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.
Cecilia –
Cristina and Yosh were amazing!! We had such a great time. Highly recommend!
Michelle –
Cristina and Yosh are the best! We had an awesome tour through Tulum, swam in the cenotes, and saw so many sea turtles at Akumin! Alex, our turtle tour guide was patient and spotted 7 or 8 sea turtles. Loved every minute of it. Lunch was also wonderful. Love the people we met along the way. Cristina shared so much knowledge. There were plenty of drinks, local and water. If you are having trouble deciding- stop thinking and book with Absolute Adventures!
aleksandra –
10/10 book it!!!
We took a private snorkeling tour with Josh, it was a lifetime expierence! It was absolutely beautiful. He helped guide us through the two cenotes we picked the jungle one and the cave onen absolutely wonderful experience. And we finished with an amazing local authentic Lunch! 10/10 highly recommend!!
Jennifer –
Arturo was wonderful with our family and very patient with our kids. We enjoyed our day with him very much.
Jason –
Wonderful Experience
Alex was a knowledgeable and kind. Very friendly and comfortable to be with in Mexico. He was very understanding of my anxiety. Rodrigo did an excellent job transporting us to all the beautiful sites we toured. They took us to a beautiful restaurant. The best authentic Mexican food I ever had! I teared up because the food was so good! I can’t say enough about Absolute Adventure Mexico.
Melissa –
JJ took our family on an amazing adventure (Tulum, brunch, Ceynote and Sea Turtles). His knowledge of the area and culture is second to none. Truly a day we will not forget.
Thomas –
Joshua was a great tour guide. So nice and well informed. It was a pleasure to spend our time with him. The tour was great.
Discover35248298205 –
A true highlight of our trip!
What a fantastic day! A big shout out to Juan. He was an excellent guide – knowledgeable, friendly and fun – and really added to our experience. Enrique drove us safely to our various destinations and had prepared everything just right, from cold drinks to snorkel equipment. Everything was just perfect! Thanks again, guys! Not a cheap (private) excursion, but definitely worth it.
Diane –
This is our favorite excursion
What a perfect day we had!
Arturro was our guide, and Rodrigo was our driver.
The tour was perfect. Arturro was a perfect guide with so much knowledge. The time spent in each location was perfect. The lunch was excellent in a very clean restaurant.
The ruins tour was not crowded as we arrived right when it opened. We practically had the cenote to ourselves. The swimming with turtles was very cool.
I highly recommend this tour.
Kathryn –
A MUST do with Absolute Adventure!
Joshua (guide) and Claire (owner) were AHmazing. We had the best day and Joshua is so knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend this excursion. We had 15 in our group in Playa del Carmen renting an Air B N B and they came and picked us up early in the morning and brought us home that later afternoon. Highly recommend!
Tiffany –
Excellent private tour for family with older teens
Fantastic private tour with our guide, Arturo, and driver, Jasper! From our perspective, the service and knowledge provided allows us the ease to soak in what you want to experience as they handle all logistics and expertise in subject matter.
The tour itself:
Our family appreciated the opportunity to access Tulum earlier before all the big tours and crowds and Arturo shared interesting stories and knowledge about the Mayan culture and to understand Tulum as a residential area. This was my favorite aspect of the day. I will always remember that the Mayan gods have many forms and the incredible temples and views from Tulum.
Our kids are 16 and 19 and we let them pick the cenote. After hearing the descriptions, they chose Cenote Jaguar as it had a zip line. All 4 of us buckled up and went on the zip line that went over the cenote. We also all swam and jumped off the platform. Arturo swam with us and also took us to another part of the cenote and taught us more about these underwater openings. I had not realized how many cenotes there are in the region and the different ways they are being explored. Lunch was delicious at an outdoor patio not too far away. There were many options to select from and everyone enjoyed their meals.
After lunch, it was time to go to Akumal and swim with the turtles. This is a national park and the park uses their own company and guides so Arturo walked in with us and made sure we met with our own guide who took us to snorkel and see the sea turtles. Be ready that due to the popularity of this opportunity, there were many others doing the same thing. I also don’t snorkel often so it took a bit to get use to it. We did see at least four sea turtles and perhaps others in my family saw more. It was a treat to see a sea turtle at the surface and see their head pop up and look at us!
Thank you, Arturo, for being our guide and sharing your knowledge in such a way that it was engaging, inviting and fun! We also want to acknowledge Jasper for his skills as as driver and managing the snorkeling gear and the snacks/drinks! They were committed to our experience and contributed to all loving this day of experiences.
Absolute Adventure Mexico was easy to work with in booking the trip, timely with thorough communications (email and What’s App) and exceeded our expectations!
