YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Tulum ruins and Swim with Turtles

37 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: Explore the breathtaking Tulum ruins on a private guided tour! Afterward, dive into the crystal-clear waters of Akumal Bay for an unforgettable swim with turtles, followed by a tasty lunch at a local eatery!
  • Exclusive Experience: Just you, your personal local guide, and driver!
  • Private Transportation: Convenient pick-up from your hotel or rental.
  • Escape the Crowds & Beat the Heat: Skip the lines & enjoy a relaxed, stress-free ruins guided tour.
  • Encounter Sea Turtles: Snorkel from shore in Akumal for an unforgettable aquatic journey!
  • Lunch at local restaurant: Mexican flavors await you!
  • Set your own pace: Discover and snorkel based on your skills!
  • All-Inclusive at the Best Price: Transport, guide, entrance fees, gear, lunch & more!

Early bird discountBook 60+ days ahead and save 10%.

Multi-tour discountBook 2+ tours and save 10%.

Offers cannot be combined. Holiday exclusions apply. See terms and conditions.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The details of your private day.

Tulum ruins and Swim with Turtles Private Tour

 

Tulum Snorlkeling with turtles tour … ! When it comes to making the most of your trip to the Riviera Maya, there are two things you should definitely do: visit a Mayan archaeological site and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the Caribbean Sea while snorkeling. This all-inclusive package, which combines a guided tour of Tulum with the chance to go snorkeling with sea turtles, will check both of those activities off your list. Better still, this private tour is ideal for families and those who are new to snorkeling!

  1. Discover the Ancient Ruins of Tulum

    We’ll start the day by visiting the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum, a key trading post that was used by the famous civilization during their Post Classic period.

    They traded all kinds of items here, from honey and textiles to precious stones and coffee beans. Your professional guide will lead you to all of Tulum’s most popular attractions, including the main temple El Castillo and the fascinating artwork in the Temple of the Frescoes. You’ll also have plenty of time to soak in the amazing views of the nearby Caribbean Sea, and of course take as many photos as you like.

  2. Snorkel with Sea Turtles in Akumal Bay

    Once your group is finished enjoying the wonders of Tulum, we’ll head to Akumal, a nearby protected bay that’s one of the best places in the Riviera Maya to see sea turtles in the wild. Here, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to swim alongside these gentle, majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

    The swim is done directly from the shore—no boat needed—and it’s an easy, relaxed snorkel that lasts about one hour, making it perfect for beginners and families. We’ll provide all the necessary snorkeling gear, and a certified professional guide will be with you in the water to ensure a safe and fun experience.

    There are very high chances of spotting several sea turtles during your swim, along with colorful fish and other marine life in the calm, clear waters of the bay. While sightings can never be guaranteed in the wild, it’s rare to finish the swim without seeing at least a few.

  3. Savor a Delicious Mexican Lunch

    After a morning packed with exploring ruins on foot and swimming with turtles, you’ll undoubtedly be a bit hungry. That’s why our final stop is a local restaurant in Akumal, where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch with your friends and family.

    You will be back to your hotel beginning of the afternoon and still have plenty of time to enjoy the pool or the beach!

     

Price includes

  • Pick up and drop off at your hotel with private air-conditioned transportation (Booster car seat and baby car seat available on request)
  • Experienced certified private guide
  • Tulum ruins entrance fees (INAH + CONANP + JAGUAR) with pre-purchased tickets for direct entry
  • Optional electric shuttle from the parking area to the ruins entrance (750 m / 0.5 mile), for guests who prefer not to walk
  • Akumal bay cooperative fee and Akumal CONANP fee (mandatory)
  • High quality snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, life jackets)
  • Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
  • Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte

Price excludes

  • Ruins: If you bring a GoPro, video camera, or phone with a selfie stick, a fee of 60 pesos (about USD 3) per device is charged at the entrance to each archaeological site and must be paid in pesos (INAH fee). Drones and camera/video tripods are prohibited.
  • Drinks at the restaurant
  • Tips

General info

Private Tour:
Only you, the guide and the driver, nobody else!
Duration:
 5 to 7 hours (check the itinerary tab, as it depends on your pick-up location)
Physicality:
 Easy
Age:
 4+
Snorkeling:
Basic swimming skills required. This excursion suits everyone from novices to experts.
Swim with turtles:
Absolute Adventure is working with a local cooperative according to the Mexican law.(Consult Akumal Swim with Turtles regulation.)
In the event of the port being closed by the authorities making swimming with the turtles unauthorized, the tour will be amended to the Tulum Cenote tour and the price adjusted according to the option chosen.
What’s on the menu?
Selection of quesadillas, tacos,fajitas, grilled chicken, grilled fish … with vegetarian, fish, shrimp, chicken & meat options. With corn or flour tortillas. We can accommodate special diets and allergies, just let us know!

