Riviera Maya · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours in Playa del Carmen & the Riviera Maya

329 tours  ·  from $24

A week here and the same problem every time: one coastline, too many pickups, and the good ones leave at six. The 15 below are the days that earn their slot, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.

Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip - The early drive from Tulum to Chichen Itza
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Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip

1.Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,104 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $214Our pick

Travel from Tulum to Chichen Itza with a small group of up to 10, then enjoy lunch and a walk in Valladolid before swimming at Cenote Xux Ha. Guides such as Miguel, Paloma, Santi, and Alondra bring Maya history to life, while snacks, drinks, tickets, and transfers are included.

“Paloma is an excellent tour guide! Highly, highly recommend this tour - the cenote at the end is truly magical”

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From Playa del Carmen ATV Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote - Getting from Playa del Carmen to the park
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From Playa del Carmen ATV Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote

2.From Playa del Carmen ATV Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,041 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $49

Spend about four hours at Extreme Adventure Eco Park on a guided ATV ride, three-zipline course, and cenote swim. Hotel pickup, a regional snack, bilingual guides, tequila tasting, and ATV insurance are included. Guides such as Sergio, Lalo, Gio, and Ximema have earned praise for keeping groups safe and upbeat.

“It’s everything they advertise but imagine someone offering an “Extreme Margarita” and it’s just a water down drink named extreme….. don’t let them get you.”

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Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya - Akumal Beach and the Sea Turtle Search
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Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya

3.Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,039 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Start early for guided snorkeling at Akumal Beach, where you may see sea turtles, rays, squid, and tropical fish. Then walk through Parque de Cenotes Yax-Muul and swim in a clear cave cenote. Guides such as Max, Marina, and Daniel are praised for patience, humor, and safety.

“Our tour guide, Daniel San Francisco, and photographer Maxi, were amazing. Daniel was extremely knowledgeable about the areas we visited, was very friendly, funny, and easy to get along with. Maxi was very nice, though quiet, but his photography spoke volumes. The photos he showed the group at the end were amazing. They were a great pair, and took good care of the group. It was a little bit of a colder day (by Mexico standards), so the cenote and snorkeling with turtles were not busy at all. We saw multiple turtles, sting rays, and beautiful coral formations.”

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Tulum Guided Tour, Magical Cenote, Lagoon Snorkeling and Beachside Lunch - Cenote El Sueño: the day’s most unusual swim
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Tulum Guided Tour, Magical Cenote, Lagoon Snorkeling and Beachside Lunch

4.Tulum Guided Tour, Magical Cenote, Lagoon Snorkeling and Beachside Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,888 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $169

Visit Tulum with a bilingual guide, swim through Cenote El Sueño, snorkel calm Yal Ku Lagoon, and finish with lunch at Punta Venado Beach Club. The day mixes Maya culture, freshwater caves, marine life, and Caribbean scenery, but expect long drives, bumpy roads, and a late lunch.

“We loved our cenote swim. This was the best part of excursion. Make sure and bring towels. They are not provided”

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VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour - Chichen Itza: three hours planned, plenty to take in
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VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour

5.VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,782 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $285

Start around 6:30 am in a private air-conditioned vehicle, reach Chichen Itza near opening, then swim at Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman and eat a la carte in Valladolid. Guides such as Abraham, Carlos, Heriberto, and Arnulfo tailor the day to your pace.

“We had a fastistic tour with Antonio. He was knowledgeable, friendly, organized and did a great job engaging our three kids. The tour was definitely a highlight of our vacation!”

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Playa del Carmen Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim and Mayan Village Visit - Meeting a Maya community near Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen ATV and Buggy Tours, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Playa del Carmen Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim and Mayan Village Visit

6.Playa del Carmen Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim and Mayan Village Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,747 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Join guides such as Carlos and Abraham for a four-hour buggy ride through jungle tracks near Playa del Carmen. You’ll swim in a shaded cenote, visit a Maya village, enjoy a local snack, and return by hotel shuttle. Expect dust, mud, bumpy trails, and a small group capped at 14.

