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.
Tracey –
What an amazing experience! We did two tours the week we were in the area, and both were perfect—the best part of our trip in fact, according to my two kids. When we were booking our tours, the second one was sold out, but after emailing with the owner Claire, she immediately responded and opened a new slot for us. Her communication was so quick and direct. Our guide on both tours was Joshua, and he was just incredible. He made everything so easy for us. His knowledge of history and the Mayan ruins we saw (both Coba and Tulum) kept us all fascinated. He took us early to miss the crowds and took many pictures of our family together at every location… reminding us to get the photos even when we would forget, and suggesting the best spots for photos! Every piece of both tours was seamless. We swam and snorkeled in three different cenotes, with Joshua helping us choose ones that our family would enjoy and that would give us a mix of different experiences. We never felt rushed and were able to enjoy every part of the tours. Having a driver (Rodrigo and Josemar) who stayed with the van was very helpful, as we were able to bring everything we needed, but also safely leave valuables in the van while we did our activities. Joshua had everything we needed—all our tickets and entrance fees prepared in advance, equipment for the cenotes and snorkeling with turtles (different sized masks and snorkels to make sure we each had one that fit, life jackets, even a flashlight for the caves in the cenotes), and even recommendations for some delicious dishes at the restaurants for lunch. When he dropped us off for the snorkeling with turtles in Akumal Bay, he introduced us to our snorkel guide for that portion, and was there waiting for us with our towels and belongings right when we finished. He made everything seem so seamless and practically luxurious. And even better, he was such a joy to talk with and get to know a bit. He really seems to enjoy being a tour guide, which made our experience that much more enjoyable as well. Thank you Joshua, for two wonderful days that our family will never forget! You made us want to come back to explore more of Mexico as soon as we can. Or even move there, my daughter just added. We would 100% recommend you take a tour with Absolute Adventure Mexico!
SE –
Absolutely worth the extra money for this private tour! The best day of our entire trip!
Shannon E –
The best excursion of our entire trip!
This was absolutely our favorite day of our entire trip to Mexico. This is WELL worth the extra money for a private tour. No dealing with crowds, no dealing with people in your group tour wandering off or holding you up! The guides were incredibly informative, personable, prompt and flexible! Great day!
Meander554861 –
Book it NOW!
You can stop searching for a tour company! Truly this was the easiest and best part of our trip. We chose Tulum, Turtles, and Centote (I’d do the 3 Centote if I could choose again) and loved it. Arturo was our guide and was fantastic. He didn’t tell weird jokes or yell like other campy guides can do – I felt safe and taken care of. It’s easy to book and communication was seamless. DO IT. Have fun and tell Arturo that the quilter from Oregon says HEY.
Sofia –
absolutely the best tour guides we have ever encounter, being from Mexico this is by far the best two guys ever. if you want the real experience, book here. not only dose he know his stuff but great personality. I wil always book here everytime I need to book another tour. especially Juan Jose. he was the best hands down!!!!!!
Namya –
A Great Day of Natural Wonders!
A wonderful day from start to finish. Juan is a fantastic guide who was very knowledgeable, fun, good natured and also very skilled at tailoring the tour for my multi-generational family. You will learn & see so much natural beauty on this tour. I can’t recommend it enough. *tip* go early to avoid massive crowds
Cheryl –
We had a great tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable. Our daughter was a little scared when first getting into the cenote. Juan was so kind and great with kids!
Brian –
From start to finish our top notch guide Joshua and expert driver Rodrigo made sure we were safe and happy. We enjoyed a completely stress free day that was action packed but so well organized that we never felt pressured to rush. Joshua is definitely a subject matter expert on the Mayan culture and we enjoyed learning about the history while we took great photos of the grounds in Tulum. The true show stealer for my family was Taak Bi Ha Cenote. A truly incredible experience we were blown away. A relaxing lunch followed by a snorkel in the turtle sanctuary in Akumal was a very nice ending to an amazing and hassle free day.
Tip: start as early as you are able to beat the crowds and beat the heat.
Doug –
This tour was even better than we expected. Our expert guide Joshua and capable driver Rodrigo covered every detail so that my family could just kick back and soak in one of the best vacation days of our lives.
We researched reviews prior to booking. This tour with Tulum , a Cenote snorkel and a snorkel with turtles seemed to be universally loved. We took the tour advice to get an early start which really put us ahead of the crowds and the heat. Our pick up was prompt and professional. They had all the access arranged in advance at each venue so we leaped ahead of the crowds at every stop. They really made our family feel like VIPs all day long. Joshua had a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm for the Tulum tour and also knew the best spots for great photos. We selected the Taak Bi Ha Cenote and our girls wanted to go back the next day they enjoyed it so much. Lunch was great and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the sea turtles graze on the grass beds off Akumal beach.
