Private Tours & Excursions from Cancún, Tulum & the Riviera Maya
A Private Chauffeur for the Day, Planned Around Your Itinerary
Black Luxury Service provides private tours and excursions from Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and resorts throughout the Riviera Maya, with a professional chauffeur and a luxury vehicle reserved exclusively for your party.
The Yucatán Peninsula offers far more than any single resort can, from the Mayan cities of Chichén Itzá, Tulum, and Ek Balam to colonial Valladolid, the cenotes of the interior, the Lagoon of Seven Colors at Bacalar, and the islands of Holbox and Isla Mujeres. A private excursion replaces the group tour’s hotel pickup circuit and fixed timetable with an itinerary of your own: you choose the departure time, the stops, and the length of each visit, while your chauffeur manages the driving, parking, and timing.
Excursions may be reserved as a round trip to a single destination, as an hourly chauffeur service, or as a full-day private car and driver.
Why Choose a Private Excursion over a Group Tour?
A private excursion allows you to reach Chichén Itzá or the Tulum ruins at opening time, ahead of the tour buses and the midday heat. Families stop for lunch when it suits them, and couples may linger at a cenote without regard for a group schedule.
Private transportation also expands what a single day can include. Several of the region’s finest sites lie hours apart, and a dedicated vehicle makes it practical to combine them, such as Chichén Itzá with a cenote and lunch in Valladolid, or the Tulum ruins followed by an afternoon with the sea turtles of Akumal.
Hourly & Full-Day Chauffeur Service
Hourly and full-day chauffeur service keeps the same vehicle and driver with you from the first pickup to the final drop-off. It is the most flexible arrangement for days that combine sightseeing, beach clubs, shopping, and dinner, with no need to arrange new transportation at each stop.
How Long Are the Drives to Popular Excursions?
Distances on the Yucatán Peninsula are often greater than visitors expect, and the starting point matters. The following private transfer times are approximate and vary with traffic and departure time.
| Excursion | Distance & approximate drive |
|---|---|
| Chichén Itzá from Tulum | 150 km, 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Tulum from Cancún Airport | 118 km, 90 minutes to 2 hours |
| Bacalar from Cancún | 345 km, 4 to 5 hours |
| Bacalar from Tulum Airport | 215 km, 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Holbox (Chiquilá ferry) from Cancún Airport | 2 to 2.5 hours, plus a 20 to 25 minute ferry |
| Isla Mujeres (Puerto Juárez ferry) from Cancún | 25 to 35 minutes, plus a 20 minute ferry |
| Cobá from Tulum | About 1 hour |
Our team will recommend departure times, the most efficient starting point, and whether a destination is better suited to a day trip or an overnight stay.
Popular Private Excursions in the Yucatán Peninsula
The following excursions are those our guests request most often. Each may be reserved individually or combined with other stops in a full-day itinerary.
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is among the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico. Arriving at opening allows time at El Castillo before the crowds, followed by a nearby cenote or lunch in Valladolid. See our Tulum to Chichén Itzá transfer.
Tulum Ruins & Cenotes
The Tulum ruins are the only Mayan site built on a cliff above the Caribbean, fifteen minutes north of town and best visited at opening. The surrounding cenotes and Cobá, an hour inland, complete a full day. Read our guide to the top things to do in Tulum.
Valladolid & Ek Balam
Valladolid, a colonial city of pastel facades and cobblestone streets in the heart of the Yucatán, is the gateway to the Ek Balam archaeological site and to cenotes including Zací, in the center of town, and X’Keken nearby.
Bacalar
Bacalar’s Lagoon of Seven Colors is a freshwater lagoon stretching 42 kilometers, its color shifting from deep indigo to pale turquoise. Given the distance, most guests stay at least one night. Read our guide on how to get to Bacalar.
Holbox Island
Holbox is a car-free island within the Yum Balam Nature Reserve, where whale sharks pass from June to September. Your chauffeur provides transportation to the ferry at Chiquilá and collects you on your return. See our Holbox travel guide.
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres lies a twenty-minute ferry crossing from Puerto Juárez, just north of Cancún. Playa Norte, the MUSA underwater museum, and Punta Sur fit comfortably into one day, and an early ferry arrives ahead of the crowds.
Akumal
Akumal, meaning Place of the Turtles in Mayan, is known for the green sea turtles that feed in the seagrass of its bay most mornings. Early arrival, before day visitors, offers the calmest and clearest water.
Playa del Carmen & the Eco-Parks
Quinta Avenida, the beach clubs, and the Cozumel ferry are at the center of Playa del Carmen, with the Xcaret and Xel-Há eco-parks a short drive south and cenotes along the road toward Cobá.
