YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Coba and Tulum ruins

91 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: The perfect private tour for history enthusiasts: delve into Maya history by visiting the ruins of Tulum and Coba, including its famous pyramid , with a private certified guide. Enjoy a typical Mexican meal, and you also have the option to add a visit to the cenotes of Coba! 🔔 Great news: Coba’s pyramid is now available for climbing again!
  • Exclusive Experience: Just you, your personal local guide, and driver!
  • Private Transportation: Convenient pick-up from your hotel or rental.
  • Escape the Crowds & Beat the Heat: Skip the lines & enjoy a relaxed, stress-free guided tour.
  • Lunch at local restaurant: Mexican flavors await you!
  • Set Your Own Pace: Stay longer or move on, the choice is entirely yours.
  • All-Inclusive at the Best Price: Transport, guide, entrance fees, bike, lunch & more!

Early bird discountBook 60+ days ahead and save 10%.

Multi-tour discountBook 2+ tours and save 10%.

Offers cannot be combined. Holiday exclusions apply. See terms and conditions.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The details of your private day.

Tulum ruins & Coba ruins Private Tour

 

If you’ve come to visit the Riviera Maya because you’re fascinated by the ancient Mayan cities, then this all-inclusive private Tulum Coba tour is perfect for your group. Not only will we take you and your fellow history lovers to explore the ancient city of Coba, which dates back to the Classic period of the Mayan history, but we’ll also visit the coastal ruins of Tulum, a former trading port that was at its peak during the civilization’s Postclassic period.

  1. Start Your Journey with the Tulum Ruins

    Our tour begins with a visit to Tulum, which is widely considered to be one of the most important sites left by the Mayans.

    We plan our tours to avoid the crowds so that you can enjoy the experience as much as possible, and also provide you with a friendly, knowledgeable personal tour guide who will show you all of the archaeological highlights and share fascinating facts about the Mayans with you. In addition to viewing the beautiful temple of the descending god, you’ll be able to view the impressive main temple “El Castillo” and spend as much time as you like enjoying the breathtaking views of the nearby Caribbean Sea.

  2. Visiting the Archaeological Site of Coba

    Once you’ve explored every single nook and cranny of Tulum, we’ll head to the ancient city of Coba, which is located a bit further inland. To start, we’ll go for an unforgettable ride through the jungle on the city’s famous network of ancient stone roadways.

    Your tour guide will also take you to see Coba’s most interesting features, such as the large pyramid Nohoch Mul, which you’ll be welcome to climb if you want! Finally, we’ll end the tour by stopping for a delicious lunch of authentic Mexican food at a local restaurant, where you can relax and discuss all of the amazing things you’ve seen and done throughout the day.

  3. Optional Add-On: Refreshing Cenote Swim

    Want to do more in your day trip?… Nothing better than swimming after the ruins!
    To extend this adventure, we offer the option to add a cenote swim at the end of the tour. In that case we visit the 2 cenotes of Coba! One of them including cliff jumping! To book it just select the tour “Tulum Coba Cenote” just below the calendar.

Price includes

  • Pick up and drop off at your hotel with private air-conditioned transportation (Booster car seat and baby car seat available on request)
  • Experienced certified private guide
  • Tulum ruins entrance fees (INAH + CONANP + JAGUAR) with pre-purchased tickets for direct entry
  • Optional electric shuttle from the parking area to the ruins entrance (750 m / 0.5 mile), for guests who prefer not to walk
  • Coba ruins INAH entrance fee (National Institute of Anthropology and History)
  • Coba ruins Ejido entrance fee (local city tax)
  • Bicycle (1 per person)
  • Tricycle rickshaw (1 for every 2 people) for the standard rental time.
  • Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
  • Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte
  • Tulum Coba Cenote option: cenote entrance fee and life vests

