PRIVATE TOUR: Our top-selling adventure includes a private guided tour of the Tulum ruins, a swim in a stunning cenote, and snorkeling with sea turtles. Plus, savor a delicious lunch at a charming jungle 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!
Experience the magic of the Riviera Maya in one expertly crafted private tour. Our Tulum Ruins, Snorkeling, Cenote & Turtles private tour is a perfect blend of cultural discovery, ocean exploration, and refreshing nature escape. Whether you’re passionate about Mayan history, fascinated by marine life, or simply craving a serene swim in a cenote, this full-day tour offers a personalized adventure away from the crowds.
Led by a certified private guide, this experience is designed to move at your pace. You’ll visit the famous Tulum Ruins, snorkel with wild sea turtles in Akumal Bay, and cool off in a breathtaking cenote. With private transportation, flexible scheduling, and a tailored itinerary, you’ll enjoy comfort, intimacy, and expert insights throughout the day.
Start your day with a visit to the majestic Tulum Ruins, perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. As one of the most iconic Mayan cities, Tulum Mayan ruins offer rich history, stunning ocean views, and well-preserved structures like El Castillo and the Temple of the Frescoes. Your private guide will bring the past to life with fascinating stories of ancient rituals, trade, and daily life in this walled city.
With early access and private transport, you’ll beat the crowds and the heat—perfect for photos and peaceful exploration.
Highlights:After your journey through Mayan history, it’s time to cool off with a swim in one of the Riviera Maya’s magical cenotes. These natural freshwater sinkholes are formed by collapsed limestone, revealing hidden pools of crystal-clear water.
You’ll visit a hand-selected cenote, and on the day of your tour, you can choose between Cenote Nicte-Ha, Taak Bi Ha, or Jaguar. If you prefer to visit the more advanced cenotes like Dos Ojos or Pet Cemetery, we can arrange that for an additional $10 USD per person. Your guide will be happy to help you select the cenote that best matches your expectations and snorkeling skills.
Why you’ll love it:Recharged from your cenote dip, you’ll enjoy a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant in the jungle under a traditional palapa, offering shade and a laid-back jungle vibe.
We serve a variety of freshly prepared Mexican dishes, and vegetarian or special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
It’s the perfect moment to fuel up, rest, and reflect on the incredible experiences so far—before heading to the sea for one final highlight of the day.
To end your day, you’ll visit Akumal Bay, a calm, protected marine area known for its resident population of green sea turtles. After a briefing and receiving your gear, your snorkeling guide will lead you into the shallow, clear water where you can spot turtles grazing on seagrass, colorful tropical fish, and perhaps stingrays or coral gardens.
This guided snorkel is suitable for all levels. You don’t need prior experience—just basic swimming ability—and your guide will be with you the whole time for safety and support.
What to expect:
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. 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
08:00–10:00am - Visit of Tulum ruins
10:00–10:30am - Transportation
10:30–11:30am - Snorkeling in cenote
11:30–12:30pm - Lunch
12:30–01:00pm - Transportation
01:00–02:00pm - Snorkeling with turtles*
02:00–02:45pm - Return to hotel
FROM TULUM AREA
07:45am - Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00–10:00am - Visit of Tulum ruins
10:00–10:30am - Transportation
10:30–11:30am - Snorkeling in cenote
11:30–12:30pm - Lunch
12:30–01:00pm - Transportation
01:00–02:00pm - Snorkeling with turtles*
02:00–02:30pm - Return to hotel
FROM CANCUN AREA
06:00am - Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00–10:00am - Visit of Tulum ruins
10:00–10:30am - Transportation
10:30–11:30am - Snorkeling in cenote
11:30–12:30pm - Lunch
12:30–01:00pm - Transportation
01:00–02:00pm - Snorkeling with turtles*
02:00–03:45pm - Return to hotel
*Swimming with turtles is limited to max 1 hour as per Akumal regulations.
* It is forbidden to apply sunblock and repellent before swimming or snorkeling activities to prevent water pollution 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.
Experience the magic of the Riviera Maya in one expertly crafted private tour. Our Tulum Ruins, Snorkeling, Cenote & Turtles private tour is a perfect blend of cultural discovery, ocean exploration, and refreshing nature escape. Whether you’re passionate about Mayan history, fascinated by marine life, or simply craving a serene swim in a cenote, this full-day tour offers a personalized adventure away from the crowds.
Led by a certified private guide, this experience is designed to move at your pace. You’ll visit the famous Tulum Ruins, snorkel with wild sea turtles in Akumal Bay, and cool off in a breathtaking cenote. With private transportation, flexible scheduling, and a tailored itinerary, you’ll enjoy comfort, intimacy, and expert insights throughout the day.
