Exploring Chichén Itzá + Ik Kil Cenote, Mexico | Ultimate Guide

Chances are, if you’re reading this you’re probably thinking about a trip to Mexico, or are already planning it; and I’m stoked for you!!

The tacos are great, but so is Chichén Itzá. So let’s get to it.

Chichén Itzá - also known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World (who knew, right?!)- is one of the most extraordinary things you can see in Mexico. Built by the ancient Mayan’s of the Yucatan Peninsula; not only is it a famous Instagram picture, but the ancient builds are rich in history and the grounds are known to hold special energy and healing properties. Yup, sign me UP.

Not only can you explore Chichén Itzá in all its glory – you can also visit one of the many cenotes in the Yucatan area. The Ik Kil Cenote (you know, the one with the majestic tarzan vines + turqoise blue water? Yea, that one) is just down the road from Chichén Itzá, so experiencing both is not only easy but also highly recommended! 

Getting to Chichén Itzá

Whether you’re coming from a different country or from a different area of Mexico, getting to the area is straight forward, you can’t miss it.

The easiest (and cheapest) way to get there is to fly into the Cancun airport. We flew in from Cabo San Lucas, and the flight was roughly $127 USD ($2531 pesos) one way. Flights from Dallas, for example, usually range between $150-$300 USD round trip. 

If you’re vacationing in Cancun or flying solely into the area to see Chichén Itzá, either way, you’ll need to make a long trip out to the jungle to see it. 

It’s around a 2.5-3 hour drive in-land, so you’ll need to either schedule a tour bus ride out there or rent a car. I highly suggest renting a car, because, 1) you’re able to come + go on your own time, 2) you can drive faster, slower, and stop anywhere you please, and, 3) a crowded tour bus probably isn’t something you want on your vacation. We drove straight from the Cancun airport to an Air Bnb close-by Chichén Itzá. I’ll explain more details below!

However, a tour bus may be more convenient for you if your resort or hotel offers it as one of their service options. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what is more convenient for you and your vacation! (But still low key, high key telling you to rent a car and go on your own hehe)

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff.

When to Get There

Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

I highly suggest getting there early in the morning OR later in the evening before it closes. Since it’s a popular tourist destination, it can get crazy busy when the tour buses start to roll-in early afternoon, around 11:00 AM. If you want to experience it without major crowds, get there early. 

Chichén Itzá’s gates open at 8:00 AM, and we arrived there just after 8:00; it was 8:07 AM to be exact. There were only about 10 cars ahead of us, so it worked out perfectly that it was still quiet since the tour buses coming from Cancun arrive a few hours later. 

TIP:
If you want to skip the 5:00 AM wake-up call, there are a few Air Bnb’s and small hotels in the area that you can stay at the night before.

We stayed at the Doloralba Inn - Chichén Itzá  (we found + booked it on Air Bnb) which allowed us to roll out of bed and get there as soon as the gates opened. I suggest doing this for convenience! However, even though it was convenient, it’s far from a luxury stay – you are in the middle of the jungle, after all. Expect lots of creepy-crawlers, questionable wifi, and even though a free breakfast was advertised, it was only scrambled eggs and coffee. 

PROs: Super convenient, 2-minutes down the road from Chichén Itzá, literally across the street from the Ik Kil Cenote, nice staff
CONs: It’s in the middle of the jungle. Don’t have super high expectations. 

Tickets

$27 USD ($533 pesos)

You can either buy tickets online prior to arrival, or you can buy your tickets at the booth when you arrive. Some packages online include discount prices on tours + bundles. 

We bought tickets right when we arrived, and it was a super easy process. Per person, it costs $27 USD ($533 pesos) for adults, $8 USD ($150 pesos) for children, and discounted rates for locals and residents. 

When buying a ticket, you pay at 2 booths. The entrance fee to the site is divided into two amounts, one being the state, and the second being the federal.

You will also be offered a tour guide while waiting in line, but it is completely up to you if you want to walk and explore on your own, or if you want a tour guide with you.

