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Taking one of Tulum tours is a perfect option if you want to learn about the Mayan culture, swim in cenotes, explore the jungle or go on a snorkeling tour.
Tulum is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico’s Rivera Maya and narrowing down the list of things to do here is not easy task.
In this article, we will go over some of the most popular tours that offer historical and cultural context of the area while you enjoy the spectacular scenery.
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Cenote tours
1. Tulum and Cenotes tour
Cenotes are freshwater-filled sinkholes that are some of the biggest draws of the Yucatan Peninsula. This is one of the best introductory cenote tours from Tulum that includes stops in Cenotes Chen Há and the Tulum ruins where you will learn about the historical and cultural significance of the area from your guide.
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Not only do you get a guided tour of the massive archaeological site, but you make the most of your time by visiting the beautiful cenote.
What’s included:
- Multilingual guide tour at Tulum ruins
- Visit two cenotes, open and underground
- Round-trip transportation from your hotel
What’s not included:
- $15 conservation fee to access cenote
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
2. Coba Ruins Punta Laguna and Cenote Dos Ojos – Small Group Tour
One of the best tours for a small group, this fun day trip is packed with natural beauty, adventure, and the introduction to the Mayan culture 😀
Taste cochinita pibil, explore Mayan ruins by bicycle, and climb the tallest pyramid in Yucatan – all in a day! Head to Punta Laguna to participate in a sacred ritual to enter Otoch Maax Yetel Coh – a house of the spider monkey and puma.
Speed through the jungle on a zipline and snorkel at Las Calaveras, before finishing your trip with a refreshing swim in cenote.
What’s included:
- Round-trip – transportation from the dive shop to the
- Bottled water in a reusable eco bottle
- Lunch – traditional Mayan food in a Coba restaurant
- All equipment – wetsuits, snorkels, bike rental fee, zip line fee, canoe, etc.
- Swimming in cenote Las Calaveras
- Free GoPro & Video lights rental
- All fees and taxes
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
3. Cenote Triple Adventure
Free dive, snorkel, and cliff-jump at three different cenotes is a fun adventure! Admire the mangroves of Casa Cenote, before exploring the caverns and rock formations of Gran Cenote. Dare to to pencil-drop 10 feet from a roof opening into the freshwater below at the Temple of Doom Cenote.
What’s included:
- Snacks
- Use of GoPro
- Snorkel gear
- Round-trip transportation from the central meeting point
- Professional guide
- Bottled water
What’s not included:
- Lunch add-on is $15
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
4. Tulum Day-Trip Mayan Ruins With Cenote Swim
Combine an in-depth tour of Tulum ruins with a refreshing dip in a cenote, during this tour. You’ll enjoy a guided visit to the ancient Mayan site perched above the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, with admission tickets and priority access included, followed by a swim in the gorgeous underground cenotes.
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This is one of the most fun full-day tours from Cancun that provides a basic introduction to the area without having to plan all of the logistics and organization by yourself. Bring your snorkeling gear for a chance to peek beneath the water. The tour departs from Cancun.
What’s included:
- Guided tour of Tulum ruins
- Admission fees and priority access at Tulum ruins
- Roundtrip transportation to and from your centrally located hotel (if selected)
What’s not included:
- Natural reserve fee at cenote for conservation efforts (15 USD)
- Optional lifejacket and snorkel rental (10 USD)
- Pick-up and drop-off if from Tulum hotels
- Food and beverages not listed as inclusions
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
5. Tulum, Coba, and Cenote
Need a break from the beach and want to explore some of the best Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula?
This full-day adventure includes stops in Tulum and Coba Ruins where you can learn about Mayan culture and history before arriving in a cenote where you can snorkel swim and round up your adventure with a delicious buffet lunch.
