Cenotes Sac Actun Private Tour: Underground River & Swimming

Float through cave rooms filled with stalactites and tree roots, then swim on your own in a jungle cenote.

A private guided swim through the underground river system at Cenotes Sac Actun near Tulum, where you float through submerged cave rooms under stalactites and hanging roots for roughly 90 minutes, then spend free time snorkeling in an open cenote. A life jacket keeps you afloat so you don't need to be a strong swimmer, and the guide navigates the passages that would be easy to get lost in alone. English and Spanish guides available. Pickup from your hotel is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore cenotes and underground river

• Visit magical cenote with guide
• Swim through underground river system
• Explore cave rooms with stalactites
• Swim and wade without diving gear
• Visit open cenote for snorkeling
• Swim and enjoy natural pool views

The experience

Cenotes Sac Actun sits off the main tourist routes near Tulum, which is why the underground river here stays quieter than the crowded spots. Your guide leads you into a sacred underground tree and then into the river itself: a passage normally reserved for certified cave divers, but this section stays shallow enough to swim and wade without diving gear. You float on your back through different cave rooms, passing under stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations that feel like another planet. The whole guided swim takes roughly 90 minutes.

After the cave exploration, you have free time to swim and photograph on your own without the guide. Then you move to a second cenote: an open pool in the jungle, full of fish, where you can snorkel or free dive. Life jackets are optional here. The full experience runs about five hours from pickup to drop-off, with snacks and beverages provided throughout. An air-conditioned vehicle brings you there and back to your hotel.

A private tour means your group stays small and the guide adjusts the pace to your comfort. Children as young as five can join if accompanied by an adult, though the activity requires at least moderate fitness: the swimming and the cave passages are not strenuous, but they do demand some physical capability. Phones and cameras are welcome, so you can capture the surreal rock formations and the light filtering into the caves.

What’s included

• Private guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup and drop-off from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• life jacket for the underground river swim.
• snorkeling equipment for the open cenote.
• snacks and beverages throughout the day.
• all activities and entry to both cenotes.

Information

Lasts 5h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 199 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 10:00, 11:30 and 13:30

GroupPrivate3 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Tulum Underground

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a small private group and the freedom to explore at your own pace after the guide shows you the route. The private format keeps the cenote quieter than the crowded tours, and the free time afterward means you control how long you spend swimming and photographing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Cenotes Sac Actun and why do I need a guide there?

Cenotes Sac Actun is an underground river system with cave passages that are easy to get lost in without someone who knows the route. The guide navigates you safely through the submerged rooms and shows you the formations and the sacred tree that make the site special.

Do I have to be a strong swimmer to go through the underground river?

No. A life jacket keeps you floating, so you can relax and drift through the cave rooms even if you're not confident in the water. The passages stay shallow enough to wade or float without diving equipment.

What happens after the cave swimming?

After the guided cave exploration, you have free time to swim and take photos on your own. Then you move to a second cenote: an open jungle pool where you can snorkel, free dive or just swim, with life jackets available if you want them.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Yes. The tour includes air-conditioned vehicle pickup and drop-off from your Tulum hotel, so you don't need to arrange your own transport.

Can children go on this tour?

Children as young as five can join if accompanied by an adult. Specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle if needed. The activity does require at least moderate physical fitness.