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 19–27 of 37

Organised a trip to Tullum and swimming with turtles with them. Alex G and Carlos really looked after us the entire day with both the history of the ruins and Mayan people as well as the tours themselves. The restaurant they chose for lunch was perfect also. They organised all the tickets and entry details and we spent all our time doing things not waiting.…

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Organised a trip to Tullum and swimming with turtles with them. Alex G and Carlos really looked after us the entire day with both the history of the ruins and Mayan people as well as the tours themselves. The restaurant they chose for lunch was perfect also.
They organised all the tickets and entry details and we spent all our time doing things not waiting.
Prompt, efficient and answered all our questions and needs. Would recommend

Nic B · Aug 2023

Great company, good value, and definitely recommended We had a fantastic private Tulum and Turtle Snorkelling tour with Absolute Adventure. Right from the start, from booking and pre-trip communication, the service was slick, easy and professional. We were collected from out hotel on time and enjoyed a quick transfer to Tulum, without all the nonsense of having to drive around hotels collecting other guests. On…

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Great company, good value, and definitely recommended
We had a fantastic private Tulum and Turtle Snorkelling tour with Absolute Adventure. Right from the start, from booking and pre-trip communication, the service was slick, easy and professional. We were collected from out hotel on time and enjoyed a quick transfer to Tulum, without all the nonsense of having to drive around hotels collecting other guests. On the tour we had a great guide who looked after us and took us around the ruins and then the nature reserve. We finished with a lovely lunch of the best tacos we had eaten all holiday. Would definitely recommend this company.

James · Jul 2023

We did the Tulum and Turtle tour with Absolute Adventures. JJ, our guide, was friendly and knowledgeable and provided us with lots of information about what we were seeing. Snorkeling with the turtles was the highlight of our holiday. Would highly recommend Absolute Adventures.

Kerry · Jul 2023

What a great tour! Claire was amazing with reserving and prompt communications throughout. Alex and Rodrigo made the day wonderful! We did the private tour of Tulum and snorkeling with turtles and then lunch. I must admit the 6am departure was no fun BUT we were the first to enter Tulum and as we left it was already very hot and swarms of people arriving!…

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What a great tour! Claire was amazing with reserving and prompt communications throughout. Alex and Rodrigo made the day wonderful! We did the private tour of Tulum and snorkeling with turtles and then lunch. I must admit the 6am departure was no fun BUT we were the first to enter Tulum and as we left it was already very hot and swarms of people arriving! So thankful for that early departure 😜. Snorkeling with the turtles and lunch was good. Alex’s knowledge, energy and enthusiasm made the day! Rodrigo was a great driver allowing Alex to focus on us which was great! would highly recommend this company - they were great! Many thanks to all for helping to make our vacation awesome!

Lynda · May 2023

Me and my husband were nervous to book a private tour but it was one of the best tours we went on the entire trip. Juan (JJ) was a fantastic tour guide! He was so fun and very knowledgeable about everything he was showing us. He took many great photos for us and knew how to beat the crowds! Omar our driver was also great…

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Me and my husband were nervous to book a private tour but it was one of the best tours we went on the entire trip. Juan (JJ) was a fantastic tour guide! He was so fun and very knowledgeable about everything he was showing us. He took many great photos for us and knew how to beat the crowds! Omar our driver was also great and made us feel very safe with his driving which I can say is very rare compared to the other rides we received in Mexico.

Kayla · May 2023

Excellent tour guide - enjoyed our day! Our group of 7 family members had a fantastic time touring the Tulum ruins and swimming with the turtles at Akumal. We enjoyed the lunch as well. It was and excellent day. Rodrigo drove and got us there and back safely. Arturo was an awesome guide through the Tulum. He managed to steer us away from the crowds…

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Excellent tour guide - enjoyed our day! Our group of 7 family members had a fantastic time touring the Tulum ruins and swimming with the turtles at Akumal. We enjoyed the lunch as well. It was and excellent day. Rodrigo drove and got us there and back safely. Arturo was an awesome guide through the Tulum. He managed to steer us away from the crowds and we never felt rushed or crowded. We did leave early in the morning and there were lots of people walking in as we left. Arturo was knowledgeable about the ruins and the vegetation. We didn't do a cenote swim as that was not something we wanted included. It was so nice to visit Arturo while we had an authentic Mexican meal at a restaurant near Akumal.

Karen · Apr 2023

Loved our private Tulum and Turtle tour. We took the Tulum and Turtle tour with Dulce as our guide and Carlos as our driver. The hospitality of the private tour was so nice and easy. We had our 6-year-old with us, and they were very understanding of her needs. Dulce knows so much about Tulum, shared great information with us, and answered many questions. She…

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Loved our private Tulum and Turtle tour. We took the Tulum and Turtle tour with Dulce as our guide and Carlos as our driver. The hospitality of the private tour was so nice and easy. We had our 6-year-old with us, and they were very understanding of her needs. Dulce knows so much about Tulum, shared great information with us, and answered many questions. She even took the shadier path to the exit when our daughter was getting hot. Dulce made sure we found our way to all the things we needed in Akumal Bay (where to put our things, our snorkeling guide, changing rooms, etc). We had a delicious and lovely lunch after our snorkeling tour. We loved being able to leave gear in the van knowing it was secure. Highly recommend this group for a private tour!

No sunscreen is allowed in Akumal Bay. We wore long sleeve rash guards and swim pants and didn't get burned. We did see turtles! Also starfish and many kinds of fish.

elizabeth · Mar 2023

Dulce was a great tour guide! She was very knowledgeable and accommodating. We snorkeled and swam w the turtles with Miguel and he was especially helpful to me as a nervous snorkeler. Our driver, Carlos, was a careful driver and we really enjoyed our day with the entire team. I would recommend them 100%!!

Jean · Jan 2023

This was such a well done, organized, personal and truly vip experience with Alex as our tour guide and Jorge as our driver. We did the Ruins of Tulum and Swimming with the sea turtles. We highly recommend and suggest it. We can’t wait to come back to this part of Mexico and take part in their other tours.

OJ · Nov 2022

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!

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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.