Here you have a one-day itinerary to Mayan Ruins and cenote, the best of both worlds in the Riviera Maya. Discover all the richness of staying at the Riviera Maya and the natural treasures within this magical destination. If you want to explore a little bit of everything check out this itinerary that we made for you, enjoy and explore!
Tulum
Start off the day early, this is key to any tour of Mayan Ruins if you want to avoid crowds, enjoy good sunlight, and have time to visit other attractions. Let’s say at 7 am you drive off to Tulum, to be there in 2 hours and arrive around 9 am. The Ruins are open from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, and the entrance fee is $85 pesos. You can give this first stop an hour as you walk through the ruins.
The main attraction of this parasitic town is its beaches and archaeological site. Tulum is located 130 km south of Cancun and is considered by many to be the most beautiful. They are small but impressive, located on top of a small cliff 15 meters above the turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. The ruins of Tulum have one of the most beautiful beaches in the Riviera Maya.
Tulum’s greatest attraction is the combination of the imposing ruins with the amazing hues of the Caribbean Sea. Tulum in Mayan means “wall” because it is a walled city, one of the very few ancient cities with this characteristic.
If you are interested, check out the Tulum Travel Guide we made.
Muyil
If you took an hour at Tulum, you’ll be on your way to the next stop around 10-11 am. Muyil is another Archaeological Site that is still unknown to many tourists but it sure is worth the visit. Just a 20-minute drive to Sian Ka’an Reserve, you’ll find the Archaeological site of Muyil. The site opens daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm, so you can enjoy another hour or so at this place. Muyil entrance fee: $45 pesos. Plan to spend about 20-30 minutes exploring the Muyil ruins. It’s an interesting archeological site to visit.
Food Stop: Don’t forget to bring your own snacks and a reusable bottle or tumbler to keep your water cool and use less plastic. If at any point you’re feeling hungry, Tulum has great restaurant options for you to make a quick stop and grab a bite.
Cenote Dos Ojos
As you start heading back, I bet you’ll want to cool down from all the walking under the sun. By 2 pm you can head to a cenote on your way back to your hotel. There are many to choose from, but we recommend Cenote Dos Ojos (Two-Eyed Cenote) near Tulum.
Dos Ojos is part of a flooded cave system located north of Tulum, on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
The cenote opens from 9 am to 5 pm, so you can relax or even head over to another cenote if you have time. Cenote Dos Ojos entrance fees start from $200 pesos, including zip lining, and a life jacket.
This itinerary is thought to be versatile, as you can stay in Tulum to enjoy the beach, or at Muyil to explore the Sian Ka’an Reserve. This way you see there are plenty of things to do in the Riviera Maya just a few hours away.