Ek Balam Ruins & Valladolid (from Riviera Maya)

One of the most historically rich day trips available from the Riviera Maya, this 10-hour journey takes you deep into the Yucatan Peninsula for an encounter with ancient Maya civilization, a refreshing cenote swim and an afternoon in one of Mexico’s most beautiful colonial cities. Departing Monday mornings from hotels across the Riviera Maya, this tour covers three of the most compelling destinations in the Yucatan in a single well-organized day.

The centerpiece is Ek Balam — an 11th-century Maya ceremonial city that remained largely unknown to the outside world until recent decades. Unlike the heavily visited ruins at Chichen Itza or Tulum, Ek Balam retains an atmosphere of quiet discovery. Its main pyramid, the Acropolis, is one of the largest structures in the Maya world and can still be climbed for sweeping views over the surrounding jungle. The intricate stucco carvings at its entrance — jaguars, serpents and winged figures in high relief — are among the finest surviving examples of Classic Maya sculpture anywhere in Mexico.

After the ruins, a refreshing swim in a nearby cenote provides a natural counterpoint to the morning’s archaeological intensity. The afternoon is spent in Valladolid, the elegant colonial city that sits almost exactly halfway between the Riviera Maya and Mérida. Your guide will walk you through the Cathedral of San Servacio and the Convent of San Bernardino Siena — a 16th-century Franciscan structure among the most beautifully preserved in the Yucatan — before free time to explore the colorful streets and try local specialties.

This tour departs every Monday at 07:00 AM from hotels across the Riviera Maya. Joining from Cancun? We also offer the Ek Balam Ruins and Valladolid tour from Cancun.