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Looking for the best cenote tours in Tulum? Look no further!
After visiting Tulum more times than I can count, we’ve hit most of the cenotes in the area. We’ve gone on our own and also as part of tours, and we love the ease of an organized tour!
However, not every tour is top-notch. So to ensure you have the best cenote experience, we’ve put together the 5 best cenote tours in Tulum! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day, want to explore more throughout your tour, or are a thrill seeker, we’ve got an option for you.
Let’s dive in!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE cenote tour is this combo tour! Not only will you visit the stunning Cenote El Sueño, but also have a guided tour of the Tulum Ruins, snorkel in Yal-Ku Lagoon, and have lunch at a beach club.
Check out the 1,500+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
Best Cenote Tours from Tulum
1. Small-group three cenotes adventure tour
- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: 7:30 am
- Highlights: Visiting Casa Cenote, Taak Bi Ha, and Aktun Yax Kan; snorkeling in the cenotes; small group experience
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from central Tulum hotels, all entrance fees, lunch, snacks, water, snorkeling gear, guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check 350+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
There are a couple of reasons we recommend this full-day adventure tour. Firstly, it starts with round-trip transfers from your Tulum hotel to three distinctive cenotes. We love the variety of cenotes you get to see all in one day. Nothing beats that convenience!
It also includes a picnic lunch, snorkeling gear, and entrance fees. So all you have to worry about is enjoying those incredible underwater views. Plus, the guides are fantastic and provide you with lots of helpful information about the cenotes and the region’s history.
Your first stop is Casa Cenote, and you get there early to avoid the crowds. This is one of Tulum’s most unique cenotes. Instead of an underground cave, it resembles an open-air river that runs through tropical trees and mangroves.
Snorkeling is popular here as the mangroves are home to interesting marine life. Plus, there’s a handy sandy bottom when you need a break.
Then it’s onto Taak Bi Ha Cenote. I absolutely love this underground cave because of its crystal-clear water and amazing rock formations. Trust me, you’ll want to have your camera ready!
After a hearty lunch, it’s time for Aktun Yax Kan. Here, you get to enjoy a private underground cenote experience. Yep, the whole cave is closed to just you and your tour group. When I went, I swung from the big rope swing straight into the water – such a quintessential cenote experience!
Reserve this tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you depart!
2. Tulum Ruins, cenote, Yal-Ku Lagoon, and beachside lunch
- Duration: 6.5 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Exploring the Tulum Ruins with a guide, snorkeling in Yal-Ku Lagoon, swimming in cenotes, relaxing at a beach club
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from your hotel, admission fees, snorkel gear, snacks and lunch, English-speaking guide
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 1,600+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you want to enjoy your cenotes with a side of historic ruins, check out this adventure tour. I love this tour because you get a bit of everything. You get to visit some of the best Mayan ruins in Mexico, eat tasty local cuisine, and of course, explore cenotes!
This tour starts out with a bang by exploring the Tulum Ruins. I love that this is the first stop so you can beat the crowds and the heat! Going with a guide is by far the best way to do it, as you can learn so much about this ancient Mayan site. You’ll have an hour guided tour, then a full hour to explore on your own.
After, you’ll head to the Yal-Ku Lagoon to snorkel in its crystal clear waters. This was a super refreshing stop, as it was already getting hot while we explored the ruins! The aquatic adventures don’t stop there, as the next stop is Cenote El Sueño. The tour includes admission and life jacket fees, so all you have to do is enjoy this incredible sight!
As if this day can’t get any more relaxing, it finishes off at a beach club so you can enjoy the vibrant Caribbean Sea and white sand beaches over lunch.
If you’re looking for a bit of paradise, history, and natural beauty – this is your tour!
Book this tour with over 1,500 5-star reviews here, before it sells out!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Private tour to three cenotes and Valladolid
- Duration: 8 hours
- Time: 6 am or 6:40 am
- Highlights: Private tour, Visiting three cenotes – Suytun Cenote, Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman, and Cenote Xux Ha, exploring Valladolid
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from Tulum hotels, brunch, all entrance fees
- Rating: 5 stars (check 200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you want a personal guide to show you the best cenotes in Tulum, book this private tour. You start bright and early to avoid the crowds and the heat. Along the way, they’ll also explain each cenote’s history and cultural significance.
Your first stop is Suytun Cenote, which is unequivocally one of the most Instagrammable cenotes in Tulum. It’s an ethereal underground cave with sunbeams streaming through a hole in the roof and an impressive viewing platform.
Next is Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman. This is a large cenote that’s known for its tree roots hanging down the sides of the cave. The underground cave-style cenote has an open roof and even a rope swing for those adventurous travelers!
Then it’s time for a scrumptious breakfast in the historic center of Valladolid. You’ll have free time to explore the picturesque colonial town. I love being able to wander around at my own leisure and see the historical sites here. Don’t miss the 16th-century Convent of San Bernardino of Siena and the Baroque-style San Gervasio Cathedral.
The final stop is Cenote Xux Ha. This is an underground cave hidden inside a huge limestone dome with the most magical azure water. There is a hole at the top of the cave allowing some natural light in, if that’s a concern. However, I liked that this cenote was a bit darker and different than the others, giving it a mystical vibe.
See the best cenotes in Tulum when you book this private tour here!
4. Magical cenote and paradise lagoon snorkeling tour
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Swimming in a cenote, snorkeling in Yal-Ku Lagoon, learning about the ancient Mayan ties to cenotes,
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from hotels, snorkel gear, life jackets, bilingual guide, snacks and water
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 600+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you’re short on time but want to experience Tulum’s best cenotes, then book this half-day tour!
Not only will you visit the world’s third-longest underground river system, but also snorkel through a paradise lagoon, and walk through the nearby trails to soak in the scenery!
The experienced guides make sure you get to the cenote before other tour buses. This means you have time to soak up its magic and capture a photo without other tourists. Here, you can also spend your time swimming and snorkeling.
Then you move on to Yal-Ku Lagoon, which is located in a protected cove. What sets this lagoon apart from others is that it’s a mixture of seawater and freshwater. The warm seawater combined with the cool freshwater equals a very unique ecosystem – and another awesome spot to snorkel!
Grab your gear and get up close to several species of colorful tropical fish. The crystal-clear water also creates prime snorkeling conditions, as does the shallow water (the maximum depth is 4 meters/13 feet). The provided life jackets make this the perfect snorkeling spot for beginners and families with kids.
Snorkeling was the highlight of this trip for us. We recommend taking your time exploring the caves and valleys underwater. If you have spare time, you can stroll through the landscaped grounds surrounding the lagoon.
We loved that we could experience this unique landscape in a quick 3.5 hour tour. It’s perfect for those with a packed itinerary!
Check out the 500+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
5. Three cenote adventure tour – cliff jump, free dive, and snorkel
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Free diving, cliff jumping, and snorkeling in cenotes; exploring Casa Cenote, Cenote Zemway, and Gran Cenote
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from Tulum hotels, entrance fees, snacks, guides, lunch (optional add on)
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 350+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
This Triple Adventure Tour squeezes three cenote visits into a half-day experience. It’s one of the best cenote tours in Tulum if you’re looking for a thrill!
The first stop is Cenote Zemway which is an open-air cenote that has towering cliffs and is surrounded by lush jungle. For those seeking an adrenaline rush, you can jump off 15-foot and 18-foot (or 4.5-meter and 5.5-meter) tiered platforms here. You can also take a dive from the rope swing!
The next stop is Gran Cenote, a half-open half-closed cave. This is one of our favorite cenotes in Tulum, as it’s connected to one of the world’s largest cave systems. You can snorkel or free-dive through the caves, where you can see incredible underwater wildlife swimming through the crystal-clear freshwater.
Gran Cenote also has both shallow and deep areas, making it perfect for families. Paired with incredible rock formations and sandy areas so you can comfortably stand in the water, it’s easy to see why this is a favorite.
The final stop is Casa Cenote, which is also visited on the first tour. As mentioned, it’s known for its sandy bottom and mangroves. Lots of marine life call these mangroves home, so this is another great place to snorkel.
I love how after an adventurous morning, you still have time to explore Tulum in the afternoon.
Reserve this adventure tour here and access FREE cancellation before you go!
Other Activities to do While You’re in Tulum
Exploring the incredible cenotes in Tulum is fun, but don’t forget to see more of what this awesome city has to offer before you leave! Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Tulum:
- Check out the Tulum Ruins – Honestly, if you don’t do anything else while you’re here, make sure to check out the Tulum Ruins! This is an amazing place to get a glimpse into the area’s Mayan history. For the best experience, I’d recommend going with a private guide, which also includes early access to beat the crowds!
- Explore Tulum’s epic foodie scene – ‘Mexico’ and ‘good food’ might as well be synonyms. You’ll find out-of-this-world food everywhere, and there are awesome restaurants in Tulum. Whether you fancy learning how to cook your own authentic Mexican meal or sampling some of the best local spots on this walking food tour, it’s all up to you!
