Wild Monkey Tour (Private, Half Day)

We did the La Punta Tour with Eli, and it was absolutely amazing! We saw wild monkeys right away, and they even followed us for a little while. 🐒 Eli was super friendly and easy to talk to, which made the experience even better. The food and refreshments provided were fantastic as well. An amazing tour all around — we highly recommend it! 🌴☀️

Walking through a protected Mayan jungle that is home to about 200 spider monkeys who live (and cavort through the trees) in “families” of 10-20 each is a unique experience. Having Louie, grandson of one of the three original owners skillfully lead us through paths that passed the tops of ancient Mayan stone temples now mostly buried and seeing small Mayan villages and their villagers (and carefree dogs) made us deeply appreciate the culture, history, religious beliefs, astronomical knowledge of the Maya. Our driver and guide, Rodrigo, met us at our hotel and had a deep knowledge of the areas we drove by to get to the Preserve, and then showed us a huge termite nest, an unusual bird nest, ant paths through the jungle and trees from bougainvillea to cobe, to cactus, palms, elephant, and one with curative sap and another with caustic sap. We even had a coconut drink served in a coconut shell, from a Mayan vendor. This is a great way to spend an afternoon in the Yucatan!

Huge thanks to Rodrigo! He is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and full of humor. He even switched to French for us and did a great job. Hiking in the jungle was my favorite part and definitely worth it. You need to be able to walk through a few rough patches, so that part maybe not for everyone but I am sure Rodrigo and the kind local Maya guides would make it easier for you if needed. Yuum bo'otik, Rodrigo!

Rodrigo was a wonderful, thoughtful guide - he was on time, a great driver, and very knowledgeable and funny. He clearly cared about the local community and had great relationships with the various people we encountered along the way. He offered bathroom breaks, snacks, stops, etc. with no pressure. Before pickup they were very responsive via text and it was super easy to arrange everything. Highly recommend doing this as a half day activity!

Rodrigo was an excellent tour guide. He is very knowledgeable in all aspects of life in Yukatan peninsula. He and his partner guided us through the jungle where we saw four spider monkeys, and four or five howler monkeys, as well as some birds. We loved seeing them in their native habitat and learning more about Mayan culture. We highly recommend this tour.

The tour was great!! Rodrigo was a wonderful guide who went above and beyond, and we learned a lot about the history and nature of the area. We got to see both Spider and Howler Monkeys, including a loud territorial dispute between the two. We had a very memorable experience. Would definitely do it again.

What an amazing experience. Rodrigo was a wonderful tour guide. Full of so much knowledge about the area including Tulum, Mayan history, geology, all plant life and animal life of the jungle. We were blessed to see several spider moneys and howler monkeys, ant mounds and their trails, wasp nest ( from a far ) and termite mounds in trees. Definitely recommend!!!

We had an incredible time on this tour! Rodrigo was such a fun, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guide. Punta Laguna was a very beautiful place, and we saw spider monkeys and howler monkeys. It was unforgettable, and we learned a lot. Thank you to Rodrigo and Jose Luis!

Rodrigo picked us up from our resort and was very punctual/communicative. He had a fantasitic attitude and was super helpful/concerned with out experience throughout the trip. We saw a bunch of monkeys despite the intermittent rain had a great time! Do not hesitate to book if you want to see monkeys in their natural habitat with experienced guides.

This is an absolutely amazing tour!! We had such a terrific time with Rodrigo, our guide, who took us to the reserve, together with a local guide from the Maya community that manages it. They were both super knowledgeable about the history of the area, the animals and their habits, the trees and the geography. We got to see spider monkeys and also the more elusive howler monkeys, whose sounds simply rock the whole jungle, its quite an experience! We were even lucky enough to see a tarantula, huge fire ant colonies, and of course the beatitiful jungle and all its trees, plants and funghi. During the trip we visited a small mayan temple in the middle of the jungle, which was very cool. In the end we reached a breathtaking lagoon within the reserve, with very clear water, where we could swim and relax before heading back to the hotel. The tour is definitely not cheap, but from our experience, it's worth every single penny. Everything was super punctual and we were picked up straight from our hotel and back. It is a private, very high quality tour, with no other participants but you, completely hassle free. Most importantly, you get the chance to experience such beautiful nature that's still truly wild, and hopefully will remain so for many years to come.

We saw many spider monkeys and their babies, and our guide Eli brought so much joy and care to the experience! He was also punctual, outgoing, warm and engaging. Alfredo, who is a local guide at the reserve, had years of expertise about all the spider monkeys, including new research about their behavior, their names, and their families. The lake was beautiful. Great experience.

Beyond what we expected, so many monkeys and the local guide had an incredible knowledge of the area his grandfather had settled. His monkey calling was very entertaining…and it worked!

