Riviera Maya · TOURS

Riviera Maya Day Trips: The 15 Worth a Whole Day

130 tours  ·  from $25

Anything that comes with a guide, a boat or a hotel pickup, in one place. The 15 below are the ones that justify giving up a beach day, priced and timed, with the rest of the catalogue underneath.

Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya - Akumal Beach and the Sea Turtle Search
Akumal Sea Turtle Snorkeling Tours, Half-Day, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Reef Snorkeling Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

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

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

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

2.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
Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Playa del Carmen Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, VIP

VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour

3.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

4.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

5.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

6.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
Playa del Carmen ATV and Buggy Tours, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Riviera Maya Jungle and Lagoon Adventures, Tour Reviews, Tours

Jungle Buggy Tour from Playa del Carmen Including Cenote Swim

7.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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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

8.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
Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Lunch Experiences, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Private, Skip the Line, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

9.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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Chichén Itzá Ancestral Tour from Playa del Carmen with Cenote - The bus ride from Playa del Carmen
Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chichén Itzá Ancestral Tour from Playa del Carmen with Cenote

10.Chichén Itzá Ancestral Tour from Playa del Carmen with Cenote

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 995 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Spend a full day visiting Chichén Itzá, swimming in Cenote Noolha, walking a Maya village, and stopping in Valladolid. Guides such as Gonzalo, Rody, Rhett, Fred, and Christian have led engaging tours, but expect a large group, long bus rides, extra fees, and shopping stops.

“Very professional conduct and worth tour. Very punctual and informative tour with good facilities, plan and tour guides in Spanish as well as English.”

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The Taco Tour in Playa del Carmen - Making tortillas, salsa, and your own margarita
Playa del Carmen Food Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

The Taco Tour in Playa del Carmen

11.The Taco Tour in Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 923 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $139

Spend about 4.5 hours tasting meat-based tacos at up to four Playa del Carmen spots, making tortillas, salsa and a margarita, and trying pulque. Guides such as AK, Omar, Angel and Jarrett bring plenty of energy, but vegetarian choices are very limited.

“Expect to eat a lot of tacos. The restaurants are all very good. The atomsphere ranges from a rather nice sit down restaurant to a more neighborhood like spot. The tour guide, AK was great.”

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Chichen Itza: Guided Tour with Valladolid & Cenote Chichikan - Starting before sunrise
Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Guided, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Valladolid Day Trips

Chichen Itza: Guided Tour with Valladolid & Cenote Chichikan

12.Chichen Itza: Guided Tour with Valladolid & Cenote Chichikan

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 911 reviews · 12 hours · from $58

Spend a full day with guides such as Manuel, Pastor, Beto, or Juan at Chichen Itza, Cenote Chichikan, and Valladolid. Expect Mayan history, guided sightseeing, a cenote swim, optional buffet lunch, tequila tasting, and a short colonial-town visit. The early start helps you beat heat and crowds.

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had an amazing experience on this tour, and I can’t recommend it enough. Johnny Cash was an outstanding guide—extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what he does. What I appreciated most was how honest and accurate his storytelling was. I’ve been on tours before where the history felt exaggerated or misleading, but Johnny was clear, factual, and respectful of the real context, which made the experience so much more meaningful. A huge shoutout as well to Armando, our bus conductor, who was fantastic—professional, friendly, and made the whole journey smooth and comfortable. Everything was well-organized from start to finish, and you could tell the team truly ...”

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Tulum Archaeological Site & Sian Ka'an Muyil Tour from Tulum - Reaching Muyil and entering the reserve
Mayan Ruins Tours from Playa del Carmen, Sian Kaan Biosphere Tours, Sian Kaan Tours in Tulum, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tulum Ruins Tours, Tulum Tours

Tulum Archaeological Site & Sian Ka’an Muyil Tour from Tulum

13.Tulum Archaeological Site & Sian Ka’an Muyil Tour from Tulum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 824 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $169

Spend about six hours combining Tulum’s Maya ruins with a Mexican taco lunch and a boat ride through Sian Ka’an Muyil. You’ll float in a life vest along shallow mangrove canals, with guides such as Iber, Lea, Alonso, and Niko explaining the area’s history and ecology. Pickup is included around Tulum.

“Exploring the ruins and the Sian Ka'an with Mexican Kan Tours was a great experience. Our tour guide, Joseline, was very friendly and knowledgeable. The beach around the ruins was amazing - I would recommend going to the tour already wearing a swim suit. When it was time for the lazy river, she was extremely accommodating to my partner and me and she really showed expertise in being a guide and problem solving. The Sian Ka'an was very beautiful, and I would really recommend that experience. I also like how the tour comes with water and snacks. Would definitely book with Mexican Kan Tours again!”

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Chichen Itza by Van: Reduced Group, Tour Guide, Fast Trip & Lunch - What the van ride is really like
Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Guided, Lunch Experiences, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chichen Itza by Van: Reduced Group, Tour Guide, Fast Trip & Lunch

14.Chichen Itza by Van: Reduced Group, Tour Guide, Fast Trip & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 605 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $189

Visit Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen in a shared air-conditioned van with a bilingual guide, lunch, snacks, drinks, and site admission options. Expect a long road day, about 9 to 10 hours from pickup to return, with roughly 2.5 hours at the ruins. Guides may include Carlos, Arturo, Ivan, Arun, or Victor.

“Super Great group and tour guide! The snacks and lunch was yummy and the tour guide was so informative. Only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is because the bus was really cramped, if your 6 foot your gonna be realllly uncomfortable sitting there. But other than that I def recommend this tour!!!”

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Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour - Chichén Itzá before the crowds
Buffet Experiences, Chichen Itza Day Trips from Playa del Carmen, Ek Balam Tours, Lunch Experiences, Playa del Carmen Cenote Tours, Playa del Carmen Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour

15.Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Cenote & buffet lunch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 588 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $89

Leave Playa del Carmen early for guided visits to Ek Balam and Chichén Itzá, with time to climb selected Ek Balam structures, then swim at Cenote Chichikan and eat a Mexican buffet. Guides such as Marcela, Beto, Pastor, and Kevin are known for lively history talks and helpful photography tips.

“We enjoyed everything. The guide, Izakc was so knowledgeable. I was able to know Maya culture. EkBalam was interesting ruins!”

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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