Tulum Ruins & Akumal Sea Turtles: guided tour with snorkel

Walk Tulum's clifftop temples, then snorkel with sea turtles at Akumal

A 10-hour guided tour from your hotel combines the Tulum archaeological zone with snorkeling alongside green sea turtles at Akumal and a swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich. The tour includes hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, breakfast, a restaurant lunch of your choice, snorkel gear and all entrance fees. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tulum and Akumal highlights

• Hotel pickup and transport to Tulum
• Guided tour of Tulum archaeological site
• Photo session at TULUM landmark letters
• Boat ride and snorkel with sea turtles in Akumal
• Swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich

The Experience

Hotel pickup in the morning gets you to Tulum before the crowds build. Your certified guide leads you through the walled Mayan city—the only major pre-Columbian settlement built on the coast—pointing out El Castillo pyramid and explaining why this clifftop location mattered to the Maya. You'll have time to photograph the famous TULUM landmark letters with the Caribbean behind you, then explore the temples and coastal views at your own pace while the guide fills in the history.

After Tulum, a boat ride takes you to Akumal—"Place of the Turtles" in Mayan—where you snorkel in the shallows to watch green sea turtles in their natural habitat. The guides here focus on local conservation efforts, so you understand what you're seeing. Snorkel gear is provided, and the water is calm enough for varying comfort levels.

The final stop is Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, an underground freshwater pool formed over millennia. You swim in the clear water to cool off before heading to a restaurant in Akumal for lunch—you pick your dish from the menu. The full day wraps in about 10 hours, with air-conditioned transport the whole way.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transportation.
• box breakfast with sandwich, juice and fruit.
• entrance to Tulum Ruins.
• bilingual expert guide.
• boat ride and snorkel gear for Akumal.
• snorkeling time with sea turtles.
• swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.
• one restaurant dish of your choice at Akumal lunch.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Cancun Mayan Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this shared tour if you want three stops—Tulum ruins, turtle snorkel, and cenote—on a set schedule; pick a private tour if you need flexibility to linger at one site or skip another.

Top questions

What exactly will I see at the Tulum ruins?

Tulum Ruins show you the temples, pyramids and coastal architecture of a walled Mayan city built on cliffs above the Caribbean. El Castillo is the iconic pyramid; your guide explains why this was the only major pre-Columbian settlement on the coast and what the layout tells you about how the Maya lived there.

Will I actually see sea turtles when I snorkel at Akumal?

Akumal is known as a turtle sanctuary, and snorkeling in the shallows gives you a real chance to observe green sea turtles in their natural habitat. The guides are marine-focused and explain the conservation work happening there, so you understand what you're looking at.

What's included in the lunch at Akumal?

Lunch is one dish of your choice at a restaurant in Akumal; you pick from the menu when you arrive. Beverages are available to order separately at the restaurant.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?

No—snorkel equipment is provided as part of the tour. Bring a towel and extra clothes for changing, and wear comfortable shoes for walking the ruins.

How early does the tour start, and when will I be back?

The tour includes hotel pickup in the morning and runs for 10 hours total, so you'll return to your hotel in the afternoon. Exact pickup time depends on your hotel location.

What language will the guide speak?

Your guide is bilingual in English and Spanish, so you'll hear explanations in both languages throughout the day.