Tulum Ruins & Akumal Turtle Swim Snorkel Guided Tour

The only Mayan city on the Caribbean overlooks the same waters where you'll swim with sea turtles hours later.

A full-day guided tour from Tulum through three stops—the Tulum Ruins overlooking the sea, a boat ride and snorkel with sea turtles at Akumal, and a swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich—with a certified bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch and all equipment included. Hotel pickup is part of the booking, so the day starts without arranging transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tulum ruins, turtle swim, and cenote

• Photo at TULUM letters
• Guided tour of Tulum Ruins
• Swim with sea turtles in Akumal
• Swim in crystal-clear cenote

The Experience

The day opens at the Tulum letters, the famous photo spot on the cliffside overlooking the Caribbean. After a few minutes to frame your shot, your guide leads you into the Tulum Ruins themselves—the only Mayan city built right on the ocean, with temples and coastal viewpoints laid out across the archaeological site. The guide walks you through the history and the layout; you get free time to explore, photograph the turquoise water beyond the walls, and stand in the places where this city actually stood.

From there, the tour moves to Akumal, where a boat carries you out into the bay. This is where the snorkel happens: you'll swim in the crystal-clear water alongside sea turtles in their natural habitat, with a certified guide in the water with you the whole time. The guide stays close, so the encounter is safe and respectful—you're watching them, not chasing them. After the snorkel, you eat lunch at a restaurant in Akumal; the meal is your choice from the menu.

The final stop is Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, an underground freshwater pool formed over thousands of years inside a limestone cavern. You swim here too, in water so clear you can see the rock formations below. This is the unwind part of the day—no guide narration, just the space to float and take in the scale of the place. The tour runs 10 to 11 hours total. Bring a towel and a change of clothes; sunscreen and sunglasses are essential. The guide speaks English and Spanish.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup with air-conditioned transport.
• box breakfast with sandwich, juice and fruit.
• guided tour of Tulum Ruins with certified bilingual guide.
• boat ride and snorkel in Akumal with sea turtles.
• snorkeling equipment.
• one dish of your choice at the Akumal restaurant.
• entrance fee to Tulum Ruins.
• swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.

Good to know

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

Operated by Cancun Star Agency

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means the day starts without arranging a car or finding a meeting point—your guide collects you and handles all the driving, so the full itinerary stays intact even if you're staying away from Tulum town or don't have your own transport.

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Top questions

What's the Tulum Ruins tour like—is it a long walk or mostly standing around?

The Tulum Ruins tour is self-paced: your guide brings the history and the layout to life, then you have free time to walk the site, explore the temples and viewpoints, and take photos at your own speed. There's no forced march; you move as you want.

Will I actually see sea turtles when I snorkel in Akumal, or is that not guaranteed?

Akumal is one of the only places in the Riviera Maya where sea turtles are regularly present in their natural habitat. Your guide will take you to where they're known to be, and you'll snorkel alongside them in the shallow bay water.

Is the cenote cold, and how deep is it?

Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich is fed by underground freshwater springs, so it stays cool and refreshing year-round. The cenote has shallow areas where you can wade and deeper sections for swimming; your guide will show you the safe zones.

Does the tour include hotel pickup, or do I need to get to a meeting point?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. The guide will meet you at your accommodation and handle transport for the whole day, so you don't need a car or need to arrange getting to the first stop.

What's included in the breakfast and lunch?

Breakfast is a box meal with a sandwich, juice and fruit, provided at the start of the day. Lunch at the Akumal restaurant is your choice from the menu—one dish per person is included.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear, or is it provided?

All snorkeling equipment is provided: mask, fins and snorkel. Bring a towel and a change of clothes for after the water activities, and wear sunscreen and sunglasses during the day.