Tulum Ruins, Cenote & Sea Turtles Tour: Snorkel with turtles

Three stops in one day: Mayan ruins, jungle cenote, and snorkeling with sea turtles

A full-day guided tour from Tulum or Playa del Carmen that visits the clifftop Tulum Ruins, a cenote swim in the jungle, and snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal Bay. The tour includes round-trip transport, an archaeological guide at the ruins, aquatic guides at both water stops, lunch, bottled water and snorkeling gear. Live guides speak English, Spanish, French or German depending on your departure point. Tulum Reserve Tax and a turtle protection program are optional add-ons paid on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Tulum Ruins2h
2. Cenote Nohoch Nah ChichEntry included2h
3. Akumal2h

Tulum ruins, cenote and sea turtles

• Explore Tulum Mayan ruins
• Swim in jungle cenote
• Snorkel with sea turtles in Akumal

The experience

If you land in the Riviera Maya with a free afternoon or want to pack the region's three signature experiences into a single day, this tour stacks them without the logistics. You start at the Tulum Ruins (an ancient walled city perched on a cliff above turquoise water), where an archaeological guide walks you through the site and explains why it sits where it does. From there the route heads inland into the jungle to Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, a natural limestone sinkhole filled with mineral-rich freshwater where you swim and float surrounded by rock walls and jungle canopy.

The third stop is Akumal Bay, a calm inlet where sea turtles graze on seagrass year-round. You enter the water with snorkeling gear and an aquatic guide, and the turtles are there, not in an enclosure, not on a schedule, but in their own habitat. The guide keeps the group at a respectful distance and explains what you're watching. It's the kind of encounter that doesn't require a boat ride to an island or a special permit. The turtles share the bay with swimmers most days.

Transport is round-trip from either Tulum or Playa del Carmen depending on which option you book, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Lunch is a buffet with local dishes, and you get bottled water throughout the day. The tour runs about nine hours door-to-door. Two fees are optional: the Tulum Reserve Tax (10 USD per person) and a turtle protection program (15 USD per person), both paid on the day. Sunscreen is not permitted during the snorkeling stop to protect the turtles and the reef.

What’s included

• Round-trip air-conditioned transport from Tulum or Playa del Carmen.
• archaeological guide at the Tulum Ruins.
• cenote entry and aquatic guide.
• snorkeling equipment and aquatic guide for the sea turtle encounter in Akumal.
• buffet lunch.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• live guide in English, Spanish, French or German depending on your departure point.

Options for this experience

4 options

German and French from Playa del Carmen07:00Pickup is included

Departs from Playa del CarmenGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Pickup is included

Departure from TulumGuide in English or Spanish · 09:20Lasts 7 hours

From Tulum, in French or German09:30Guided visit in French or German: Add this option for a guided tour of the Tulum Ruins with a guide who speaks French or German

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

Information

Lasts 9h, runs every day at 07:00, 09:20 and 09:30, from US$ 121 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and German and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and Thursday: 07:00 and 09:20Tuesday and Thursday: 07:00, 09:20 and 09:30

GroupUp to 185 private ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and GermanOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Under 4: 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 yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by NS Vacations Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Tulum's three most-visited attractions in a single day without renting a car or coordinating separate guides. The route, timing and transport are locked in, so you show up and the day unfolds. Children from age 4 can join if they're comfortable swimming. If you prefer a smaller group or a different pace, look for private options or cenote-only tours instead.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In French and German, at 07:00 and 09:30. In English and Spanish, at 07:00 and 09:20.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years). Children under 4 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.

Can I do this tour if I'm not a strong swimmer?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Both the cenote and Akumal Bay are calm water, and snorkeling gear and guides are provided, but you should be comfortable in the water and able to enter and exit on your own.

What exactly is a cenote and why swim in one?

Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich is a natural sinkhole in limestone bedrock, filled with fresh mineral-rich water. The Riviera Maya sits on a network of them. You swim in a jungle setting surrounded by rock formations and trees. It's a completely different environment from the sea, and the water is cool and clear.

Will I definitely see sea turtles in Akumal?

Akumal Bay is a natural habitat where sea turtles graze on seagrass, and they are present most days. The guide will position the group to observe them, but sightings are not guaranteed. The turtles are wild animals following their own schedule.

What's included in the price and what do I pay extra?

The tour includes round-trip transport, all three entrance fees, an archaeological guide at Tulum, aquatic guides at the cenote and with the turtles, snorkeling equipment, lunch, and bottled water. The Tulum Reserve Tax (10 USD) and turtle protection program (15 USD) are optional and paid on the day of the tour.

Which departure point should I choose?

Pick the option that matches where you're staying: Tulum if you're based there, or Playa del Carmen if that's closer. The guide language varies by option (French or German from Tulum, German or French from Playa del Carmen), so check which language you need before booking.