Tulum ruins, Snorkeling in Cenote and Reef
PRIVATE TOUR: A unique tour combining a private visit of Tulum ruins, reef snorkeling in front of the ruins and a swim in a cenote. With a delicious Mexican lunch in the jungle.
- 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.
- Breathtaking Cenotes! Pick from open-air or cave options – You’ll love the adventure!
- Discover the Tulum reefs: Enjoy a fun and safe snorkeling session, with private boat.
- Lunch in a One-of-a-Kind Jungle Spot: 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, gear, lunch & more!
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!
- Description
- Price Includes
- General Info
- Itinerary
- What to Bring
- Reviews
Tulum ruins, Snorkeling in Cenote and Coral Reef Private Tour
The private Tulum Snorkeling Tour will not disappoint you, it is one of the top of the line excursion. This tour combines one of the best ruin sites on the Caribbean Coast and two different snorkeling experiences. Our guides absolutely love taking patrons on this tour because the smiles on customers’ faces never stop growing.
Private Tulum Experience: Early Start and Exclusive Access
You’ll begin with private transportation from your hotel, allowing you to make the most of your Tulum experience. Because we provide private transportation, you won’t be bothered by picking up other guests along the way. This ensures that you get the most out of your time, complete with a private archaeological guide who will show you the ins and outs of the site. Our staff has mapped out the perfect hours of the day to visit Tulum, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this historical wonder.
Snorkeling Adventures: Reef Exploration and Cenote Wonders
After exploring the ruins, you’ll hop on a boat for a one-hour tour with snorkeling on the second biggest reef in the world. There’s a chance you may spot sea turtles, although they are sometimes shy and may hide from the crowd. You’ll also get a unique view of the ruins and two additional hidden temples, experiencing the same sights as the original Mayan settlers did when they first colonized the area. It doesn’t get more historical than that!
Next, we’ll head to a cenote where you’ll calmly snorkel with your guide, discovering the stunning rock formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local wildlife like bats, small fish, and the colorful MotMot bird. Your guide will be with you every step of the way, pointing out unique sights underwater.
Authentic Jungle Lunch
To end the day, we’ll share an authentic Mexican lunch in the jungle with your guide, giving you the chance to debrief the day’s adventures and reflect on the incredible experiences.
Finally, we’ll take you back to your hotel, and just like that, you’ll have enjoyed one of the best excursions this area has to offer.
Other Private Tours You May Like
Combine Mayan ruins and cenote experiences with these popular tours:
- Tulum, Cenote and Swim with Turtles Private Tour: Visit Tulum ruins, explore a cenote and swim with sea turtles at Akumal bay.
- Tulum & Cenote Private Tour: Explore Tulum ruins and swim in a magical cenote in half a day.
- Chichen Itza & Cenote Private Tour: Discover one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and dive into a sacred cenote.
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.
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
- All entrance fees
- 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
- High quality snorkeling gear (fins, mask, snorkel, wetsuits, life jackets)
- Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
- Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte and one bottle of water
Price excludes
- Ruins: In case you bring a go pro camera, a video camera or a phone with a selfie stick, there is a 60 pesos (around 3USD) per device charged at the entrance of each archeological site, to be paid in pesos (INAH tax) – Drones and Tripods for video/cameras are forbidden.
- Extra drinks at the restaurant
- Tips
General info
- Private Tour: Only you, the guide and the driver, nobody else!
- Duration: 6/7 hours (check the itinerary tab, as it depends on your pick-up location).
- Physicality: Easy
- Age: all ages
- Snorkeling: Basic swimming skills required. This excursion suits everyone from novices to experts.
- Reef in Tulum:This tour is weather dependent for the reef snorkeling, if it is too windy/wavy the day of the tour, we will replace the reef snorkeling by the swim with turtles as it is taking place from shore in the protected Akumal bay.
- Which cenote will you visit? The day of your tour, you can choose one cenote between Nicte Ha, Taak bi Ha, or Jaguar. If you prefer to go to Dos Ojos or Pet Cemetery, we will add 10 USD per person on your balance. Your guide will be happy to help you to select the best cenote for you and your party according to your expectations and snorkeling skills.
- What’s on the menu? Selection of quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, salbutes, fajitas, grilled chicken, grilled fish, tortas (sandwiches), soup of day, … with vegetarian, fish, shrimp, chicken & meat options. With corn or flour tortillas. We can accommodate special diets and allergies, just let us know!
Itinerary
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. Discover the benefits of early departure to visit Tulum.
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.
FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN AREA
07:00am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00am – 10:00am: Visit of Tulum Mayan ruins
10:00am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Reef Snorkeling
11:15am – 11:45am: Transportation
11:45pm – 12:45pm: Snorkeling in cenote
01:00pm – 02:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
02:00pm – 02:45pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM TULUM AREA
07:45am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00am – 10:00am: Visit of Tulum Mayan ruins
10:00am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Reef Snorkeling
11:15am – 11:45am: Transportation
11:45pm – 12:45pm: Snorkeling in cenote
01:00pm – 02:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
02:00pm – 02:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM CANCUN AREA
06:00am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00am – 10:00am: Visit of Tulum Mayan ruins
10:00am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Reef Snorkeling
11:15am – 11:45am: Transportation
11:45pm – 12:45pm: Snorkeling in cenote
01:00pm – 02:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
02:00pm – 03:45pm: Transportation to your hotel
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.
- Beach Towels
- Swimsuit (We recommend wearing it in the morning and feel free to change after snorkeling activities)
- Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
- Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and we recommend wearing a rash-guard/UV-Shirt for water activities*
- Mosquito repellent*
- Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
- Camera/Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone
* 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!
22 reviews for Tulum ruins, Snorkeling in Cenote and Reef
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FAQ Tulum Reef Snorkeling Cenote Private Tour
- Description
- Price Includes
- General Info
- Itinerary
- What to Bring
- Reviews
Tulum ruins, Snorkeling in Cenote and Coral Reef Private Tour
The private Tulum Snorkeling Tour will not disappoint you, it is one of the top of the line excursion. This tour combines one of the best ruin sites on the Caribbean Coast and two different snorkeling experiences. Our guides absolutely love taking patrons on this tour because the smiles on customers’ faces never stop growing.
Private Tulum Experience: Early Start and Exclusive Access
You’ll begin with private transportation from your hotel, allowing you to make the most of your Tulum experience. Because we provide private transportation, you won’t be bothered by picking up other guests along the way. This ensures that you get the most out of your time, complete with a private archaeological guide who will show you the ins and outs of the site. Our staff has mapped out the perfect hours of the day to visit Tulum, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this historical wonder.
Snorkeling Adventures: Reef Exploration and Cenote Wonders
After exploring the ruins, you’ll hop on a boat for a one-hour tour with snorkeling on the second biggest reef in the world. There’s a chance you may spot sea turtles, although they are sometimes shy and may hide from the crowd. You’ll also get a unique view of the ruins and two additional hidden temples, experiencing the same sights as the original Mayan settlers did when they first colonized the area. It doesn’t get more historical than that!
Next, we’ll head to a cenote where you’ll calmly snorkel with your guide, discovering the stunning rock formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the local wildlife like bats, small fish, and the colorful MotMot bird. Your guide will be with you every step of the way, pointing out unique sights underwater.
Authentic Jungle Lunch
To end the day, we’ll share an authentic Mexican lunch in the jungle with your guide, giving you the chance to debrief the day’s adventures and reflect on the incredible experiences.
Finally, we’ll take you back to your hotel, and just like that, you’ll have enjoyed one of the best excursions this area has to offer.
Other Private Tours You May Like
Combine Mayan ruins and cenote experiences with these popular tours:
- Tulum, Cenote and Swim with Turtles Private Tour: Visit Tulum ruins, explore a cenote and swim with sea turtles at Akumal bay.
- Tulum & Cenote Private Tour: Explore Tulum ruins and swim in a magical cenote in half a day.
- Chichen Itza & Cenote Private Tour: Discover one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and dive into a sacred cenote.
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.
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
- All entrance fees
- 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
- High quality snorkeling gear (fins, mask, snorkel, wetsuits, life jackets)
- Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
- Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte and one bottle of water
Price excludes
- Ruins: In case you bring a go pro camera, a video camera or a phone with a selfie stick, there is a 60 pesos (around 3USD) per device charged at the entrance of each archeological site, to be paid in pesos (INAH tax) – Drones and Tripods for video/cameras are forbidden.
- Extra drinks at the restaurant
- Tips
General info
- Private Tour: Only you, the guide and the driver, nobody else!
- Duration: 6/7 hours (check the itinerary tab, as it depends on your pick-up location).
- Physicality: Easy
- Age: all ages
- Snorkeling: Basic swimming skills required. This excursion suits everyone from novices to experts.
- Reef in Tulum:This tour is weather dependent for the reef snorkeling, if it is too windy/wavy the day of the tour, we will replace the reef snorkeling by the swim with turtles as it is taking place from shore in the protected Akumal bay.