Rodrigo picked us up on time, was incredibly knowledgeable, and had a joyful personality. He and the Mayan biologist made our tour very special and the highlight of our Spring Break trip to Mexico. Highly recommend!!

Rodrigo was amazing! He was friendly, kind and very knowledgeable! He was very conscientious of what we wanted and planned the perfect day for us. I would highly recommend this tour and also Rodrigo!

Had an amazing time on the monkey tour with Eli! We got to see howler and spider monkeys up close, which was such a rare and unforgettable experience. Eli was incredibly considerate, punctual, and made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable throughout the tour. Highly recommended!

An absolutely beautiful hike through the Mayan jungle in the Punta Laguna Nature Park. We saw plenty of howler monkeys, spider monkeys, birds, lizards, and leaf-cutter ants. Eli of Yucatan Eli's Tours was the perfect guide to make this half-day excursion a memorable experience!!!

This tour was great! Rodrigo was so knowledgeable and hospitable he went above and beyond all of our expectations. . This was more than just a jungle tour, We had the opportunity to experience the area as a whole and how Punta Laguna relates to the community.

We had a GREAT tour! Rodrigo is the BEST! He is an encyclopedia of information about Mesoamerican history and Mayan culture in particular. The nature preserve was tranquil and authentic. We saw several families of Spider Monkeys and Howler Monkeys and had a great trail hike. I am glad I wore shoes and not sandals or flip-flops. On the way back Rodrigo let us select businesses to patronize - check out the honey place. A GREAT half day tour!

We had so much fun. It was a great experience. We especially enjoyed our tour guide Rodrigo! He made the experience even more special for my husband and I!

This is the kind of tour company you want to book with. Since it’s only two guys, you’re getting a really private, authentic experience. The big tour companies just parade you around like school children with a large group. This tour was just my husband and I. We loved Rodrigo - he was a wealth of information and answered all our questions. We saw spider monkeys and howler monkeys! We also saw toucans. We did the afternoon tour which was the perfect time for monkey sightings. It was also great to see monkeys in their natural environment vs. the places that train monkeys to come down from the trees and interact with humans. All around great tour!

Rodrego was amazing ….passionate , very knowledgeable and fun …..we was able to see spider monkeys in there own natural habitat, which was amazing…..definitely book this tour rather than seeing them in captivity . Rodrego shared so much information about the animals and the environment they live in .

Rodrego our tour guide was amazing, passionate about his job and tours . We was able to see the spider monkeys in there own jungle . The Mayan guide Louis who’s family own the land was able to take us to the area of the jungle to witness this beautiful animal . Definitely worth booking .

My six year old son and I thoroughly enjoyed the monkey hike at Punta Laguna. The communication with the tour company was excellent and our guide, Rodrigo, provided a wonderful experience. Once at the park we were joined by a member of the local indigenous community who assisted Rodrigo with the tour. The hike requires moderate exertion and good, closed toe shoes are a must. We saw spider monkeys and howler monkeys, as well as some unexcavated Maya structures. Rodrigo was so gracious and came well prepared for any contingencies.

After booking the tour, the provider sent us messages on whatsapp with advice on what to wear and additional information on our pick up. Rodrigo picked us up at the hotel. It was very hot that day, but the car had great air conditioning and Rodrigo had brought us ice cold drinks and snacks. We had forgotten to grab lunch before the tour, so he also pulled over at a small local mayan village where we ate some amazing chargrilled pollo asado and mondogo soup. During the tour we were lucky to see some howler monkeys in addition to many spider monkeys. Rodrigo was extremely knowledgeable about both the area, wildlife, and also local mayan culture. By the end of the trip we had gotten a whole new appreciation of the local and and of their amazing culture. Even after the tour had ended and we had returned to the hotel, we had some unrelated traveling issues and ended up messaging Rodrigo that evening to get some advice, since he had been so friendly and helpful to us all day. He ended up going above and beyond, even the next day during his day off, to help us solve our travel issues! We are looking forward to returning to Tulum and would love to go on another tour and hang out with Rodrigo again!!

Eli was amazing to communicate with, checking in on WhatsApp on the day prior to ensure we were setup for a great tour. He was fun to connect with, knowledgeable, and brought a local guide into the woods with us to attracts the monkeys close with monkey calls. While it’s true that some will tour four an hour or so trying to see a monkey, we were lucky enough to see both howler and spider monkeys up close in their natural habitat within an hour. Excellent tour.

We had a really great time with Eli. We found him to be personable and knowledgeable of the wildlife and area. Our goal for the tour was to see monkeys and he, along with our park guide, made sure we saw monkeys. We were also taken to a great place to have lunch and Eli pointed out the ruins which our party ended up visiting the next day.

