EK BALAM PRIVATE TOURS

Your English-speaking local expert will be waiting for you at your hotel or Airbnb lobby from Playa del Carmen with a great smile at 7:00 a.m. We recommend this time so we arrive early and avoid the crowds and the midday heat.

We take the toll highway to Ek Balam — this route saves an hour and guarantees the safest and shortest travel time. Since this is your private tour, we won't make any additional stops unless you want to. On the way, your local expert shares stories about Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, the Riviera Maya, Mexican traditions and local life, plus a broad explanation of Mayan culture, and gives you space to relax — or sleep — during the 2 hour 15 minute ride. The van carries plenty of cold water for you. This private tour normally uses a Volkswagen Transporter; upgrades to SUVs and luxury cars (Mercedes-Benz) are available for an extra fee.

Ek Balam ("Black Jaguar") is a magical site, far less crowded than Chichén Itzá since it's largely unknown to tourists. Its majestic constructions sit hidden in the jungle, about 70 km from Chichén Itzá. You can climb the Acropolis — 30 meters tall, with beautifully preserved stucco sculptures — plus the Oval Palace and the Twin Buildings.

The site was excavated in the late 1980s and opened to the public in the late 1990s, though only about 20% has been excavated so far. Highlights include the Acropolis, the Twin Buildings, the Oval Palace, the Ball Court and the tomb of the ruler Ukit Kan Lek Tok'. It starts getting hot around 11:30 a.m., so bring water.

Everything is done at your pace and you can stay as long as you want. Your guide, fluent in English and certified by the INAH, gives an extensive narrative about the site and Mayan culture and loves answering questions.

After all the walking, it's time to relax and cool down in a wonderful cenote. The Maya believed cenotes are sacred places with magical powers, unique to the Yucatán Peninsula, formed roughly 55 million years ago.

The cenote we currently visit is Hacienda Chukum, a combination of a deep cylinder sinkhole and a big cave, known for its blue water when sunlight enters and for being less crowded — ideal for great photos if we arrive early.

Hacienda Chukum has changing rooms and lockers, so bring your swimsuit and a towel. To reach the water you'll go down about 50 steps and take a shower first; then you can calmly walk the final steps on ladders or, if you're adventurous, use the zip line or jump from one of the platforms (ask your guide for a slow-motion video!). Life jackets are provided, cleaned and disinfected daily. You stay as long as you like — you decide when to leave. Hacienda Chukum is 40 minutes from Ek Balam, along a regular road through small villages and communities that show the rural side of Yucatán.

A short ride away is the colonial town of Valladolid, founded in 1543 and one of the oldest cities in Yucatán. Lunch is included at a local restaurant in the main square — just let us know if you're vegetarian and we'll take you somewhere with good options. Only drinks and desserts during lunch are not included.

Afterward, wander the zócalo, have an ice cream, visit the main cathedral, and browse nearby streets full of Mexican colors and local handcrafts. If you're up for it, walk Calzada de los Frailes to the Ex Convento de San Bernardino de Siena. If you're tired, your local expert can drive you through town instead.

When you're ready, we head back via the toll highway — about 1 hour 45 minutes to Playa del Carmen. The tour is planned to be back around 5:45 p.m., but since everything runs at your pace, the exact return time is up to you. You're free to head back early or skip any activity you don't want to do.