Tulum & Cobá ruins tour: Swim a cenote, learn Mayan traditions

Two Mayan cities, a cenote swim, and a shaman's blessing in one day

A full-day guided tour from your Tulum hotel explores the Cobá and Tulum archaeological sites with an expert guide, includes a swim in Mariposa cenote, a Mayan shaman ceremony, a cocoa-to-chocolate demonstration, and a buffet lunch with local ingredients. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included. The tour runs 10 hours and guides speak English, Spanish, Italian or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Coba Mayan Ruins2h
2. Tulum Ruins2h

Explore Mayan ruins and traditions

• Pickup and transfer to Cobá
• Explore Cobá ruins and climb Nohoch Mul
• Experience Mayan traditions and lunch buffet
• Swim in Mariposa cenote
• Visit Tulum ruins with expert guide
• Transfer and dropoff at hotels

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive to Cobá, where the ruins sprawl across jungle paths far less crowded than Tulum's coastal site. Your guide walks you through the history as you move between structures, then leads the climb up Nohoch Mul, a 42-meter pyramid, where the view stretches across the forest canopy. The descent is by vehicle, not on foot, which matters after the climb.

After Cobá comes lunch at a buffet restaurant with dishes made from local ingredients, then a swim in Mariposa cenote: a freshwater sinkhole ringed by vegetation where you can float and cool off. Before that, you'll watch a Mayan shaman lead a ceremony meant to connect you with the ancestral energies of the place, and see a demonstration of how cocoa grows and transforms into chocolate, including the role of the Melipona bee in Mayan tradition. These are not performances you watch from a distance. They are moments you step into.

The final stop is Tulum, the walled city on the Caribbean coast, where your guide explains the site's role as a trading hub and its layout built around the sea. You'll have time to walk the ruins and take in the view before the return drive to your hotel. The whole day is 10 hours from pickup to dropoff, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport to both sites.
• expert guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• entry to Cobá and Tulum archaeological zones (fees paid separately at the gate).
• guided walks at both ruins including the climb of Nohoch Mul pyramid.
• Mayan shaman ceremony.
• cocoa-to-chocolate demonstration.
• swim in Mariposa cenote.
• buffet lunch with local ingredients.
• one bottle of water at each archaeological zone.
• hotel dropoff.

Options for this experience

5 options

Guided tour in English and Spanish07:00Bilingual

Private TourGuide in 4 languages · 07:00

Tour with PLUS PackageGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00PLUS Package includes a boxed lunch with a baguette or croissant, an energy bar, a pack of 5 drinks, and 1 organic repellent or sunblock

See 2 more options

Visit with Forfait PLUSGuide in French · 07:00

Tour package with PLUSGuide in Italian · 07:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 500

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 42

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ekinox Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're visiting both Cobá and Tulum in one day and want a guide-led experience that includes a shaman ceremony and cocoa workshop alongside the archaeological sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Do I have to climb the pyramid at Cobá?

Nohoch Mul is a 42-meter climb, and your guide leads groups up it as part of the tour. The descent is by vehicle, but the ascent is on foot. If climbing is not possible for you, confirm with the operator whether you can skip it or if it is a required part of the itinerary.

What does the buffet lunch include, and are drinks covered?

Lunch is a buffet meal with local ingredients, but drinks are not included. You'll need to purchase them separately at the restaurant.

How much does it cost, and are the archaeological site fees included?

Admission fees to Cobá and Tulum are not included in the tour price. Adults pay 42 USD and children 25 USD at the gates (Mexican nationals with an INE card receive a preferential rate). The tour price covers transport, guide, lunch and cenote access.