We highly recommend this tour company they are a class act we and feel like the value received for the price was fair. The day was action packed but they stay so highly organized that we didn’t feel rushed or pressured at all and we came away exhilarated from the experiences.
Britt –
Wonderful guide and experience!
Our guide, Joshua, was friendly and very knowledgeable about the Tulúm ruins and the area in general. He took us through the entire property in a perfect amount of time, stopping to show and tell us about specific things and took photos for us, but didn’t drag it on for too long. We chose the Jaguar cenote and it was quiet and peaceful, but not as exciting as I had imagined. The lunch was delicious and authentic! Next up we snorkeled with the sea turtles. Our guide was very helpful with our youngest child and showed us lots of sea turtles. Overall it was a wonderful experience!
Taylor –
Great day with Arturo! We had 6 adults in our group and it was a fabulous time. Arturo is very articulate and friendly- we thought he did a terrific job. Highly recommend!
Rossana –
Fabulous day!! A private tour with Arturo is the way to go! Easy pick up at our hotel, our own guide at the at the Mayan ruins, swimming in Cenotes and then swimming again with the turtles. It was absolutely perfect.
LDM –
Rodrigo, our driver, and Joshua, our guide, picked us up in a spacious van at our hotel in Playa del Carmen at 7am. We visited Tulum first, and really beat the crowd! There was a long line to enter as we were leaving. From there, we were given the choice between 3 cenotes. We chose Taak bi Ha, which is a fairly enclosed cenote. It was amazing! We stopped for lunch at Juanita’s and then drove to Akumal Bay where Joshua set us up with a snorkeling guide. We saw so many sea turtles, plus a sting ray, lots of tropical fish, and a lobster. Joshua was an excellent guide throughout the entire day, and Rodrigo was a safe driver. Would highly recommend this tour company if you are interested in a private tour!
Kelly –
Best tour in the area! Highly recommend!
We loved everything about this tour! The tour is perfectly organized. We skipped the crowds for the ruins, practically had a private cenote swim, and had a personal guide help locate the hungry turtles. Each segment allowed an adequate amount of time to enjoy and explore. Joshua was a superb tour guide – knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Transportation and lunch was top notch as well! Highly recommend 🙂
Christina_B –
It was an amazing day and our guide Joshua was excellent! He was friendly and knowledgable and really made the day! The trip to the ruins was a learning experience. The cenote was super cool (we did the cave one). Lunch at the local restaurant was delicious. Of course my favorite part was swimming with sea turtles at Akumal! We saw 4 different turtles, a stingray and lots of fish. The transportation was comfortable and super convenient picking us up right at our hotel. Overall it was a five star day, and I would highly recommend it!
Sharon –
Excellent Tour Experience!!
A tour to remember! Our guide, Arturo, was fantastic! He was very informative and entertaining during our tour of Telum and gave us many choices for our cenote experience. We had an authentic lunch and then swam with the turtles. Arturo and our driver made this experience special and memorable!
April –
This trip was amazing!! The guide we had was very informative and answered our questions we had. He went above and beyond to make our trip memorable for us all. I would recommend this company and our tour guide to anyone that wants to see turtles, ruins or cenotes. I have to say it was all amazing but the cenote was probably one of my favorite stops on the tour. Its a must see!!
Candice –
We went to the ruins, swimming in a cenote, lunch and swimming with sea turtles. Alex the guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. The whole tour was at our place, and we enjoyed each thing we did. Lunch was at a fabulous local restaurant. Omar the driver was a conscientious driver and got us where we needed to go. Would highly recommend this tour and Alex and Omar
Megan –
Arturo made the private tour truly engaging and enlightening. A must for anyone visiting Tulum!
Kathy –
Excellent Trip! We are all laid-back family from Alaska and had an absolutely incredible time. Alex was a friendly and talented guide with excellent and fluent English, and had really extensive knowledge of Mayan history; he was able to answer all of the questions that we had on this expedition and overall made for a great time. Gregorio was a safe and fantastic driver. 10/10 recommend if you are looking for more information about the history of this area and want a more personable experience.
It was also great to have a van and someone to watch our things for us while we went exploring at the various locations. Highlight of our first trip to Mexico.