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Tulum Ruins and Cenote Tour – Private
A private full-day experience that pairs the cliffside Tulum ruins with two Mayan cave cenotes, for your group only, with your own certified bilingual guide
- Duration: 6 to 8 hours, door to door
- Tour type: Private, just your group
- Guide: Bilingual, English and Spanish
- Physical level: Moderate
An all-inclusive private Tulum Ruins and Mayan cenote tour with Xaman-Ha Connections®
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.
Everything is covered before you leave the lobby: the Tulum ruins and National Jaguar Park entrances, both cenotes, snorkeling equipment, and a regional lunch. We pick up from any hotel, resort, or condo in Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, and the Riviera Maya.
6 to 8 hours, door to door
Private, just your group
Bilingual, English and Spanish
Moderate
No hidden fees. Here’s exactly what’s included:
- Pickup from your hotel or condo (no walking to a meeting point)
- Private round-trip in an air-conditioned vehicle only for you (no shared groups)
- Bilingual certified guide and private driver
- Entrance fee to the Tulum Ruins (INAH and CONANP admission)
- Entrance fee and swimming at 2 cenotes
- Cooler stocked with bottled water, soda, and snacks
- Entrance fee to the National Jaguar Park
- Private guided tour of the Tulum Archaeological Site
- Snorkeling equipment and life jackets
- Regional lunch
- Flexible itinerary
What’s not included:
- Reef snorkeling with sea turtles, an optional add-on at $69 USD per person.
- Gratuities for your guide and driver, optional and at your discretion.
- Souvenirs and personal purchases.
- The separate $65 MXN ($4 USD) INAH fee for video recording.
- Extra drinks at the restaurant beyond the one included with lunch.
Daily Itinerary
These times are an estimate. Because your tour is private, the real schedule is flexible: it depends on how long you want to spend at each stop and on road conditions. Pickup times are just suggestions.
Hotel pickup
Tulum Archaeological Site
National Jaguar Park
Cenote swim and regional lunch
Back at your hotel
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Frequently Asked Questions
A private tour means your group has the entire vehicle, guide, and itinerary to itself, so you can explore on your own schedule. A shared tour loads 40 to 50 people by bus, or 10 to 18 people in a shared van, 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 a 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 message us with the WhatsApp button on this page or through our Contact Us page 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, and basic swimming ability is enough to enjoy the swim.
- Share any health concerns with us during booking.
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.
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.
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, since 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 per person (price listed under What’s not included). 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 your scheduled pickup 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. For the fastest response, message us with the WhatsApp button on this page or through our Contact Us page. Availability is not guaranteed for next-day requests during peak season, so contact us as early as possible.
100% free cancellation up to 24 hours prior to pickup
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