The Best Cenote and Mayan Ruins Tour in Cancún

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Cancún has so much more to offer than all-inclusive resorts and crazy parties. When I planned my visit, I knew that I had to get out of the designated hotel zone and experience a piece of the Riviera Maya’s ancient history and unique geography. Nestled at the tip of the Yucatán, there are endless adventures in any direction from Cancún. With so many options, choosing where to go and what to experience is a feat in itself. That’s why I selected Cancun Adventures to experience the best Mayan ruins and cenote tour in Cancún. Today I’m sharing why their Coba Ruins Tour with Cenote Swim excursion was the highlight of my trip.

I opted for a private tour because I was traveling with a party of five. Having our own van and guides was an incredible bonus. We even got to stop and enjoy some authentic pibil (Yucatán style shredded pork) tacos at our request! Our experience was so unbelievable that I would not hesitate to book a regular group tour with Cancun Adventures in the future. Be sure to bring a towel, sunhat, water shoes, swimsuit, and change of clothes. Our guides picked us up right from our hotel, as with all their tours, and Erika and Emanuel immediately made us feel welcome and safe.

The Best Coba Ruins Tour in Cancún

Cancún is close to several historic Mayan sites. You will need to decide between visiting Chichén Itzá, Coba, or the Tulum ruins. As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá is the most popular site near Cancún; however, it is also the furthest drive. The Tulum ruins are the closest to both Tulum and Cancún, and they are the only ruins on the coast. After my research, I chose Coba over the other Mayan ruins for several reasons. First, Coba appears to be the least crowded. On our tour, Erika even mentioned how Coba is probably the most archaeologically significant Mayan site but receives only a fraction of the visitors and funds that Chichén Itzá does. We passed a few other tourists and groups wandering the grounds, but it never felt crowded because Coba is spread out over 80 square kilometers.

The main reason I chose Coba is because of how close you can get to the ruins themselves. In non-pandemic times you can climb to the top of Ixmoja, the tallest Mayan temple on the Yucatán peninsula! Reaching the summit was not an option during my visit, but I still got to climb many of the structures and sit on the base of the temples.

You can wander Coba on your own. However, I highly recommend booking with Cancun Adventures! I learned so much about the ancient Mayan culture as well as the Mayan people today. Erika was proud to share her Mayan heritage with us, and her insight made the experience extra special. Plus, she knew the perfect way to see the entire site. We started with a “Mayan Uber” ride through the jungle to the furthest temple. From there, we were walked back to the entrance, learning about all the ruins along the way. Some highlights were learning how central duality and balance were to Mayan life, discovering the difference between sacrifice and execution, and seeing the incredible engineering withstand the test of time.

The Best Cenote Tour in Cancún

After experiencing all that Coba had to offer, Emanuel drove us to our next stop, the cenote. I have to admit, I did not have very high expectations for this portion of the tour. I was picturing a pretty swim-hole that we would wait in line to jump in, get a picture, then leave. But I cannot express to you how blown away I was by this experience! The cenote swim with Cancun Adventures ended up being one of the top travel experiences of my life.

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The entrance doesn’t look like much when you arrive- a small hutch in the middle of nowhere over a steep staircase into the darkness. However, prepare to be awestruck when you descend. The main cavern is stunning with the perfect sunbeam spotlighting the turquoise lake. Initially, I was disappointed that life jackets were required, but I was so thankful for them as soon as we got in the water. Gazing at the stalactites while floating would not have been possible without them. Erika led us around the edges of the cavern where she showed us bats, minnows, silkworms, and the delicate limestone formations. We could stand in some parts of the cave, but in most parts, the bottom was very deep.

I had no idea we were going to experience more than the main cavern. As soon as I thought we had seen it all, Erika took us back even further into the cave! We floated through narrow passageways under stalactites that were so close to the water they nearly grazed your head. While floating through a cave may sound eery, I never felt spooked or scared. There was floodlighting throughout the cave system, and Erika was teaching us throughout the tour. My favorite part was getting to the furthest part of the cenote when Erika briefly turned out the light. We were suspended in space for an instant. It was also a great demonstration of the duality in Mayan culture that we talked about earlier. My one regret is not getting underwater housing for my camera. It would have been so worth it!

Cancun Adventures Review

If you are looking for the best Mayan ruins and cenote tour in Cancún, Cancun Adventures is the way to go. After pickup directly from our hotel, we could sit back and enjoy the experience completely, no more planning required. Snacks, coffee, and water were provided. Plus, our excursion covered all ticket and entry fees, there was no stress about parking, and, I got to nap between stops if I felt like it. What’s more, being on a private group tour gave me so much insight into the places we visited. Visiting Mayan sites with a local guide is a truly invaluable experience. 

For video footage, you can preview my trip on my Cancun Instagram Highlights! And if you ever have a question, you can always DM me @cassiescompass or drop it in the comments below. If you’ve visited Mayan ruins or swum in a cenote, I’d love to know your favorite spots in the comments. 

This trip was in no way sponsored or compensated by Cancun Adventures. I simply loved my experience so much that I had to share! As always, all thoughts and opinions are sincere and entirely my own.

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