PRIVATE TOUR: For snorkeling lovers: Swim alongside sea turtles in Akumal Bay, then explore the crystal-clear waters of 1 or 2 cenotes. End the day with a delicious meal at a local Mexican restaurant.
Scroll down for detailed info, inclusions and itinerary.
Book your tour now and if your plans happen to change, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours prior to the tour!
Looking for the ultimate snorkeling experience in the Riviera Maya? Our Akumal Turtles Tour combines two unforgettable aquatic adventures: snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal Bay and exploring the magical waters of a jungle cenote. This tour is a favorite among families, kids, and groups of friends who want to enjoy nature and marine life in a fun, safe, and private setting.
The first part of your private tour takes you to the calm, clear waters of Akumal, one of the best places in Mexico to observe sea turtles in the wild. With the help of your certified private guide, you’ll snorkel alongside green sea turtles, peaceful and majestic as they glide effortlessly through the water. These gentle creatures often come close, offering a magical, up-close experience you’ll never forget.
If you're lucky, you might also spot stingrays and colorful tropical fish swimming gracefully along the ocean floor. Don't worry—stingrays are harmless and only add to the beauty of this incredible underwater setting.
After swimming with turtles in Akumal, the adventure continues inland. You can choose to visit one cenote or enhance your experience with two cenotes. Your guide will take you to a stunning cave cenote with dramatic rock formations or an open-air cenote surrounded by lush jungle, or both! Choosing two cenotes allows you to explore two very different environments and enjoy a more complete snorkeling adventure.
You can find the full list of cenotes available to choose from in the “General Info” tab.
No matter which cenote you choose, you’ll enjoy crystal-clear freshwater, impressive limestone formations, and a peaceful atmosphere. Snorkeling here gives you the chance to discover a hidden world that few travelers get to see.
After your snorkeling activities, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch in a local Mexican restaurant, nestled in the jungle or nearby town, depending on your chosen cenote. It’s the perfect moment to relax, share stories, and reflect on your day of discovery.
This tour is 100% private and flexible, making it ideal for snorkelers of all levels, from first-timers to experienced swimmers. Our expert guides will adapt to your pace, provide all necessary gear, and offer tips to help you feel comfortable in the water.
Whether you're an adventurous adult or a cautious child, you’re in good hands. Swimming is easy and accessible directly from the shore—no boat needed. Children as young as 4 or 5 years old can participate as long as they know how to swim and are comfortable wearing a mask and snorkel.
Join us on this exclusive Akumal Turtles tour paired with a cenote snorkeling experience. Whether you're drawn by the chance to meet marine life or explore the mysterious underground world of cenotes, this private tour promises memories that will last a lifetime.
Combine Mayan ruins and cenote experiences with these popular tours:
Book 2 or more tours and enjoy a 10% discount! Perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their stay in the Riviera Maya.
The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic,
crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when
booking.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at each location, moving at your own pace.
If you choose the 2 cenotes option, add an extra hour to the itinerary.
You can shorten the tour by booking the option that excludes lunch.
FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN AREA
07:45am: Transportation from your hotel to Akumal
08:30am – 09:30am: Snorkeling with turtles*
09:30am – 10:00am: Transportation
10:00am – 11:00am: Snorkeling in cenote
11:00am – 11:45am: Lunch at a restaurant
11:45pm – 12:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM TULUM AREA
08:00am: Transportation from your hotel to Akumal
08:30am – 09:30am: Snorkeling with turtles*
09:30am – 10:00am: Transportation
10:00am – 11:00am: Snorkeling in cenote
11:00am – 11:45am: Lunch at a restaurant
11:45pm – 12:15pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM CANCUN AREA
07:00am: Transportation from your hotel to Akumal
08:45am – 09:45am: Snorkeling with turtles*
09:45am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Snorkeling in cenote
11:15am – 12:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
12:00pm – 13:45pm: Transportation to your hotel
*Swimming with turtles is limited to a maximum of 1 hour, as per Akumal regulations.
* It is forbidden to apply sunblock and repellent before swimming or
snorkeling activities to prevent water pollution in the cenotes and
preserve the reefs, even if they are biodegradable products. Compliance
with this rule is essential for the protection of the environment.
You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone,
camera, extra set of clothes…). While you are visiting or snorkeling you
can leave the things you don’t need in the van. Our driver will always
be in the van, so keeping your things safe!
You must be logged in to post a review.
