Private Tour: Coba Ruins by Bike, Tulum Ruins by Boat and Swim in a Cenote

Rich was recommended to us by friends and we are so glad we contacted him. Our day couldn’t have been better. Our family (Parents and 12M) had the best day possible. Rich even made sure our angst filled preteen was engaged the whole day. The cenotes were so incredibly beautiful and snorkeling was out of this world. We were worried we would be with crowds or rushed but Rich was the perfect combination of chill while making sure we were able to enjoy each activity before the crowds came in. 10/10 we will be visiting with him again. Such a perfect experience. Core memories were made.

We did two private tours with Richard from XtraMile Tours and they both were very memorable and great experiences. Our first day was a trip to a Cenote , Tulik by water and the Coba Ruins. Our second day was a trip to Ek Balam, a blessing from a Mayan Shaman and a meal with a Mayan family. Richard is very friendly and truly wants all of his guests to have the best experience. He curates each tour to your wants and needs. Our first tour was of the Xi Tun Cenote. It is an enclosed Cenote and was fantastic. It was a unique experience to explore the caverns via the underground river. After that we went to the Tulum beach to snorkel and view Tulum from the sea. There were some issues getting the passes to the beach but once that was resolved we loaded into a boat. The view of Tulum from the sea is quite interesting especially when Richard explained the operation of the Mayan lighthouse. The snorkelling was good not great but we did get to see sea turtles which was a huge highlight for my wife. The Coba ruins were very interesting and the trike ride helped to limit the amount of walking especially during the bad weather. Our second day involved a trip to tour the Mayan Temple at Ek Balam. The temple and grounds are in god shape and we were able to climb to the top. Richard had a local Mayan guide provide a tour of the temple. We enjoyed learning about the Mayan culture and the various gods. After Ek Balam we went to a nearby open cenote. It was a great place to go swimming. It would be awesome on a hot sunny day but our day was not that. You can swing by ropes to jump into the Cenote. After that we went to get a blessing by a Mayan shaman which was one of our favourite experiences. Richard videod the whole ceremony. Then we went to enjoy a lunch with a local Mayan family. It was very rustic as the food was cooked over an open fire and my wife got to prepare the tortillas in the old tradition along with the Abuela. It was truly memorable and authentic. Richard is a lot of fun and goes out of his way to make sure you have the best experience. The downside to Richard is that he seems to do things by the “seat of his pants “. We could not tell if he was joking or not when it came to avoiding potential issues with how he was operating (ie he had me go and sit up front with him in when we’re driving through Tulum so he would not appear to be operating as a Taxi). We also very nearly ran out of gas when we were coming back from Ek Balam. The fuel gauge was on E when we finally found a gas station. However that being said we would gladly use Richard again for a private tour if we are in the Puerto Aventuras/Playa Del Carmen area.

Rich provided an amazing and immersive tour. Everyone on the tour was very happy with their experience, as well. Thank you to our most informative and adventurous guide! All diets were accommodated, the grilled corn was incredible! From the cenotes, snorkeling off the coast of Tulum to climbing incredible temples, high above the jungle canopy. Rich showed us the jungle, like we've never seen before! Including a blessing from a Mayan Shaman!