Chichen Itza and Cenote Swim Excursion from Progresso (Disney Magic)

Table of Contents

What You Need to Know

• 8 Hours total
• You will only spend about 1 hour each at Chichen Itza and the cenote
• 4-5 Hours of Bus Transportation
• If you bring a video camera (GoPro, DJI, etc) you will need to pay a fee in Mexican pesos (dollars not accepted)
• The Cenote requires over 120 stairs

On our recent Disney Magic cruise setting sail from Galveston our first (and only) stop was in Progreso, Mexico. Now, Progreso itself is lovely, but we decided to kick things up a notch and dive into a super popular excursion: Chichen Itza and Cenote Swim.

Let's just get straight to the good stuff: this excursion was a blast! Seriously, we're still buzzing about it. Were we glad we went? Absolutely! Is it a "must-do-again-every-time" kind of thing? Probably not for us, but for a first-time experience? Totally worth it!

Pre-Excursion Prep (Waivers & Water!)

Now, Disney is all about being prepared, right? So, the "morning meeting" for this adventure actually started the night before. We found a little waiver waiting for us in our stateroom – one for each person. Basically, it was Disney's way of saying, "Hey, you're gonna walk about 1.5 miles (2.4km), and guess what? The Yucatan sun is STRONG, and swimming is involved!" Fair enough! You gotta sign to say you're ready for a little adventure. Don't sweat it if you forget to bring your signed waiver in the morning – they have extras at check-in. Tour guides will snag those waivers from you on one of the bus rides later.

Speaking of check-in, ours was in the Fathom Lounge at 8 AM. We checked in with the "Spiderman group" (each excursion group gets a fun name!), and we were good to go. Pro-tip: bring water! Seriously, you'll be doing some walking in the sun. Grab a bottle from the ship or buy some at the excursion staging area.

Oh, and towels! Grab some fluffy Disney towels as you hop off the ship. They'll be right there, and you'll definitely want them for the cenote swim later.

All Aboard the Adventure Bus!

From the ship to the bus? Easy peasy, about a 5-minute walk. You'll breeze through the port area and find your ride. The buses were comfy charter style – think comfy seats, storage for bags, and even a restroom on board. Just a heads-up: no device charging on the bus, so make sure your phone and cameras are juiced up! You're looking at about 8 hours without a plug.

The bus ride itself is pretty chill. Once you leave Progreso, you're cruising through the Yucatan countryside. It's mostly rural scenery, not a ton to see out the window, but hey, relax and enjoy the ride! Heads up if you need data: cell service (at least with T-Mobile) was spotty and kinda slow (3G). So, maybe download a podcast or audiobook beforehand.

Entering the Amazing Chichen Itza

Okay, you've arrived at Chichen Itza! The bus takes a few minutes to get checked in and parked, and during this time, listen up for ticket instructions. It's slightly different if you're all adults, have kiddos, or are rocking a video camera. (Psst… don't try to sneak in a video camera without a ticket – they check bags, and honestly, the ticket is cheap and worth respecting the rules).

You'll hop off the bus and enter the visitor center. Get ready to see hats, hats, HATS! Vendors everywhere selling them. Seriously, if you didn't bring a hat and it's sunny, treat yourself to a sombrero! There's practically zero shade once you get into the actual monument area, and you'll be exploring for about an hour.

Video camera crew? This is your moment! Tell your tour guide about your camera ticket needs. You'll need Mexican pesos for this. We were peso-less, but our awesome guide managed to find someone to swap a $5 USD bill for pesos. Thanks, Manny! Otherwise, camera might have had to stay on the bus.

Hand over your tickets (to a few different folks), breeze through the bag check, and you're strolling through a marketplace on your way to the main event. Before you hit the monuments, there are bathrooms available. Our group made a pit stop here – last chance for a while, folks! Then, we regrouped and got ready for the tour.

Exploring the Wonders of Chichen Itza

The tour kicks off at the monument – El Castillo, the big pyramid everyone thinks of when you say "Chichen Itza." Our guides were fantastic, giving us the lowdown on the pyramid's history, the whole site, and the fascinating Mayan people.

Then, we started wandering around, checking out El Castillo from all angles. We even clapped to hear the amazing echo – seriously sounds like birds chirping! We learned about the smaller temples, the Warriors' Temple, the cemetery, and finally, the ball court. This is where the Mayans played a game… part sport, part ritual, and still a bit mysterious to us today!

The tour moves at a good pace, but you gotta stick with the group (or let your guide know if you're going rogue). If you're a photo fanatic or want to linger somewhere special, you might need to peel off for a few minutes.

After the guided tour, we landed in a small marketplace area with vendors selling handcrafted goodies. We had about 10 minutes to shop for souvenirs or just wander before heading back to the bus. Next stop: cenote time!

Lunch at the Cenote (Tacos!)

Bus ride to the cenote – check! Then, a short 5-minute walk to an open-air patio. Think picnic tables under a roof – perfect for a casual lunch. And restrooms are nearby too!

Lunch was pork tacos! (During the bus ride earlier, they asked if anyone needed a pork-free option or hot dogs for kids – nice touch!). They also had fruit-infused water on ice – super refreshing and all purified, so no worries there. Lunch was a quick and tasty 30-minute break, then it was time to head to the cenote itself!

Cenote Swim Time!

Cenote time! We headed to the locker area. Locker keys are $2 USD (or 30 pesos), and they have changing rooms for everyone. No bathrooms in the locker area itself, though.

Ready to swim? First, outdoor showers are mandatory – gotta rinse off before you get your life jacket. Yep, life jackets are a must (and they won't give you one until you shower!). Then, it's down 120 stairs to the cenote. Heads up: no accessible path, stairs are the only way down (and back up!).

At the cenote, there's a little spot to stash your towel and shoes. Wear shoes! The stairs and paths are stone and pebbles. Then, just a few more steps and you're in the amazing cenote water! Swim time was about 30 minutes, come and go as you please. This cenote is DEEP – like 150 feet (45 meters) deep! So, yeah, that life jacket is a good idea. The water? A little chilly, but not freezing. Just jump in, you'll get used to it!

Back to the Ship!

Swim done, time to climb those 120 stairs back up! Then a few more to drop off the life jackets and grab your stuff from the lockers. Dry off, change into dry clothes, and back to the bus for the 2-hour ride back to Progreso port.

We got back with about an hour to spare before "All Aboard." Perfect for a little last-minute souvenir shopping at the port before heading back onto the ship.

So, there you have it! Our Chichen Itza and Cenote Swim adventure from Progreso! Have you done this excursion? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Packing List

• Comfortable shoes (Keens are ideal)
• Hat
• Waiver
• Dry bag
• Towels
• Mexican pesos (if using video camera)
• Water or refillable bottle
• Power bank
• Head phones