Tulum Ruins & Cenotes Tour: Swim Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote

Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean, then two cenotes to swim in the same day

A full-day guided tour of Tulum combines a one-hour walk through the Mayan archaeological site perched on Caribbean cliffs with swimming at two cenotes: Cenote Dos Ojos, an underground system with turquoise water, and Gran Cenote, where the day ends. Round transportation from Cancun or Playa del Carmen is included, along with a Mexican lunch at a restaurant and a box lunch during the drive; the guide speaks English and Spanish, and the order of stops may shift depending on conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tulum ruins and cenotes

• Guided visit to Tulum ruins
• Stop at Mother Nature Monument
• Swim at Cenote Dos Ojos Park
• Enjoy Mexican lunch
• Swim and relax at Grand Cenote

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, and a box lunch—ham sandwich, juice and fruit—travels with you during the drive to Tulum. A guide meets you at the archaeological site, where you spend an hour walking the ruins that sit on cliffs above the Caribbean Sea. You'll see the site's main structures and learn its history before heading to a brief stop at the Mother Nature Monument in Tulum City, a photo landmark in the town itself.

From there, the tour moves to Cenote Dos Ojos Park, where you swim for two and a half hours in the famous underground cenote system. The water is the turquoise the cenotes are known for, and the park itself is set up for visitors—you'll have time to move between the two connected pools. After that swim, you eat lunch at a Mexican restaurant where you choose one dish from the menu.

The final stop is Gran Cenote, where you swim again for about an hour before heading back to your hotel. Bring your own towel, swimsuit and a change of clothes; only biodegradable sunscreen is permitted in the cenotes. The whole day runs 12 hours from pickup to drop-off. A preservation tax of 17 USD per person applies and is not included in the tour price.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup from Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
• one-hour guided tour of Tulum's Mayan ruins with a guide speaking English and Spanish.
• box lunch during transportation.
• Mexican lunch at a restaurant with one dish of your choice.
• two and a half hours swimming at Cenote Dos Ojos.
• one hour swimming at Gran Cenote.
• brief stop at the Mother Nature Monument in Tulum City.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Altustours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Cancun or Playa del Carmen without a rental car—the pickup and drop-off at your hotel means you don't need to arrange your own transport to Tulum, and the fixed itinerary holds all four stops (ruins, monument, two cenotes, lunch) inside a single day without you building it.

Top questions

How long do I actually spend swimming at each cenote?

Cenote Dos Ojos gets two and a half hours for swimming; Gran Cenote gets about one hour at the end of the day.

What is Cenote Dos Ojos like compared to Gran Cenote?

Cenote Dos Ojos is an underground cenote system with two connected pools and turquoise water, set up as a park with facilities. Gran Cenote is described as one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Riviera Maya and is where the tour winds down before the drive back.

Does the tour include lunch, and can I choose what I eat?

Yes; you get a box lunch during the drive and a Mexican lunch at a restaurant where you choose one dish. Drinks at the restaurant are optional and not included.

Will I have time to see the Tulum ruins properly, or is it rushed?

The guided visit to the Tulum archaeological site is one hour, which covers the most notable structures and their history. It's a focused walk rather than an open exploration, but the guide explains the site's cultural importance as you move through it.

Does pickup really come from my hotel, or do I meet somewhere?

Round transportation from your hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen is included in the tour price. The driver picks you up and returns you at the end of the 12-hour day.

What do I need to bring, and what can't I use?

Bring your own towel, swimsuit and a change of clothes. Only biodegradable sunscreen is allowed in the cenotes; regular sunscreen damages the water and is not permitted.