Itinerary options

Times at each stop are estimates. Driving and your exact pickup location affect the schedule.

Tulum ruins and turtles

  1. Tulum ruins — 90 min
  2. Akumal turtles — 75 min
  3. Lunch at La Cueva del Pescador — 40 min

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.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at Tulum and Akumal, moving at your own pace.
Want a faster tour? Free time can be reduced or skipped; your guide can adjust the pace on the day of the tour.

Discover the 3 benefits of an early departure to visit Tulum.
This tour doesn't include Tulum centro/Tulum beach-hotel areas. Only Tulum Mayan ruins.

What to bring

  • Resusable water bottle: at Tulum Ruins, it is forbidden to enter the ruins with plastic water bottles. If you wish to bring water for the visit, please bring your own reusable water bottle. We’ll have water in the van for you to fill or refill.
  • Beach Towels
  • Swimsuit (We recommend wearing it in the morning and feel free to change after snorkeling activities)
  • Comfortable shoes for the ruins (We recommend tennis shoes)
  • Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen and we recommend wearing a rash-guard/UV-Shirt for water activities*
  • Mosquito repellent*
  • Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)
  • Camera/Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

5.00/5 · 37 tour reviews

Showing reviews 1–9 of 37

We enjoyed the Tulum Ruins tour and swimming with turtles experience! Our tour guide Juan was excellent! He was knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and made our day unforgettable. He helped us avoid the crowds and tailored the tour to our needs.

Sara · Dec 2025

Thank you Josh and Omar for an amazing tour!! My husband and I booked the Tulum Ruins Akumal Turtle Swim Taco lunch private tour with Absolute Adventure, and it was one of our favorite days of our honeymoon! The day started with Josh (our tour guide) and Omar (our driver) picking us up from our hotel in Playa Del Carmen. Right from the start both…

Read full reviewShow less

Thank you Josh and Omar for an amazing tour!! My husband and I booked the Tulum Ruins Akumal Turtle Swim Taco lunch private tour with Absolute Adventure, and it was one of our favorite days of our honeymoon! The day started with Josh (our tour guide) and Omar (our driver) picking us up from our hotel in Playa Del Carmen. Right from the start both guys were very professional and welcoming, and we began the hour long drive to Tulum. The drive went by super fast and we arrived to the Tulum Ruins entrance in no time. We booked the early morning tour in hopes to beat the crowd - and I would definitely recommend doing the same because we were one of the first people in the park! We left our bags of swim gear and extra clothes in the van with Omar, and began our tour into the ruins with Josh. You could tell Josh was very passionate about the history of the ruins, and he was very knowledgable telling us about each ruin we came across. Josh even knew the best photo spots and took excellent photos of me and my husband in front of the ruins. One thing to note is that the ruins park is full of mosquitos, so be sure to bring your bug spray! After about an hour at the ruins it was time to depart and head to Akumal to swim with turtles. Once we arrived at Akumal Bay, Josh escorted us up to the turtle guide shack and introduced us to our guide. During this time, we left our valuables in the van with Omar. We spent an hour swimming with turtles and enjoying watching fish at the reef. We saw about 10 turtles in total which was awesome! When it was time to depart, Josh helped us gather our swim gear and then escorted us back to the van where Omar was waiting with cold waters and sodas for us. A short drive from Akumal Bay into the little town, and we were at our taco stop! We had a wonderful lunch with Josh, consisting of tacos and quesadillas. We ordered the shrimp quesadilla and the beef tacos, and they were the best food we had the entire trip. We also had chips, delicious salsa, and a couple of beers. After lunch, it was time to return back to the resort. Josh and Omar took us back and wished us well on the rest of our honeymoon. We are so grateful for Josh and Omar for the kindness and knowledge they shared throughout the day. We will definitely be booking with Absolute Adventure again!

