Tulum & Coba Ruins Tour with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen

Coba jungle climb Nohoch Mul pyramid tallest Yucatan views above canopy

A full-day tour from Playa del Carmen visits Tulum Ruins on the Mexican Caribbean and Coba Mayan Ruins in the jungle, with a professional guide leading both sites, a swim in a natural cenote, and a regional lunch included. The tour runs 12 hours with round-trip transportation from your hotel or a meeting point in town. A live guide speaks English or Spanish, and you can add drinks on board and at lunch depending on which option you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Tulum RuinsEntry included1h 30m
2. Coba Mayan RuinsEntry included1h 30m

Explore Tulum, Coba, and Cenote

• Visit Tulum Mayan ruins
• Explore Coba Mayan ruins
• Swim in a cenote
• Enjoy buffet lunch

The experience

The day starts at Tulum, the walled city that sits on the Caribbean cliffs. Your guide walks you through the seaside layout and the history of the structures. The views across the water are part of the archaeology here, not separate from it. From there the tour heads inland into the jungle for Coba, a much larger site spread across the forest floor. The two ruins offer completely different ways of reading the same civilization: Tulum is compact and coastal. Coba sprawls and climbs. Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, stands at Coba, and the climb itself is part of what makes the site distinct.

Between the two ruins, you swim in a cenote: a natural sinkhole in the limestone that fills with fresh water. These are unique to the Yucatan Peninsula and scattered throughout the region. The one on this tour sits in the jungle like an oasis. The water is cool and clear, and the rock formations around it are the reason cenotes matter beyond the swimming itself. A buffet lunch of regional specialties happens at a restaurant, and depending on your option, you can add drinks on board the transport and two more at lunch.

The full day is 12 hours, and you'll need a moderate level of fitness: Coba involves walking forest paths and climbing the pyramid. Round-trip transportation is included if you book hotel pickup. If you choose the meeting point option, you start in town instead. A professional guide in English or Spanish leads both sites and explains what you're standing in front of, so the ruins make sense as you move through them rather than as a list of names.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to both Tulum Ruins and Coba Mayan Ruins.
• cenote swim.
• buffet lunch with regional specialties.
• round-trip transportation from your hotel or a meeting point in Playa del Carmen (depending on your option).
• drinks on board and two drinks at lunch (available with the drinks option).

Options for this experience

3 options

Service includes pickup from your hotelGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Includes hotel pickup. Duration: 12 hours. Buffet lunch is included. Pickup is included.

Tulum Meeting Point PlusGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Hotel pickup is not included. The meeting point is the #TULUM sign in red letters at Starbucks, Carretera Tulum - Cancún S/N, Col. Tulum, at 09:40. Duration: 10 hours. Includes a buffet lunch, a box lunch, drinks on board, and 2 drinks at the restaurant.

Drinks on board and 2 drinks with lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Includes hotel pickup. Duration: 12 hours. Buffet lunch with 2 drinks included (water, soft drinks, or beer) plus drinks on board the bus. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 12h, runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 07:00, from US$ 84 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 07:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 533 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 (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Yalku Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're visiting from Cancun and want to see both a coastal ruin and a jungle site in one day: the 12-hour format covers Tulum and Coba with a single guide, plus a cenote swim that breaks up the climbing and walking.

Traveler reviews

4.48★★★★★★★★★★

196 verified traveler reviews

5 ★140

4 ★28

3 ★12

2 ★15

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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.

How long is the climb up Nohoch Mul at Coba?

Nohoch Mul is the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula and climbing it is part of the Coba experience, though the exact duration depends on your pace and fitness level. The hike through the jungle paths to reach it is part of what makes Coba feel different from the seaside Tulum site.

Can I swim in the cenote even if I'm not a strong swimmer?

The cenote is a natural swimming hole with clear water, and life jackets are available for rent at check-in for $4 if you want one. The water itself is refreshing and calm, designed as a rest stop between the two ruins sites.

What's included in the lunch, and are drinks part of it?

Lunch is a buffet of regional specialties included in all options. Drinks on board the transport and two drinks at the restaurant are included only if you choose the option with drinks. The basic option includes lunch without beverages.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the tour, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup and round-trip transportation are included if you select that option at checkout. If you prefer to meet the group in town instead, you can choose the meeting point option and start from Playa del Carmen.

What's the difference between Tulum and Coba as archaeological sites?

Tulum is a walled city that sits on the Mexican Caribbean coast with views across the water as part of its layout. Coba spreads across the jungle floor and is much larger, with structures like Nohoch Mul rising above the canopy: two very different ways the Maya built and organized their cities.

Is this tour physically demanding, and what should I bring?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness because of walking jungle paths at Coba and climbing the pyramid. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sun protection, and plan for a full 12-hour day in the heat and humidity of the Yucatan.