Tulum Ruins & Akumal: Private Cenote Snorkel Tour with Turtles

5.00

(258 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I was honestly a little nervous about the early pickup from Playa del Carmen (my brain doesn’t do mornings), but stepping out into that soft dawn air made it worth it. Our guide, Diego, had already sorted tickets for Tulum ruins so we just walked right in—no lines, just the sound of waves crashing somewhere below and a few iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks. He pointed out faded murals I would’ve missed and told stories about Mayan traders. I tried to imagine living up there centuries ago with that sea view—hard not to feel small in a good way.

After wandering through the ruins (and yes, I bought a carved turtle at one of the stalls outside—I’m weak for souvenirs), we headed off to choose our cenote. We picked Nicte Ha because Diego said it was quieter. The water was cool and clear, almost glassy; you could see every ripple when you moved. There were lilies floating on top and tiny fish darting around my ankles. I still think about how peaceful it felt under that dappled light, just drifting for a bit before heading back out into the heat.

Lunch was this open-air spot tucked into the jungle near the cenote—nothing fancy but everything tasted fresh. I went for tacos (obviously) and tried some spicy salsa that nearly knocked me out; Diego laughed when I reached for more water. After eating, we drove down to Akumal for snorkeling. No boats or big groups—just us and our guide walking straight into the bay. The water was calm enough that you could hear your own breathing through the snorkel, which felt weirdly meditative until suddenly there was this huge turtle gliding by below me. Not gonna lie, my heart raced a bit seeing it so close.

We saw two more turtles and some bright blue fish before heading back to shore. On the drive home I kept replaying those moments underwater—how quiet it got when everyone stopped moving, how even Diego seemed content just floating there with us. If you’re looking for something private but not stuffy, this day trip from Tulum or Playa del Carmen really sticks with you long after your skin dries off.