Global49242680737
26 Jan 2026
If you want to waste an entire day in Mexico, then this is the trip for you! ???? Spend an entire day in a van! ???? Eat a terrible meal at a tourist trap! ❤️ Pay too much to get half of what you were told you would receive! ????
If you can't tell, that's sarcasm: DON'T BOOK!
For each part, I'll explain the pros and cons. The pros have everything to do with Mexico's beauty and the INAH, the cons have everything to do with the tour management company.
Pros
The Arky Site:
I have previously been to Ek Balam, the site itself is amazing. If you've been to larger sites like Tulum or Chichen Itza, Ek Balam is a great change of pace. Having been to more than 10 sites here, in my opinion, it's one of the best in the Yucatan Peninsula. You can climb and enter many structures, there is stucco work that has withstood time and weather, there are areas still yet to be uncovered, and the site is not so large that you feel you can't see it all in a day. I really wanted to share that experience with my family, especially my sibling who is an archeologist, and my partner who had never visited Mexico.
The INAH tour guide we had was fantastic, (thanks William!), but to be clear, you can purchase pay for a guide at the site directly. They are federally regulated, extremely knowledgeable, and worth every peso!
The Cenote:
Beautiful. Warm. Well maintained. The group managing this cenote ensured that people were respecting the water, land, flora, fauna, etc. There were a few sales people selling wares and massages. They were kind and respectful, not pushy. Great experience.
Valladolid:
An interesting colonial town, built upon a raised Maya site. Very busy, but clearly a hub for many groups experiencing Mexico.
Cons
The "Ek Balam Majestic Mayan Ruins and Cenote Tour" stated inclusions such as
-A 10 hour duration. Starting at 7am
-Transportation
-Live Bilingual guide
-Swimming in a cenote with a rappelling descent
-life jackets and lockers
-Buffet-style regional meal (no drinks included)
1 - pickup
2- 2 hours at ekbalam
3 -2 hours at Cenote Maya Park
4- lunch
5-drop off
My group was 8 adults. The majority of our tour group (9 out of 11) were located in Playa Del Carmen. 8 of us were about 15 minutes drive away from the pick up point given. (Even though it was said that they pickup from many hotels, ours was not on the list. ) We all taxied to the location and were picked up at 7:45am.
We then drove an hour to Cancun. We were very confused as Ek Balam is a 2 hour drive from Playa Del Carmen- the other direction. The driver had limited English, (although this was listed as a bilingual tour) but we got the message that we were headed to Cancun to grab more people.
We made one stop at a gas station in Cancun, where we picked up our guide, and 2 other passengers. Here we could use a paid washroom, and pay for snacks or coffee at the gas station.
Our tour guide was not the INAH guide. He gave us a little information about what to expect: we will go to ek balam, then cenote, then head to valladolid and get a traditional Maya-style lunch, then go back to playa del carmen.
We headed to the site, but with the detour, we were in the van for over 3 hours. At one point, we pulled to the side of the road so the driver could go into the bushes to urinate- which is fine by me, when you gotta go, you gotta go! However, we weren't told why we stopped. And we were all holding it! When we got back to driving, we were 30 minutes from the site.
Finally getting some relief when we arrived. We met with our INAH guide, and left our bus driver and tour guide. The INAH guide was ONLY provided at Ek Balam. He does not accompany you on the remainder of the tour.
We spent an hour on the tour, and were then given 30 minutes to explore the site. Not nearly enough time. I personally think even two hours is too little, but knew what I signed up for. Still, we didn't stay for 2 hours! only 1.5. We could have really used that extra time.
When we arrived at the Cenote, we were told we had an hour here and a time to be back. As well, we were told life jackets are included but lockers were a charge. When I pulled up the booking and showed that lockers were supposed to be included, we were then told we could just keep our stuff on the bus.
Many of us walked back and forth barefoot across the rocks to get from the change rooms and the van.
As well, there was no tour at the cenote. We got a five minute quick run about cenotes as we were driving- extremely hard to hear (and I was in the front of the van) and very short. Not an in-depth explanation about the cultural and historical significance of cenotes as a portal to the underworld, or how they are formed.
I ended up answering many of my groups questions.
We then got to swim in the cenote for a little while.