Price excludes

  • Tricycle extra rental time or one tricycle per person. The standard rental time is usually sufficient to visit the entire archaeological site at a comfortable pace. Extra time may be required if there is a long line to climb the pyramid and costs approximately $10 USD per tricycle for one additional hour.
  • Drinks at the restaurant
  • Ruins: If you bring a GoPro, video camera, or phone with a selfie stick, a fee of 60 pesos (about USD 3) per device is charged at the entrance to each archaeological site and must be paid in pesos (INAH fee). Drones and camera/video tripods are prohibited.
  • Tips

General info

Private Tour:
Only you, the guide and the driver, nobody else!
Duration:
 7/8 hours (check the itinerary tab, as it depends on your pick-up location).
Physicality:
 Easy for everyone; only the optional pyramid climb requires extra effort.*
Age:
 All ages
What’s on the menu?
Selection of quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, salbutes, fajitas, grilled chicken … with vegetarian, fish, shrimp, chicken & meat options. With corn or flour tortillas. We can accommodate special diets and allergies, just let us know!
  • We offer the option to add a cenote to this private ruins tour, in that case we visit the 2 cenotes of Coba

*Climbing the pyramid:
Climbing is organized in small groups of 15 people to keep the stairs safe, and the maximum time allowed at the top is 15 minutes.
Please note that climbing the pyramid is done entirely at your own responsibility. This activity requires physical effort and may pose risks to your safety.
Do not climb if you are wearing shoes with slippery soles or high heels, if you suffer from dizziness or vertigo, have recently undergone surgery or experienced an injury, have heart conditions, back, neck or bone problems, are pregnant, have high blood pressure or aneurysms, or are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Your safety is our priority—only you know your physical limits. If you believe your health may be at risk, please refrain from climbing to help prevent accidents.

Itinerary options

Times at each stop are estimates. Driving and your exact pickup location affect the schedule.

Tulum & Coba Ruins

  1. Tulum ruins — 90 min
  2. Coba ruins — 105 min
  3. Lunch in Coba village — 40 min

Tulum & Coba Ruins with Cenote Swim

  1. Tulum ruins — 90 min
  2. Coba ruins — 105 min
  3. Coba cenote swim — 60 min
  4. Lunch in Coba village — 40 min

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.
Want a faster tour? Free time can be reduced or skipped; your guide can adjust the pace on the day of the tour.

If you choose to add the cenote option, please add an extra hour to the itinerary (before or after lunch).
This tour doesn't include Tulum centro/Tulum beach-hotel areas. Only Tulum Mayan ruins.

What to bring

  • Resusable water bottle: at Tulum Ruins, it is forbidden to enter the ruins with plastic water bottles. If you wish to bring water for the visit, please bring your own reusable water bottle. We’ll have water in the van for you to fill or refill.
  • Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen*
  • Mosquito repellent*
  • Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
  • Camera

And if Cenote option:

  • Beach Towels
  • Swimsuit
  • Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone
  • Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

5.00/5 · 91 tour reviews

Showing reviews 28–36 of 91

Full day tour of Tulum, Coba and Cenote swim Great service from Absolute Tours. Our plans changed at the last minute due to weather and Absolute were flexible, prompt and efficient in their responses. Our full day tour with Arturo was educational, entertaining, fun and safe; a good value for the money. Highly recommended.

Colin · Nov 2024

Great private visit of Coba, Tulum and cenotes! We had an amazing tour with Absolute Adventure Mexico! Our guide and driver were very knowledgeable and friendly and we got to see all the sights we wanted at a good pace and avoided the crowds! They taught us a lot about Mexican culture and answered all our nerdy questions. They also took us to a great…

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Great private visit of Coba, Tulum and cenotes!
We had an amazing tour with Absolute Adventure Mexico! Our guide and driver were very knowledgeable and friendly and we got to see all the sights we wanted at a good pace and avoided the crowds! They taught us a lot about Mexican culture and answered all our nerdy questions. They also took us to a great place for lunch! Highly recommend this company and will use them again the next time I visit Mexico!

