Chichen Itza Tour from Playa del Carmen
Playacar, central hotels and north-resort pickup
From Playa north, private starts at $875 per group of two, including guiding, entrances and lunch. Coach from $85 per adult includes transport, guide, entrance, cenote, buffet and Valladolid. Classic drinks, lockers and life jackets cost extra.
Hotel pickup and bilingual guiding for your chosen route.
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A Chichen Itza tour from Playa del Carmen starts at your hotel or agreed meeting point. Choose private, Luxury tour, Ek Balam, coach or small group van. Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours direct driving. Around 6:00 a.m. private pickup is indicative; we confirm the actual collection for your address.
By Maya Explorer Tours editorial team · Updated .
To plan your hotel pickup, compare Chichen Itza departure cities.
- Direct drive planning allowance
- Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours direct
- Pickup appointment
- Confirm for your exact address
- Site time zone
- Playa is one hour ahead of Yucatan
Chichen Itza tour from Playa del Carmen: pickup
Playa collection depends on your full hotel or rental address. Send the Playacar, Fifth Avenue or north-resort property name, street and entrance directions. We check which lobby or gate the vehicle can reach.
Private collection is for your group. Central rentals and shared departures may use an agreed nearby meeting point. Ask which entrance to use and when to be ready; keep the booking message offline.
Playa north and south have separate private price tiers. Your full address, not just the neighborhood name, determines the area. The regional resort pickup page covers stays beyond the city; price area does not guarantee hotel access.
Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza: drive
The direct drive from Playa del Carmen takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Chichen Itza is inland in Yucatan, not in Playa. Road distance varies with your collection point and route.
Hotel exits, comfort stops and shared collections add to the direct journey. Ask for the route from your property, not a city-center distance applied to every lobby. The road and transport guide covers independent travel.
Public entry is through CATVI, the Visitor Attention Center, following the May 31, 2026 reopening. Ask about current drop-off and meeting arrangements; public entry does not establish our unloading point, walk or queue wait.
Tour pickup and arrival times from Playa
Playa collection plans use your hotel's confirmed appointment. Chichen Itza is one hour behind Cancun; times below say which clock they use. Playa uses the Cancun clock: 6:00 a.m. plus a three-hour drive is 8:00 a.m. at the ruins. Traffic can change times; stops, queues and shared collections also affect the visit. Confirm return in Playa time, not a Cancun hotel example.
| Tour option | Playa collection | Planned ruins arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Private Chichen Itza Tour | Around 6:00 a.m. Playa time; indicative, confirm hotel | 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. (Chichen Itza time)Planned arrival; allow time for your hotel pickup and drive |
| Luxury Chichen Itza Tour | Confirm your Playa hotel pickup; the Cancun example is not your appointment | 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. (Chichen Itza time)Planned arrival; allow time for your hotel pickup and drive |
| Chichen Itza & Ek Balam Tour | Confirm your Playa hotel pickup; the Cancun example is not your appointment | 8:00 a.m. (Chichen Itza time)Planned arrival; allow time for your hotel pickup and drive |
| Chichen Itza Shared Bus Tour | 7:00 a.m. Cancun time; shared schedule, confirm your Playa pickup | 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Chichen Itza time)(Chichen Itza time); confirm your Playa pickup |
| Chichen Itza Small Group Tour | 6:30 a.m. Cancun time; shared schedule, confirm your Playa pickup | 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. (Chichen Itza time)(Chichen Itza time); confirm your Playa pickup |
Chichen Itza day trip from Playa del Carmen: choices
Playa departures offer three private routes, coach and small group van. Private travel gives your group its own pace; coach suits a lower budget, and the van offers a smaller morning group. The tour format comparison owns the side-by-side choice.
Private Chichen Itza Tour
From $165 per person
At 16 guests; $2,630 per group. Two guests: $875 for the group. Playa del Carmen (north) example; confirm your address.
- Pickup
- Around 6:00 a.m. Playa time; indicative, confirm hotel
- Duration
- 12 hours. Varies by hotel; Merida duration confirmed for your route
- Hotel pickup at a time agreed before booking
- Certified, bilingual archaeology guide just for you
- Swim in Cenote Ik Kil near the ruins
Chichen Itza admission included
Luxury Chichen Itza Tour
From $337 per person
At 6 guests; $2,019 per group. Two guests: $1,369 for the group. Published group tiers; confirm pickup availability.
