CHICHEN ITZA AND IK KIL CENOTE DAY TRIP

When visiting the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, you must visit Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote. There are many tour companies to choose from but one of the best Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote day trips from Cancun is with Otium Tours. I was staying at the Paradisus Cancun Hotel for one of my best friends wedding and our entire party opted for a private tour to Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote. Since visiting during July it was extremely hot!!

*There are also many tours from other areas of the Yucatan (Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Tulum, etc)

So here’s what you should bring:

Swimsuit
Towel
Hat
Sunglasses
Natural Sunscreen
Lots of water!

VALLADOLID

Our private shuttle arrived early morning at 7:30 am and fit up to 40 passengers. Our guide was awesome and quite funny. He made sure to provide us with a lot of history about the Mayans and answered all of our questions. Our first stop of the tour was the colonial city of Valladolid. We spent time visiting one of the oldest churches and wandered through the city center.

IK KIL CENOTE

Our second stop of the tour was Ik Kil Cenote, roughly two and a half hours from Cancun. It’s one of the best cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula and I was super excited to visit! It has been on my bucket list for years and I finally got a chance to see it. We arrived close to 10:30 am and it was already crowded. If you’re looking for no crowds I highly suggest arriving when they open at 9 am. You don’t need sunscreen in the cenote but definitely use biodegradable sunscreen if you decide to use it. After spending time swimming and jumping into the cenote we had lunch at one of the restaurants on site, which was pretty good.

Swimsuit: Mia Marcelle Avies One Piece

CHICHEN ITZA

I’ve visited Chichen Itza when I was in fifth grade! I remember climbing to the very top and seeing the beautiful Yucatan views. Now, guests are not allowed to climb the pyramid. Chichen Itza is now considered as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We had an amazing time with our guide who ended up taking really great photos for our group. If you’re visiting Cancun, make sure to book a tour with Otium Tours. Check to price as it can change depending on the number of guests. You may also request to visit Chichen Itza and ending your tour with Ik Kil Cenote to cool off from the heat.

If you have time I suggest also visiting Suytun Cenote which is located near the city of Valladolid. I suggest visiting closer to midday to get the light beam on the platform and fewer crowds as most tourists are at lunch.