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Riviera Maya Tour: Explore Tulum in Classic VW
5.0
6 Ratings
Akumal
Explore Riviera Maya in a VW Beetle: Swim with turtles, visit Tulum ruins, and enjoy a beachside lunch. Adventure awaits!
Explore Riviera Maya in a VW Beetle: Swim with turtles, visit Tulum ruins, and enjoy a beachside lunch. Adventure awaits!
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Akumal Beach - Experience swimming with turtles in the Caribbean at Akumal, a protected marine preserve known as the ‘land of the turtles’ in Mayan. Adhering to park rules to safeguard the turtles, you will be guided by a locally accredited turtle specialist and your tour guide, who will capture videos of your adventure. A lifejacket is mandatory…
- Akumal Beach - Experience swimming with turtles in the Caribbean at Akumal, a protected marine preserve known as the ‘land of the turtles’ in Mayan. Adhering to park rules to safeguard the turtles, you will be guided by a locally accredited turtle specialist and your tour guide, who will capture videos of your adventure. A lifejacket is mandatory (provided), flippers are not allowed, and a floating ring is optional. Depending on the wind, a short 3-5 minute boat ride will take you to the coral reef, where you’ll swim for about five minutes before heading to the protected area. Here, you’ll spend approximately 45 minutes swimming among turtles, with the possibility of encountering manta rays and other marine life.
- Tulum Archaeological Site - Explore the Mayan archaeological site at Tulum, renowned for its coastal location and breathtaking views, featuring ruins perched on cliffs above a beach and the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Your tour guide will provide insights into Mayan architecture, culture, and history, both generally and specifically at Tulum. Expect to see numerous iguanas, and your guide will take photos throughout the tour, which will be shared with you at the end of the day. The tour typically lasts about one hour.
- Tulum Beach - As you drive from the archaeological site along the coastal road, your guide will highlight and explain the local architectural and fashion styles that have emerged in this vibrant bohemian tourist town, possibly visiting a few iconic businesses that exemplify these styles. Lunch will be at a location chosen based on your preferences and budget, decided on the day. Options may include tacos away from the beach or a visit to a beach club, often featuring signature Tulum-style design, a pool, and beach and sea access.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- All Fees and Taxes
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- All Fees and Taxes
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
Operated by Senor Travel Bug, embark on a journey through Mexico’s Riviera Maya in either a classic VW Beetle or a modern vehicle. Begin your adventure by swimming above a vibrant reef and alongside turtles in their natural habitat, all under the guidance of a certified expert. Continue to the Mayan archaeological site of Tulum, renowned for its…
Operated by Senor Travel Bug, embark on a journey through Mexico’s Riviera Maya in either a classic VW Beetle or a modern vehicle. Begin your adventure by swimming above a vibrant reef and alongside turtles in their natural habitat, all under the guidance of a certified expert. Continue to the Mayan archaeological site of Tulum, renowned for its clifftop ruins overlooking the stunning turquoise Caribbean Sea. As you drive through Tulum, admire the distinctive architecture and textiles of this rapidly growing Bohemian town. Enjoy a delightful lunch at a spot recommended by your guide, possibly a beach club offering access to a pool, beach, and sea, where you can unwind for a few hours and take in the beauty of the pristine white sand.
- If pick-up point is in Cancun, the tour will start and finish with a drive of approx 90 minutes (each way)
Location
Akumal Beach
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Ernibarbara
May 1, 2026
Great trip to history and nature - Great trip! Spontaneous adaptation to our wishes was possible at short notice. Perfect smooth organization. We were traveling with 2 families, first in Coba, then Muyil and finally Sian Ka’an. An early start is recommended to avoid heat in Coba. Be sure to take the recommended bikes, you can get around better. The floating in nature reserve Sian Ka’an was certainly the highlight of our whole trip to Mexico! Incredibly clear water, with life jacket easily doable for all. Contrary to our initial feeling, the hot chocolate was the crowning achievement 😉 we would book with Paul again immediately. He knows all about it: Historical, fauna and flora, current development, no question remains unanswered! Thank you very much!!! Unfortunately, no more than 5stars are possible, we would give 10!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicolaar-c
Mar 23, 2026
Absolutely fantastic day trip to Coba, Cenote and swimming with turtles, packed with fascinating and brilliant adventure - If you are looking for an absolutely brilliant tour, where you end the day feeling fully educated about all thing Mayan, eating amazing food in the most beautiful locations, swimming in beautiful spots, whilst missing the crowds and with a tailor-made itinerary to meet your needs to boot, look no further. And what is more, with Paul, you will feel like you've gained a friend at the end of the day. I cannot recommend his tour in his BRILLIANT car highly enough. Paul sorted all the tickets and transport and all we had to do was turn up at the appointed time. He is a brilliant communicator, both before the trip when sorting details, and on the trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ttrunzo
Mar 8, 2026
Absolute highlight of our vacation - For our second stay at the lovely Secrets Maroma resort in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, we were seeking a unique and private excursion experience and Señor Travel Bug/Paul's name kept appearing in multiple Facebook groups. He came highly recommended and everyone who had been on one of his tours had a fantastic experience. We reached out to Paul about his Private VW Beetle Tour that included a trip to the Tulum ruins and a swimming with turtles experience, and he immediately put us at ease with his warm and engaging personality, his deep love and knowledge of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, and his willingness to work with us to shape a boutique excursion that was as fun for him as it was for us. Due to our concerns about the welfare of the sea turtles we opted to alter the tour and he offered to plan an a trip that started with a tour the Mayan ruins of the Coba Archeological Area. This included a climb to the top of the Nohoch Mul Pyramid, with a stunning view of the surrounding jungle canopy, and a bicycle ride through the site to see such stunning ruins such as the Pok Ta' Pok ball courts. We then drove to the Punta Laguna monkey sanctuary, where we encountered a small group of spider monkeys in their natural habitat, and it was definitely a highlight of the day! After stopping at a local restaurant for an incredible lunch, we continued on to the Nohoch Nah Chich cenote, where we swam in an underground cave system and encountered a bat colony living in the caves, among other stunning sights. All of this was framed by long drives to each site in a vintage VW Beetle, which was unbelievably fun. The vehicle itself definitely turned a lot of heads and numerous compliments were shouted as we passed locals in each village along the way.
