Rio Secreto & Tulum Ruins Tour: Swim Underground Rivers

Swim through glowing caves and feel the cool river pulse beneath your feet

This guided tour from Cancun or Riviera Maya hotels combines two stops: a 40-minute introduction to the Tulum Ruins overlooking the Caribbean, then a 1.5-hour walk-and-swim through Rio Secreto Nature Reserve's underground crystal galleries. The tour includes a guide in English or Spanish, safety equipment (wetsuit, life jacket, helmet with lamp), a regional buffet lunch, and hotel pickup. The full day runs 5.5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Tulum RuinsEntry included2h
2. Rio Secreto Nature ReserveEntry included3h

Visit Tulum Ruins and Rio Secreto

• Arrive at Tulum Ruins
• Receive guide information and instructions
• Enjoy free time at Tulum Ruins
• Arrive at Rio Secreto Nature Reserve
• Receive safety measures and equipment
• Experience Mayan welcome and nature paths
• Walk and swim through crystal galleries

The experience

The day starts at Tulum Ruins, where your guide walks you through the site for about 40 minutes, explaining the layout and history before you have nearly an hour to explore on your own. The ruins sit on a cliff above the Caribbean, and the guide's framing helps you read what you're standing in front of: the temple structures, the ball court, the way the Maya positioned everything. Then you head to Rio Secreto.

At the reserve, a guide outfits you with a wetsuit, life jacket, and helmet fitted with a lamp, then walks you through the safety measures before you enter. You'll tour the nature reserve's paths first (this is where you get a Mayan welcome ceremony), and then you walk and swim through the underground galleries. The route is about 1 kilometer and takes roughly 1.5 hours. The water is clear enough to see through, and the passages open into chambers lit by your helmet lamp. You're moving through the system on foot and by swimming, so the pace depends on the group, but it's not a race.

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle for transport, a regional buffet lunch, non-alcoholic drinks, towels, and lockers for your belongings. Alcoholic beverages are available if you want to add them at checkout. Hotel pickup is included. If you're staying in Cancun or anywhere in the Riviera Maya, the driver collects you and brings you back. Children are welcome from age 4, though the swim sections and moderate fitness level the operator mentions mean younger kids or anyone with spinal or cardiovascular concerns should check the details before booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• 40 minutes of guided commentary at Tulum Ruins plus nearly an hour of free time to explore.
• safety equipment including wetsuit, life jacket, helmet with lamp, and towels.
• a 1.5-hour walk-and-swim through Rio Secreto's underground galleries.
• a regional buffet lunch.
• non-alcoholic drinks.
• and lockers for your belongings.

Information

Lasts 5h 30m, runs every day at 08:30, from US$ 139 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 155 private ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Rio Secreto

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace with about 1.5 hours of active swimming and wading underground, so it suits travelers comfortable in water and with moderate fitness. If you prefer to stay dry or have mobility concerns, this combination of ruins and water passages is not the right fit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Rio Secreto and what do you do there?

Rio Secreto is a nature reserve built around an underground river system with crystal-clear galleries. You walk through the reserve's paths, then wade and swim through the underground passages for about 1.5 hours, moving through chambers and galleries lit by your helmet lamp.

How long does the Tulum Ruins part of the tour take?

Your guide spends approximately 40 minutes walking you through the Tulum Ruins and explaining the site, then you have nearly an hour of free time to explore on your own before heading to Rio Secreto.

What equipment do I get, and do I need to bring my own gear?

The tour provides a wetsuit, life jacket, helmet with lamp, towels, and lockers for your belongings. You don't need to bring swimming gear. Everything required for the underground sections is included.

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

The tour includes hotel pickup, the guide, all safety equipment, a regional buffet lunch, non-alcoholic drinks, and access to both sites. Alcoholic beverages can be added at checkout. Photos and souvenirs are not included.