Tulum Ruins & Akumal Turtle Swimming with Cenote

Three stops, one unforgettable day: ruins, cenote, and turtles in their own water

You swim with sea turtles in their natural habitat in Akumal, float in the turquoise Mariposa cenote, and spend three and a half hours exploring the Tulum Ruins perched above the Caribbean. Lunch, a bilingual guide, lockers, and hotel pickup are included. Plan for a full day out and bring cash for drinks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tulum, cenote, and swim with turtles

• Pickups and transport to first point
• Visit Tulum archaeological zone
• Swim and relax at Mariposa cenote
• Swim with turtles in Akumal bay
• Dropoffs back to hotel or meeting point

The experience

The cenote water hits you first, so clear you can see straight through to the limestone floor, and so blue it looks like someone Photoshopped it. Mariposa cenote is the kind of place where the camera does the work for you, but the real moment comes when you're floating in that semi-open pool, the rock walls rising around you, and you realize you're swimming inside a sinkhole that's been here for thousands of years. Twenty-five minutes there, and you'll understand why people come back to Tulum just for this one stop.

Before the cenote, though, you're in Akumal bay watching sea turtles move through the water like they own it, because they do. The bay is shallow and calm, the kind of place where the turtles don't panic when swimmers show up. You get about twenty-five minutes in the water with them, surrounded by the reef and the smaller fish that dart around your mask. A bilingual guide is with the group the whole time, and lockers are included so you're not carrying wet stuff around all day. No certification needed. The water does most of the work.

The Tulum Ruins themselves take up the longest chunk of the day: three and a half hours to walk the site and let the guide explain what you're looking at. The buildings sit right on the cliff edge above the Caribbean, which is the kind of view that makes you understand why the Maya built a city here. It's not just the stones. It's the position. You'll spend time in the main temple, along the walls, and on the beach below if you want. After that, lunch happens at Canamayte, a local spot with a buffet of regional food. Drinks aren't included, so bring cash or a card for water and whatever else you want.

The whole day runs from pickup at your hotel through dropoff back there, with an air-conditioned vehicle moving you between the three spots. It's not a rushed pace, but it's not a slow one either. You're covering real ground. The guide handles the talking and the logistics, which means you just show up and move through the day. If you've got decent cardiovascular health and don't mind being in and out of water a few times, the physical side is manageable.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and dropoff in an air-conditioned vehicle, a bilingual certified guide for the entire day, entry to Tulum Ruins, swimming time in Akumal bay with sea turtles, access to Mariposa cenote, lunch buffet at Canamayte, life vests, and locker storage. Drinks are not included.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00

Swimming in a cenote and with turtles in Akumal, with a visit to TulumGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Lunch, excluding drinks

PLUS version of the Tulum, Turtles and Cenote tourGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Packed lunch and amenities

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

Information

Lasts 6h 30m, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 89 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 5552 private ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.11 with pickup ›

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 65 years) · Child (5 to 11 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ekinox Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in Tulum who want to see the ruins, swim with turtles, and float in a cenote without arranging transport or timing the sites themselves. Expect a full day out. That's what fits all three stops and the lunch in one departure.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 drive between each stop?

About twenty-five minutes between Akumal and the cenote, and another twenty-five minutes to Tulum Ruins. Pickup and dropoff add time depending on your hotel location.

Do I need to know how to swim to see the turtles?

No certification or advanced swimming is required. The bay is shallow and calm, and the guide is with the group. Vests are included.

What's included in the lunch at Canamayte?

A buffet of local cuisine. Drinks are not included, so bring cash or a card for beverages.

Can I bring my own snorkel gear?

Yes, though the tour provides what you need. Lockers are included to store your belongings while you're in the water.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup is from your hotel. The exact time depends on where you're staying. The full day includes all three stops and return transport.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a towel, water shoes, and cash for drinks. The guide and lockers are provided. You'll change into a vest for the water activities.

Can I do this tour if I have health concerns?

It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Otherwise, it's designed for all fitness levels. Check with your doctor if you have specific concerns.