When we visited Mexico, we knew we wanted to explore some Mayan ruins. Since we were staying in…read moreTulum, we visited some bigger ruins (like Coba), but not far from Tulum are the Muyil Ruins. The ruins are about 2 hours south of Cancun, and for us it was a 20 minute drive from Tulum. This is not like any of the bigger ruins that are overflowing with tourists and busses - we didn't see anyone else there for the couple hours that we spent exploring! We drove our rental car there, and the ruins are easy to find, clearly marked along the highway, and also easy to find using Google Maps. We parked near the entrance, and it seems like there is ample parking. There is a counter where you can pay for your admission to the ruins. One of the things I wish they handed out at Mayan Ruins are maps, but the ruins are small enough to explore on your own. The paths around the ruins are well-maintained, and there is signage around the property. I loved the ambiance of Muyil, as we walked around the jungle. The Muyil ruins date back to 300 BC, and it is very interesting to visit. It isn't a far walk to the first set of buildings, only a minute or so from the entrance of the park. The most impressive structure at Muyil is El Castillo. This is not as large as structures at places like Coba or Chichen Itza, but still very interesting. What a difference from the other crowded ruins we have been to. Although you can't climb on any of the bigger structures, it is nice to really absorb the visit without the crowds. The grounds are not very big, so you can cover the area in a short amount of time. However, we had a nice time walking around. It gave us some time to stretch our legs and get some fresh air, enjoy the jungle and ruins. For the kids, they weren't overly interested, but it was just the right length of time for exploring. You won't find bikes or bike taxis here, as it is not so commercialized or large as other ruins. It was very peaceful morning at Muyil. By the time we headed out, there was only one other group there, of a couple tourists that had driven their own car. Much different than other ruins like Coba or Chichen-Itza, where busloads of tourists are brought in. I recommend taking in the solitude, flora and fauna. We meandered around Muyil for a couple hours, even taking the path to the entrance to the lagoon, although the gate was closed. I would love to go back sometime and add a trip to the Sian Ka'an nature reserve. We simply didn't have time to add a Sian Ka'an tour this time. Tips for your visit: ~ Bring bug spray. The ruins are truly in the jungle and there were lots of mosquitoes! ~ I don't think you need sunscreen, as most of the walkways are through the jungle. ~ There are bathrooms by the entrance. ~ We did not see a gift shop or any items to purchase, although there were some shops across the highway, with foods and local crafts. They looked interesting but we didn't have time to stop.

You want off the beaten path? Want to get away from the tourists? Want to experience some amazing…read morethings? Read on. Thiey have Mayan ruins here. They have bats hanging from ceilings in caves and the bats are a few feet away from you. They have moderately poisonous snakes eating live birds a couple feet from you are walking. This is the real jungle and it's all around you. And best of all, and for a hefty fee (CASH ONLY, by the way, so take a lot), you can take a wild speedboat ride to a natural lazy river where you climb into the water and float along, unguided by anything but the natural current, for about thirty minutes, in lovely, briny water, among the mangroves, small fishes, and birds swooping in and out of the marsh around you. It's a surreal, wonderful experience. No rubber inner tubes, no lifeguards, no guides. Just you and the river and the fish and the birds. Very, very few tourists here. I hesitate to even review this place because I want it to remain real forever. Hopefully, only the adventurers will come here.

Jay and his crew, Mariano and Fito were awesome. Cannot say enough about their knowledge of the…read morearea. So informative, would never be the same if we tried to tour on our own. Jay even hired a private tour guide at Tulum that was very knowledgeable and made for the best experience. Our group consisted of 9 kids under the age of 1 and 8 adults. They did a fantastic job of herding us and keeping us on track. We did basic tour plus zip lines, cliff jumping, swimming with the turtles. The lunch stop in Akumal on the beach was amazing. We highly recommend Your Private Tour for any size group. Just a great team!!!

From the owner: we offer sophisticated tours of the Mayan Ruins as well as snorkeling in cenotes (Mayan underground…read moreriver system) snorkeling with sea turtles and zip lining in the jungle.

Ok, if you are looking for a great experience look no further, this is the one you want, Hugo (our…read moreguide) and Mario (our driver) will make this experience a true trip of a lifetime. Hugo explains everything about the culture today and of the past. You will have a wonderful ride in a modern van and feel very safe with the driving. They stopped and picked up a cup of coffee for us on the way out and had drinks as well as a cold towels awaiting you when your tour of the ruins is done. Our tour also included fantastic buffet lunch that can not be beat. Hugo even helped us with getting the best prices with some of the local shops!

