is flexible across all hotels in the Tulum and Riviera Maya area, with the vehicle picking you up directly.