Hailey · Jul 2025

Informative ruins tour and unforgettable turtle swim We booked the private tour of the Tulum ruins with Absolute Adventure Mexico and had a very good experience. Our guide was friendly, well-informed, and shared just enough history to give good context without overwhelming us. The real highlight of the day was snorkeling at Akumal Bay. Seeing the sea turtles up close in their natural environment was…

Read full reviewShow less

Informative ruins tour and unforgettable turtle swim
We booked the private tour of the Tulum ruins with Absolute Adventure Mexico and had a very good experience. Our guide was friendly, well-informed, and shared just enough history to give good context without overwhelming us. The real highlight of the day was snorkeling at Akumal Bay. Seeing the sea turtles up close in their natural environment was a wonderful experience. The pace of the day felt relaxed and well-organized. I would definitely recommend this tour if you're looking for a more personal and well-run experience in the Tulum area.

Jennifer · Jun 2025

Tulum and Turtles What a fun experience! Our guide was so knowledgeable. He answered any question we asked and then expounded on it. It was great to be taken care of and to not have to worry about taxis, lines, and tickets. We would definitely book with them again and recommend them to others!

alaynae · Mar 2025

LOVE LOVE LOVE the team at Absolute Adventure Mexico! We did three different tours with them during our trip to Tulum! We had Juan as our tour guide for all three, Omar driving us around for two of them, and Rodrigo carting us around for the final tour! All three gentlemen were amazing! The tours were chose were 1) Snorkeling, swimming in a cenote, and…

Read full reviewShow less

LOVE LOVE LOVE the team at Absolute Adventure Mexico! We did three different tours with them during our trip to Tulum! We had Juan as our tour guide for all three, Omar driving us around for two of them, and Rodrigo carting us around for the final tour! All three gentlemen were amazing! The tours were chose were 1) Snorkeling, swimming in a cenote, and lunch. 2) Chichen Itza and lunch and shopping at a nearby colonial Mexican town. 3) Tulum ruins and swimming with the turtles.
Each tour brought a little something different and showed us some amazing sites in the Yucatan area! I cannot recommend AA enough!

Kent · Mar 2025

Joshua and Omar were great. We went on 2 tours, had them both days. Was a great time!

Nathan · Nov 2024

Absolutely amazing! What an incredible experience we had. Juan was so knowledgeable of Tulum and made sure we saw all the different houses and temples, gave us lots of information around the area. The swimming with turtles was just the best. Saw loads of sea life and the turtles were beautiful. Finished with a local Mexican lunch that finished off an amazing experience. I would…

Read full reviewShow less

Absolutely amazing! What an incredible experience we had. Juan was so knowledgeable of Tulum and made sure we saw all the different houses and temples, gave us lots of information around the area. The swimming with turtles was just the best. Saw loads of sea life and the turtles were beautiful. Finished with a local Mexican lunch that finished off an amazing experience.
I would highly recommend you book this Absolute Adventures they will give you the best experience.

Robert · Sep 2024

This trip was everything we could have asked for and more. Our first stop was the Tulum ruins which was not just beautiful and well maintained, but the historical perspective given by our guide Joshua was amazing and informative. I did not expect to learn so much about the area, development, and history! Our next stop was Akumel where Joshua obtained a water guide to…

