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.
Angie –
Amazing Mexico Excursion!
This tour was absolutely fantastic. From the moment of booking, I received clear communication by email, confirming our trip, explaining what to bring. Ruby was extremely quick to respond and even changed my reservation when I accidentally booked the wrong date. They kindly nudged us to leave a little earlier which helped us beat all the crowds. It was 100% the right choice.
We had a 3 experience tour: Tulum Mayan Ruins, Dos Ojos Cenote, and Akumal Bay Turtle swim. Joshua and Pablo arrived on time in a clean, spacious, and very comfortable private van. Everything about our day was exceptional. Josh was engaging, attentive, and perhaps one of the best guides we’ve ever had. He was deeply knowledgeable, giving the right amount of history, geography, science, and safety, while keeping everything so fun. He took care of all the details for every place we went. It was tailored perfectly to our large active family, and literally no detail was left out, including all gear (even wetsuits were provided for our comfort) and cold water and beverages in the van. It was truly one of the best guided excursions we’ve ever done (and we’ve traveled the world). First class service all the way. Thanks Josh and Absolute Adventure Mexico. I would highly recommend.
Jon –
I’m not a tour person, but Josh and Pablo were outstanding. They listened to us, calibrated their pace to our energy, and we had a great time experiencing the Mayan ruins, cenotes, and turtle swims in the area. 5 stars!
Karen –
The Best Experience
I would highly recommend Absolute Adventure Private Tours. The trip itself was truly amazing but the knowledge and history shared by our guide Alex made the day for us. Alex and our driver Ivan looked after us so well and nothing was too much trouble. To end the trip we were taken to a traditional Mexican restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and food. Thank you Alex and Ivan for making our day so special 😀
Kaity –
Love this company the tour was perfect
Christina and Omar were AMAZING. I can’t speak highly enough about them and this tour. It is so reasonably priced for a private tour and lunch. Christina was there to engage and answer any questions and was highly knowledgeable about every place we went. They offered plenty of drinks. The reservations were easy and they answered questions quickly. If we come back I’ll do more tours.
Chris –
Cristina and Omar were the best!!!
We went on the Tulum tour our first day here with Cristina as our guide and Omar as our driver.
Omar was an excellent driver! Having been to Central America before, the driving can be challenging but we felt perfectly safe the entire time and got to where we needed to one time!
Cristina was a delight as well! She shared with us so much knowledge about the region. She was knowledgeable about the history as well as current day ongoings of the sites we visited. Out of all the tours I’ve done, this has been the best! I would highly recommend!
Ralph –
Juan was a great guide, and we had a wonderful time!
Jenny –
Excellent snorkeling experience
We had a great tour with Turtles and Cenote Snorkeling. The cenote we chose was Yal Ku Lagoon. It was spectacular for snorkeling and one of the highlights of our trip! We then had a lunch with Alex which was very nice. Thanks to our driver, Enrique, as well. It was nice to talk to him about his life and experiences in this region of Mexico.
Rudy –
A simple experience, with a wealth of knowledge
Hands down, Alex is the best! My family and I have taken this tour twice now, mostly for the same activity, just so we could get the opportunity to pick his brain some more about the area, the food and above all, the culture. I don’t think I’ve found another tour company in Mexico that had the knowledge and personality that Alex had. I will continue to come back, so long as he’s still here. Absolute Adventure, give this man a raise already!! He’s well deserving and Enrique as well. They are incredibly helpful and courteous all the way around. Hope to see you soon!
Cedrik –
Very good experience with this company, which managed to organize the trip despite our time constraints. Arthuro is very pleasant and very experienced. I highly recommend him.
Mathidle –
We went on two private tours with Absolue Adventure Mexico, the first to Tulum, then to a cenote and the beach to swim with turtles, and the second to Chichen Itza and Valladolid. We discovered Mexico in the best possible way, our guides, Juan and Joshua, were absolutely amazing!We chose this company because some of the guides speak French, but unfortunately they weren’t available this time, so we communicated in English. However, Juan and Josh took the time to explain everything to us clearly, using different teaching methods and materials.Thank you, Absolue Adventure Mexico, for these wonderful memories!
Carrie –
Had a great time today with Christina showing us around Tulum, Taak Bi Ha and Akumal Bay swimming with turtles. She was very knowledgeable about the ruins and the cenote. She also helped us spot lots of turtles and we saw a stingray in Akumal Bay. Omar was our driver and kept us very safe on the roads. I would highly recommend booking with this company, it made for a great day. Also, since the tour was private, we were back at the hotel in Playa Del Carmen by 2 that afternoon.