“This was fabulous!! So much fun!! The guides treated us like family! Fun ride, beautiful cenote, great food and culture.”

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Tulum Ruins, Turtles in Akumal and Cenote tour - Tulum: beautiful ruins above the Caribbean
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Tulum Ruins, Turtles in Akumal and Cenote tour

7.Tulum Ruins, Turtles in Akumal and Cenote tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,706 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $129

Visit the coastal ruins of Tulum, take a short boat ride to snorkel with turtles and rays in Akumal, then swim through the cave-like Yax-Muul cenote. Guides such as Alejandro, Yul, Mimi, and Suly are praised for friendly, attentive service. Expect an active, long day with lunch after the water activities.

“Mimi was wonderful. The tour of Tulum was very educational. We saw sea turtles while snorkeling, and some amazing fish. The cenote was completely amazing. Swimming/snorkeling through the cave system was other-worldly. Highly recommend!”

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Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour - Stop one: meeting the food tour team
Food, Food & Drink, Playa del Carmen Food Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour

8.Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,274 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $84

Walk beyond Playa del Carmen’s tourist strip with an English-speaking bilingual guide such as Abby, Marcel, Fabiola, or Enrique. Taste quesadillas, fruit drinks, tacos al pastor, mole, tamales, birria, and local ice cream while learning about Mexican food, street art, and Playa’s past.

“Great experience, our guide was full of knowledge of playa del carmen and gave us an insight into Mexico City and how the culture differs. The street art was amazing and the food selection was even better. Highly recommend and we’re so happy we got to experience authentic Mexican food.”

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Jungle Buggy Tour from Playa del Carmen Including Cenote Swim - Taking turns behind the wheel
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Jungle Buggy Tour from Playa del Carmen Including Cenote Swim

9.Jungle Buggy Tour from Playa del Carmen Including Cenote Swim

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,253 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $110

You will share a Can-Am buggy, take turns driving through dusty jungle trails, and swim in a clear natural cenote cave. Guides such as Fernando and Rigo keep the pace lively, explain the cenote, and often take photos and videos on your phone at no extra charge.

“Had a great time on this tour. It wasn't too long or short, it was just perfect! Fernando was a great guide and cool guy, felt like an old friend. The Cenote we went to was great, felt very special. I can't really swim but felt like I was able to float better in the Cenote's water. Got a good amount of swimming practice in. Would definitely recommend this tour!”

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Hidden Cenote Swim: Snorkeling, Sea Turtles and Beachside Lunch - Snorkeling with turtles at Akumal Beach
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Hidden Cenote Swim: Snorkeling, Sea Turtles and Beachside Lunch

10.Hidden Cenote Swim: Snorkeling, Sea Turtles and Beachside Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,222 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $169

You’ll swim through a cool, cave-like cenote with a guide such as Omar, Iker, or Paulina, then boat out near Akumal Beach to snorkel back toward shore among sea turtles and tropical fish. Lunch at Punta Venado Beach Club follows. Expect mandatory life jackets, no cameras in the cenote, and possible long transfers.

“Was a great experience Jesus showed us around like a friend. Was very kind and informative. The turtles and cenote were fantastic.”

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Sian Ka'an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen - The bumpy road to the boat dock
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Sian Ka’an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen

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

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

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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Full Day Tulum Ruins Tour Cenote and Swimming with Sea Turtles - A cool freshwater break at Cenote Nohoch
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Full Day Tulum Ruins Tour Cenote and Swimming with Sea Turtles

12.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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Skip the Line Chichen Itza Private Tour, Sacred Cenote & Lunch - Walking Chichen Itza with a licensed archaeological guide
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Skip the Line Chichen Itza Private Tour, Sacred Cenote & Lunch

13.Skip the Line Chichen Itza Private Tour, Sacred Cenote & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,089 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $361

Travel privately from Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or the Riviera Maya to Chichen Itza with a licensed archaeological guide. Guides such as Alberto, Claudia, David, and Beto bring the ruins to life, while your day also includes a cenote swim, Yucatecan lunch, and Valladolid.