Puerto Aventuras
The marina at Puerto Aventuras, a gated community between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, is the departure point for yacht and catamaran charters, sport fishing, and dolphin encounters. Your chauffeur arranges gate access in advance.
Puerto Morelos
In Puerto Morelos, the Mesoamerican Reef lies closer to shore than almost anywhere else in Mexico, and the Ruta de los Cenotes leads inland from town. A full-day chauffeur reaches the quieter cenotes along the route.
Golf in the Riviera Maya
Golfers may play the Greg Norman-designed Playa Mujeres Golf Club in Costa Mujeres, the course at Playacar in Playa del Carmen, or the private course at Puerto Aventuras, with a chauffeur and space for clubs.
Mérida, Río Lagartos & Las Coloradas
Longer excursions include Mérida, the colonial capital of Yucatán, and the working henequen estate at Hacienda Sotuta de Peón, or the north coast, home to the flamingos of Río Lagartos and the pink lakes of Las Coloradas.
Choosing a Vehicle for Your Excursion
Couples and small families travel comfortably in a Luxury Sedan or the High End SUV, which seats six passengers with room for day bags and a cooler. Larger families and groups may travel together in the Black Luxury Van, Mercedes V250, or Transporter Van, while the Mercedes-Maybach brings particular distinction to a special occasion.
Vehicle recommendations are based on the number of passengers, the length of the drive, and any equipment, such as snorkeling gear or golf clubs. The complete vehicle fleet is available for review.
Refreshments & On-Board Amenities
Coolers with beer, soft drinks, or water, snack baskets, and premium bottles may be added to any excursion, along with ferry and taxi service for Isla Mujeres and Holbox. The complete selection appears on our on-board amenities page.
A Local Transportation Partner Since 1995
Black Luxury Service is the luxury transportation division of STP Caribe, a family-owned transportation company serving Mexico since 1995. Our chauffeurs are SCT México certified, and Black Luxury Service was named Best Luxury Limousine Service in Mexico by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2023 and 2024.
On an excursion, that experience appears in chauffeurs who know the roads across the peninsula, the optimal arrival time at each site, and the worthwhile stops along the way.
Excursions for Weddings, Retreats & Groups
Private excursions are a frequent addition to destination weddings, corporate retreats and incentive programs, and special events, providing guests with a planned activity between scheduled events. Our team can assign several vehicles to a group outing and coordinate pickups from multiple hotels.
FAQs About Private Tours & Excursions in Cancún & Tulum
Can I hire a private driver for the day in Cancún or Tulum?
Yes. Black Luxury Service offers hourly and full-day private chauffeur service in Cancún, Tulum, and throughout the Riviera Maya. The same chauffeur and vehicle remain with you for the day, whether the itinerary includes ruins, cenotes, beach clubs, shopping, or dinner.
How do I get from Cancún or Tulum to Chichén Itzá privately?
Black Luxury Service provides private round trips to Chichén Itzá from Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and resorts along the coast. From Tulum, the site is about 150 kilometers away, a drive of 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes. Many guests combine the visit with a cenote and lunch in Valladolid.
Does the chauffeur wait during each stop?
Yes. On round-trip and full-day excursions, your chauffeur waits while you visit each destination and continues to the next stop or returns you to your hotel when you are ready.
Are entrance fees, tickets, and guides included in a private excursion?
A private excursion includes the vehicle and professional chauffeur. Entrance fees, activity tickets, and licensed guides at archaeological sites are paid separately, while ferry and taxi service for Isla Mujeres and Holbox can be added to the reservation.
Can Isla Mujeres or Holbox Island be visited as a day trip?
Isla Mujeres is an easy day trip, with a 25 to 35 minute drive to Puerto Juárez and a 20 minute ferry crossing. Holbox requires a drive of 2 to 2.5 hours from Cancún International Airport to Chiquilá followed by a 20 to 25 minute ferry, so many travelers stay at least one night.
Is Bacalar a day trip from Cancún or Tulum?
Bacalar is 345 kilometers from Cancún, a drive of 4 to 5 hours, so most guests from Cancún stay overnight. From Tulum International Airport the drive is 215 kilometers, about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, which makes a long day trip possible.
Can several destinations be combined in one day?
Yes. A full-day chauffeur makes it practical to combine nearby destinations such as Chichén Itzá and Valladolid, or the Tulum ruins and Akumal. Our team advises on what fits comfortably within one day given the driving times.
Which vehicles are available for private tours?
The fleet for private tours includes luxury sedans, the High End SUV, the Black Luxury Van, the Mercedes V250, the Transporter Van, and the Mercedes-Maybach. The recommended vehicle depends on group size, distance, and any equipment you plan to bring.