- Which cenote will you visit? The day of your tour, you can choose one cenote between Nicte Ha, Taak bi Ha, or Jaguar. If you prefer to go to Dos Ojos or Pet Cemetery, we will add 10 USD per person on your balance. Your guide will be happy to help you to select the best cenote for you and your party according to your expectations and snorkeling skills.
- What’s on the menu? Selection of quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, salbutes, fajitas, grilled chicken, grilled fish, tortas (sandwiches), soup of day, … with vegetarian, fish, shrimp, chicken & meat options. With corn or flour tortillas. We can accommodate special diets and allergies, just let us know!
Itinerary
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. Discover the benefits of early departure to visit Tulum.
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.
FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN AREA
07:00am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00am – 10:00am: Visit of Tulum Mayan ruins
10:00am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Reef Snorkeling
11:15am – 11:45am: Transportation
11:45pm – 12:45pm: Snorkeling in cenote
01:00pm – 02:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
02:00pm – 02:45pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM TULUM AREA
07:45am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00am – 10:00am: Visit of Tulum Mayan ruins
10:00am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Reef Snorkeling
11:15am – 11:45am: Transportation
11:45pm – 12:45pm: Snorkeling in cenote
01:00pm – 02:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
02:00pm – 02:30pm: Transportation to your hotel
FROM CANCUN AREA
06:00am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00am – 10:00am: Visit of Tulum Mayan ruins
10:00am – 10:15am: Transportation
10:15am – 11:15am: Reef Snorkeling
11:15am – 11:45am: Transportation
11:45pm – 12:45pm: Snorkeling in cenote
01:00pm – 02:00pm: Lunch at a restaurant
02:00pm – 03:45pm: Transportation to your hotel
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.
- Beach Towels
- Swimsuit (We recommend wearing it in the morning and feel free to change after snorkeling activities)
- Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
- Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and we recommend wearing a rash-guard/UV-Shirt for water activities*
- Mosquito repellent*
- Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
- Camera/Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone
* 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!
22 reviews for Tulum ruins, Snorkeling in Cenote and Reef
-
The staff was amazing and the van was confortable and full of drinks. We started with Tulum ruins. Our guide was knwoledgable and we spent lot taking pictures there. Reef and cenote were incredible. Our guide had wetsuits for us in the van and we enjoyed the cenote how much time we wanted!We had a great traditional lunch in a small restaurant in the jungle before driving bakc to the hotel. Would definitly hire AAM again!
-
We set out for our first Tulum adventure with Juan-Jose as a guide and it was a wonderful experience. We toured the ruins of Tulum to start, followed by snorkeling in the reef, and ended with a swim in a lesser known (and lesser crowded) cenote and lunch. It sounds like a lot packed into one day, but the pace was well-planned and JJ’s knowledge of the landscape made the experience unique. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is looking for a more bespoke and personalized tour – you will not regret it. I can’t say enough about Juan-Jose; he made an already fabulous tour just amazing.
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You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.
It typically lasts between 6 to 8 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site.
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!
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.
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.
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.
We go out on a local snorkeling boat, guided by a friendly and experienced crew that’s officially certified by the marine park.
The boat is equipped with a side ladder, making it easy to get back on board after snorkeling.
Turtle sightings are possible but not guaranteed.
During the snorkeling experience, you’ll mostly see beautiful coral formations, schools of tropical fish, and with some luck, a sea turtle or stingray.
If seeing turtles is your main goal, the best place is Akumal, where sightings are nearly guaranteed. Akumal is one of the top spots in the region for swimming with sea turtles in their natural habitat. You can check out the same tour with Tulum Ruins, Cenote and Turtles Swim.
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.
Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas.
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, 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.
Jay –
The staff was amazing and the van was confortable and full of drinks. We started with Tulum ruins. Our guide was knwoledgable and we spent lot taking pictures there. Reef and cenote were incredible. Our guide had wetsuits for us in the van and we enjoyed the cenote how much time we wanted!We had a great traditional lunch in a small restaurant in the jungle before driving bakc to the hotel. Would definitly hire AAM again!
Melissa –
We set out for our first Tulum adventure with Juan-Jose as a guide and it was a wonderful experience. We toured the ruins of Tulum to start, followed by snorkeling in the reef, and ended with a swim in a lesser known (and lesser crowded) cenote and lunch. It sounds like a lot packed into one day, but the pace was well-planned and JJ’s knowledge of the landscape made the experience unique. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is looking for a more bespoke and personalized tour – you will not regret it. I can’t say enough about Juan-Jose; he made an already fabulous tour just amazing.