“Our Chichén Itzá tour with Betto was fantastic! He was incredibly punctual and supremely professional from start to finish. Betto's subject matter knowledge is truly impressive; he brought the ancient city to life, going above and beyond to explain everything in detail. He genuinely went out of his way to make sure we had a great time, ensuring we were comfortable and enjoying the experience. Just be warned, after learning so much about Mayan mathematics, you might be expected to pass a pop quiz at the end of the day!”

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Selva Maya Eco Adventure Park: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, Rappelling and Cenote - The ATV Ride Adds Fun, Cost, and Mud
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Selva Maya Eco Adventure Park: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, Rappelling and Cenote

14.Selva Maya Eco Adventure Park: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, Rappelling and Cenote

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,057 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $80

Spend about four hours in Tulum’s jungle with nine ziplines, hanging bridges, rock climbing, rappelling, and swims in two cenotes. Guides such as David, Sergio, Roberto, and Gael lead the activities. Lunch, equipment, and water are included, while ATV rides cost extra.

“This was a fantastic experience. The ziplining through the jungle was really fun, and the cenotes were the BEST I've seen. Our guide, Gael, was charming, funny and caring. We are a family of 5, with ages ranging from 50's to 14. We all loved it. Everything was really great, and I can't recommend it enough. I was trying sure about booking as I felt it was expensive for a family, but it was absolutely worth it. 5 stars for sure!”

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Chichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid with Lunch and transportation - The early pickup and long ride from Playa del Carmen
Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Lunch Experiences, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Valladolid Day Trips

Chichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid with Lunch and transportation

15.Chichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid with Lunch and transportation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 999 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $33

Start early from Playa del Carmen for Chichén Itzá, where a certified guide explains Maya astronomy, architecture, and ritual life. Swim at Cenote Saamal, eat a Mexican buffet, and make a brief Valladolid stop. Guides such as Lalo, Hugo, Roberto, Josue, Ruth, and Jorge have led recent departures, though assignments vary.

“Excelent service! Thanks Lalo, Hugo and Santiago. The best guides!!”

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New in Tour Reviews

★ 4.7Akumal: Explore the Monkey Sanctuary, ATV Circuit and CenoteFrom $1596 reviews
★ 4.3From Playa del Carmen: Whale Shark TourFrom $19552 reviews
★ 4.0Private or Shared Mayan Temazcal Ritual from TulumFrom $14517 reviews
★ 5.0VIP Temazcal Private TourFrom $31017 reviews
★ 5.0Traditional and ancestral Temazcal experience54 reviews
★ 5.0Tulum Ruins Exploration and Horseback Riding and Cenote AdventureFrom $9360 reviews
★ 4.5Spearfishing Playa del Carmen or Tulum11 reviews
★ 5.0Bird Watching in Sian Ka´an MuyilFrom $11945 reviews
★ 5.0Birdwatching in Coba from Tulum – Shared Group TourFrom $14939 reviews
★ 4.5Tequila and Mezcal Tasting in Tulum with Cheese PairingFrom $11919 reviews
★ 5.0Akumal turtles sanctuary and go pro photosFrom $4036 reviews
★ 5.0“Private snorkeling with turtles in Akumal + Photos included”58 reviews
★ 5.04 Hour Private Fishing Tour in Puerto Aventuras Riviera Maya8 reviews
★ 4.5Fishing Tour & Beach Club In Riviera Maya50 reviews
★ 4.5Holbox Island Tour in Mexico with LunchFrom $11017 reviews

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Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours132Tulum Ruins Tours21Akumal Sea Turtle Snorkeling Tours36Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen44Playa del Carmen ATV and Buggy Tours23Riviera Maya Reef Snorkeling Tours38
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The Riviera Maya, end to end

Pick a cenote, a ruin or a stretch of reef.

Fresh water

Cenote SwimsTulum CenotesCavern DivesRio SecretoLagoons

Maya sites

Chichén ItzáTulum RuinsCobáEk BalamValladolid

Salt water

Reef SnorkellingTurtle SwimsBoat ChartersWhale SharksBeach Clubs

Jungle and town

Buggy TracksZiplinesTaco CrawlsCooking ClassesSian Ka’an