What’s included:
- Roundtrip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from main Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels
- Playa del Carmen and Tulum pickup is at a meeting point
What’s not included:
- $15 conservation fee to access cenote
- Optional tips
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
6. Tulum Ruins Private Tour with Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling
Combine ancient temples with a cenote and sea turtles on a full-day, private tour that includes an a la carte lunch at a local restaurant. You will leave your hotel early morning which means cooler temperatures and fewer crowds during your excursion of the Tulum archeological site, which is followed by stops to snorkel in a cenote and swim with sea turtles.
What’ included:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Private transport
- Professional guide lunch (one meal a la carte) with water, soda, beer included
- Beverages water, soda, beer
- Snorkel equipment including life jackets and wetsuits
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
- Tulum truck shuttle
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
Chichen Itza Tours
7. Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip
Journey to the cultural heart of the Yucatan on this combo tour of Chichen Itzá and the colonial city of Valladolid on one of the best Chichen Itza tours from Tulum. Your knowledgeable guide will offer you perspective on the Maya-Toltec design as you walk past the impressively restored structures.
Continue to Valladolid, where you can explore the colonial city and enjoy a delicious lunch. Make a stop at a cenote where you can swim and relax before heading back to your hotel.
What’s included:
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tulum (revise confirmation email for pick-up time)
- Lunchin downtown Valladolid
- Snacks and drinks
- All entrance fees
What’s not included:
- Tips
- Souvenirs
- Pick-up outside of Tulum
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
8. Chichen Itza Day Trip from Tulum Including Cenote and Lunch
This popular tour allows you to explore one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site without a hassle of public transportation and standing in line.
Following a stop in Chichen Itza, plunge into the refreshing waters of Cenote Saamal, capture photographs of Chichen Itza highlights including the Kukulkan Pyramid, and feast on a buffet lunch inspired by Mexican classics.
What’s included:
- Guided visit
- Certified bilingual guide
- Lunch
- Pickup and drop-off from one of Tulum hotels
- Visit a sacred cenote
- Bottled water
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
- Drinks during lunch
- State Tax applies Per Access of $286 MXP or its equivalent in USD
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
9. Chichen Itza Private VIP Tour
Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the busiest destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you want to avoid crowds, planning a trip from Tulum to Chichen Itza requires careful preparation and planning.
But what if you are busy with other things and still want a great experience?
This private VIP tour of Chichen Itza is a perfect option!
After getting picked up at your hotel early morning, you will arrive at the ruins, where your guide will give you an overview of Chichen Itza’s history. Following the tour, you will visit the Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant on the main square of Valladolid.
After lunch, you will have a chance to explore this gorgeous colonial town independently. Enjoy everything at your own pace and customize your experience however you like.
What’s included:
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Private transportation
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
- Soda
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
10. Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Private Tour
A private Chichen Itza tour is the best way to see the top highlights of the Yucatan Peninsula with a private guide. Skip crowds at Chichen Itza – one of the most popular Mayan ruins in in Mexico, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
It’s one of the most highly rated Tulum private tours, with many visitors leaving great reviews.
You can customize the itinerary and choose a pick-up time. After enjoying Chichen Itza, you visit Valladolid, a colonial town with pastel-colored buildings and a beautiful San Gervasio Cathedral.
As a bonus, you can swim in cenotes Ik Kil, Xcajum, or visit the Mayan jungle.
What’s included:
- Round-trip air-conditioned transportation exclusively for your group
- Entrance fees to Chichen Itza
- Visits to cenotes Ik-Kil, Selva Maya or Xcajum
- Buffet lunch with traditional dishes from the Yucatan
- Onboard cooler with beers, sodas, and bottled water
- Bottled water
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
Tulum Tours from Cancun
11. Tulum and jungle Maya Native Park with zip-lines and cenotes
One of the best excursions from Tulum that combines history and adventure, this tour will take you through the Jungle Maya Native Park where you can learn about its rich history and architecture before heading into the jungle.
