Attractions & guided tours

Tulum Mayan ruins self-guided walking audio tour

from

$8.00

Free cancellation

Language: English

Mobile voucher accepted

Duration: from 2 hours to 3 hours

Instant confirmation

Tour with Audioguide

e-Voucher

Do this because

Enjoy a warm sea breeze and stunning views as you explore, thanks to the sapphire-blue ocean right next to Tulum
Decipher the hidden meaning behind etchings and architecture throughout the site
Snap photos of the astonishing Temple of Frescoes, one of the most richly decorated buildings in any Mayan city
Learn the full story behind the infamous Mayan Calendar, which predicted the world would end in 2012

What to expect

Your tour of the Tulum Ruins begins on the outskirts of this incredible archaeological site. As you enter, you’ll learn about the fascinating, complicated history of Mayan society, including why they built things the way they did, and why so much mystery surrounds their hieroglyphics.

The first major structure you’ll see will be the House of the Cenote, where the city’s ancient residents got their water. From there, you’ll have a good view of the walls and watchtower which once guarded this place from outsiders.

Up next is the Temple of the Wind, once a shrine built to honor the wind god. From there, you’ll get a crash course in Mayan religion and the significance of all these temples.

After that comes the Palace of the Great Lord, a truly impressive structure which was once occupied by the rulers of this city. Then it’s on to the Temple of the Descending God. Not only is this one of the tallest buildings on the site, it’s also one of the most detailed, with all sorts of etchings and designs to decipher.

Next, you’ll find the Castle, which is pretty hard to miss. This imposing building is larger than any other in the Tulum Ruins, and looms over all of them from atop a bluff. It even has a platform out front dedicated for use by ancient dancers!

The House of Columns comes next, thought by scholars to be a sort of administrative building. As you pass this, you’ll learn the details of the infamous Mayan Calendar, including the fact that it’s actually two calendars!

Then you’ll reach the Temple of Frescoes, bedecked in so much ancient artwork you’ll be glad you have a tour guide to unpack it all for you! After that are the House of Chultun and the Temple of the Initial Series. These two structures are some of the best examples you can find of ancient Mayan architecture.

As you continue toward the conclusion, you’ll learn about the high stakes ball games played by the Mayans, and get filled in on where the Mayans are today. The truth might surprise you!

What's included

Self-guided tour taken via the app
Unique password (sent by email) for access to app
Static map on your phone
Audio narration
Written text explanations

What's not included

Entrance fees to paid attractions
Food or drinks

Where

Ruinas de Tulum, Zona Hotelera Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Meeting point:

This self-guided tour begins at the Ruinas de Tulum entrance.

What to remember

Know in advance:

Entrance tickets to Tulum Ruins are not included and must be purchased separately
This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The Action Tour Guide app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do not wait until you are on-site
Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
This tour has been developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists
The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms
This tour is valid for an entire year - from the moment of booking. You can use it multiple times over multiple trips

Provider

ACTION TOUR GUIDE

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Attractions & guided tours

Go City | Cancun All-Inclusive Pass

Get your Go City Cancun All-Inclusive Pass and save up to 55% off combined admission prices and skip the line at select attractions.

free cancellation

Instant Confirmation

Excursions & day trips

Coco Bongo Cancun Ticket

If you're in the mood for a night out with plenty of fun and dancing, look no further than Coco Bongo in Cancun. With acrobat displays, bar-top conga lines, DJ sets, live bands, and music from every decade you're sure to have a great time – and you'll have express entry and an open bar thrown in for good measure.

free cancellation

Available in:

Excursions & day trips

Mexico Espectacular Dinner Show at Xcaret

As evening draws in, Xcaret awakens with their Mexico Espectacular show – a night where colours and textures aren't just for your eyes, but also for your palate. With an exclusive meal included, you'll journey through the heart of Mexican-cuisine, indulging in dishes crafted from sustainably-sourced, organic ingredients. Treat your taste buds to an experience just as exciting as the show itself. Menu as follows:Appetisers: House salad, smoked cream cheeseStarters: Mexican truffle mushrooms, prawn and Spanish sausage salbut, tuna aguachileMain courses: Caribbean lobster, roast pork tacos, duck magret with sauceDessert: Xcaret flower pot (sponge cake)Drinks: Glass of white wine, glass of red wine, glass of sparkling wine, flavoured water or soft drink

free cancellation

Instant Confirmation

Excursions & day trips

Chichen Itza the Mayan Wonder Tour from Cancun and Riviera Maya

Discover the ancient capital of the Mayan Empire and learn why it has been designated one of the modern wonders of the world on this guided tour.

free cancellation

Available in:

en, es

Tickets and events

Ventura Park with Transfer from Cancun

Roar through the treetops, speed around the go-kart track, engage in a battle of virtual reality and jump the waves in the wave pool – the list is endless. With an all-inclusive day out at Ventura Park there's activities, games and thrilling rides, all just a short journey away from Cancun.

free cancellation

Available in:

Activities

Isla Mujeres catamaran from Cancun basic tour

Sail away from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on catamaran and enjoy a full-day guided excursion.

free cancellation

Available in:

en, es

Tickets and events

Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ Riviera Maya entrance ticket

A chance to experience the world-famous aerial acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil – but with a Mexican twist. You'll enjoy pre-show canapés treats and champagne before the awe-inspiring acrobatics really kick off at Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ. Without doubt, one of the most exhilarating nights in the Riviera Maya.Stroll along a wooden walkway, which winds its way around a lake, and make sure to look out for the characters spinning fire-lit batons on board canoes. Take your seat right up close to the action before the rest of the audience, so you can enjoy your champagne and appetisers in a leisurely manner.When the show starts, you'll be treated to an out-of-this-world set – acrobats soaring across the ceiling and daredevil motorcyclists on stage. And, of course, it comes with a Mexican twist, from the dinosaur-destroying meteor that landed in the Yucatan peninsula to a homage to the migrating monarch butterflies. Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ – a night of fantasy and pulsating entertainment.

Duration from 2 hours to 4 hours

Available in:

Entrance Fees Included

Excursions & day trips

Xcaret Night Show Ticket

There's nothing else quite like Xcaret in Riviera Maya. And with this evening ticket, you'll have the added bonus of the Xcaret México Espectacular show. But first, you can swim in the underground rivers, admire the Horse Exhibition and immerse yourself in jungle life before sitting down for the main show.Located by the sea near Playa del Carmen, Xcaret boasts more than 50 attractions that take you through the heart of the jungle in many different ways. You'll have a couple of hours to get a taster of the action at the Coral Reef Aquarium and Butterfly Pavilion, or walk through caves, archaeological sites and a Maya village. You can even dive into the water on an underground river swim, or set off on the tropical jungle trail.And when night falls, you'll be treated to the Xcaret México Espectacular, a light and colour show that takes you through the country's history. Over 300 artists will take to the stage of the Gran Tlachco theatre showing you dances and culture from different regions of Mexico.

free cancellation

Entrance Fees Included

Excursions & day trips

ATV, ziplines and cenote tour

Enjoy a day of exciting adventures in the depths of the Quintana Roo jungle. Get ready to experience the adrenaline-filled ziplines deep in the jungle, drive ATVs, and swim in a Mayan cenote.

free cancellation

Available in:

en, es

Activities

Chichen Itza self-guided tour with audio narration & map

Get the chance to discover Chichen Itza on your own thanks to this self-guided audio tour!

free cancellation

Available in: