11 Best Private Tours In Tulum (2023)

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Looking to find the best private tours in Tulum? You’re in the right place!

Quick Rundown On Private Tours In Tulum

Tulum is growing rapidly as a tourist destination. Its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife scene are drawing travelers from all over the world.

The sites in and around Tulum are getting more crowded. The buses are getting more full. The appeal of private tours is growing every day.

Tulum is becoming increasingly popular as a luxury destination. What better way to see a luxurious destination than on a private tour? Private tours are perfect for families or groups traveling together that want an experience catered to them.

Here, we’ll give you 11 of the best ones!

Best Private Tours In Tulum

1. VIP Tulum Private Tour

The VIP Tulum private tours are guided by an English-speaking tour guide that will take you to see the picturesque Tulum Ruins, teach you about the history of the site, and help you take the best pictures from the best angles.

The tour also includes visits to Xunaan-Ha and Taak Bi Ha Cenotes with time to explore and swim at each. Transportation in an air-conditioned van is included with pickup and drop off at or near your hotel.

Use of snorkeling equipment while at the cenotes is also included in the price. If you’re in Tulum and want to see the ruins and cenotes like a VIP, this tour is the way to go.

2. Priority Access: Xcaret Day Trip and Night Show With Transportation

These private tours include pickup from your hotel in Tulum (or anywhere along the Riviera Maya, and transport to Xcaret, the famous ecological and archaeological park about an hour north of Tulum.

What sets this experience apart and makes it amazing is its priority VIP access to the park. Don’t forget to make sure you get your wristband during the ride to the park.

Xcaret is full of water activities like swimming and snorkeling in pools, rivers, and underground water channels. There is wildlife to spot throughout the park like crocodiles, monkeys, and sea turtles. The tour offers an upgraded option that also includes lunch. Extra activities are also available for an additional cost.

3. VIP Tulum & Turtles Private Tour

This tour offers a customizable schedule to fit your needs, but the tour company recommends an early 7:00 am pickup in order to have the best chance to see the sea turtles. That’s the main attraction, after all!

The tour starts on the beach in Akumal, where there is a natural reserve that is home to sea turtles. You’ll be able to observe them while swimming and snorkeling.

After your visit with the turtles, you’ll go to Tulum Ruins where you’ll have a private guided tour to learn about the ruins and capture amazing photos of the most unique ruin sites in Mexico!

4. Tulum Ruins, Tequila Tasting, & 3 Cenotes

This tour includes a visit to Tulum Ruins. Many tour options include this since it’s one of the most beautiful sites in Tulum. If you’ve already seen it, contact the tour company and let them know you’d like to spend more time at the cenotes and tequila tasting. It’s a private tour, so it’s all about you!

The three cenotes are on the grounds of a private ranch. They’re well taken care of and you’ll see all three different types of cenotes: a full cave, a semi-open, and a fully open cenote.

This tour includes a tasting of different types of locally made tequila, a light snack, and lunch at a local restaurant where you’ll be able to sample authentic Mexican and Mayan cuisine.

5. Private Sailing and Snorkeling In Tulum

This tour takes you to Tulum Ruins as well but in a different way. You’ll take a private catamaran and view the ruins from the sea! Feel the wind on your face as you sail the waters off Tulum’s beautiful beaches on this unique sailing experience!

You’ll also be taken to spots along the beach that are known by the guides to provide excellent views while snorkeling. Use of snorkeling equipment is included but there is an additional cost of 60 pesos (about $3) for entering the protected grounds of the National Park.

6. Private Tulum Tour With Azulik Museum and Sculpture Park

This tour is an art/culture/history lover’s dream come true! It starts the same way as some of the others, with a private tour of Tulum Ruins.

After the ruins, you’ll visit the exhibits of Ik Lab Museum, Sfer Ik, and Azulik eco-friendly resort. The exhibits of Sfer Ik are innovative and environmentally conscious. You’ll also have access to the areas of the museum that are normally only accessible to guests of the Azulik Resort. This is a hidden gem in Tulum.

From there you’ll head to the Ahau Tulum Sculpture Garden, where the landmark sculpture Ven a la Luz now lives amongst other works of art.