Daydream53816705990 –
Even better than expected! Just great
Christina and Omar were great. Great tour, very informative, def. helped us maximize the
trip. Felt safe the whole time
Sally –
Awesome tour guide and driver!
Alex and Simón were fantastic tour guides. They went above and beyond to make our trip great. I even forgot my shoes in the car and they took the time to return them to me. Really amazing trip!
Melissa –
What an amazing tour! Josh was our welcoming guide & he made each moment of our day extra special. Omar was our friendly driver that did a great job shuttling us from site to site. Josh’s knowledge of the history & geography made it such an interesting, learning experience. From the tour of Tulum, to a beautiful cenote, lunch at a local restaurant & swimming with the sea turtles, Josh was well connected & had all the resources to make our private tour an unforgettable experience. Josh’s suggestions were spot on. I’d highly recommend this company & especially Josh & Omar to anyone looking to create safe & fun memories in Mexico!
Kristin –
Wonderful private tour with Auturo and Rick!
Useful insights and recommendations on what to expect and history of where we toured:
Nicte Ya cenote
Mayan Ruins
Sea turtles Snorkeling
We liked the private tour because we wanted one on one. They always offered water and soft drinks.
Lunch was nice after the Cenote.
Clean van, super nice and professional tour!
Ally –
Tulum, Cenote, Mayan lunch and snorkeling with turtles
Had the most amazing family day with Alex & Enrique. Everyone had the best time, especially our two boys 9 and 11. The highlight of the whole holiday.
John –
Joshua was knowledgeable and entertaining. He made the trip. Rodrigo was also a fantastic part of the experience. Highly recommend the cenotes swimming.
Mike –
Booking an excursion online with an unfamiliar company in an unfamiliar location can be a bit stressful for a variety of reasons, not least are they genuine and will they deliver what you expect in both customer service and product?
For me, Absolute Adventure Mexico (AAM) set the gold standard.
The information on the website was good on detail and I had no queries to email in.
When I booked late on a Sunday night in the UK I inadvertently had the same trip twice in my “basket”, realised this when the receipt email came through a minute or so later, and was resigned to spending some of Monday morning sorting out my mistake. I was really pleased and impressed to discover, the following morning, that I had received an email from Claire (AAM co-owner), sent 5 minutes after the receipt email, who had noticed my error, proactively cancelled the duplicate booking and was offering me the choice of a refund of the extra deposit or to amend the balance due on the now single booking. I chose the latter. An amended booking confirmation email followed later that day (the start of office hours in Mexico).
Shortly after entering information requested at the link provided on the booking confirmation (T shirt sizes for life jackets, hotel for pickup) I received an email from Ruby, another of the team, confirming receipt of the details, the pickup time and a reminder to send our hotel room no. when known (so the minibus could be allowed through the gate to collect us). Once we sent the room no. Ruby again confirmed receipt.
The excursion itself (Tulum ruins, Jaguar Cenote, and viewing the wild turtles) was wonderful:
Alex and Jeremy (our guide and driver respectively) picked us up promptly and made us feel very welcome and “looked after” from the outset. As we travelled to the ruins Alex ran through what we’d be doing throughout our time with them, inviting any questions we had or requests for adjustments to timings.
During the tour Alex explained the Mayan history, culture and society, welcoming and answering questions, which brought the ruins and Cenote visits to life for us, making them more than just sights to see. Jeremy made the journey down rutted tracks, both before and after lunch, comfortable through his careful driving.
At the beach Alex introduced us to our guide for the short swim to see the turtles in the wild (we saw quite a few, with a couple coming up for air very near us) and was waiting for us when we returned.
After a short ride back to the hotel we were sorry to say goodbye to Alex and Jeremy, but felt we had had both a good booking experience and a great tour, as we had hoped, with nothing to detract from giving AAM the 5/5 feedback as many others have done.
Ricky –
The second of three excursions, Alex and Omor took us to Tulum. Absolutely beautiful piece of history! Then onto an open Cenote – Cenote Nic Te-Ha, also beautiful. Lunch was beautiful and the day concluded with a snorkel in the shallow sea waters of Akumal Bay, Overall 10/10… can’t wait for the third trip to coba ruins in a few days time!
Bill –
Tulum tour with Cristina
Tour was awesome! Our tour guide Cristina was the best, very informative. Great driver in Rodri, would highly suggest tour. Tulum and snorkeling with turtles fun but highlight to me was swimming in Cenote. We chose cave Cenote which was amazing.