andreamA1165WY · Oct 2024

Private Tulum and Coba tour with lunch For anyone who isn’t wanting to visit a cenote, this tour is a great alternative. I highly recommend going early as there were only a few people around at the same time. We got great photos, unobstructed views of the ruins and the ocean and our guide Juan was able to spend more time explaining the history of…

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Private Tulum and Coba tour with lunch
For anyone who isn’t wanting to visit a cenote, this tour is a great alternative.
I highly recommend going early as there were only a few people around at the same time. We got great photos, unobstructed views of the ruins and the ocean and our guide Juan was able to spend more time explaining the history of Tulum and Coba without having to rush because of crowds.
As soon as we left though, we passed by multiple bus loads of people just arriving so I’m so glad we came when we did.
The lunch we had after Coba was delicious, fresh and so much flavour. A lot of food for one order that you could probably share with someone (unless you’re a big eater).
Our driver Enrique was friendly and professional and our guide Juan (aka Banana) was the best. He kept us engaged with his humour, all the interesting facts about the sites and his friendly and outgoing personality.
Perfect tour to end our trip!

kln17 · Sep 2024

Tulum, Coba tour Amazing private tour of Coba and Tulum. Tour guide is very knowledgeable about the areas visited. Great time for the family.

Glen · Jul 2024

Amazing Tulum-Cobá Ruins Tour AMAZING tour with Enrique and Alex! A must do! My husband was in heaven talking history with Enrique. He was very knowledgeable and explained everything with visuals! We were in awe at the beauty of the ruins and everything Enrique taught us! My kids enjoyed bike riding through the ruins and I know they will remember this tour as one of…

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Amazing Tulum-Cobá Ruins Tour
AMAZING tour with Enrique and Alex! A must do! My husband was in heaven talking history with Enrique. He was very knowledgeable and explained everything with visuals! We were in awe at the beauty of the ruins and everything Enrique taught us! My kids enjoyed bike riding through the ruins and I know they will remember this tour as one of their favorites. We loved it! Bravo Enrique and Alex!

Fab · Jul 2024

Amazing Private Tour of Tulum and Cobá This was an excellent private tour. We spent the day touring the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Cobá. Amazing tour and what was more cool is that it was a private tour with just the two of us, our tour guide and our driver. We learned a lot and since Alex, our tour guide was aware that we…

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Amazing Private Tour of Tulum and Cobá
This was an excellent private tour. We spent the day touring the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Cobá. Amazing tour and what was more cool is that it was a private tour with just the two of us, our tour guide and our driver. We learned a lot and since Alex, our tour guide was aware that we had studied history and watched several National Geographic programs on the Maya Civilization, therefore he gave us a more detailed and technical discussion of the varios sites, including connections between the maya and nahuatl languages. Lunch was also excellent. Highly recommended!

Climber365780 · Jul 2024

Worth every penny! Phenomenal private tour - worth every penny! We did a private tour of the Tulum and Coba archeological sites with Arturo. He was a superb guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about Maya civilizations. We loved learning about the different architectural structures and styles, while taking in the incredible views at Tulum. This was one of the highlights of our recent trip. If…

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Worth every penny!
Phenomenal private tour - worth every penny! We did a private tour of the Tulum and Coba archeological sites with Arturo. He was a superb guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about Maya civilizations. We loved learning about the different architectural structures and styles, while taking in the incredible views at Tulum.
This was one of the highlights of our recent trip. If you enjoy beautiful views, archeological sites and a fantastic tour guide, book this tour!
And shoutout to our driver for two days, Omar! He provided safe, efficient and punctual transportation for us.

