Tulum Ruins, Cenote & Akumal Turtle Swim: Private Full-Day Tour

Tulum's beachfront ruins, a cenote plunge, wild turtles at Akumal, and a Caribbean beach in one day

This private full-day tour from Cancun combines three of the Riviera Maya's signature stops: the ancient Maya ruins of Tulum overlooking the Caribbean, a swim in Cenotes Sac Actun (an underground pool in the jungle), and Akumal beach where you swim with wild turtles. A professional guide leads the day, round-trip transport from your Cancun or Riviera Maya hotel is included, and lunch at a local restaurant breaks up the eight hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tulum, swim cenote, Akumal beach

• Explore Tulum Maya ruins
• Swim in Cenotes Sac Actun
• Have traditional Mexican lunch
• Swim with turtles at Akumal
• Relax on Caribbean beach

The Experience

Tulum Ruins opens the day—a beachfront Maya site with views across the Caribbean. Your guide walks you through the structures and explains the history while you stand in front of the actual stone. After that, you head inland to Cenotes Sac Actun, a cenote set in the jungle where you swim in the clear underground pool. The cenote sits in Quintana Roo's jungle environment, and the water is cool year-round.

Lunch comes next at a local restaurant where you eat a traditional Mexican meal. Then the tour moves to Akumal, a Caribbean beach where the main draw is swimming with wild sea turtles that come into the shallow water. You get time to relax on the sand after the swim before the drive back to your hotel.

Your own driver handles the round-trip transport in an air-conditioned minivan from your hotel. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and several other languages. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. The whole tour runs eight hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Your own professional guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and additional languages.
• round-trip private transport in an air-conditioned minivan from your hotel.
• entry to Tulum Ruins.
• cenote swim at Cenotes Sac Actun.
• time to swim with turtles at Akumal beach.
• traditional Mexican lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Operated by Trip To Mexico

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide narrating at each site rather than self-exploring, and if a private driver lets you visit Tulum ruins, a cenote, and Akumal turtle beach in one day without backtracking between them.

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Top questions

What exactly is Tulum Ruins and what will I see there?

Tulum Ruins is one of the most iconic Maya archaeological sites, built on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Your guide will walk you through the ancient structures and explain their history and significance to the Maya culture.

What is a cenote and what do I do at Cenotes Sac Actun?

Cenotes Sac Actun is an underground freshwater pool located in the jungle of the Riviera Maya. You'll swim in the clear, cool water of this cenote—it's a natural sinkhole that the ancient Maya considered sacred.

Will I actually swim with turtles at Akumal, or just see them from the beach?

You swim in the shallow water at Akumal beach where wild sea turtles come to feed and rest. The turtles are accustomed to swimmers, so you enter the water where they are and observe them in their natural habitat.

Is this tour private, or will I be with other people?

This is a private tour, so you have your own guide and driver for the full day. The minivan and all stops are just for your group.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes your professional guide, round-trip hotel pickup in an air-conditioned minivan, lunch at a local restaurant, and bottled water throughout the day. Snorkeling equipment (150 pesos) and any purchases like drinks or souvenirs are separate.

How long is the full tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight hours total from hotel pickup to return. Your driver will collect you from your Cancun, Riviera Maya, or Tulum hotel and bring you back at the end of the day.