Rappel into an underground pond, glide over a lush forest on a zipline, visit a 137-mile (220-kilometers) underground river, snorkel in crystal clear waters, and participate in a Mayan blessing ceremony with a shaman – all in one day!
The tour is followed by a complimentary lunch and drop-off at your hotel.
What’s included:
- A stop at Tulum ruins
- All activities and equipment
- A professional guide
- A hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Lockers
What’s not included:
- Photos (available to purchase)
- Souvenirs (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Towel
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
12. VIP Tulum Private Tour
If you are visiting Rivera Maya for the first time, and want to get the most out of your trip, book this popular tour to combine a visit to Tulum ruins with a stop at the Xunaan-Ha and Taak Bi Ha Cenotes with a private guide.
What’s included:
- Round-trip transportation from your hotel
- A professional guide
- All entry fees
- Bottled water
- Snorkeling equipment will be available for you to borrow at no extra cost.
What’s not included:
- Lunch
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
13. Tulum and Sac Actun Private Tour
Explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum and visit the Cenote Sac Actun on one of the most popular tours from Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
Learn about the ancient Mayan civilization in Tulum on a private guided tour, then have time to swim at the beach near Tulum before continuing to the cenote for a tour of the underground chambers.
Have free time in Tulum for photo ops and visiting the beach.
What’s included:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Entrance fees for Tulum and Cenote Sac Actun
- Private bilingual certified guide in Tulum
- Expert guide at Sac Actun
- Traditional Mexican lunch
- Private transportation
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
Best overall Tulum tours
14. Cobá Ruins Tour (Private, Half Day)
A guided tour of the ancient Mayan city of Cobá is one of the best tours for a fun day trip. Located deep in the Yucatán jungle, this archeological site was once a major trade zone.
✅ Read my guide to the best beachfront hotels in Tulum for the ultimate getaway
Translated as “waters stirred by wind” in the Mayan language, Coba ruins in Mexico are famous for the largest network of sac-be’s (or white road in the Mayan language). They connect various areas of Coba to the main Pyramid Nohoch Mul – the largest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, and the nearby lake.
It is also a bigger archaeological area with plenty of shade, so you will not have to bake in the sun the entire time you are here.
Your guide will share the history of the ruins, and you can also climb to the top of massive stone pyramids to enjoy views of the lush vegetation below.
What’s included:
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
What’s not included:
- Lunch
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
15. Private Sailing and Snorkeling Experience in Tulum
One of the most popular Tulum tours, this catamaran adventure offers a fun trip in Mexico’s Caribbean combined with snorkeling.
What’s included:
- Snorkeling equipment
- Snacks
What’s not included:
- National Park bracelet – 60 Mexican Pesos per person
- Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
16. Sian Ka’an Adventure, a private full-day tour
Swap the beaches and bars of Tulum for a deep dive into Mayan history on this popular day trip from Tulum. This private Tulum tour takes you into the heart of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area of Mexico’s Caribbean that’s home to a stunning array of biodiversity.
During a tour, you will explore the clear, cool canals of Sian Ka’an and visit the Mayan ruins of Muyil. You will also learn about the local culture and history, see tropical birds and animals like dolphins and manatees, and enjoy a delicious local-style lunch.
What’s included:
- Pick-up and drop-off from Tulum and Akumal transportations
- Snacks and bottled water
- Parking fees
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Lunch
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
17. Tulum Private Photo shooting session
Want to have some spectacular photos from your trip to Tulum?
This private photoshoot allows you to choose from many scenic locations in the area, or have your photographer come straight to your hotel.
The package includes 20 high-resolution images, with the option to purchase additional photos for an extra fee. You can choose from morning or evening photo sessions and also include add-ons like makeup, and additional photo packages are available
What’s included:
- Professional photographer guide
- The photo session includes 20 high-resolution photos professionally edited for lighting and color.