Seriously so amazing. Hugo was the best guide and the team was super friendly and amazing. Our tour…read morewas perfect and we truly received an in depth look at Chichen Itza. We stayed at an all inclusive resort and this was so much better than the tours they do.

Marco took us from Cancun to Tulum with a stop on the way out for bathroom break and snacks and a…read morestop on the way back for lunch. His English is very good, vehicle was spotless (very, very clean). Seats very comfortable, hand sanitizer in vehicle as well as trash can and cooler w/cold water a soda. It was so nice to be with a local who knows the area AND speaks English. 13 passenger van with tall ceilings and our family of 5. So much cheaper than a bus... we took that too the week before and this was a better experience.

100% worth the 600 pesos/person for the boat ride/canal float experience. As of today's exchange…read morerate, that would be about $32 a person and worth every last peso. The lagoons are absolutely stunning and the canal that you float down is peaceful and crystal clear. The guides are fairly quiet but EXTREMELY knowledgeable if you ask them any questions. There are a few ruins around that you can get out and look at as well as they will tell you the history of the canals. Very interesting and informative. The thing my husband and I talk about and remember most of our Tulum trip is this experience. Good thing to know ahead of time however is the loooooong walk on the boardwalk back to the boat. Make sure you have a good pair of Keen sandals or something that are comfortable to walk about a half mile or so.

Excellent eco tour, great tour guides! Ask for Novia, she is wonderful. Food was excellent, very…read morenice butterfly oasis at the end.

We took a private tour of artisan workshops around Oaxaca, MX with the Mexico Kan Tours branch in…read morethat location. Jorge was our guide and Lucas was our driver. I can't say enough about how knowledgeable and enthusiastic they were. The workshops were incredible, to witness the artistry and industry first hand. We went to see black clay pottery, wood carving alebrijes, the master sculptor Jose Antonio of Manos que Ven, and a mezcal tasting at La Locura. It was a perfect way to learn about the region's history and get out of the city for a day. I highly recommend it.

Did the Chichen Itza & Cenote tour and had a great time - no complaints! Our tour guide was super…read moreinformative and the van was very clean and comfortable. The pick up was very punctual. If I had one critique- I do wish they could charge the full cost of the excursion at the time of booking so it's not something we have to do during the actual excursion. There was a 7% fee charged which felt unnecessary.

What a great experience. We didn't want to waste time or energy figuring out how to see cenotes by…read moreourselves. Tulum Bike tours came through with the transportation, the bikes, the historical/cultural knowledge and the insider info that allowed us to just enjoy the adventure. All of this at an amazing price point. The groups are small enough to ensure you get personalized attention throughout your trip. We chose the Jungle Bike Adventure but there's a great menu of options (which we will be back for on future trips).

It doesn't get any better than this!!! So my best friend and…read moreI took the Mayan Backroads Bike Tour and the Sian Ka'an Mayan Wetlands tour and both were top notch!!! Hugo was our amazing tour guide on the Backroads Bike tour. This tour was absolutely life changing!!! If you're thinking about doing it, stop thinking, and book it. This tour is worth millions. Frank and Hugo are priceless! I don't even have the words to describe! This tour is pure adventure! We biked, hiked, canoed, zip-lined, and ate lunch in a Mayan village. I am so thankful for this experience. Wear a hat, wear sunscreen, take bug spray, drink the lemonade, and have the time of your life!! The Sian Ka'an Maya wet lands tour is pure joy!! Frank took us out on this one and I could have stayed forever! Floating in the canals and learning more about the ruins and eco system was pure perfection!! This place is absolutely beautiful. It's what dreams are made of. Once again, it's worth every single cent!! I couldn't thank Frank and Hugo enough for being great hosts! They are definitely on my Christmas list!!

