The 7 Full-Day Tours on the Riviera Maya That Earn Their Price

1.Sian Ka’an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,179 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $254Our pick

Spend about 10 hours exploring Sian Ka’an with guides such as Miguel, Kenya, Pablo, or Niko. Drive the rough road to Punta Allen, cruise mangroves and lagoons, watch for manatees, dolphins, crocodiles, turtles, and birds, snorkel when weather allows, then enjoy lunch in the fishing village.

“Great knowledgeable guide lots of information. Boat ride was great fun lots of animals and plant. Highly recomend”

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2.Full Day Tulum Ruins Tour Cenote and Swimming with Sea Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,171 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $131

Spend about nine hours visiting Tulum, swimming through Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, and snorkeling with turtles at Akumal. Guides such as Nancy, Yaris, Oto, and Pablo have earned praise for keeping groups safe and informed. Lunch, gear, water, and transport are included.

“The cenote was the highlight of the trip! The turtles was a bit disappointing with sooo many people and murky water where everyone was trying to see the turtles. People in our group saw a few but I just saw the head of one peaking up. It was pretty cool anyway. Lunch at the Cenote was surprisingly good. The ruins were packed but our archaeological guide was knowledgeable.”

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3.Whale Shark Encounter Full-Day all inclusive Tour from Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 519 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $170

Leave your hotel around 6 a.m. for a small-group boat trip to the whale shark area near Isla Mujeres. Guide Jane and other multilingual guides lead two 15-minute water entries, reef snorkeling, and lunch with ceviche, guacamole, and drinks. Weather and sightings shape the day.

“Alexandra and the whole crew were top notch! We swam with whale sharks, mantra rays. Lunch hit the spot, and the fresh cevuche and stop at Isla Mujueres was just beautiful. My husband and I had a wonderful time!”

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4.Full Day Tour to Tulum Cenote and Swim with Turtles in Akumal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 277 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $89

Start with Tulum’s Maya ruins and Caribbean views, then swim in the semi-open Mariposa Cenote at Canamayte Ecopark before snorkeling with turtles in Akumal. Guides such as Mildred, Jorge, and Ricky add cultural context. Pickup, lunch, lockers, vests, and transport are included, but the stated admission fee and lunch drinks cost extra.

“This tour was amazing. Only 4 of us so it felt like a private tour. Mildred and Ricky were great guides. I loved the opportunity to see the cenotes off the beaten path, and the food there was amazing. The sea turtle location was incredibly crowded with other tours and we couldn’t even rent a locker. Mildred had to hunt down a life vest for 2 of us and there was a lot of just wait time. But it was worth it to see and swim with turtles in the wild.”

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5.Holbox Island Full Day Trip with Lunch From Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 212 reviews · 12 to 13 hours (approx.)

Travel from Playa del Carmen to Holbox for a long day of lagoon views, shallow-water stops, Isla Pasión, bird watching, local lunch, and free time in town. Guides such as Arturo, Luis, Genaro, and Jonathan have led past departures, though English service can vary.

“Overall the excursion was a great experience. Positive: beautiful stop at “mosquito beach” clear water, just beautiful. Tour guide: friendly and knowledgeable, lunch was good. Negatives: it’s a very long van ride from Playa Del Carmen 2 hrs - the pier at Holbox is in disrepair and we had to get off the boat directly in to gross seaweed/ stagnant water that smelled like a toilet. - it’s extremely hot on the island and 2 hours is too long unless you really enjoy shopping for souvenirs. I could have done without stopping at Holbox Island all together, it would have made the overall experience better.”

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6.5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 113 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $84Best value

Visit seaside Tulum, jungle-covered Coba, a Mayan village, and Tamcach-Ha and Choo-Ha cenotes with an English-speaking guide. Expect about 11 to 12 hours, shared transport for up to 18 people, lunch, water, and extra site taxes.

“Long day but nice. Book private if you can. Private your would at least go at your groups pace and transportation would be done seamlessly.”

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7.Full-Day Snorkel Extreme Adventure Tour from Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Spend an active day from Playa del Carmen snorkeling in the Caribbean, riding jungle ziplines, rappelling 50 feet, and swimming through a cenote. Guides such as Eli, Memo, Savino, Alex M, and Ulysses have been praised for clear instruction and calm support. Lunch, equipment, transport, and hotel pickup are included.

“We loved Snorkel Our guides were wonderful - the ATVs were a blast and the cenote/cave swim was gorgeous! We have absolutely no complaints and would gladly do it again.”

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