Note: this tour is new and carries a large price tag because of its exclusivity. If you’d like recommendations on how to see these sites for cheaper, check out our post on seeing Tulum on a budget.

7. Chichen Itza Tour With Traditional Mayan Lunch

It’s no secret that Chichen Itza is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. The site is a must-see for any tourist in the area due to its size and grandeur. It’s associated more with Cancun but the route from Tulum to Chichen Itza is actually a tad closer.

It’s a busy day and you’ll see a ton of people there, but it’s a must-see and this private tour is the way to see it. Enjoy round-trip transport to and from your hotel, and a Mayan-style buffet lunch after your private guided tour of the Chichen Itza ruins.

This company is notorious for private tours in Tulum and having fun and knowledgeable guides that make your day a delight!

8. Tulum Instagram Tour

This tour is exactly what it sounds like, a guided tour with transportation to the most famous Instagram spots in Tulum. These include the Ahau Tulum Sculpture Garden, where you’ll see Ven a la Luz, and many other sneaky and lesser-known Instagram spots.

You’ll also visit Tulum Ruins, where you’ll take what will likely be the most beautiful photos of your trip to Tulum. You’ll also visit the beautiful Multum Ha Cenote, where you’ll be able to take pictures and swim in the cool water to refresh before heading up to Playa del Carmen.

Fifth Avenue in PDC (as it’s affectionately called) is considered the place to be in town. It’s famous for its shops, restaurants, and Instagram-friendliness. You’ll be drowning in Likes after this tour!

9. Private Tour of Coba and Tulum Ruins

If archaeological sites are your thing (like me), this is the tour for you. Enjoy a privately guided tour for you and your group to the two best ruin sites near Tulum: Coba and Tulum Ruins.

Don’t worry about extra costs with this tour, site entry and lunch are included. The only extra costs are if you want an alcoholic beverage with your lunch.

Your bilingual guides are knowledgeable about the ruins and the cultural history, and they’ll share that with you and teach you about the Mayans on this archaeological-focused tour.

10. Tulum Ruins, Snorkeling With Turtles, and Underground Caves

Along with a visit to Tulum Ruins, these marine-focused private tours offer a snorkeling trip to Turtle Bay and a visit to a cenote.

Off the coast of Akumal is Turtle Bay, a beautiful snorkeling spot where you can see brightly colored tropical fish, coral, interesting rock formations, and three different species of sea turtles!

You’ll then be taken to Puerto Aventuras where you’ll see a few different cenotes and have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the clear blue waters. A lunch buffet is included!

11. Tankah & Tulum Private Tour

Like some of the other options, this one includes a private tour of the Tulum Ruin Site. After that, you’ll be taken to the Tankah Nature Reserve.

Here, you’ll see a beautiful natural lagoon that you’ll explore by canoe. The water of the lagoon is crystal clear and swimmable! You’ll also get to experience four ziplines observing the beautiful scenery of Tankah park.

After, you’ll be taken to a small Mayan village where you’ll try authentic cuisine and learn about the culture and everyday life of the villagers.

Tulum FAQs

Is Tulum Safe?

Remember that crime and danger can exist anywhere, even in our hometowns! With that in mind, Tulum is generally considered a safe destination. The Yucatan Peninsula and the three states that make it up contain some of the safest places in Mexico.

Just like when you visit big cities in the U.S., you should use common sense and stay close to the populated areas and main roads.

I wouldn’t recommend a destination if it was dangerous to go there.

Where To Stay In Tulum?

I love staying in hostels. I’ve stayed in some great ones in the world and Tulum is no different. If you’re new to hostels and aren’t sure to choose one, we’ve got a post for that.

Look, hostels are my jam and I recommend staying in them whenever it’s an option. Luckily, in Tulum, there are great options. The hostel scene there is very party-oriented, so be ready for some loud music and lots of drinking and dancing.

The hostel scene in Tulum is full of music, parties, and dancing. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re in Tulum, that’s part of the draw, the party scene!

My hostel recommendation in Tulum is Mayan Monkey Hostel. It’s in a great spot on the edge of town, closer to the beach than other options, but doesn’t carry the huge pricetag that the options by the beach do.

