YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Tulum Express

99 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: Uncover the Tulum Mayan ruins with a certified guide, followed by free time to snag the perfect souvenirs!
  • 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.
  • Capture Perfect Photos: Be the first to arrive at the best spots for stunning shots.
  • Set Your Own Pace: Stay longer or move on, the choice is entirely yours.
  • All-Inclusive at the Best Price: Transport, guide, entrance fees, water.

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 Express Private Tour

  1. Experience Tulum Mayan Ruins like a VIP !

    Skip long lines, packed shuttles and crowded ruins. Our private Tulum Express tour give you the VIP treatment with direct access, private guide and more time at the ruins.

    Go beyond the basics with an in-depth cultural and historical tour led by experts.mOur local guides offer fascinating insights into Mayan life, religion, architecture and more. Uncover stories that bring the ruins to life and give you a new appreciation for this ancient civilization. You’ll walk away feeling like you’ve uncovered a hidden treasure of Tulum’s history.

    This Tulum express tour is perfect for those that want the informative feel for a guided tour, but the flexibility to move that their own pace. Throughout this self-paced guided tour, you will have the opportunity to visit all parts of the site, with stops at the Castillo, the temple of the paintings and several still-existing houses and palaces from Mayan history.

    At the end of the visit, some free time will be offered to you to shop for souvenirs.

    Your Tulum Express tour will start at your hotel where one of our guides will pick you up in private transportation. We recommend to start early in an effort to beat the crowds that generally surround these areas.

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
  • Cool drinks in the van (water, soda)

Price excludes

  • 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:
 3-5 hours (check the itinerary tab, as it depends on your pick-up location).
Physicality:
 Easy
Age:
 All ages

Itinerary options

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

Tulum Express

  1. Tulum ruins — 90 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.
Discover the 3 benefits of an early departure to visit Tulum.

We can skip free time after the visit if you don't wish to shop.
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

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

5.00/5 · 99 tour reviews

Showing reviews 46–54 of 99

Wow!! Incredible!! Our wedding party went with Alex and Rodrigo to Tulum from Playa Del Carmen, Alex was so knowledgeable but also so engaging and funny!! I strongly recommend Alex as your guide. He was amazing! All our wedding guests were so happy.

P. · Feb 2025

Wow!! Tour guide Alex was incredible. We toured Tulum ruins as a wedding party adventure and the guests were so pleased with his knowledge, passion and humour! I wish Alex could tour us all over! That's how good he is.

Patrick · Feb 2025

Best tour we have ever taken. Amazing, amazing, amazing. The transfer was on time and had water and pop ready for us during the ride. Rodrigo was a great driver and all passengers felt 100% safe. Alex was the best tour guide I have ever had!!!! His knowledge during the ride and at Tulum was incredible. We would absolutely recommend the whole experience to anyone.

Adam · Feb 2025

Alex & Pablo were fantastic! Alex was our guide and Pablo was our driver. Alex shared and explained the historical period in such a captivating way. You were hanging on his every word as he described life, death, seeding and harvesting. It added such a unique depth to our visit, one that we wouldn’t not have gotten without him.

Garrett · Feb 2025

Excellent tour with Alex and Enrique - truly no crowds! We booked the Tulum Ruins Express Tour, and it was excellent. Our tour guide was Alex G., and our driver was Enrique. They arrived at our resort early and were waiting for us to depart at 7:30 AM. As advertised, we reached the ruins site right when it opened, and we were the only tourists…

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Excellent tour with Alex and Enrique - truly no crowds!
We booked the Tulum Ruins Express Tour, and it was excellent. Our tour guide was Alex G., and our driver was Enrique. They arrived at our resort early and were waiting for us to depart at 7:30 AM. As advertised, we reached the ruins site right when it opened, and we were the only tourists there! We had the opportunity to enjoy the site all to ourselves for most parts of the tour.
Alex was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable and well-versed in the history of the site. He explained everything as we walked through and answered all our questions. The weather was perfect, making the experience both educational and peaceful, especially without a crowd.
We completed the tour in about 2.5 hours and still had plenty of time to relax at our resort for the rest of the day. We highly recommend Alex and Enrique, as well as the tour company. We look forward to exploring more tour options when we return to Cancun/Tulum.