Looking for the ultimate snorkeling experience in the Riviera Maya? Our Akumal Turtles Tour combines two unforgettable aquatic adventures: snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal Bay and exploring the magical waters of a jungle cenote. This tour is a favorite among families, kids, and groups of friends who want to enjoy nature and marine life in a fun, safe, and private setting.
The first part of your private tour takes you to the calm, clear waters of Akumal, one of the best places in Mexico to observe sea turtles in the wild. With the help of your certified private guide, you’ll snorkel alongside green sea turtles, peaceful and majestic as they glide effortlessly through the water. These gentle creatures often come close, offering a magical, up-close experience you’ll never forget.
If you're lucky, you might also spot stingrays and colorful tropical fish swimming gracefully along the ocean floor. Don't worry—stingrays are harmless and only add to the beauty of this incredible underwater setting.
After swimming with turtles in Akumal, the adventure continues inland. You can choose to visit one cenote or enhance your experience with two cenotes. Your guide will take you to a stunning cave cenote with dramatic rock formations or an open-air cenote surrounded by lush jungle, or both! Choosing two cenotes allows you to explore two very different environments and enjoy a more complete snorkeling adventure.
You can find the full list of cenotes available to choose from in the “General Information” tab.
No matter which cenote you choose, you’ll enjoy crystal-clear freshwater, impressive limestone formations, and a peaceful atmosphere. Snorkeling here gives you the chance to discover a hidden world that few travelers get to see.
After your snorkeling activities, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch in a local Mexican restaurant, nestled in the jungle or nearby town, depending on your chosen cenote. It’s the perfect moment to relax, share stories, and reflect on your day of discovery.
This tour is 100% private and flexible, making it ideal for snorkelers of all levels, from first-timers to experienced swimmers. Our expert guides will adapt to your pace, provide all necessary gear, and offer tips to help you feel comfortable in the water.
Whether you're an adventurous adult or a cautious child, you’re in good hands. Swimming is easy and accessible directly from the shore—no boat needed. Children as young as 4 or 5 years old can participate as long as they know how to swim and are comfortable wearing a mask and snorkel.
Join us on this exclusive Akumal Turtles tour paired with a cenote snorkeling experience. Whether you're drawn by the chance to meet marine life or explore the mysterious underground world of cenotes, this private tour promises memories that will last a lifetime.
Combine Mayan ruins and cenote experiences with these popular tours:
Book 2 or more tours and enjoy a 10% discount! Perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their stay in the Riviera Maya.
The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic,
crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when
booking.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at each location, moving at your own pace.
If you choose the 2 cenotes option, add an extra hour to the itinerary.
You can shorten the tour by booking the option that excludes lunch.
FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN AREA
07:45am: Transportation from your hotel to Akumal
08:30am – 09:30am: Snorkeling with turtles*
09:30am – 10:00am: Transportation
10:00am – 11:00am: Snorkeling in cenote
11:00am – 11:45am: Lunch at a restaurant
11:45pm – 12:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM TULUM AREA
08:00am: Transportation from your hotel to Akumal
08:30am – 09:30am: Snorkeling with turtles*
09:30am – 10:00am: Transportation
10:00am – 11:00am: Snorkeling in cenote
11:00am – 11:45am: Lunch at a restaurant
11:45pm – 12:15pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM CANCUN AREA
07:00am: Transportation from your hotel to Akumal
08:45am – 09:45am: Snorkeling with turtles*
09:45am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Snorkeling in cenote
11:15am – 12:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
12:00pm – 13:45pm: Transportation to your hotel
*Swimming with turtles is limited to a maximum of 1 hour, as per Akumal regulations.
* It is forbidden to apply sunblock and repellent before swimming or
snorkeling activities to prevent water pollution in the cenotes and
preserve the reefs, even if they are biodegradable products. Compliance
with this rule is essential for the protection of the environment.
You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone,
camera, extra set of clothes…). While you are visiting or snorkeling you
can leave the things you don’t need in the van. Our driver will always
be in the van, so keeping your things safe!
You must be logged in to post a review.
You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.
No. The driver and guide are two different professionals.
All our tours include a dedicated driver and a separate certified guide.
While some companies offer a guide-driver, we believe this is not safe. Having a driver focused solely on the road and a guide fully dedicated to our guests ensures a safer and higher-quality experience.
It typically lasts between 5 to 6 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site. Please check the full itinerary in the “Itinerary” tab for more details.
Yes, round-trip transportation is included from Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum. We’ll pick you up right from your hotel, resort, or Airbnb for a stress-free start to your day.