Mayan Monkey is a hostel unlike most that I’ve seen. It’s gigantic. There are several floors of dorm rooms and a large atrium that contains a lounging area with couches and chairs and a morning yoga class.

The bar on the roof transforms into a nightclub when the sun sets. The music gets loud, and the drinks flow. It’s wild! There is a small pool on the roof too that doesn’t seem to get used much, but it’s a nice touch.

If this is your first hostel stay, it will be a nice transition into the lifestyle of staying in hostels. Check out our hostel etiquette post before you go, so you’re prepared!

How Much Does Tulum Cost?

Staying in Tulum, especially if you want to spend time at the beach and enjoy the clubs and bars there, will cost more than most of the places I would typically go. This is due to its growing tourism popularity.

For my taste in travel destinations, Tulum can get expensive. The beach area with the bars and clubs is expensive. It’s booming in popularity and the prices of the beach experiences reflect that.

While you’re in Tulum, transportation, hotels, beach clubs, and restaurants will likely be your biggest expenses. There are ways to trim that down though.

My stay at Mayan Monkey cost me about $13 per night, a fraction of what a normal hotel would cost, especially down by the beach. Rides in a taxi between the Pueblo and the beach can run you $10-$20 each way.

If you rent a bike though, again it’s a fraction of the cost. Staying in hostels and utilizing bike rentals and public transport can greatly cut down your costs.

Tulum will likely cost more than going to Bacalar or Merida because some of that spending is hard to avoid. But, it’s absolutely worth the experience. It’s beautiful and fun, and the food is great!

Is Tulum expensive? Yeah, it can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

How Much Cash Do I Need For Tulum?

So many of our travel expenses today can be taken care of online ahead of time, flights, hotels, and even some activities for instance.

When you get there though, you’ll want some cash. Tours, taxis, and everything that happens on the fly will be better purchased with cash. Even more accurately, better purchased with pesos.

In our Tulum packing list, we suggest not bringing a huge wad of cash.

As with most Mexican destinations though, cash is king. Cash gives you leverage to negotiate. You’ll almost always get a better price when you pay with cash. And I don’t mean U.S. dollars, I mean pesos.

Exchange windows are usually a rip-off, no doubt about it, especially in populated areas. ATMs can generate unnecessary fees too, if you don’t have the right kind of account.

Pro Tip: Charles Schwab offers a checking account that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. They also reimburse all ATM fees. With no account minimum and no monthly fees, this account is a must-have for travelers.

Having a separate account for travel also helps you keep track of travel expenses and budget for your trips.

I recommend withdrawing 1,000 or 2,000 pesos as needed rather than taking a wad of cash with you and exchanging it along the way. You’ll be surprised how much this saves you.

Is There Uber in Tulum?

At the time of this writing, there is no Uber in Tulum. Taxis are still running the streets and overcharging every chance they get. I recommend avoiding taxis when you can.

Here are some tips on taxis in Tulum:

• Agree on the price before getting into the taxi.
• Always counteroffer the first price they give you. Haggling is a way of life when you visit Mexico. They do not expect you to pay the first price they tell you, trust me.
• Talking with the driver could lead to better prices on future rides. Often they even have connections for tours and activities they can help you get a deal on.

One of my drivers ended up squeezing me on a tour with some other people the next day and I got some extra activities that I didn’t pay for due to how it all worked out. I just wanted to go to Coba but I ended up riding ATVs in the jungle and seeing some cenotes too.

In Tulum, I had a taxi driver that ended up helping me squeeze on a tour with a group of people and I ended up getting to do extra activities that I didn’t pay for because of the connection I made.

I wanted to go see the Coba ruins but I got to ride ATVs in the jungle and explore some cenotes too. As a bonus, I paid less than everyone else in my group!

Summing Up Private Tours In Tulum

We’ve given you some good choices here. If private tours are your thing, you’ll certainly have found your flavor of choice here. Tulum has a lot to offer and each of these gives you a bit of a different taste for the area.

Several of them do include stops by Tulum Ruins, but remember, these tours are largely customizable due to their exclusivity. Private tours usually cater to what the group wants and needs.

Whether you’re looking for ruins, snorkeling, cenotes, or all of the above, we encourage you to get out and see Tulum and everything it has to offer!

Have fun out there!

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