A guided day from Cancun or the Riviera Maya: 12 hours, pickup available, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Dates, prices and what is included are shown on the listing. Booking through this link costs you nothing extra.
See the Chichen Itza, cenote and Valladolid day tour on GetYourGuideAffiliate links: booking through them may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Chichen Itza is the most visited archaeological site in Yucatan and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. With children, the day comes down to three things: buying the right tickets, arriving before the crowds and the heat, and knowing the site rules. Here is what the official sources say.
At a glance
| Opening hours | Daily 08:00 to 17:00. Last entry 16:00 (INAH). |
|---|---|
| Entrance fees | One combined ticket (Boleto Unico) since 27 March 2026: 697 MXN for foreign visitors, 310 MXN for Mexican nationals and 105 MXN for Yucatan residents. Sold only at the visitor center ticket office (CATVI) on arrival - there is no official online sale. |
| Children | INAH lists free entry for Mexican children under 13, Mexican students and teachers, and Mexican seniors. The official page does not list a foreign child rate, so check at the ticket office. |
| Timing tip | Agencies get preferential attention from 11:00 to 14:00. Independent visitors do best at opening time. |
| Site rules | No food inside, no smoking, no pets, no flash. Extra fee for professional cameras. |
| Day tour | GetYourGuide listing: 12 hours, pickup available, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, 4.6 out of 5 from 1,233 reviews. |
What it costs
Since 27 March 2026 there is a single combined ticket (Boleto Unico): 697 MXN for foreign visitors, 310 MXN for Mexican nationals and a reduced 105 MXN rate for Yucatan residents. It is sold only at the visitor center ticket office (CATVI) when you arrive, and there is no official online sale. The figures come from the official INAH and Yucatan state sources, verified 17 October 2026, and they can change, so check again before you travel.
When to go with children
The site opens at 08:00, and tour agencies get preferential attention between 11:00 and 14:00. Arriving at opening means cooler temperatures and a shorter line. Last entry is at 16:00.
What children can see
El Castillo, the Temple of Kukulkan, represents the solar calendar. According to INAH, at the spring and fall equinoxes the shadow on the north staircase forms a serpent. El Caracol is a round observatory, and the Great Ball Court is the other large complex on the site.
Rules to plan around
Food cannot be brought into the site, so feed the children before entering and plan a meal around the visit. Photography is without flash, a professional camera carries an extra fee, and pets are not allowed in.
Going with a tour
The GetYourGuide listing is a 12-hour day from Cancun or the Riviera Maya, with hotel pickup when that option is selected, a certified guide at the ruins, a swim stop at Cenote Chichikan and a short stop in Valladolid, in English and Spanish. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead. The rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 1,233 travelers, checked 17 October 2026. Some reviewers mention that information about required taxes and extra costs could be clearer, so check on the booking page whether the state fee is included. And honestly: 12 hours is a long day for young children. If your kids are small, a self-planned half-day may be easier.
Cancun as a base
Our Hyatt Ziva Cancun guide covers an all-inclusive base in the Hotel Zone, and the Isla Mujeres guide compares the ferry and the boat tour for an easier day out.
A Cancun base
Cancun is the usual base for a Chichen Itza day.
Questions
How much does Chichen Itza cost for a family?
One combined ticket per visitor: 697 MXN for foreign tourists, 310 MXN for Mexican nationals and 105 MXN for Yucatan residents. INAH lists free entry for Mexican children under 13.
What time should we arrive?
The site opens at 08:00 and agencies get preferential attention from 11:00 to 14:00, so independent visitors do best at opening. Last entry is at 16:00.
Is the 12-hour tour realistic with young children?
It is a long day. The listing offers pickup, a guide, a cenote swim and a Valladolid stop, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. With small children, a self-planned half-day may be easier.
Full-day option: the Chichen Itza guided tour with Valladolid and Cenote Chichikan on GetYourGuide (12 hours, pickup available, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, 4.6 out of 5 from 1,233 reviews, checked 17 October 2026). Dates, prices and what is included are shown on the listing. Booking through this link costs you nothing extra.
See the Chichen Itza, cenote and Valladolid day tour on GetYourGuideAffiliate links: booking through them may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Same kind of day: the Chichen Itza and cenote tour with buffet and Valladolid on Viator (12 hours, from $49 per person, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, 4.7 out of 5 from 25,626 reviews, checked 17 October 2026). Dates, prices and what is included are shown on the listing. Booking through this link costs you nothing extra.
See the Chichen Itza and cenote tour on ViatorAffiliate links: booking through them may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.