Please note: we don’t offer pick up from Cancun Playa Mujeres hotels unless your group has 6 or more adults.
Yes, you’re welcome to choose your preferred pick-up time when booking.
That said, we recommend an early morning start to help you beat the crowds, skip the traffic, and enjoy cooler temperatures—it really makes a difference!
No previous snorkeling experience is required, but basic swimming skills are necessary.
We provide mandatory life vests, and our guide ensures a safe and comfortable experience for everyone.
You can view the list of cenotes available for this tour under the ‘Tour Description and General Info’ tab, where you'll also find links to full descriptions of each cenote.
We offer a variety of cenote types, including open-air, semi-open, and cave cenotes.
Unless you've already made your choice, you can decide which cenote to visit together with your tour guide on the day of your tour.
Turtle sightings are very likely but not guaranteed, as they are wild animals.
Akumal is one of the best places in the region to see them.
There is no boat involved. The swim starts directly from the shore, and you’ll enter the water with your guide to reach the turtle area.
Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas at both locations.
Check the "What to bring" tab on the tour page for the full packing list. Essentials include swimwear, a towel and comfortable shoes.
You can safely leave your belongings in the van—our driver stays with it the entire time while you're out enjoying the activities.
Yes, you can bring your own mask and snorkel.
However, fins are not allowed when swimming with turtles or in the cenote, so please do not bring them.
We will still provide our own gear as a backup if needed. We will also provide mandatory life vests and optional wetsuits at the cenote if you want to wear one.
Yes, we’re happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs or allergies.
After booking, you can let us know your needs by filling out the check-in form—just follow the link in your booking confirmation email.
You can cancel free of charge or reschedule (subject to availability) up to 24 hours before your tour.
We’re a small team and often fully booked 1–2 weeks in advance, so we recommend booking early to secure your spot.
Bonus: if you book at least 2 months in advance (60 days), you’ll qualify for our early bird discount*!
For full details, check out our booking policy page.
Layne –
So much fun! Worth the money, Arturo was an amazing guide! He has a lot of experience and knowledge with the area!! Makes you feel comfortable and accommodated!
Russel –
Carlos was our driver and Alex our guide for our private tour. We thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, as well as learning more about the Mayan culture. We’d highly recommend Absolute Adventure and the Alex/Carlos combo.
Samantha –
Our tour guide was great and very knowledgeable. I love that it was a private tour and we didn’t have to be with random people. We swam with turtles and saw many turtles and other fish. Then we went to our cenote and he took a lot of pictures for us, as well as let us stay as long as we wanted, we were not rushed. We added a 2nd cenote to our tour and he knew the answer to all of our questions. Definitely recommend this company, definitely worth the money! Oh and we went to lunch after the tour and is was delicious. 10/10 experience.
Amy –
My friends and I had the best day with Arturo as our guide and Omar as a our driver. Everything was organized, clean and safe. We snorkeled in Akumal Bay and swam in a beautiful Cenote that we had all to ourselves. Awesome Mexican lunch to end the day! Private tour was totally worth it! Outstanding!
lol1127 –
We had a wonderful day! Our tour guide, Arturo was very knowledgeable and personable. Swimming in the cenote was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Lunch was delicious, ambience was beautiful. Highly recommend!
Samantha –
Wonderful experience – can’t recommend this highly enough! My partner and I had a private trip to Akumal beach and Dos Ojos cenotes. Alex (guide) and Omar (driver) were super knowledgeable about the location and Mayan history. They were right on time picking us up from our hotel. We got to the snorkeling spot early so there were only a few other groups in the water when we started. It was very nice having a guide just to ourselves since most of the groups we saw has 10+ people. We saw a few sea turtles and had fun snorkeling at the beautiful beach. Next, we went to the cenotes and chose Nikte Ha (you can choose from three). It was an absolutely gorgeous place with crystal clear water & water lilies. I would recommend bringing bug spray since the mosquitoes were out in full force in the jungle. Lunch on the way back was great (and they had vegetarian options) and we were back at our hotel by early afternoon. Overall, a wonderful experience thanks to Alex & Omar. I highly recommend this private tour for a personalized, once in a lifetime experience!!
Bryana L. –
We had an amazing day with Arturo snorkeling with the turtles in Akumal Bay and visiting a cenote. Everything was seamless from start to finish with booking. Excellent communication. Day of they were on time, with a big, clean, well air conditioned van for our family and Arturo, our guide, couldn’t have been better. He was super friendly and knowledgeable. We went to an incredible cenote and were the only ones there in the morning. So magical. Could not have been a better day!
