Beyond Yucatán State
Ek Balam Tours from Playa del Carmen
An Ek Balam tour from Playa del Carmen is a full-day trip: about 230 km each way, roughly 3 hours, with Valladolid on the way. Ek Balam is a smaller, less crowded site near Valladolid, known for the Acropolis with its stucco figures and for a nearby cenote. Send a quote request with your hotel, dates and group size and we can arrange pickup in Playa del Carmen.
Ek Balam tour options from Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen visitors who have seen Tulum or Cobá often choose Ek Balam for something quieter. Shared tours are fewer than for Chichén Itzá, so a private vehicle is a good option. If you are weighing up a Ek Balam day trip from Playa del Carmen, the practical question is how much of the day you want to spend on the road versus at the site and the cenote.
- Ek Balam with a cenote swim, as a half-day or full-day private tour
- Ek Balam with Valladolid in the afternoon
- Ek Balam combined with a second site such as Chichén Itzá or Río Lagartos
Pickup times & drive from Playa del Carmen
From Playa del Carmen we take highway 307 north and join toll highway 180D toward Valladolid, then highway 295 north to Ek Balam. The last stretch is on a quiet road through villages. A Playa del Carmen to Ek Balam tour is mostly decided by the first hour, so we fix the pickup time around the opening time and the drive.
Valladolid is the usual lunch stop on the way back, and Cenote X'Canché is next to the ruins. With 3 hours each way, we keep extras to a minimum.
| Detail | From Playa del Carmen |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 230 km |
| Drive each way | About 3 hours |
| Typical pickup | 6:00–7:00 |
| Back in Playa del Carmen | About 18:30–20:00 |
Sample itinerary from Playa del Carmen
This is a typical full-day outline from Playa del Carmen; we adjust times to your hotel and to the season.
- 6:15 – Hotel pickup in Playa del Carmen
- 6:30 – Leave via highway 307 and toll highway 180D
- 9:30 – Arrive at Ek Balam and tour the site
- 11:45 – Swim at a cenote
- 13:00 – Lunch
- 14:15 – Short stop in Valladolid
- 15:30 – Drive back to Playa del Carmen
- 18:30 – Drop-off in Playa del Carmen
Prices from Playa del Carmen
From Playa del Carmen the drive is long, so prices are slightly above Cancún, and group tours are the cheapest option. For a Ek Balam tour from Playa del Carmen the biggest price drivers are the length of the drive, the number of people and whether entry fees and lunch are bundled.
| Format | Typical range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Shared small-group tour | USD 75–125 per person |
| Private vehicle with driver | USD 400–600 per vehicle (up to 6 people) |
| Typically extra | Entry fee (about MXN 550–650 per adult), cenote entry, lunch, tips |
What's included
These are the items we can usually arrange on a Ek Balam tour from Playa del Carmen:
- Pickup and drop-off in Playa del Carmen at your hotel or an agreed meeting point (where pickup can be arranged)
- Air-conditioned vehicle and a local driver
- A local guide at Ek Balam (language to be confirmed in your quote)
- Bottled water on board
- Time at a cenote near the site if you choose that format
Tour vs. going on your own from Playa del Carmen
Whether this is the best Ek Balam tour from Playa del Carmen for you depends on who is travelling and how much you value time. Public transport is slow from Playa del Carmen, so a tour usually saves several hours. A rental car is fine if you want to stop along the way.
| Option | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tour or private driver | USD 75–125 shared; USD 400–600 per vehicle | Door to door, with stops planned |
| Bus and taxi | About MXN 450–800 plus a local taxi | Changes and waits; long |
| Rental car | About MXN 900–1,600 per day plus fuel and tolls | Flexible but a long drive |
| Tren Maya | Fares and timetables change; check current schedule | Needs transfers |
Other day trips from Playa del Carmen
FAQs
How early do we leave Playa del Carmen?
Pickup is typically 6:00–7:00, and you are back by about 18:30–20:00. Exact times depend on your hotel and the season.
How long is the trip from Playa del Carmen?
Plan for about 12 hours door to door, with roughly 3 hours each way on the road.
Is Ek Balam busy?
It is generally quieter than Chichén Itzá, especially early in the day.
Can we climb the Acropolis at Ek Balam?
It depends on current rules. Access has been restricted at times, so we cannot promise it; your guide will tell you what is open on the day.
Want this trip planned for you?
Tell us your dates, group size and where you are staying. We check availability with local guides and send back a price.