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.
Sean –
Juan and Rodrigo were awesome, our day trip to the Mayan Ruins, Ceynotes and Snorkeling with the Turtles in Akumal were the highlight of the whole trip!
N. Norris –
Amazing tour! Extremely well organized with a knowledgeable, fun and friendly guide.
Juan took us to the Tulum ruins, dos ojos cenote and snorkeling in a lagoon with turtles. We had a delicious lunch and margaritas in the jungle near the cenotes. The communication with this tour company was extremely easy. This day was the best part of our vacation and I would 100% recommend this adventure group.
Tate –
This tour was great! Juan, our guide, was super knowledgeable about each location we visited and was able to answer the many questions we asked at the Mayan ruins and cenote we visited. I highly recommend the cave cenote offered by this tour. It was a breathtaking experience not to mention the very refreshing, crystal clear water. Followed by a delicious, authentic lunch at the local open air restaurant.
Rodrigo, our driver, was also great! Traveling safely with a van full of people can stressful I’m sure. He took care of our belongings while we were exploring and provided great assistance getting us everything we needed.
The tour started early but for good reason. Each place we visited seemed to get pretty busy as we were leaving, so we always stayed ahead of the crowd.
The only drawback I’d say was the turtle snorkeling, as It was very crowded. I’m sure there’s just no getting around that but it was a bit frustrating. Still pretty cool experience if you have never been near sea turtles before. All in all, highly recommended this tour they are GREAT!
Angellica –
Our Tulum experience
A fabulous tour, the Mayan ruins and swimming in the Cenote were the highlights for us. Joshua was extremely knowledgeable and a great guide, highly recommended 👍🏼
Stephen –
Mexican Adventure
Great day out. Our tour guide, Joshua, was very knowledgeable and informative. The highlights for us were the Mayan ruins in Tulum and being able to swim in the Cenote. Thank you for a memorable experience
Linda –
Did the Tulum, Cenote and swim with sea turtles tour (all in 1 day)
It was awesome!
Early start was worth it, it was hot already at 8 am in Tulum, followed by the cool cenote, lunch at Juanita’s, and finished with snorkeling with sea turtles.
Joshua was very knowledgeable about the history of the Mayans, took lots of pictures for us, while Rodrigo drove us from place to place. It was a private tour, just our group!
Well worth it! Highly recommend!
Michaela W. –
Our party if seven did the private tour visiting the Tulum ruins, Cenote, and Snorkling with Turtles and had a great time. We chose the Taak Bi Ha cenote and it was absolutely amazing!!! Thank you to our tour guide, Alex, who made sure we had a wonderful day!
Jen –
This is THE tour
Our group of 9 (2 families with adult children) had an amazing day with Juan (aka JJ) on a private tour that included the Mayan Ruins, Cenote Taak Bi Ha, lunch at Juanita’s and snorkeling with sea turtles. Juan is a warm, knowledgeable, funny and interesting person which makes him a great tour guide. There were plenty of cold drinks. Getting to the Ruins early was key (based on the CROWDS entering as we were leaving) as we had the place practically to ourselves. We trusted Juan to choose the cenote and no one was disappointed. Again, there was hardly anyone there & we had ample time to explore. Lunch was delicious and satisfying. To end the day, we saw at least 8 sea turtles. Also, the driver was great. I highly recommend this tour with Juan!
T.N. –
We booked the Tulum-Cenote-Turtles tour with Absolute Adventure and Juan was our guide again. The pick up went as smoothly as the first tour. Like Chichan Itza, we were among the first inside Tulum and got some great photos. Since we had just learned much of the history of the Mayans on our last tour, we could be more leisurely touring Tulum and ask more questions. We got a lot of great photos with no one else in them.
After Tulum, we went to Cenote Taak Bi Ha. When we got to the cenote, they had to turn on the lights because we were the first to arrive. It is one of the cave Cenotes so there were a lot of interesting formations. After about 20 minutes or so, a large group showed up, but by then we had plenty of photos. Juan knew the other tour guide, so he found out that the large group was planning go to the same restaurant that we planned to when they finished. He made sure we got there first and got our orders in before the large group arrived. Another great restaurant choice. Next stop was the turtles. The weather had been windy, so they just reopened in time to be able to go into the water. The water was kind of cloudy because of the weather, but there were still a couple of turtles. The van was ready and cooled down for us every time and there was always plenty of cold water. This was another great tour experience.
Joshua –
Book it now!
My family and I have been having a terrible time in Mexico! Today we went on an excursion and it was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! Our driver was Enrique! Super nice, man of few words. Alex was our tour guide, and he redeemed Mexico for us! He is so smart! If you are interested in knowing the culture in Mexico, he’ll know it. You have to ask for them if you have a tour. I promise you, they’ll make sure you have a good experience. The ruins are great…with the guide. Otherwise, you don’t really know what you’re looking at. The cenote was beautiful and “refreshing”. We saw lots of fish through clear, still water. The sea turtles were everywhere! I will say, if it’s really windy, the water is choppy and makes it a little more difficult to see the turtles at times, but there were plenty of opportunities to see the sea turtles up close! Great experience.
Tiffany –
Absolute the best experience of our lives. We were celebrating our 13 year wedding anniversary in cancun and this excursion was everything.
Arturo was the best guide hands down. Made us feel welcome and very comfortable. Always keeping us in the loop and was very informative.
Even had a blast ziplining and swimming in the cenote with our guide.
Props to Omar the driver for being so amazing.
The company as a whole has been very communicative and helped us every step of the way.
I highly recommend them for your next excursion!