Lisa –
Great day ! They handled our group of 20 without any problems . Cenotes underground were amazing . Lunch was best we have had this trip . Sea turtles babies and large turtles in natural habitat. Great day for our family and friends
Jennifer –
We were a party of 3. We loved snorkeling with the sea turtles and the cenote was amazing. Alex our guide was the best! He had so much knowledge and taught us a lot about the history of the area. Lunch was wonderful too. We had an amazing time. We started off early in the morning and we beat all the crowds. It was perfect. Alex was an excellent guide for our trip. I highly recommend Alex and Absolute Adventures.
Brittney –
Great time! Very knowledgeable and patient staff!
Kimberly –
This was a definitely a very fun experience!!! It was my first time trying all these new activities & Arturo which was our guider was supper nice & awesome. He made made everything supper fun & I liked that he went above & beyond for us to feel comfortable & made us feel safe. I would definitely come back again.
Christina –
Excellent guide and driver. Fun experience. They took great care of us. We saw turtles while snorkeling at Akumal. We experienced two gorgeous cenotes. We ate a yummy, authentic, Mexican lunch.
Chelsea –
Amazing from start to finish. Arturo picked us up right on schedule and we were off to an incredibly fun day! He had a cooler with water, soda, and beer for us. We went to snorkel with turtles (which was amazing), then had lots of cenote options, an amazing lunch, and easy drive home. Arturo was so kind, knowledgeable, and fun! We could not recommend this enough!
Mya –
Amazing experience! We had a great guide (Arturo) and just had a wonderful day overall. Great lunch at the end too! The cenote visit was even more of a highlight than the turtles, which is hard to beat!
Clair –
I cannot recommend this business enough. We had clear, regular contact from them prior to our excursion. They arrived on time at our hotel in an air con vehicle, with drinks on ice included in the price. Our Guide, Claire and Julian were friendly, professional and provided us with fascinating information about the area, turtles & Cenote throughout our excursion.
It was only myself and my partner in our excursion and that made it feel even more special.
Akumul beach, where the turtles are, is beautiful. However the Cenote was amazing. Beyond our expectations and fascinating.
The Company went at our pace and every where we went was not crowded at all.
We then had lunch at a beautiful location in the Jungle. Where my partner proposed to me. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
I cannot recommend this business enough. They made the whole day magical. Thank you
Nicole –
I can not say enough good about Absolute Adventure. We had one free morning on our vacation where we wanted to book an excursion to swim with turtles and see a cenote. Everything from initially booking online to day of excursion was top notch, professional and convenient. They even confirmed via text day before to confirm hotel, pick up time, etc. Day of our guide was Arturo and he was right on time waiting for us, very professional, polite and accommodating. Between him and our driver we felt safe at all times which is very important. Both the turtles and cenote Arturo recommended were incredible. Exactly what we were hoping to see. We even got to do this crazy zip line which was totally unexpected and so fun. We unfortunately had to skip the lunch to head back to our hotel for another engagement but definitely next time! Thank you Arturo and Absolute Adventure for an incredible morning we will never forget! -Nicole and Chuck from Boston
Erica –
What an incredible experience with our wonderful guide Arturo!!! Every detail was perfect, professional and informative. Lunch was delicious as well!
609mya –
Amazing experience! We had a great guide (Arturo) and just had a wonderful day overall. Great lunch at the end too! The cenote visit was even more of a highlight than the turtles, which is hard to beat!
Chiara –
We booked the Turtles and Cenote tour with “absolute adventure” and we had such a great time! Arturo was very kind and a perfect guide! He gave us very good recommendations and make our time the most enjoyable. We will recommend this experience with everyone.
Water_ –
This day trip was AMAZING. Arturo was a kind and informative guide, herding our unfocused group of 8 with apparent ease. We loved swimming with the sea turtles, which was peaceful and magical despite many other tourists there at the same time. Somehow Arturo arranged for us to spend a little extra time at the reef so that we saw sting rays and colorful fish in addition to the turtles. In all, it was a really memorable, lovely outing.
We then went to the Pet Cemetery cenote. I wasn’t thrilled about swimming in a cave and I was wrong: it was incredible. The water was crystal clear and fresh, the cave, the rock formations fascinating. I can understand why these were considered sacred spaces – they were special places we felt lucky to see.
In all, this outing was something we will remember as a highlight of our trip. Thank you, Arturo!