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Tulum Ruins and Cenote Tour – Private
At Xaman-Ha Connections®, we run a private tour of Tulum and cenotes that pairs the cliffside Tulum Archaeological Site with two Mayan caves for swimming. No multi-hotel pickups, no affiliate stops, no crowded buses. Your certified bilingual guide covers Mayan history at the ruins and leads your group to each cenote at your own pace. Hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, and the Riviera Maya resorts.
Price varies by group size. The more people, the less you pay.
An all-inclusive private Tulum Ruins and Mayan cenote tour with Xaman-Ha Connections®
No hidden fees. Here’s exactly what’s included:
- Pickup from hotel or condo (avoid walking to a meeting point)
- Private round-trip in an air-conditioned transport only for you (no shared groups)
- Cooler stocked with bottled water, soda, and snacks.
- Bilingual certified guide and private driver
- Entrance fee to the Tulum Ruins (INAH and CONANP admission)
- Entrance fee to the National Jaguar Park
- Private Guided tour of the Tulum Archaeological Site
- Entrance fee and swimming at 2 Cenotes
- Snorkeling equipment and life jackets
- Regional Lunch
- Included all local fees and taxes (No extra fees)
- Flexible Itinerary
What's not included:
- Gratuities for your guide and driver (optional, and always at your discretion)
- Souvenirs and personal purchases
- The separate $65mxn ($4 USD) INAH fee for video recording
- Extra drinks at the restaurant beyond the one included with lunch
Your Next Tulum Cenote Tour Looks Like This
Real Stories from Travelers Who Chose Us
Tour Information & FAQs
Your half-day follows this sequence:
- 7:00 to 8:00 AM: Flexible hotel pickup (early start recommended to avoid peak crowds at the ruins)
- 45 min to 1 hour: Drive to Tulum (varies by pickup location)
- Tulum Archaeological Site: Private guided tour of the cliffside ruins and Caribbean viewpoints
- National Jaguar Park: Guided coastal jungle walk and beach access
- Free time to walk around the ruins.
- Two underground cave cenotes: Exclusive swimming for your group only
- Regional lunch at a local restaurant
- 2:00 to 3:00 PM: Return to your hotel, timing depends on how long your group spends at each stop
Total experience: 6 to 8 hours door-to-door, based on how long your group spends at each stop and normal highway conditions.
A private tour means your group has the entire vehicle, guide, and itinerary to itself. A private tour offers flexibility and lets you explore on your own schedule. A shared tour loads 40 to 50 people by bus, or 10-18 people in a shared Van. A commercial tour follows a fixed schedule, and often stops at affiliate stores. The bigger distinction is the cenotes themselves. Commercial cenotes used by group tours regularly see over 100 visitors in the water at the same time. We take you to non-commercial cave systems where you rarely share the space with more than a handful of other visitors.
This private tour fits any group size, from 2 people and up, without strangers, fixed schedules, or hidden fees. If you are a solo traveler on a budget, a shared group tour to Tulum may be a better fit. We design this experience for families, couples, and small groups who want an INAH-certified guide focused only on them.
We pick up directly from any hotel, resort, or condo along the Riviera Maya coastline, including:
- Playa del Carmen: Fifth Avenue, the downtown area, and all hotel zones.
- Riviera Maya resorts: all properties between Playa del Carmen and Akumal, including Puerto Morelos, Playacar, Puerto Aventuras, and Bahia Tankah/Soliman.
For pickups outside these areas, please contact us via WhatsApp before booking and we will confirm availability.
Both underground cave cenotes have rules that protect the ecosystem.
- Do not touch the stalactites or stalagmites (skin oils damage their growth)
- Rinse off all sunscreen and bug spray before entering the water
- No food, drinks, or smoking inside the caves
- Not suitable for guests with claustrophobia, serious mobility restrictions, or heart conditions
- Life jackets are provided, basic swimming ability is enough to enjoy the swim
- Share any health concerns with us during booking
- The use of drones or selfie sticks at the Tulum ruins is now allowed by the government.
Tulum Archaeological Zone sits on a 12-meter cliff above the Caribbean Sea, making it one of the only Mayan coastal cities. Its structures date from the 13th to 15th centuries AD and were still inhabited when Spanish explorers arrived. El Castillo, the dominant temple, is thought to have guided canoe traders through the reef below. INAH manages the site.
The Tulum archaeological site is open-air with almost no shade, so we highly suggest starting between 7:00 and 8:00 AM, ahead of the midday heat and the tour buses. You walk the site with your guide, then cool off in two cave cenotes where the water stays cool year-round. Rain or a site closure can change the order, and your guide reroutes on the day.
Yes. All guides hold INAH certification in Maya history and culture, issued by the government body that oversees Mexico's archaeological sites. Xaman-Ha Connections® holds a SECTUR license from Mexico's Ministry of Tourism and carries full liability insurance. The company has been featured in Forbes and Kayak. See more about our team and credentials on our About page.
Tulum ruins and cenote – Practical Travel Guide
Come prepared for sun, water, and a full day outdoors:
- A solid breakfast before pickup
- Comfortable walking shoes and lightweight, breathable clothing
- A hat and sunscreen, the site has limited shade
- A towel and swimsuit for the cenotes
- Cash for tips, souvenirs, or extras
- No large backpacks
Photography is permitted throughout the Tulum archaeological site and Jaguar Park. Professional camera equipment may require a separate INAH fee at the entrance. Drones are not allowed at the site. Inside the cenote caves, you may bring your GoPro or cellphone.
Basic snorkeling equipment is included for the underground cenote swim. Optional reef snorkeling with sea turtles is available as an add-on for $69 USD per person. Request this add-on during booking and your guide will incorporate it into the route at the right moment.
Yes. Notify us of any dietary needs during booking, and we will arrange an appropriate meal. The lunch is served at a local restaurant near the cenotes. Common needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and food allergies, are accommodated with advance notice.
Yes. This tour is cancellable up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure for a full refund. Cancellation requests submitted by email are the only valid method. See our Cancellation Policy for full details.
Last-minute bookings are possible. Contact us directly via WhatsApp for the fastest response. Availability is not guaranteed for next-day requests during peak season, so contact us as early as possible.
Book With Confidence – Cancel Up to 24 Hours Before
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Explore More Private Tours in the Riviera Maya
Visit our homepage to explore all our services, or browse our Riviera Maya private tour catalog for unforgettable experiences in Yucatán, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and, Cancun.