Caroline · Jun 2024

What a great way to celebrate my 50th birthday with my 5 closest friends. Our guide, Arturo, was fantastic. A wealth of information and quite entertaining. We met early to beat the crowds and we were always one step ahead of the big groups. A nice leisurely tour of Tulum before heading to Coba where we rode bikes through the jungle, before swimming in a…

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What a great way to celebrate my 50th birthday with my 5 closest friends. Our guide, Arturo, was fantastic. A wealth of information and quite entertaining. We met early to beat the crowds and we were always one step ahead of the big groups. A nice leisurely tour of Tulum before heading to Coba where we rode bikes through the jungle, before swimming in a cenote. As one of my friends said, we did a triathlon. As a group of active women, this was just our speed. I appreciate that Arturo was willing change things when I told him I wanted to find a sign with the name Nicte. Suddenly there was the perfect cenote we had to visit and so he adjusted the planned cenotes on our tour so I could take a picture with Nicte. Turned out that Nicte-Ha was stunning and the perfect end of our tour. Gracias Arturo and Rodrigo for helping make my 50th birthday trip one to remember.

Rocio · Jun 2024

Alex was awesome. Great knowledge of all things Mayan. He's very personable and has an obvious passion for his work. Enrique was also great and I felt very comfortable.

Laura · Apr 2024

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Tulum Coba tour private or shared?

This is a private tour, just for you and your group.

You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.

Is the driver also the guide?

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.

How long does a private Tulum Coba tour take?

Please check the full itinerary in the “Itinerary” tab for more details.

It typically lasts between 7 to 8 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site. 

Pickup & transport

Is transportation included from my hotel or Airbnb?

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.

What vehicles do you use for your tours?

We offer a range of modern, air-conditioned vans to suit the size of your group and ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Visit our fleet page for more details.

Can I change the pick up time?

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!

Activities & facilities

How much walking is there at the Tulum ruins?

We take a shuttle from the parking lot to the main ruins entrance, so you won’t need to walk far to get to the site.

The guided visit lasts about 45 minutes and we go at a comfortable pace, with breaks if needed.

Just a heads-up—there aren’t many spots to sit. If you have any limitations with walking or taking steps, keep in mind that a few are required to get in and out of the site and to reach the cliff area.

Can we spend some time at Tulum beach during the tour?

No, unfortunately, we cannot. The beach located within the Tulum ruins has been closed since 2020 and remains inaccessible to visitors.

Additionally, this tour does not include any stops at the Tulum beach area, the hotel zone, or Tulum town center.

How much walking is involved at Coba?

Coba is a large archaeological site. Bicycle rental is included in this Absolute Adventure Mexico tour. Taxi-tricycle/pedicab rental is not included and costs extra if you choose it.

The terrain is flat. Your route and time at the ruins depend on your tour itinerary and the pace of your group.

Can we climb the pyramid in Coba?

Climbing Nohoch Mul resumed in December 2025 using the designated staircase. Access remains subject to the archaeological site’s current rules and conditions.

Climbing is optional. Follow the instructions at the site and the safety guidance provided for your tour.

Can we add a cenote to this Tulum Coba tour?

Yes! You can enhance your Coba tour with a refreshing swim in a cenote. Just select the cenote option when booking your tour.

The cenote visit includes entrance fees and life vests, so everything is taken care of for a fun and safe experience.

Are there showers or changing rooms at the cenote?

Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas.

Planning & booking

What should I bring for the tour? Where can I leave my belongings?

Check the "What to bring" tab on the tour page for the full packing list.

Essentials include swimwear, a towel if cenote option 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.

Are vegetarian or special dietary meals available?

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.

What is the cancellation policy?

Go ahead and plan with confidence—your booking is fully flexible!

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.

More questions?

Visit our main FAQ page or contact us by email, WhatsApp or via chat, we're happy to help!

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Coupon terms & conditions

EARLY2MONTHS — 10% off
Book at least 60 days before your tour date. Valid for bookings of 3 or more adults per tour.

MULTITOUR — 10% off
Book at least 2 tours in one transaction.

If part of a multi-tour booking is canceled and only one tour remains, the discount becomes void and the remaining balance will be adjusted.

Enter your coupon code at checkout.

Tour photos

MAKE IT YOUR DAY

Book with Confidence

Coba and Tulum ruins

Choose your date, number of guests and pickup location to see your exact price.

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.