What’s not included:
- Gratuities
- Round-trip transportation from your resort is available upon request
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
18. Mexican cooking from scratch and mezcal tasting in Tulum
Learn about the flavors and ingredients of Aztec, Mayan, and Mexican cuisine in a local’s home. Prepare a 3-course meal – soup, main, and dessert – along with homemade salsa and tortillas.
You’ll also sample and learn the proper way to taste mezcal. Share the meal you’ve prepared with your hosts and new amigos. This is one of the best small group tours from Tulum that’s limited to 10 people.
What’s included:
Mezcal tasting
What’s not included:
Gratuities
✅ CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES AND AVAILABILITY
19. Tulum Adventure: Mayan ruins, zip-lines, cenote, rappel
Pack your time in this corner of the Yucatan Peninsula with plenty of activities – and you don’t have to organize a single one of them. See ancient Mayan pyramids, swim in cenote caves, and fly through the canopy on a zip-line in this action-packed day. And how about roaring through the Yucatan jungle on the back of an ATV?
This is a small group which means you no longer have to wait in lines.
What’s included:
- Roundtrip transportation
- Pick-up from your accommodation
- Guide
- Small groups
- Lifejacket
- Equipment for all the activities
- Lunch
- Bottled water
What’s not included:
- Camcorder tax (50 pesos)
- Alcoholic Beverages
Tulum tours: FAQ
How many days do you need in Tulum?
Plan at least 3 days in Tulum to experience the amazing scenery with all the beaches, cenotes and Mayan ruins. It’s also a good amount of time to enjoy the local food scene at some of the best Tulum restaurants and a guided tour to places like Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve or Coba.
Are Tulum beaches swimmable?
Yes, Tulum beaches are swimmable and are often called some of the best beaches in Mexico.
How much time do you need in Tulum ruins?
1,5-2 hours is a perfect amount of time in Tulum ruins that will allow you to enjoy this archaeological area. The best time to visit Tulum ruins is when they open before it gets too crowded.
Can you go to Tulum without a tour?
While you can visit Tulum on your own, some places like Tulum ruins, or cenotes are best visited with a guided tour, as it can provide a better context and history of the area.
The ancient ruins of Tulum can be visited fairly easily on your own or you can book a guided tour for the added convenience of roundtrip transportation with pickup from your hotel in Playa del Carmen.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Tulum Ruins?
When you arrive at the ruins, tickets are sold at the entrance. The entrance fee to Tulum ruins is 85 Mexican Pesos per person. If you want to take photos with a professional camera or GoPro, you will need to pay an additional fee of 45 Pesos.
Do you need a tour to visit cenotes Tulum?
You can visit Tulum cenotes without a tour, but a tour provides a nice overview of the area and also dives into the local history. If you are new to the area and want to get a basic introduction and more curated experience, Tulum cenote tours are a great option.
Can you do Tulum and Chichen Itza in one day?
You can visit Chichen Itza from Tulum in one day, if you plan your trip correctly. The best way to do so is by taking one of guided tours that combine stops in Chichen Itza and Tulum. These tours include professional tour guides, private transportation and stops in cenotes.
More resources for planning your trip to Tulum, Mexico
- Agoda.com – a great website for budget hotels in Tulum and other parts of Mexico.
- WorldNomads – Great service for insurance coverage that will keep you safe on the road.
- Safety Wing – Excellent insurance plan for long-term travelers that offers competitive rates is you are planning to stay on the road several weeks in a row.
- iVisa – the best website for getting help with your Mexico visa.
- DiscoverCars.com – There’s nothing like exploring Tulum and surrounding areas at your own pace. Rent a car at Discover Cars if you want more freedom exploring Rivera Maya.
- GetYourGuide.com – This is one of the best platforms for finding best tours in Tulum. Get Your Guide is my favorite platform that offers awesome tours and top-notch guides in many destinations in Mexico.
- CheapoAir.com – One of the best platforms for saving money on flights within Mexico and beyond.
- Booking.com – a popular website with tons and tons of options for accommodations of all sorts.