Start your day with a visit to the majestic Tulum Ruins, perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. As one of the most iconic Mayan cities, Tulum Mayan ruins offer rich history, stunning ocean views, and well-preserved structures like El Castillo and the Temple of the Frescoes. Your private guide will bring the past to life with fascinating stories of ancient rituals, trade, and daily life in this walled city.
With early access and private transport, you’ll beat the crowds and the heat—perfect for photos and peaceful exploration.
Highlights:After your journey through Mayan history, it’s time to cool off with a swim in one of the Riviera Maya’s magical cenotes. These natural freshwater sinkholes are formed by collapsed limestone, revealing hidden pools of crystal-clear water.
You’ll visit a hand-selected cenote, and on the day of your tour, you can choose between Cenote Nicte-Ha, Taak Bi Ha, or Jaguar. If you prefer to visit the more advanced cenotes like Dos Ojos or Pet Cemetery, we can arrange that for an additional $10 USD per person. Your guide will be happy to help you select the cenote that best matches your expectations and snorkeling skills.
Why you’ll love it:Recharged from your cenote dip, you’ll enjoy a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant in the jungle under a traditional palapa, offering shade and a laid-back jungle vibe.
We serve a variety of freshly prepared Mexican dishes, and vegetarian or special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
It’s the perfect moment to fuel up, rest, and reflect on the incredible experiences so far—before heading to the sea for one final highlight of the day.
To end your day, you’ll visit Akumal Bay, a calm, protected marine area known for its resident population of green sea turtles. After a briefing and receiving your gear, your snorkeling guide will lead you into the shallow, clear water where you can spot turtles grazing on seagrass, colorful tropical fish, and perhaps stingrays or coral gardens.
This guided snorkel is suitable for all levels. You don’t need prior experience—just basic swimming ability—and your guide will be with you the whole time for safety and support.
What to expect:
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. 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
08:00–10:00am - Visit of Tulum ruins
10:00–10:30am - Transportation
10:30–11:30am - Snorkeling in cenote
11:30–12:30pm - Lunch
12:30–01:00pm - Transportation
01:00–02:00pm - Snorkeling with turtles*
02:00–02:45pm - Return to hotel
FROM TULUM AREA
07:45am - Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00–10:00am - Visit of Tulum ruins
10:00–10:30am - Transportation
10:30–11:30am - Snorkeling in cenote
11:30–12:30pm - Lunch
12:30–01:00pm - Transportation
01:00–02:00pm - Snorkeling with turtles*
02:00–02:30pm - Return to hotel
FROM CANCUN AREA
06:00am - Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum
08:00–10:00am - Visit of Tulum ruins
10:00–10:30am - Transportation
10:30–11:30am - Snorkeling in cenote
11:30–12:30pm - Lunch
12:30–01:00pm - Transportation
01:00–02:00pm - Snorkeling with turtles*
02:00–03:45pm - Return to hotel
*Swimming with turtles is limited to max 1 hour as per Akumal regulations.
* It is forbidden to apply sunblock and repellent before swimming or snorkeling activities to prevent water pollution 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.
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.
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.
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.
Regan –
We did the combined tour with Tulum, cenote swim, and snorkeling with the sea turtles and had an amazing day! Pick-up was timely and easy. The Tulum tour was informational and well paced. Lunch could not have been better. We went as a party of six, my teenage daughters, husband and parents (70s). It was fun for everyone. Juan our tour guide was fantastic.
Scott –
Juan was our guide on 3 adventures. My family and I had a great time with his guidance. Juan is engaging at all levels and just a good all around person. Juan has much knowledge he has learned about the historical events and sites and his personality is exceptional. I would recommend Absolute Adventures to anyone interested in a great site tour!
Tyler –
Chris made our experience in Tulum exceptional. His insights and organization were top-notch. Thank you for the wonderful private tour!
Heather –
We had the best day! Everything was pre-arranged for us and timed perfectly. Lunch was fantastic! Loved that we got to pick the cenote that was best for our family.
Ted –
The first thing that impressed me with Absolute Adventure Mexico was the speed and quality of the information and guidance I received when trying to select a tour. Nothing pushy, just clear honest feedback and suggestions tailored to the needs of my family.
Pricing was clear and I only needed to pay a deposit to secure our tour. I then received detailed information confirming our itinerary, pickup time and details clarifying what we would need to bring on the day.
The tour started at the Tulum ruins where Juan’s pre arrival preparations ensured we were literally the first through the gate after a short wait at the entrance. His knowledge of the history of the Mayan’s was shared with myself and my daughters in a very personable way that was both interesting and educational.