Read full reviewShow less

This trip was everything we could have asked for and more. Our first stop was the Tulum ruins which was not just beautiful and well maintained, but the historical perspective given by our guide Joshua was amazing and informative. I did not expect to learn so much about the area, development, and history!
Our next stop was Akumel where Joshua obtained a water guide to take us snorkeling to see some turtles. We were informed that the turtles are in freedom so it is not guaranteed however they usually do see turtles. We saw about 5 beautiful turtles, it wasn’t overly crowded at all, and our guide took us further out to the coral reef which was one of the nicest reefs we had seen in a while. With all the storms and wreckage that has really diminished the existence of many reefs, it was amazing to see this small area of beauty! It was even more amazing that our guide, Alex, offered to take us out further to see the reef! I saw amazing because he had three kids (8-9) in tow that he pulled on a ring the entire tour. That was tremendously appreciated.
After the beach we walked over to a quaint restaurant that made you feel as though you were truly in Mexico and not just as some fast food place or touristy place. I wish I could recall the name. This tour also include our choice of tacos or quesadilla and neither disappointed! We opted to indulge in some margaritas and they were really amazing! Highly recommend the passion fruit margarita! The portions also really large! Beyond our expectation!
Joshua and our driver, Rodrigo, took great care and time with us and literally took care of everything. We were clearly in great and informative hands. It was wonderful to also get to learn more about Joshua and his deep interest in the historical and marine perspectives!
I also need to add that this was a private tour- our own van, our own driver and tour guide that was with us most of the time (just not in the water) and we were able to select our departure time from the hotel. They recommend 7am but we chose 730am and it was perfect for us and not so hot yet in Tulum.
We highly recommend this trip “Tulum, Turtles, and Tacos” and will definitely use the company again when we are back!

Deena · Apr 2024

Book it! Juan, our guide, was welcoming knowledgeable and accommodating. I highly recommend getting a private tour because I saw other tours getting cooked in the sun but Juan made sure we were walking through the sun to stop in the shade for pictures and explanations. The area of ruins is larger than pictures would have you believe and took about 90 minutes to get…

Read full reviewShow less

Book it!
Juan, our guide, was welcoming knowledgeable and accommodating. I highly recommend getting a private tour because I saw other tours getting cooked in the sun but Juan made sure we were walking through the sun to stop in the shade for pictures and explanations. The area of ruins is larger than pictures would have you believe and took about 90 minutes to get all the way around. We got out of the sun unscathed and we were taken to Playa Akumal to swim with sea turtles and other sea creatures. It was magical and my 10 year old and 12 year old absolutely loved seeing the turtles in their natural habitat. After, we got lunch at a nearby restaurant about 3 minutes up the road. The food was good and Juan knew the menu pretty well to suggest his favorites. We had been picked up outside our hotel in Playa del Carmen at 7 and were back by 1:30-2:00 pm. The perfect length of tour for our family. BOOK IT!

Eric · Apr 2024

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Tulum Turtles tour private or shared?

This is a private tour, just for you and your group.

You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.

Is the driver also the guide?

No. The driver and guide are two different professionals.

All our tours include a dedicated driver and a separate certified guide. 

While some companies offer a guide-driver, we believe this is not safe. Having a driver focused solely on the road and a guide fully dedicated to our guests ensures a safer and higher-quality experience.

How long does a private Tulum tour take?

It typically lasts between 5 to 6 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site.

Please check the full itinerary in the “Itinerary” tab for more details.

Pickup & transport

Is transportation included from my hotel or Airbnb?

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.

What vehicles do you use for your tours?

We offer a range of modern, air-conditioned vans to suit the size of your group and ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Visit our fleet page for more details.

Can I change the pick up time?

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!

Activities & facilities

How much walking is there at the Tulum ruins?

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.

Can we spend some time at Tulum beach during the tour?

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.

Is snorkeling experience required for this tour?

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.

Are turtle sightings guaranteed in Akumal?

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.

What type of boat is used to swim with the turtles?

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.

Are there showers or changing rooms at the cenote or at Akumal beach?

Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas at both locations.

Planning & booking

What should I bring for the tour? Where can I leave my belongings?

Check the "What to bring" tab on the tour page for the full packing list. 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.

Are vegetarian or special dietary meals available?

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.

What is the cancellation policy?

Go ahead and plan with confidence—your booking is fully flexible!

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.

More questions?

Visit our main FAQ page or contact us by email, WhatsApp or via chat, we're happy to help!

Come explore the Riviera Maya with us.

Private adventures, thoughtfully planned by our local team.

Discover more tours

Coupon terms & conditions

EARLY2MONTHS — 10% off
Book at least 60 days before your tour date.

MULTITOUR — 10% off
Book at least 2 tours in one transaction.

If part of a multi-tour booking is canceled and only one tour remains, the discount becomes void and the remaining balance will be adjusted.

Enter your coupon code at checkout.

Tour photos

MAKE IT YOUR DAY

Book with Confidence

Tulum ruins and Swim with Turtles

Choose your date, number of guests and pickup location to see your exact price.

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.