We can't say enough good things about the experience and Paul himself. We ended up spending 11.5 hours together in total and it seemed to pass in a flash. He is one of the nicest people we've met in our travels, and has a deep and broad knowledge of Mexican culture and history, is an avid photographer and birder, and a total mensch. He also continuously took stunning photos of us, animals, and the sites we toured, as well as multiple video clips that he edited together into a wonderful summation of our day, all of which he sent to us at the end of the day. HIGHLY recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dbuk2012
Jan 18, 2026
Outstanding - without question the best tour company we have used. - This will certainly be the best tour you ever take from Cancun because the guide, Paul, is obsessed with giving you the best possible experience in the time available, carefully finding out in advance what you would like to do (more time at Coba? No problem! Longer in the Cenote, of course! Fine dining lunch or Mexican street food - you choose) and subsequently delivering on that.
Our first tour was of the cenotes - after some discussion as to how much swimming we wanted, how much activity and (critically) any issues with claustrophobia, darkness or bats (more later) we headed for the first cenote, a beautiful, open site with jump points and a zip line. After as much time as requested, we headed for lunch - an incredible local place hidden off the beaten track - and onto the next site, the inside cenote. Snorkeling through the caves, with stalagmites, fully equipped and carefully guided, was one of the best moments of the holiday - truly breathtaking. Then a journey home, stopping off for the best hot chocolate ever on the way back.
When a tour was this good, we enquired about the availability of another! We had seen Chichen Itza before, but wanted to visit the other sites at Coba and Tulum, both of which are breathtaking. Again, Paul was perfectly attentive to our wants, checking the most suitable method of going around the sites - in our case on bicycle, although other options are available, and giving as many options as possible to make the day perfect.
The Beetle was very much part of the charm for us. It of course does not have the airconditioning or legroom of a modern vehicle, but as Paul alerted us, his other vehicle, an Audi Q5, did! (Go with the Bug - you won’t regret it.)
Overall, you choose how you spend your holiday time. If you don’t want to waste a minute, get to see the things you want, eat at places you like, and have a bespoke experience speak to Senor Travel Bug. If you would rather save a few dollars to sit on a bus with 50 other people, spending an hour on hotel pickups/drop offs and get a bland bored guide feel free. But this tour provides everything. Even amazing photos of the day and a brilliantly edited video of your tour waiting in your inbox the following day.
Our guide Paul was incredible, his passion for people and Mexico, his desire to please those on tour, the little extra touches are amazing. A truly outstanding tour that should be anyone’s first choice on holiday in Cancun and the surrounding area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roam241433
Jan 1, 2026
Amazing Private Tour – A Highlight of Our Mexican Holiday!! - Our private tour with Paul was truly unforgettable. From start to finish, he was friendly, professional, and incredibly attentive to all our needs. His deep knowledge of Mayan history added so much richness to the experience, giving us insights we would have never discovered on our own.
The tour took place in a classic VW Beetle, which made the whole journey even more special and memorable. It added a unique charm and fun vibe that we absolutely loved.
Paul also took amazing photos throughout the day—beautiful, well-framed shots that perfectly captured the magic of our adventure. These photos will be treasured memories from our Mexican holiday.
We can’t recommend this tour enough. Thank you, Paul, for an incredible experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amcccott
Mar 22, 2025
Unforgettable family adventure - Paul created an unforgettable adventure for my family! We visited an amazing Cenote then informative walk through the Mayan ruins and fantastic lunch in Tulum. He’s a wealth of knowledge that our family enjoyed…learned and laughed all day! We look forward to another adventure with him when we return!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