What to See

There’s actually way more to see than just the famous pyramid you see on social media

There are ruins on ruins and even 2 cenotes on the site (not swimmable, though). If you walk around the entire thing, it can take up to 3 hours to see everything.

Among all the sites to see, it’s hard to escape the vendors on every path and turn. (We arrived early enough that most of the vendors were still setting up their tables, so we missed the majority of them) But it’s definitely hard to miss the constant $1 offers and jaguar whistles (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you will once you get there).

It took us about 2.5 hours to walk around the grounds. We personally like exploring things ourselves without a tour guide, because it allows us to go at our own pace and explore it on our own. TIP: If you decide to explore it on your own, you can still hear bits and pieces of information from other tour groups if you happen to walk by them slowly. However, if you’re a history geek, tours do offer an in-depth historcal explanation on everything you see, so that’s a plus. 

Next Stop: Ik Kil Cenote

Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tickets: $8 USD ($150 pesos)

Next up, Ik Kil Cenote!

After a hot day walking around the pyramids, it’s pretty tempting to cool off and go jump into this iconic cenote.

There are over nearly 6000 cenotes in the Yucatan area to see, so it’s super easy and convenient to see the Ik Kil Cenote on the same trip, being that it’s only 2.6. miles (3 kilometers) from Chichén Itzá.

If you book a tour from either Cancun or Playa Del Carmen, most tours will include the cenote as a second stop in their package. Or if you have a rental car, all you need to do is take a 5 minute trip down the road.

The gates open at 9:00 AM and it’s usually empty in the mornings, because most people choose to see Chichén Itzá first, and head to the Ik Kil Cenote second. 

We arrived at the Ik Kil Cenote around 10:30 AM, and the parking lot was still empty which was amazing! This particular cenote is extremely popular, so it gets very busy once the crowds start to roll in from Chichén Itzá. But we did get lucky that we had the cenote almost all to ourselves. 

TIP: If you want to experience the cenote nearly all to yourself, arrive as soon as the gates open AND try to visit it on a weekday as opposed to on a weekend, as it’s also a popular spot for locals to hang out on their off-days.

The Cenote

Once you get in, you’ll need to grab a lifejacket (they’re mandatory now), put some of your stuff into a locker, and then head down to the cenote. You’ll have an option to buy 2 tickets; one includes the life jacket, locker access, and cenote access. The second one is a few more Pesos but gives you access to a nice lunch after you’re done swimming around on site. 

Once you walk down a long set of stairs, you’re there!! 

If you end up bringing your camera or phone down to the cenote, make sure your bring a water-resistant bag because you’re basically setting your stuff down in water. I had a dry-bag for all of our stuff, which was perfect for the cenote setting and I didn’t have to worry about my camera or phone getting wet. 

The lifejackets did make it easy to bring my phone into the water, because all you need to do is float and enjoy yourself. However, if you’re worried about your phone getting wet, you can also find good quality waterproof phone cases on Amazon. 

The water in this cenote is freshwater, so it’s pretty chilly. But the cool thing about the water is that it’s mineral rich which is really good for your skin and overall well-being. Basically, a fun spa day. 

You’ll also notice a bunch of black catfish swimming around in the water. Don’t worry, they don’t bite.

You can float around as long as your hearts content and then continue exploring the Yucatan area!

Other Things to See in the Area

Cenote Manatí

This is a less crowded cenote and it perfect for the explorer. It’s an open-air river-like cenote with crisp blue waters on a clear day. The entrance fee is $8 USD ($150 pesos)

Coba Pyramid

This Mayan pyramid is closer to Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. This is one of the few pyramids you can actually climb and experience hands-on. 

Las Coloradas

Also known as the pink lakes of Mexico, Las Coloradas is definitely a sight to see just 3 hours from Cancun. I didn’t get a chance to visit it, but it’s definitely worth the adventure! 

I hope you enjoyed reading this guide! I can’t wait to share more of our world travels with you and share everything I learn on the way. See you in the next country!

Xo, Tris