Maddie –
Great tour! Our guide was efficient and took us to the places that would be most busy early to avoid crowds. Managed expectations clearly so we knew how long it would take to get everywhere, had sodas and water for us in the car, and took us to a really yummy lunch before swimming with sea turtles! Totally would recommend if you’re trying to pack in a couple things in one excursion!
Clint –
Perfect tour for our family
This was a perfect day exploring Tulum early to avoid the crowds, with a refreshing swim in a beautiful cenote, followed by lunch at a charming restaurant, and then capped by snorkeling with sea turtles. Arturo as our guide was exceptional and took care of our extended family of 9. So much to experience, it was a perfect day and perfect excursion!
Stephen –
Perfect family adventure day!
From pick up to drop off Joshua and Palo made our day ideal. Quiet ride to Tulum where we all appreciated the lack of people and learning so much about the Mayan civilization and history. Joshua’s knowledge and passion in Tulum was a highlight for all 4 of our kids 21, 19, 16, and 15. Cenotes, lunch in a local jungle retreat and Akumal all created memories we will share forever. Lastly, local recommendations from Josh for us to enjoy during our stay in PDC made it more authentic and enjoyable. Thank you again for the perfect day
Gina –
Alex and Enrique (guide and driver) were punctual, accommodating and knowledgeable. Our family spent Christmas Day 2024 on the tour and everything was amazing. From the Tulum ruins to the turtle experience we made memories and learned so much. The private tours this company offer are unique and a good value. We would recommend and be repeat customers when we return.
Jessie –
Terrific tour of Tulum gems
We had a wonderful day touring the Tulum ruins, swimming at the Cenote Taak bi Ha, lunch at tasty Pepem hotel then swimming with turtles in Akumal Bay.
Joshua our guide was knowledgeable in the Mayan history & added depth to our experiences overall with a touch of authentic humor.
Thank you for a lovely intro to Tulum Absolute Adventures & Feliz Navidad! 🤩
Jessamine –
A wonderful experience with friends and our amazing guide, Joshua and our amazing driver, Rodrigo! Joshua was so knowledgable and fun to talk to.
My friends and I did the Tulum Private Tour with Turtles and Cenote Snorkeling. We were a group of 8, so it was exciting to experience walking on Mayan land, snorkeling in the cenotes, and snorkeling with turtles. The experience is about 5 hours and it flew by! Joshua made the experience immersive and he was a great guy to talk to.
My friends and I enjoyed learning about the Mayans. He showed pictures and gave us a mini history lesson while we were touring the Mayan Ruins and it was an incredible experience. He also took awesome photos of me and my friends.
The lunch that was included with the experience was delicious! A great way to relax and chat before we headed to our last excursion.
We were staying in Tulum, so it’s about a 15-20 minute drive to each location after you’re done. After we were done, Joshua gave awesome recs to do in Playa Del Carmen and Tulum.
Thank you again Joshua! You were an awesome tour guide. If my friends and I are ever in the area, we’ll definitely do a tour with you again! Muchas Gracias! 😀
Roger –
Awesome Tulum and Turtles Experience!
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Tulum ruins and swimming in the cenote and with the turtles. Alex and Omar gave their total attention to us and ensured we had a great time.
Joe –
Arturo was an amazing guide
My wife and I had an amazing private tour of Tulum ruins with Arturo, followed by a beautiful cenote, lunch and finally swimming with turtles. It was a truly magical day and it was so well-paced and organised. Arturo was a brilliant and knowledgable guide and I would recommend the company to everyone!
Jessa –
Amazing!
A wonderful experience with friends and our amazing guide, Joshua and our amazing driver, Rodrigo! Joshua was so knowledgable and fun to talk to.
My friends and I did the Tulum Private Tour with Turtles and Cenote Snorkeling. We were a group of 8, so it was exciting to experience walking on Mayan land, snorkeling in the cenotes, and snorkeling with turtles. The experience is about 5 hours and it flew by! Joshua made the experience immersive and he was a great guy to talk to.
My friends and I enjoyed learning about the Mayans. He showed pictures and gave us a mini history lesson while we were touring the Mayan Ruins and it was an incredible experience. He also took awesome photos of me and my friends.
The lunch that was included with the experience was delicious! A great way to relax and chat before we headed to our last excursion.
We were staying in Tulum, so it’s about a 15-20 minute drive to each location after you’re done. After we were done, Joshua gave awesome recs to do in Playa Del Carmen and Tulum.
Thank you again Joshua! You were an awesome tour guide. If my friends and I are ever in the area, we’ll definitely do a tour with you again! Muchas Gracias! 😀