It was only as we were leaving that I checked the website again to confirm that we were SUPPOSED to have 2 hours at the cenote. Why only an hour?
We were now very hungry.
We then drove past Valladolid. Confusing, as I thought that was supposed to be our lunch spot. During the drive our tour guide began to explain a bit about how the Maya used precious stones and made buildings to track astrological events. He passed around paper, and an obsidian disk, so we could look at the sun. Except we were in the moving van- so half the group couldn't see the sun. He said he'd show us again when we stopped (He did not). We arrived at a Maya park, the tour guide showing us all his friends- dapping them us as we go. A man did a smoke cleansing, we saw tortillas being made, and the same stones shown on the bus, being turned into a mask. Somewhat interesting, but we were all starving.
Then we were plopped into a gift shop- suddenly it all made sense. Here is where you could buy a 100 dollar obsidian disk. Or a thousand dollar mask. People followed us around trying to get us to buy their items. Told us how important it was to get a "Mayan name"- purchase a paper! We were all confused. Nobody wanted to buy things, and we thought we were getting lunch. After waiting around for our guide, he finally returned and walked us to a giant room with a buffet. - Remember drinks and tip are not included, as stated in the tour description.
We here a spiel about a traditional Maya green drink. Then we are asked who wants it. It was extremely uncomfortable. My partner and I don't drink alcohol or soda. The waiter kept asking and asking about what we will drink. We said we didn't want anything and he seemed frustrated. Some of my family just relented and ordered a drink so we could eat! FINALLY we were able to go get food.
Spaghetti... battered fish (hard & cold) ... Yeah. "Traditional" Maya lunch.
While we ate dancers came into the room to perform. I'm sure it was cool, but I wasn;t watching. I was trying to eat, but it was so LOUD! You can't talk, or even think.
And of course, everyone wants a tip as you leave.
I know tipping culture is different in Mexico, but I feel like I'm held hostage sometimes. I didn't ask for the dancers. And it's a buffet!? We get up and feed ourselves. Grabbed our own plates, stole extra napkins and cutlery from a different table! What are we giving the tip for?
Finally we leave, we head to Valladolid. Our guide talks about how this is maybe the second most important site to Maya people (doesn't explain why though!). He says the Spanish knocked down a temple and built a church. We get off the bus and are told that are meeting spot is a tequila shop- again the tour guide fist bumps his friends at the shop. We have 30 minutes to spend here and meet back at the tequila ship!
Immediately, we're surrounded by 5 people trying to get us to come in and taste tequila, have a drink, buy something. It takes 5 minutes just to get away from them and cross to the center plaza. An extremely busy area, we did one loop around the park and it was time to head back.
Back on the bus, and again, instead of going to Playa Del Carmen, we go back to Cancun. Adding another 2 hours to the trip.
Here we leave our guide and 2 guests. Tip the driver and guide!
We finally got to Play Del Carmen at around 8:30pm. We we're all tired and hungry and disappointed.
I contacted the tour group "Wisest Tour" about the discrepancies. They said times listed are approximate, because of traffic etc. (there was none) so there's nothing to be done. But, they could give us 5$ usd each (40usd total), since we didn't get to do the repelling decent.
We spent more than $1800CAD. Not including tips. ($1350 usd)
Approximate is a 5-10 minute difference. Not hours.
I told them for me it wasn't even a money issue, I'm angry that the listing didn't accurately reflect inclusions. They insisted it was all there. I again pointed out how it was misleading, and asked them to either refund me 30%, as that is the amount of time we missed at the sites (even though it was more like 40%), or refund us 15% and update their listing to accurately reflect what is provided, so other people can have expectations like a useless added 3 hour drive.
(We would have split the costs for 2 more people if it meant more time at the sites!)
They said they would not give 30%, and that the description was already accurate.
So here we are! Avoid or Cancel if you still can!
TLDR:
My biggest issue with the tour is that we were supposed to have at least 4 hours of time at the cenote and site. We got 2-2.5 hours. We were supposed to rappel into the cenote. We did not. You think you'll spend 4-5 hours in a car because the destination is far, but really you spend 7 hours, and you get to waste time in a trinket store ????.
They don't completely lie to you about the tour, but they don't tell you the whole truth. Just pay a driver privately to take you to the sites. Your money and time is better spent.