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

Three stops, one driver, the day arranged for you

A private full-day tour of Tulum combines a guided visit to the Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean, a swim in a natural cenote (a limestone sinkhole fed by filtered rainwater), and snorkeling with wild turtles in Akumal. The tour includes a professional guide in English or Spanish, round-trip air-conditioned transport from your hotel, and bottled water; it runs about six hours and covers the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. A guide leads the cenote swim and the turtle encounter in Akumal, where you enter the water to meet them in their natural habitat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tulum, swim cenotes and Akumal

• Visit Tulum archaeological site
• Swim in natural cenotes
• Swim and snorkel with turtles in Akumal

The Experience

Tulum sits on the Caribbean coast as one of the last cities the Maya built and inhabited, and the ruins stand on a bluff above the water. A guide walks you through the site and explains the history and culture of Mayan civilization—the layout, the structures, the way the city was positioned. The ruins themselves are the draw; the guide contextualizes what you are standing in front of.

After Tulum, you move to a natural park to swim in a cenote. A cenote is a natural pit created when limestone bedrock collapses and exposes the groundwater underneath. The water is often very clear because it comes from rain filtering slowly through the ground. The guide takes you into the water here as well. Then the day ends in Akumal, one of the most beautiful beaches on the Caribbean coast, where you snorkel with wild turtles in their natural environment. A professional guide is with you for this part too, so you are not navigating the encounter alone.

Transport is private and air-conditioned, which means the three stops stay on schedule and you do not spend the afternoon in a shared van waiting for other pickups. Bottled water is included. Snorkeling gear costs extra (150 pesos), and lunch is not included in the tour price, so you can choose where and what to eat or bring your own.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• round-trip private air-conditioned transport from your hotel.
• bottled water.
• guided swim in a natural cenote.
• guided snorkel with wild turtles in Akumal.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by Trip To Mexico

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are traveling as a couple or a small family and want the three stops—ruins, cenote, turtles—without coordinating pickups or managing a shared van schedule. The private transport and guide mean the day stays on track and you move at your own pace between stops.

Top questions

What is Tulum and why is it worth seeing?

Tulum is a Mayan archaeological site on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya, and the ruins sit on a bluff above the water. A guide explains the history and culture as you walk through the site.

What exactly is a cenote and what will I do there?

A cenote is a natural sinkhole formed when limestone bedrock collapses and exposes groundwater underneath. The water is typically very clear because it comes from rain filtering slowly through the ground. On this tour, you swim in the cenote with a guide, so it is a water activity, not just a viewing stop.

Will I really swim with turtles in Akumal?

Yes. Akumal is a beach where wild turtles live in their natural environment. You enter the water and snorkel with them, guided by a professional who is with you during the encounter. It is not a controlled tank or a staged experience—the turtles are wild and you are in their habitat.

Is lunch included, and do I need to bring snorkeling gear?

Lunch is not included, so you can choose where to eat or bring your own food. Snorkeling equipment is available for an additional 150 pesos; it is not part of the base tour price.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is available in English or Spanish. Confirm your preferred language when you book.