After booking the tour Absolute Adventure Mexico offered us several options of Cenote depending on your level of experience. Some open, some underground, different levels of complexity etc. We selected Taak Bi Ha which was an underground Cenote that was suitable for beginners. I’m not a strong swimmer, unlike my children, and this suited me well. Absolute Adventure Mexico provided us with snorkels and live jackets that really helped to give us a confident and enjoyable experience. Taak Bi Ha is set in a limestone cavern of varying depths but mainly relatively shallow. Juan again pointed out all the best views including underwater tunnels of the river system. He also turned photographer again to secure our memories digitally.
After a short drive for lunch at a nearby restaurant, that was included in our tour fee, we headed out to the beach, where we were introduced to our specialist guide for the sea turtle swim. We enjoyed the turtle swim where we saw many turtles plus Rays and plentiful fish around the coal reef.
Aside the tour itself, I enjoyed chatting with Juan whilst we waited the return of the others sharing stories about our families and history before the rest returned to tell us excitedly about their swim.
After many thanks and goodbyes it was time for us to reflect on a wonderful experience made all the more special by Absolute Adventure Mexico. We cannot thank them enough and cannot recommend them highly enough. If you’re unsure whether to book a tour or you’re unsure who to book with I’d 100% recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico. They were amazing!
Michelle –
💯 must go on this tour! Our tour guide, Alex was an excellent!! He shared his knowledge in an entertaining and interesting way. We beat all of the crowds at Tulum and the Cenote. Rogelio was a friendly and courteous driver. He knew all of the clean restrooms and lunch was delicious as well. Far exceeded our expectations.
Daniel –
The entire day was very smooth and fun. Our tour guide, Alex was very informative and entertaining throughout the entire trip. He also gave us our own time and space to enjoy what we were doing. Relaxing car journey from our driver Rodrigo aswell. Amazing experience all round and Alex made the experience much easier and very entertaining.
Stephanie –
Best private tour of Tulum, a cenote and Akumal Bay
Highly recommend this tour and this company. Our guide Alex Garcia was faultless. His knowledge of Tulum, including where to get the best photos (which he was only too happy to take for us) was second to none. He also had a tablet which he used to explain Mayan history to us with visuals while we were driving to the ruins. He was so careful with us in the cenote and made sure we were safe and didn’t slip as we entered, and he made sure we were okay out snorkelling on the reef and with the turtles. He was even the reason we saw one of the three turtles, as he spotted it before the snorkelling guide. Our driver Omar also nailed the timing all day. We barely had to wait 30 seconds for him to pull the van up. We also got chilled drinks all day, and stopped at a delicious restaurant for an included lunch.
Robyn –
We had the most wonderful time on our Tulum tour! We spent a couple of hours at the Tulum Ruins, snorkeled in a cenote and then snorkeled with the turtles in Akumel. Alex was a knowledgeable and friendly host and was very patient with our group of 7. We not only had three fun adventures, we also learned about the Mayan culture along the way. Very interesting and delivered in a respectful way. Would highly recommend this tour!
Victoria –
We had the most amazing time with Juan and Rodrigo!! We had a group of 10 adults and 1 child under 10 and Juan made sure we all got to enjoy ourselves! We had the ruins all to ourselves which was so nice to be able to take in all its beauty. We had the cenote all to ourselves as well!! I struggled with the snorkeling in the cenote, but Juan was so patient with me and taught me how to do it so I was able to snorkel the whole time with the turtles. The food at the restaurant was the BEST food we ate on our entire 5 day trip in mexico! All our family talked about after our excursion was how amazing Juan was! He made sure he captures pictures and videos of us to keep memories forever! We will definitely be back and can’t wait for our next adventure and will be requesting Juan!!!
Brian –
Claire was an amazing guide, her knowledge and passion for history made our trip to Tulum, Cenote, and Turtles truly unforgettable. Highly recommended.