- Visit Chichen Itza – If you want to see more famous Mayan ruins, take this full day tour to Chichen Itza! These are the largest and most impressive ruins on the Yucatan and we learned so much by going with a guide. We also enjoyed the stops in Valladolid and at a cenote!
- Go ziplining – Traveling with kids? Or maybe you’re a big kid like us and still get a huge kick out of swinging through the trees? You’re never too old to let your hair down, and this 4-hour ziplining, rappelling, and cenote tour makes for an epic half-day out.
- Snorkel with turtles at Akumal Beach – This beach is very busy, so we loved this guided tour that included transportation and a stop at Akumal Beach. Here, we snorkeled with sea turtles which was a true bucket list experience! We also swam in a cenote and relaxed at a beach club. What more could you want?
Where to Stay in Tulum, Mexico
No matter what you’re looking for in a hotel, Tulum has it! Offering everything from hostels to 5-star luxury hotels, there is accommodation for any budget!
Here are some of the best places to stay in Tulum (categorized by budget!)
Luxury Hotels in Tulum – $$$
Hotel Boutique TerraNova – This boutique hotel is one of the top-rated in all of Tulum. They haven’t cut any corners when it comes to comfort and the staff is wonderful. All rooms are spacious and have air conditioning and a garden patio. There is an outdoor pool and the hotel is located right in town.
Although this is a beautiful and luxurious hotel, I’ve seen rooms online go for as low as $130 USD per night, so you can definitely get some good deals here!
Kan Tulum – This hotel is actually built around its own private cenote! The rooms here are uniquely designed and feel almost like a jungle treehouse. Every room is huge with a private seating area and terraces to watch the sunset from. You’re close to beaches and nightlife and rooms here cost at least $400 USD per night.
Budget-friendly hotels in Tulum – $$
Hotel Blanco Tulum – This hotel is luxurious without the ridiculous price tag. For around $60-80 USD per night, you can get a deluxe double room with air conditioning and a balcony. The hotel is centrally located and offers an outdoor pool as well as a hot tub!
Book this stay here on Booking.com!
Hostels in Tulum – $
Hostel Che Tulum – This hostel prides itself on having a great social vibe. They have a beautiful pool and a central location. For only around $14-20 USD a night, you can get a dorm bed in an air-conditioned room with breakfast included! Easily book a stay on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Oryx Hostel – Just a few steps from downtown Tulum, gardens surround the property so you’ll feel like you’re staying in a tropical jungle. There are hammocks, a nice pool area, and fun activities like salsa dancing! Stays here are as cheap as $29 USD a night in a dorm room or around $35 USD for private rooms and can be booked on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check out all accommodations available in Tulum!
Renting a Car in Mexico
Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to get around Mexico is in a rental car.
I struggled to get around by bus and taxi for the longest time. But after renting a car in Cancun in 2023, I never looked back. It allowed me to explore the country without worrying about tours or taxis. It was why I fell in love with Mexico and eventually decided to live here periodically.
I refuse to use local services whenever I rent a car in Mexico. The truth is they sometimes can’t be trusted or come with hidden fees (or costly insurance that doesn’t make sense.) There are even rental car scams! So instead, I use Discover Cars, the company most experienced travelers or ex-pats in Mexico recommend. Read my honest review of Discover Cars here for more details!
The rates on Discover Cars are cheap, too, with the average rental costing around $25 USD per day. Full coverage insurance can be added for an extra $10 USD a day too.
Driving in Mexico also only requires a driver’s license using the Roman alphabet. If yours uses another like Japan and China, you simply need an international driving permit.
Insurance is required, but if you book with Discover Cars and get the full coverage, that’s all you need! Oh, and being over 18 is required, and if you’re over 25, your rental will be much cheaper!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
If you’re considering taking a cenote tour in Tulum, we say go for it! It’s a great way to see some of the best spots, and you won’t have to worry about any of the logistics. We absolutely loved snorkeling through these cenotes, and our guides shared interesting info about each one. For a fun-filled morning or day, we highly recommend the tours on this list!
To learn more about Mexico, check out our other blogs here. We’ve traveled all over and fell in love with the country. After all, there are just so many gorgeous places to visit and fun things to do. To get started, you can click on one of the links below. Thanks for reading!
10 Best Things to do in Tulum, Mexico – Tulum Travel Expert
Tulum Itinerary – How to Spend Up to 1 Week in Tulum (1-day to 7-days)