- Pickup
- Confirm your Playa hotel pickup; the Cancun example is not your appointment
- Duration
- 11 to 12.5 hours. Varies by hotel; Merida duration confirmed for your route
- Archaeologist guide at Chichen Itza
- Gourmet hacienda lunch
- Curated cenote with changing facilities
Chichen Itza admission included
Chichen Itza & Ek Balam Tour
From $243 per person
At 10 guests; $2,429 per group. Two guests: $1,119 for the group. Published group tiers; confirm pickup availability.
- Pickup
- Confirm your Playa hotel pickup; the Cancun example is not your appointment
- Duration
- 12 to 14 hours. Varies by hotel; Merida duration confirmed for your route
- Two Maya archaeological sites in one day
- Ek Balam's carved stucco Acropolis
- Cenote swim with life jackets
Chichen Itza admission included
Chichen Itza Shared Bus Tour
From $85 per adult
Per adult; child rates by level
- Pickup
- 7:00 a.m. Cancun time; shared schedule, confirm your Playa pickup
- Duration
- 13 to 15 hours. Door to door up to about 15 hours; Classic/Deluxe touring about 12 to 14, Premier/Plus about 10 to 12; varies by hotel
- Our lowest-priced guided Chichen Itza day
- Cenote swim and buffet lunch
- Stop in colonial Valladolid
Chichen Itza entrance is included in every coach level fare
Chichen Itza Small Group Tour
From $184 per adult
$149 ticket + $35 Chichen Itza entrance; adult
- Pickup
- 6:30 a.m. Cancun time; shared schedule, confirm your Playa pickup
- Duration
- 7 to 10.5 hours. Door to door; Express about 6 hours of touring, full day about 10; varies by hotel
- Maximum 12 guests per van
- Morning visit of Chichen Itza
- Cenote with life jackets on the full-day option
The $35 Chichen Itza entrance fee is per person, adult or child, in USD, payable on board.
Private prices and route requests
Two guests on standard private Ik Kil pay $875 from Playa north or $875 south. Four pay $1,100 north or $1,105 south. Use the group total, not multiplied rounded per-person prices.
Luxury tour starts at $1,369 per group of two; standard Ek Balam at $1,119 per group of two. Each tour owns its full tiers and inclusions.
Private and luxury tours are customizable. Your itinerary, pickup time and schedule can be adjusted to your group's pace.
A private tour is priced per group with a minimum of 2 people, so a solo traveller pays the 2-person group total. If the budget is tight, a solo traveller can book our small group tour or shared bus tour instead.
Private tours use a new-model car for smaller groups and a new-model van for larger groups. The exact make and model depend on availability.
Standard private early starts may use Xkeken or Samula instead of Ik Kil. Agree one cave cenote, entrance, locker, life jacket and any quote change in writing before booking, not admission to both.
The optional early start uses around 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. across the Riviera Maya. Your Playa hotel and drive must support the agreed site arrival. Coba is not included in these published examples; request it separately.
Entrance, meals and fees
Chichen Itza uses one public ticket at CATVI. Private, Luxury tour and Ek Balam fares include entrance, not a second ticket charge. Check the chosen tour for other inclusions.
The $35 is the Chichen Itza entrance fee, in USD, paid on board.
Small group entrance is separate from the ticket and paid in USD cash on board. Adult totals count it once: $184 Express or $194 full day. Shared cards add 5%; each tour lists meals, equipment and exclusions.
Small group full day is about 10 hours, with 6:30 a.m. pickup and return around 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. Express has about 6 hours of touring, with return around 1:30 p.m.; its 6:30 a.m. pickup makes about 7 hours door to door. Times vary by hotel.
A box lunch is included only on specific shared options. Pack personal swim items rather than assuming every venue supplies them; the ruins and cenote packing checklist has the full list.
Prepare for pickup and Playa return
Playa guests should check breakfast and reception access before early pickup. Pack walking shoes, water, a hat and a small bag; add swimwear and a towel for a cenote. Save confirmation and contact details offline.