Laura –
Such a great day. Seeing the ruins first thing to beat the queues. And then over to the cenote to cool off! Lunch was beautiful and peaceful and swimming with turtles was a great way to finish the day
Ness –
We really enjoyed our private tour day tour visiting Tulum, a cenote and turtle snorkelling. Chris picked us up nice and early and we really saw the benefit as the tourists descended as we were leaving! It was also cooler for our kids earlier on. The cenote was amazing, super clear waters which had lovely little fish and flowers to see. Lunch was good, with choices for both adults and the kids. The snorkelling with turtles was super, we had a private guide who pointed out the turtles. He even had a rubber ring for our 8 year old and pulled him with him so he didn’t even need to swim, just enjoy the turtles! A fabulous day out, well worth the money! Highly recommend
Emily –
After hours of researching for the perfect tour, I decided to go with Absolute Adventure based on the reviews and tour offerings. So glad we chose them because our tour was AMAZING!! We started our day at the Tulum ruins, which was stunning and we basically had the place to ourselves. Manuel was very knowledgeable about the historical and cultural aspects of the area. At the top is an amazing view of the ocean. He was also very accommodating for one of our party members that has trouble getting around. Once we were heading out, literally hundreds of people on larger tours were heading in. Next was Nicte Ha cenote which we also had to ourselves! It was so so so beautiful. Lots of little fishies and beautiful vegetation. Then we had an authentic lunch in the jungle. I highly recommend the sambutes! So yummy!! We ended our tour at Akumal Bay, where we were guided on a snorkeling adventure. We saw sea turtles, stingrays, the most colorful fish I’ve ever seen and beautiful coral. It was a tad busier than our other stops, but that’s likely because it was mid afternoon by then. It was still very enjoyable! Rodrigo was our driver and he kept all of our belongings safe and sound, awaiting our return with ice cold beverages including beer. If you have the chance or are considering other larger tours, I’d highly recommend going with Absolute Adventure!! You won’t regret it!! Thank you so much Manuel & Rodrigo, we had an absolute amazing adventure 🐢🪸🤿🐚🐠
Olha –
We had a great experience visit Tulum with Manuel and Carlos. Hight recommended, its was private tour half of day : Tulum ruins , cenote Taak Biha, swimming with turtles on Acumal Tulum beach. Carlos and Manuel is a great company , who is attentive and kind to explain everything. Thank you 😊
Taylor –
We had a private tour of Tulum ruins, swam in a cenote and snorkeled with sea turtles, and we had a great time! We totally lucked out getting Juan as our tour guide. He knew so much about the Mexican culture and history. And he was also so cool and friendly! We are definitely thankful we paid extra for a private tour, the pick up and drop off were prompt and so easy! Also we were able to go at our own pace and choose when we were ready to go onto the next activity. Would definitely tour with this company again, and certainly would request Juan as my guide!
Christina –
Absolute Adventure Mexico was the most amazing tour and the tour guides were excellent. Knowledgeable, friendly and The Absolute Adventure team
Jose Manuel, Dulce, Rodrigo, Gregorio made every part of our day a blast. We started at the Tulum Ruins and from their swam at Jaguar Cenote followed by an INCREDIBLE lunch and then lastly a swim and snorkel to see the turtles. Every part of the day was smooth and easy, THe transportation, the food, the drinks all of it was great! We had a group of 20 and we each felt special.
Thank you to Absolute Adventure Mexico and I would highly recommend this tour company to anyone. 5 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Petra –
It was an excellent day we had. A memory to never forget. Claire was a really good guide and very friendly to us. We liked her very much.
Melissa –
We had a perfect day with our private tour guide, Dulce, and driver, Omar. They came to our hotel and picked us up, on time, after the good suggestion from Claire, the owner, the day before to pick us up early to avoid the crowds and heat in Tulum. Dulce was informative, helpful, and patient with our, at times, whiney kids and many bathroom breaks.
After the ruins, we had a choice of three cenotes, and chose Jaguar (not pictured in the options shown, but described) because of the diving platforms. We are so glad we did! All four of us jumped in using the medium platform, and my husband even did the highest one. The water was cool and clear and it was fun to swim the length and go through a narrow channel with rock on one side and mangroves on the other.
After the cenote we had lunch at a lovely outdoor spot and had a choice of entrees and beverages.
From there, we were taken to the sea turtle watching on a beach with monitored bins to hold our stuff, and a separate guide to swim us out to the turtles. We were all tired by this point, and I would say there were LOTS of people doing the same bit with other guides making it slightly less magical, but it was still fun. We got to see three turtles, a lobster, and some cool fish down on the grass on the sea floor.
Throughout the day there were cold beverages offered and a secure van to hold our bags. Don’t forget to tip the driver and guide. They work hard throughout the day to ensure a pleasant trip.
Bonnie –
The trip started early t 7 am but it was perfect timing. We got to the Mayan ruins in Tulum before the crowds. Had the lace pretty much to ourselves. The evening was nice too. Go there earlier so we had the place almost all to ourselves.
Akumal was an okay experience. We did see some big sea tires, colorful fish and a sting ray. But it’s very crowded. Too touristy. .
Rodrigo and Dukce were great and gave a very informative and organized tour. Would highly recommend them.