A Chichén Itz-A+ Experience!…read more We had an absolutely outstanding experience with Absolute Adventures, thanks in large part to our incredible guide, Alberto, and our professional driver, Yosmar. Alberto guided us through all the major archaeological sites at Chichén Itzá with a perfect balance of deep knowledge, storytelling, and patience. He answered countless questions--not just from my wife and me, but also from our very curious 10- and 8-year-old children. He made history come alive in a way that was engaging and accessible for all of us, which is no small feat on a long, hot day. What truly set Alberto apart was how attentive he was to our children's needs. He made sure we moved at a comfortable pace, checked in frequently, and ensured the kids stayed engaged and comfortable throughout the tour. He also did a fantastic job preparing us for interactions with vendors and other on-site situations, which made the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. Our driver, Yosmar, was equally impressive. He was extremely professional, always parking in safe areas--and whenever possible, in the shade (a huge bonus!). He was attentive while we were getting in and out of the vehicle at each stop, especially when traffic was present, which made us feel very well taken care of. After the archaeological sites, Yosmar drove us to a beautiful cenote, where Alberto again went above and beyond--explaining all the amenities, walking down with us, and even helping carry one of our bags. We later stopped at an authentic Mayan/Mexican restaurant, where even our kids found food they loved. Alberto asked if he could join us for lunch, and we were happy to have him--his insight into the dishes and local cuisine made the meal even more enjoyable. We wrapped up the day with a stop in Valladolid, getting a quick but meaningful look at the Spanish influence, Mayan culture, and, of course, chocolate. It was a long day, but being able to go at our own pace--with our needs and preferences fully respected--made it more than worth it. Booking with Absolute Adventures was one of the best decisions we made on this trip, and we would absolutely do it again. Highly recommended for families, especially those traveling with children.

5/5 Highly Recommend…read more We booked two private tours with Absolute Adventures: first the Tulum Ruins, Swim with Turtles and Mexican Lunch on a Monday and then the Two Cenote and Mexican Lunch on Wednesday. For Tulum and Turtles our tour guide was Luis and our driver was Rodrigo. For the Cenotes, our tour guide was Arturo and our driver was Enrique. Both guides were exceptional and both drivers took good care of us. Booking online was simple and their communication about the tours, both confirming the tours before we left home and same day communication about pickup, was excellent. Our hotel turned out to be a headache about letting outside tour companies onto the property, and we ran into some real meet up issues because of it, but the team was super responsive and got it sorted quickly. It all worked out in the end, and honestly that kind of responsiveness under pressure told us a lot about how they run things. We started our Tulum tour early to beat the crowds and heat (highly recommend!). Luis guided us through Tulum and made sure we stayed hydrated the whole time, which matters more than people think when you're out in that heat. His knowledge of the area, the flora, the fauna, the history, was genuinely impressive, and he had this rare ability to be educational and entertaining at the same time without ever feeling like a lecture. At our turtle excursion he schlepped our gear and made sure we didn't forget anything, none of which was his job, he just did it because that's who he is. I was also practicing my broken Spanish throughout the trip, and Luis never once made me feel dumb or embarrassed when I got it wrong, which I really appreciated. For our next tour, Arturo took us to the cenotes. When he picked us up, he suggested we visit a different cenote than what we'd originally booked. I was a little skeptical, figured he just wanted a shorter drive. I was completely wrong. The cenote he picked instead allowed us to have two totally different types of experiences that we would have missed entirely otherwise, and I'm glad we trusted him. At Cenote Jaguar, Arturo gave our kids real time and space to jump and play, which ended up being a highlight of the whole trip for them. At Cenote Dos Ojos, claustrophobia was a real concern for us. But Arturo's tour through the caves was informative and calm enough that we felt genuinely safe the entire time. Between the logistics, the guides, and how they handled a hiccup that wasn't even their fault, these two tours were one of the best parts of our trip.

During our vacation in Playa Del Carmen we booked a private tour with Living Dreams for a morning…read moreexcursion to Telum. Daniel Alvarez was our tour guide. We were picked up on time in a nice big clean car. Daniel was very friendly and was giving us history and information about the area during our ride. We parked and got on a tram to the main entrance. We entered the ruins with no issues as Daniel had all our tickets already. We were able to walk all the grounds and Daniel gave us all the amazing history and was able to answer all our questions- even the ones about the wildlife. When we retuned to the car he had a cooler with cold towels and a big variety of cold drinks for us. The excursion included lunch at a place of our choice and we asked for Daniel's suggestion as we wanted something local and not a tourist spot. He took us for some street tacos that were amazing! He was also kind enough to stop at a store so we could grab a few souvenirs and a mango stand for some fresh mango. Daniel was amazing and we will definitely use Living Dreams again and will be asking for Daniel!

Such a great experience. Claudia was so knowledgeable as a guide and Charlie was a great driver. We…read moretoured the Mayan ruins, swam with turtles and explored a private Cenote. Claudia took care of everything so we didn't have to get our own tickets or wait in lines. If looking for a tour Living Dreams Mexico is an amazing option.