Private Tulum Mayan Ruins & Swimming with Turtles Experience
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Two of the most remarkable experiences in the area, snorkeling with turtles at the beautiful Akumal beach and visiting the Tulum Archaeological site.
Your journey starts with a smooth ride directly to Akumal Beach, mornings increase the chances to spot turtles at Akumal.
Once you arrive at Akumal beach, your local tour guide will give you a safety briefing, you will gear up as you are about to enjoy a beautiful and remarkable experience, snorkeling with turtles in Akumal is an outstanding experience.
The snorkel experience, will provide you not only with the opportunity to see turtles but also a to enjoy Akumal´s clear waters, a wide variety of colorful fish and beautiful corals.
As you say goodbye to the beautiful Akumal beach, the next leg of the journey will be Tulum Archaeological Site. Enjoy skip-the-line access and be led by a local tour guide whom will teach you everything you always wanted to learn about one of the most advanced civilizations the world has ever seen.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children 2 and younger are complimentary.
This is a private activity, only you and your party would travel together.
An additional surcharge of Mandatory fees of 750MXN per traveler. (Government tax 420MXN, Tulum fee 100MXN and natural reserve 230MXN) is payable in cash on the day of your activity.
You will confirm your exact departure time with the local tour operator.
Please note that as of January 2nd, 2025, Mexican federal government has imposed a new additional mandatory tax for all visitors attending Tulum Archeological Site (Mayan Ruins). As a result, a mandatory surcharge of 750MXN pesos per passenger is payable in cash on the day of your activity.
What To Expect
Akumal Beach
One of the most popular attractions in the area, snorkeling with turtles at the beautiful Akumal beach. Gear up and after a safety briefing you will be ready to snorkel and see the amazing marine life that mother nature has to offer. Turtles in this area can be seen, be captivated by their smooth swimming on their natural habitat and enjoy a remarkable experience. Led by a local tour guide, your activity will be as pleasant and safe as it could be, ideal for all ages.
Tulum
The Mayans were one of the greatest Civilizations that the world has ever seen. Tulum was a port city of great relevance for the Mayans, within its walls, there is a lot learn about them. Your local guide, will teach you everything you always wanted to learn about the Mayans, their findings, their advanced knowledge and their deep understanding of all things that surrounded them. Visit the castle, the observatory and their main temples on a guided tour through the archaeological site that promises to be an enrichening experience.
Options
Private Tour
Regular: This option does not include food & drinks. Pickup included
Private Tour - Premium
Premium: Select this option to upgrade your reservation and include a box lunch and soft drinks. Pickup included
What‘s Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off from most centrally located hotels
Box lunch and soft drinks if you select the premium option
Snorkeling gear at Akumal Beach
Guided tour of Akumal beach and Tulum Archaeological site
Admissions and skip-the-line access to Tulum Archaeological site
Food and beverages if you select the regular option
Mandatory fees (Govt tax 420MXN, Tulum fee 100MXN and natural reserve 230MXN)
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Good experience but expensive
Amy S,Jun 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We arranged for a private tour to be more intimate and have a personalized experience. Our driver Adrian was fantastic, we felt safe with him and made the travels in the van enjoyable. Our two tour guides were less than helpful. The first guide at the snorkel with turtles stood on the side, we were unclear of her purpose. Our guide for snorkeling was fantastic, the water conditions were less than ideal but made the experience memorable especially for our 10 yr old. The third guide at Tulum offered a very limited tour then gave us our own free time. While the guides might not have been perfect, they were there and we felt safe. The last stop was lunch and visit to cenote. Lunch was very good and cenote was beautiful. Overall, glad we did the private tour but it was very expensive.
Fun!
Nacole G,Jan 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Super experience for the entire family. Absolutely loved swimming with the turtles in their natural environment versus a tank. Highly recommend 👌
Terrific Time In Tulum
X674RZseank,Aug 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was s prefect choice. The 4 hour adventure was just the right amount of time! With a pickup that was easy to find, a tour that was helpful and personable and amazing tacos at the end! Definitely recommend!!
Everything and everyone taken care of!
COmama93,Aug 8, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent the week on Isla Mujeres and took the ferry over for the day for this tour. Setting up our day was easy and our driver, Adrian, picked us up at the Puerto Juarez terminal, so convenient. Our guide, Mary, contacted us the night before with reminders of what to bring and what to expect as well as that morning to make sure we met each other. Mary was so knowledgeable and we got lots of information on the drive to Tulum. Be prepared for a day in the car, but it's worth it. Our 12-year-old son slept on both drives, but younger kids may need other entertainment. Mary took such good care of us. Don't be afraid to ask for pit stops. Adrian and Mary were happy to oblige. Mary even switched out our experiences making the turtle swim first so we could spend more time in Tulum. Turtle swimming can get crowded, but this VIP tour is allowed into an area with fewer people. Our guide there (Liz) was also great and took amazing videos which she shared with us. She also took care of our locker, let our son put his shoes with her things on the beach and gave us so much cool info about the turtles and the particulars of why they hang out in this area. The guides are mostly careful about conservation and you are not allowed to touch the turtles. Also, be aware, that you are not allowed to put on sunscreen right before getting in the water (even if its reef safe), so make sure you're screened up more than an hour in advance. We spent about an hour in the water and saw many turtles and one swam right up to our son. Awesome experience. We had our own snorkeling gear, but they'll fit you if you don't have it and you're required to wear life vests. (It is a lot of swimming, so I preferred that anyway.) Mary and Adrian made sure we had food after swimming and we needed it! Sandwiches were just perfect. Tulum was beautiful! This tour includes all admissions and Mary took care of everything. She gave us so much information as we walked in and through the site. Be prepared for heat! It was recommended that we bring water and, thankfully, I had frozen our water bottles (only metal, refillable allowed into the site) the night before. I had been on several ruin tours in the past and this is by far the most beautiful site, but the smallest. Touring the ruins took about an hour and a half and there is some shade for breaks, but no place to sit or eat inside the site. We would do this tour again! It was so nice just to have our family and not be trying to gather a bunch of different groups. Everything, every detail, was taken care of which made this tour well worth the time and price.
Experience
figujjjvffcf,Sep 2, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jerry and his driver gave us a lovely tour. Swim with turtles was great, could have done a demo how to use snorkel 1st though. Tullum tour was interesting, but would have been good to go around the ruins and give info rather than too much chatting at the start
Enjoyed
Ann H,Sep 1, 2023
- Review from Viator
4.00Swimming with Turtles was amazing. Tulum really hot, interesting, but needed to go around the ruins with guide. Gave an extensive explanation, which was great, but could really do with breaking down in parts rather than all at once. Overall really enjoyed.
Fun time snorkeling and walking at the Tulum ruins.
Robert90746,Apr 8, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Want to thank Miriam (tour guide) and the driver for spending time with our family and taking care of our every need during this tour. We were able to see several turtles during the snorkling part of the tour. The guides swimming our group out to the turtle location were professional and friendly. The hardest part of the trip was the Tulum ruins. Heads up, be prepared to walk appx 400 meters from the parking lot to the ruins entrance, then the normal 60 minutes to see all the ruins. Kudos to Miriam for her expert knowledge of the ruins and explanation of what we were looking at.
Thank you for everything
463esteer,May 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful tour, a great time in a comfort way. Really recommend to go private as it is at your own pace. Turtles at Snorkel is the highlight, Tulum ruins are a great chance to learn some history. Our guide Guido was the best
Akumal and tulum
MarKrEg7719,Dec 29, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Me and my family had a really great time on this tour the Akumal snorkeling was really good we saw a lot of turtles and our tour guide there was amazing (sorry forgot the name) tulum was really nice and our food was delicious we want to thank our driver and host Miguel he was outstanding very nice driver and also really friendly person gracias
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