Thank you!
Rebecca –
My husband and I did two tours with Absolute Adventure Mexico. The booking and confirmation process was so easy, and great communication before our tours. Thank you to Juan and Omar (both of them!) for making our Tulum Ruins/Akumal Turtles and Punta Lagana/Coba tours such memorable parts of our honeymoon. Juan was so knowledgable about the sites and we learned so much about Mayan history and other tidbits of Mexican history along the way. It was easy to tell that Absolute Adventures and Juan have great relationships with the staff ay cultural sites and the community who run Punta Lagana. He also gave us some great bar and restaurant recommendations in Tulum. We had two Omars driving across the two days – both days the van was clean, comfortable and well air-conditioned (a must). We were offered cold drinks every time we got back to the van. 100% recommend booking the private tour with Absolute Adventure Mexico.
Katie R –
While visiting Playa Del Carmen, my boyfriend and I really wanted to take a trip to the Tulum Ruins. I had come across this company and loved the idea of having a private tour guide. We decided to book Tulum ruins, visiting a cenote, lunch, and snorkeling with sea turtles.
We were picked up promptly at 7am from our hotel. Alex was our guide and Rodrigo was our driver. We had about a 45 min drive to the ruins. Alex educated us the whole car ride there, and was so friendly and enthusiastic. We were basically the first ones into the ruins, and had the whole place to ourselves! It is just so stunning in person, and Alex walked us around giving us so much knowledge and history , as well as snapping many photos for us. I highly recommend this part of the tour!!
We then decided to visit an underground cenote. Absolutely breathtaking and one of the coolest experiences I’ve had. Again, it was not crowded at all and we were able to jump in and cool off in the crystal clear fresh water!
We then ate lunch at a local restaurant and had yummy tacos and drinks. There was also always cold water in the van for us and a couple sodas.
We finished the day with snorkeling with turtles at Akumal beach which looked like a tropical scene out of a movie. Gorgeous!
Overall, this tour was the highlight of our trip and we were so glad we ventured out of our hotel for the day to have this experience. I can’t thank Alex and Rodrigo enough. We would definitely book with them again and I highly recommend booking directly through them. Easy process and great communication! Thank you Absolute Adventure.
Lindsay –
A fun and eventful day
This was a great way to see multiple sights in one day! We got to the ruins early before the heat and crowds. We had just enough time to hear the history and see the sights before we were on to the next stop. The cenote was small and quant with only a few groups of people so we weren’t crowded. It was beautiful. I personally would’ve enjoyed a little more time here but we had to stay on schedule. Lunch at the Mayan restaurant was delicious! Snorkeling with the turtles and fishies was so fun. We got to see some coral too! All of our guides were friendly and knowledgeable. I’m bad with names so I think Arturo was our driver, Enrique was our guide, and maybe Mateo was our snorkeling guide. Thanks again for providing us with a fun and eventful day!
Ahsley –
We had the private tour with Juan and our driver Enrique. It was a beautiful day at the ruins, an amazing experience at Cenote Taak Bi Ha, and saw lots of turtles and stingrays snorkeling. We were greeted on time, a lot of information shared at the sites, and felt unrushed for the day. The private tour is definitely the way to go, and it was fantastic to have the focused attention on our questions, and informative expert guide, and a safe place to leave our items for the water activities. Highly recommend.
Shaun –
Incredible experience!
We spent the day with Arturo, who was fantastic! The 8 passenger van arrived right on time and we were greeted with a smile. They were incredibly accommodating and considerate of any needs we had. Arturo was patient and informative as we toured the ruins in Tulum. Afterwards we made our way to a Cenote, we were lucky as there was not another person there. We have two small children (5 and 7) and Arturo was incredibly helpful and encouraging with them. We had an incredible lunch and wrapped the day swimming with turtles. We would highly recommend this group to guide you on any adventure. Thank you for making the day with our family so memorable!
Terry –
Fun with Tulum, Cenote, and Turtles
Arturo was amazing! Informative, great with kids and just fun and kind. Lunch was fantastic
too! I would go again next visit.
Rachel –
Do this tour!! We loved it!!
We had a really wonderful day with Alex the guide and Omar the driver! We toured the Tulum ruins where Alex gave us many interesting details and was full of knowledge to share. We swam in an underground cenote which was beautiful!! We had a great lunch and finally, swam with sea turtles, sting rays, fish and a sea snake in the ocean. The entire time, Alex was attentive to our comfort and even let us stop for a breakfast snack since it had been too early at our hotel to eat before the tour. We loved the day!! Thank you Alex and Omar. Great work 👍👍
Barry –
Just right mix of culture and adventure. The kids loved the cenote swim and the sea turtles, the adults loved it all. Excellent tour guide and driver.
Melissa –
Wonderful, fantastic, amazing day
Our guide was Arturo. We were a party of 4 (M17, M48, M47, F47) He was wonderful. At the Ruins he talked about the history. You can tell he loves the history. He kept us away from the big groups (they were obnoxious) we learned things others may not have. He took us to a Cenote and went in with us. Let us take our time. No part of this tour was rushed. We went to lunch at a place called Juanita. I have a food allergy and he was great about checking to see what I could have. I ate the club sandwich. Probably the best one I have ever had. What a cute quiet place. The last stop was the snorkeling with the turtles. Sadly this party he was not allowed to be our guide as someone from there had to be the guide. The turtle snorkel was busy and a LOT of ocean swimming. You really should be a good swimmer for this part. Life jackets were required for all water parts. In a while we LOVED this day. We would book tours with this company again!