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.
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.
CS –
A DEFINITE MUST!!!
Such an amazing day and both Alex and Enrique were beyond knowledgeable and professional. A definite must when in the Riviera Maya/Tulum area!!!
Cari –
You won’t be disappointed!
Fun, interesting, safe, and enjoyable! Alex was super knowledgeable and made the day fantastic!! Enrique was highly professional. Would definitely use this company and team again!!
Sara –
Great Private Tour for Family
Josh and Max were wonderful! It was a great day and the kids loved it! As a family of 5 (kids ranging from 9-13), the private tour of Tulum ruins, cenote and snorkeling was a perfect fit. Our guides were on time, very informative and helpful. The pace of the tour was flexible which was great for our family so we did not feel rushed or have to stay longer than the kids were interested. Definitely would recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico and request Joshua and Max!
Brooke –
Josh and Max were wonderful! It was a great day and the kids loved it! As a family of 5 (kids ranging from 9-13), the private tour of Tulum ruins, cenote and snorkeling was a perfect fit. Our guides were on time, very informative and helpful. The pace of the tour was flexible which was great for our family so we did not feel rushed or have to stay longer than the kids were interested. Definitely would recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico and request Joshua and Max!
Aizhan –
We had an amazing private tour visiting the Tulum ruins, swimming in Taak Bi Ha cenote, and snorkeling with turtles. Our guide Josh was fantastic—very knowledgeable and passionate. We learned so much about Mayan culture, and our kids (15 and 11) had a blast jumping into the cenote! Swimming with turtles was the perfect end to the day. The company was easy to communicate with and gave clear directions. Highly recommend!
Gracie –
Chris and Radri were amazing tour guides! They made sure we were comfortable and having fun! I highly recommend these guides!
Fiona –
BEST TOUR EVER ✨
The most amazing tour!!!!!
Our tour guide Alex and driver Ivan were the absolute best! We started the day driving to the tulum ruins talking about the history of Mexico. They make sure you get to the ruins early, we were the first ones to enter! After that it was a short drive to a cenote where our tour guide let us have some time to explore. He also got in the water with us and explained what we were seeing, which I really appreciated! Lunch was about a minute drive, food was good and the place was beautiful! It was also nice to sit a chat with Alex and get to know him more! After lunch it was about a 20 minute drive to go snorkeling with sea turtles. The guide was amazing and goes at your pace. We were also able to go snorkel the reef which was very cool. All around an amazing tour, very accommodating and so much knowledge!
Mitch –
Great time!
Excellent excursion. Arturo was a great tour guide! Loved it!
My only recommendation would be to put a mat outside the van so when you change your
shoes and clothes you do not have to stand on sand.
Jonese –
Fabulous family day!
Our tour with our guide Alex and driver Ivan was perfect for our family of five (2 adults and 3 older teens/college age kids). Alex is so knowledgeable and passionate about the Mayan culture and history…and his informal style meant that even my college kid who just finished his exams was engaged and interested. Driver Ivan navigated the dirt roads back to the cenote and lunch with ease. And swimming/snorkelling with the turtles was amazing – like a window into a different world. One of our kids has a physical disability which was managed by our guides with grace and discretion.
Overall, this experience exceeded my expectations, and I recommend Alex, Ivan and Absolute Adventure without reservation.
Caroline –
We booked a private tour with Absolute Adventure Mexico and that’s exactly what we got!! We looked at their reviews before we chose who to book with and saw so many excellent ones we didn’t need to look any further. We did the triple experience – Tulum Ruins, the underground cave Cenote and snorkelling with the turtles.
We were picked up from our hotel lobby by Omar, our driver and Joshua, our guide for the day, who were both very friendly and we felt in very safe hands. We were kept informed of our timings and given lots of information along the way. Joshua was very knowledgeable and passionate about each part of the trip and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend both the trip and the company – so if you don’t like big group trips and want a more personal experience just book it!! You won’t regret it 🙂
Jacob –
ASK FOR JOSHUA! Joshua was absolutely incredible. We wish he could be our tour guide everywhere we go! We booked the ruins, cenote, and swimming with turtles private tour. Joshua was extremely knowledgeable of the history, botanology, and wildlife of the area. Every question we asked he had an answer. Having him guide us through the ruins and explain the Mayan history was a highlight of our trip. We went bright and early beating a good portion of the bigger crowds that come later. The cenote we chose was Dos Ojos. We really didn’t have much expectations aside from the little research we did online. I thought we’d just be swimming in the cenote for 20-30min. Turns out there’s two parts of the cenote (hence dos dojos). The first eye is a 15-20min open/caved pool. And the second eye is a full 45 min snorkeling exploration through the caved part of the cenote. Not for the claustrophobic but an incredible surprise and fun activity. Joshua ensured our safety the entire time and continued to answer any questions we had throughout the exploration. Can’t recommend enough. Lastly we did the swimming with turtles in Akumal bay. This was really cool if you’ve never seen sea turtles before. But it’s a very populated tourist area to see the turtles. LOTS of people in the water. At times it was difficult to not run into people. But we did see around 7-8 turtles, fish, and a stingray. The water is very murky so it’s difficult to see. I would recommend if you’ve never done before, but if you have, not worth the extra money. Overall an incredible experience!
Kristen –
Amazing Day in Tulum!
We had an excellent private excursion with Absolute Adventures. Christina was our wonderful guide for the day, and KiKi was our driver. We saw the Tulum Ruins, went swimming and snorkeling in a cenote and had a delicious lunch. Then we snorkled with sea turtles. It was a memorable and exciting day with myself, my husband and our 17-year-old son. Christina was so sweet and funny and knowledgable. Kiki kept us feeling safe in the van. We had a great time and recommend them highly. Thank you for the fun adventure.
Kristen –
We had an excellent private excursion with Absolute Adventures. Christina was our wonderful guide for the day, and KiKi was our driver. We saw the Tulum Ruins, went swimming and snorkeling in a cenote and had a delicious lunch. Then we snorkled with sea turtles. It was a memorable and exciting day with myself, my husband and our 17-year-old son. Christina was so sweet and funny and knowledgable. Kiki kept us feeling safe in the van. We had a great time and recommend them highly. Thank you for the fun!
Melissa –
Great experience of Mayan ruins and swimming with the turtles
We had a wonderful time touring the ruins followed by snorkeling with the turtles and
ending with a delicious lunch. Our guide Arturo was attentive and informative. Highly
recommend