10 Merida Cave Tours Worth the Trip

1.Chichen Itza, Private Cenote/Food Experience & the magic Izamal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 385 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Leave Merida at 6 a.m. with guides such as Delio or Hernan, reach Chichen Itza at opening, then swim in a private family cenote near Holca and eat a traditional Yucatecan meal. Finish in yellow Izamal. The small group, air-conditioned van, coffee, sandwich, and bottled water make this a full but well-supported day.

“We had a fantastic guide, and it was great to see Chichen Itza before the crowd and heat. The private cenote was gorgeous and the vegetarian meal was delicious. I wouls highly recommend this tour!”

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2.Chichen Itza, Cenote Swim & Izamal Magic Town with Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 317 reviews · 11 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $84

Travel from Mérida to Chichén Itzá with a guide, explore the Maya ruins, swim at Xcajum Cenote, eat a Yucatecan buffet, and visit yellow-painted Izamal. Guides such as Miguel, Freddy, and Rodrigo have earned high praise, but budget extra cash for the Chichén Itzá tax, locker, and life vest.

“Our guide Miguel was wonderful. Meeting up was simple, and the airconditioned van was very comfortable. Chichen Itza was a 2 hour stop with 1 hour free time to wander around. There is a “tourist fee of 524 pesos per person , and they take credit cards but not US dollars.The site is quite extensive with amazing ruins around every corner so bring lots of water! (There is a stop before entrance to buy souvenirs and water.)Chichen Note-Itza has lots of vendors hawking goods from carvings , T shirts to in expensive refrigerator magnets . Next stop was Chichikan Cenote with buffet lunch. The buffet was extensive, and they offered…”

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3.From Merida: Chichen Itza Tour, Izamal, Cenote Ik Kil and Food

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 246 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $79

Leave Merida at 7 a.m. for Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil, a buffet lunch, and yellow-painted Izamal. A certified guide such as Michelle, Pedro, Anel, or Victor leads the day, with air-conditioned transport, cenote gear, and a small group of up to 19 people.

“Such a great day! Our guide Pedro was very knowledgeable, and fun. He was really inclusive, and wonderful. We felt really safe with our driver too, he was really calm and patient too. There was so much packed in to our day and I really recommend this trip!”

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4.Merida : Guided tour of Uxmal, Kabah and Cenote with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 156 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $94

Spend a full day outside Mérida exploring Uxmal and Kabah, then cool off in the small Peba cenote. Guides such as Francisco, David, Irwin, and Sergio lead the day in English and Spanish. Hotel pickup, lunch, and return transport are included, but site and cenote fees are extra.

“WARNING: vVator misrepresents the price of this tour. First, you have to click see more under what's included to see that there are hidden charges. All of the prices that were quoted under the hidden charges section were lower than they actually were. We ended the day with no Mexican currency because of it. The bus was relatively prompt and clean.That is the only positive thing I can say for this tour. The guide's English often was incomprehensible. He spoke really rapidly and acted like it was an imposition to ask him questions. He acted like all of us, in general, we're an imposition. For example, when he announced the…”

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5.From Merida: Chichen Itza, Izamal & Cenote with Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 131 reviews · from $84

Start early from Merida with guides such as Miguel, Fredi, Raul, and Julian, then visit Chichen Itza, swim at Xcajum Cenote, enjoy a buffet lunch, and explore Izamal. The 11.5-hour trip includes transport, guiding, cenote entry, lunch, and one drink, but Chichen Itza tax and locker fees cost extra.

“Amazing trip with an excellent, friendly guide. Highly recommend!”

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6.Merida: Chichen Itza Cenote, Food Experience & Izamal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 10 hours · from $110

Leave Merida early with a small group and guides such as Hernan or Delio for Chichen Itza, a private cave cenote, a home-cooked Yucatan meal, and Izamal. The early start helps you beat the heat and queues. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes.

“My friend and I really enjoyed the trip. Getting up early was totally worth it. We arrived just before opening at Chichen Itza. That gave us plenty of space to take photos during the tour, and the temperature was perfect at that time. Afterwards, we drove to the cenote, which was such a beautiful and special surprise! The food was good and more than enough. Our guide Delio explained everything in a fun way and knew a lot about the history and culture. Truly a big recommendation!”

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7.Merida: Hacienda Sotuta de Peon w/ Cenote & Henequen Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 62 reviews · 3 - 4.5 hours · from $58Best value

Spend three to four and a half hours at Hacienda Sotuta de Peón near Mérida. A bilingual guide explains henequen production, a mule-drawn truck carries you through the fields to Cenote Dzul Ha, and the visit ends with snacks, drinks, and a scheduled meal at KIH.

“From learning about how fiber is made from agave plants to experiencing swimming in a cenote this was a great experience. Great value and great trip.”

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8.Motul, Hacienda, Xcambo, Pink Salt Mine & Progreso Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 8 hours · from $87

Travel from Merida by air-conditioned van to Motul for breakfast, Hacienda San Eduardo, Xcambo ruins, Xtampu’s pink ponds, and Progreso. English and Spanish guides, including Cesar and Eduardo, lead the day. Bring cash for the $25 admission fee, lunch, and drinks.

“This tour has a great variety of activities. Our guide, Cesar, was excellent! He was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. He took the time to explain what we were seeing and he answered all of our questions. The breakfast at Motul was excellent. We would highly recommend this tour to our friends.”

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9.From Merida: Uxmal, Hacienda Yaxcopoil and Cenote with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 26 reviews · 8 hours · from $143

Spend a full day tracing Yucatán’s past from a colonial henequen estate to the Maya city of Uxmal, then cool off in Cenote Peba. Hotel pickup, entry fees, lunch, and bilingual guiding are included. Expect heat, walking, and a Spanish-English tour.

“Comenzó 1 hora más tarde porque el guía no llegaba y no fueron claros para mencionar el retraso, me refiero a que sólo decían "que ya viene" sin tiempo estimado, después nos comentaron que se cambió la visita de la Hacienda por visita a un museo 🫠; el tour en Uxmal estuvo ok. La comida fue lo mejor.”

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10.Mérida: Hacienda & Cenote Mucuyche Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 18 reviews · 6 hours · from $151

Travel from Mérida to Hacienda Mucuyché with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. Tour the museum, chapel, and main house, then swim in the Carlota and Azul Maya cenotes and the old canal. A fruit-plantation ride by cart is included in the planned experience, though timing can vary.

“everything was amazing, greatest experience for our 9th anniversary ❤️”

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