A Playa pickup does not include the Cozumel crossing or ferry tickets. Share the planned sailing and mainland meeting needs. The first ferry may miss an early pickup, and a coach is not guaranteed to wait for delays.
Return times are estimates, not ferry-terminal or cruise connections. Leave a buffer for shared drop-offs and the walk or transfer to the boat. Check current sailings and share your latest mainland return or ship all-aboard time.
Tell us food, language, mobility and car-seat needs before payment. Check vehicle boarding, paths and cenote stairs separately; private flexibility does not guarantee equipment or step-free access. Airport transfer also needs a separate agreement.
A second archaeological site adds walking and time. Choose the route around your group's heat and walking needs, then send your date, address and connection deadline. Read the cancellation and refund terms before paying.
Browse the complete Chichen Itza tour catalog for full tour details. Your written booking confirms the route and local collection.
Why book a Chichen Itza tour from Playa del Carmen with us
Private tours: Tolls, entrance and snacks in the price
Your private price covers tolls, parking, fuel, taxes, Chichen Itza and cenote entrance, bottled water and snacks.
Private tours: Your route, pickup time and pace
Set them with us when you book, so the day fits your group.
Private tours: A driver-guide plus a site guide
Your driver also guides you on the road, and a local guide leads each archaeological site.
Private tours: Full quote before you book
Your WhatsApp quote shows the total, pickup time and inclusions before you book.
English and Spanish guiding
Every tour has guiding in English and Spanish.
Full refund 48 hours ahead
Private and shared tours give a full refund when you cancel 48 hours or more ahead.
Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen: common questions
How long is the day from Playa del Carmen?
Playa hotel-to-hotel time depends on the chosen route. Standard private is about 12 hours, Luxury tour 11 to 12.5, and Ek Balam 12 to 14. Coach can reach about 15 hours with collections. Touring time is not the complete hotel route. Send your address and return deadline.
Will hotel collections make the Playa day longer?
Shared Playa departures can collect across several hotels, adding time beyond a direct drive. A private vehicle collects your group only. No first or last pickup position or fixed wait is promised. Ask for your meeting point and full return plan before deciding which departure fits your day.
Will it be hot at Chichen Itza?
Chichen Itza can be hot, with limited shade across the open grounds. A morning visit can help avoid some afternoon heat, but cool weather and shade are not guaranteed. Bring water, a hat and light clothing with sun coverage. Plan breaks during your visit.
Can children join a day from Playa?
Playa families can plan breaks on a private departure. The suggested minimum age is 6 years. The minimum height is 120 cm (3.9 ft). These age and height conditions apply to shared tours, not guaranteed private equipment or step-free cenote stairs. Send ages, walking needs and swim preferences before booking.
Does pickup include Playacar or Fifth Avenue hotels?
Playacar, central hotels and rentals need their exact address and entrance checked for pickup. A shared vehicle may use a nearby meeting point. Send the property name before paying. Do not assume every lobby or pedestrian street is reachable; ask for the meeting location and confirmed collection time.
What does a private day for four cost from Playa?
The standard private Ik Kil day costs $1,100 for four from Playa north or $1,105 from Playa south. Guiding, entrances and Valladolid lunch with one drink are included. Group totals are rounded separately from per-person examples. Send your full address and children's ages for your family quote.
Can I join from Cozumel that morning?
Cozumel guests must reach the agreed Playa mainland collection on time. Ferry tickets and the crossing are not included. Share your sailing and return deadline before booking. We check the connection and mainland meeting; no ferry or cruise return is guaranteed, and a coach may not wait for delays.
When will we return to our Playa accommodation?
Playa return needs confirmation for your hotel and chosen route, not the Cancun example. Ask for your local-clock hotel return with enough time for your next commitment. Comfort stops and shared drop-offs add to the day. Send any ferry, cruise or evening deadline before choosing your departure.
Which cancellation terms apply to a departure booking?
Private and shared bookings have different cancellation terms. Read the cancellation policy for your chosen format before paying. If plans may change, send your date and tour so we can explain the applicable deadlines. A quote does not set new refund terms or replace the policy.
El Castillo on the guided visit
Ask about your Playa del Carmen departure
Send your hotel address, date, group and ferry deadline. We check availability, collection, included stops, fees and the full quote on WhatsApp. Asking is free and does not reserve.