Angela · Jan 2025

We went on a private "express" tour of Tulum. Our guide Juan made this an excellent excursion. He was extremely knowledgeable about Tulum, and did a great job breaking down and explaining the ruins. He also knew all the best views and places to take pictures. He was very flexible and was happy to also guide us through the new(er) museum and watch tower at…

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We went on a private "express" tour of Tulum.
Our guide Juan made this an excellent excursion. He was extremely knowledgeable about Tulum, and did a great job breaking down and explaining the ruins. He also knew all the best views and places to take pictures. He was very flexible and was happy to also guide us through the new(er) museum and watch tower at Tulum, even though it was not strictly on the itinerary.
This tour company seems really well organized, especially compared to some other companies we went on excursions with in Mexico. All of our tickets were booked ahead of time, and we were even able to put the site bracelets on before arriving! Thanks to this organization and leaving early, we breezed through the entrance and had a great experience as one of the first groups in the site. I would highly recommend this agency to anyone looking to explore Tulum, or any other Mayan ruins in the Playa del Carmen area.

Evan · Jan 2025

First Class Trip As first time visitors to Mexico and wanting to explore historical sights we were unsure how to travel safely outwith our hotel in Playacar. Therefore after reading reviews decided to book the express private tour to Tulum and it sure was the right decision ! We were picked up early from our hotel prompt at time arranged by Enrique driver and Joshus…

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First Class Trip
As first time visitors to Mexico and wanting to explore historical sights we were unsure how to travel safely outwith our hotel in Playacar.
Therefore after reading reviews decided to book the express private tour to Tulum and it sure was the right decision !
We were picked up early from our hotel prompt at time arranged by Enrique driver and Joshus guide and conveyed to Tulum in an aircon vehicle, arriving there for gates opening at 8am. Joshua is a very polite,courteous, friendly, knowledgeable guide, who explained everything about the history of the site, during the walking tour.
Joshua was able to answer all.our questions during the very leisurely stroll round....nothing rushed or too much bother.
The site itself is really beautiful on the coast and remains are quite splendid.
On completing the tour we were given free time at the shops/market stalls, coffee shop at entrance.
Again, no rush, Joshua asked when we wanted to stay until and then when we were ready Enrique appeared in the vehicle at the exit, to return us straight back to hotel door.
Felt 100% safe throughout.
A great trip, thoroughly recommend Absolute Adventures for any trips in the area.
Thankyou

Ian · Dec 2024

Awesome time visiting Mayan Ruins in Tulum! My family took a private tour to see the Mayan ruins at Tulum. They raved about their guide Joshua, how knowledgeable he was, how helpful and friendly. They enjoyed the experience so much, we ended up booking another tour with Absolute Adventures the next day to swim with sea turtles, snorkel in a lagoon and swim in cenotes.…

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Awesome time visiting Mayan Ruins in Tulum!
My family took a private tour to see the Mayan ruins at Tulum. They raved about their guide Joshua, how knowledgeable he was, how helpful and friendly. They enjoyed the experience so much, we ended up booking another tour with Absolute Adventures the next day to swim with sea turtles, snorkel in a lagoon and swim in cenotes. We were lucky enough to get Joshua as our guide and since we were repeat customers, they even gave us a discount on the second tour. We had a blast. I would highly recommend Absolute Adventures if you want to do an excursion while in the Mayan Riviera area. And if you can, try to get Joshua as your guide.

BKLIERZ · Dec 2024

Alex was extremely knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the history as well as details about the ruins. He was very hospitable and allowed us plenty of time for questions and shopping. Going early was a great benefit as we felt as if we had the place to ourselves. As we were leaving, it began getting very crowded. Our family and friend group would…

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Alex was extremely knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the history as well as details about the ruins. He was very hospitable and allowed us plenty of time for questions and shopping. Going early was a great benefit as we felt as if we had the place to ourselves. As we were leaving, it began getting very crowded. Our family and friend group would highly recommend!

Cliff · Oct 2024

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Tulum Ruins 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 ruins tour take?

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

It typically lasts between 3 to 5 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.

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.

Clothing & Footwear: We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for exploring the ruins—tennis shoes are ideal. Light, breathable clothing is also suggested due to the warm weather.

Reusable Water Bottle: Please note that plastic water bottles are not allowed inside the Tulum Ruins. If you'd like to bring water with you, make sure to bring a reusable water bottle. We'll have water available in the van for you to fill or refill before the visit.

You can safely leave your belongings in the van—our driver stays with it the entire time while you're out enjoying the activities.

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!

Come explore the Riviera Maya with us.

Private adventures, thoughtfully planned by our local team.

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Coupon terms & conditions

EARLY2MONTHS — 10% off
Book at least 60 days before your tour date.

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

Tulum Express

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

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.