Eli was great. He told us about Mayan culture on the way to the sanctuary. He showed us some ruins and explained them to us. At the sanctuary we saw one howler monkey and an adorable family of spider monkeys. Seeing the baby playing was so cool. A refreshing dip in the lagoon topped off the day. Totally recommend spending an afternoon with Eli.

This is a beautiful natural environment where you will take a lengthy hike through a forest to seek out monkeys. We didn’t realize that we would be going over rough terrain and did not have appropriate shoes on, so make sure you pack your hiking gear and lots of water. We saw a few monkeys from far away and so I had hoped we would see more monkeys and closer but it was a beautiful experience.

Nelson was an amazing tour guide! We had an unforgettable afternoon spotting monkeys in the reserve, and Nelson was such a pleasure to get to know. I highly recommend booking this tour!

This tour was so awesome!!! Our tour guide Nelson picked us up from our hotel right on time and immediately made us feel like we already knew each other. He was so nice and gave us so many tips for the remainder of our trip as well as so much information about the area. We learned so much about Tulum from him. Once we arrived, we were passed off to Santo who took us on our monkey hike. When I say this was a real trek through a real jungle! We felt like we were in a movie. It poured down rain on us for the first 30 mins of so (Nelson was sweet enough to provide us each an umbrella), so we initially had a hard time finding any monkeys. Santo did not let that stop anything. He led us through the park until the rain let up, showing us other interesting plants and critters along the way. Eventually he finally found some spider monkeys and it was incredible to see them in their natural habitat. Truly so special and a once in a lifetime opportunity. We ended up seeing more of them a few times before meeting back up with Nelson, who then took us to an above ground cenote and gave us the opportunity to take a dive and cool off from our crazy hike. On the way back, Nelson even made a couple extra stops with us just to pick up a couple items we had mentioned we were interested in getting. This was out of pure kindness and hospitality. These guys were so cool and down to earth. It felt like more of a real deal authentic tour rather than a super touristy gimmicky excursion . As long as you are prepared with proper clothing and footwear and are not afraid to get down and dirty, this tour is a must on your trip and 100% worth the money. Nelson and Santo if you see this thank you again from Eve and Benny!!!

Wonderful, fun day with Eli! This tour was perfect from start to finish, literally no complaints at all. I had my heart set on seeing spider and howler monkeys, and we saw both easily while enjoying a very cool walk through the forest. Eli is incredibly friendly and fun to talk to, and a very interesting man with a fascinating life story. The drive was about an hour a half each way, through Tulum and beyond, along a cool two lane road with the forest encroaching on either side. We stopped to use a restroom and buy some beer and water, and also stopped to see a tarantula crossing the road! When we arrived at Punta Laguna, we met up with a nice young man who accompanied us into the forest, and he found the monkeys immediately. There was a female spider monkey with an infant, and it was magical. After a little while, we found the howler monkeys, too, and the vocalizations were incredibly cool. We walked all the way to a pretty lagoon, then circled back. We also saw stunning butterflies and leaf cutter ants, which was fantastic. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. If you are passionate about monkeys and nature, you will be so happy! The day was light and easy (even with the crazy heat and humidity) and unforgettable. Thank you, Eli!

Our guide Nelson is so nice! We spend very nice time with him! That’s trip is nessecery if you go to Tulum! Full of fun, nice monkeys, cenote with 1200 years old Mayan skulls and bone’sin the bottom , zip line over the lagoon, canoeing and nice local restaurant with excellent Tacos. I strongly recommend it!

We were picked up on time by Nelson, our amazing guide, at our hotel in Tulum and drove out to Punta Laguna. Before we went into the jungle we were given the opportunity for a bathroom break and were shown some pictures visualizing the wildlife in the area and Nelson also gave us additional information about the Mayan settlements and their importance throughout history. We then were guided by a local Mayan guide who showed us a way through the jungle and could make sounds that resembled the ones of the monkeys in order to find them. It took about half an hour until we found a group of spider monkeys (including baby) and were given the opportunity to observe them making their way through the canopy of the trees, feeding and “monkeying around”. After another 5 minute walk we were lucky enough to also spot some Howler Monkeys which - as we learned are rather nocturnal - so it was an extra treat that we got to see them too. They were happily hanging in the tree and showed us once more how well chosen this tour was!! Seeing animals in their habitat is no comparison to any other way… plus: you support the local community who built up this reserve (pls give a tip) and will be rewarded with a one in a lifetime experience!!! The walk in total was not difficult or challenging but included stepping over tree trunks and taking steps up or down rock formations. Our guide Nelson was easy to chat with, super funny and made my boyfriend and me laugh a lot. We felt in more than good hands (being personally picked up and driven to the place in a well air conditioned car, getting free water, being offered local fruit that we both had never seen before) and didn’t know how we deserved so much valuable information about this beautiful place and country (you could literally ask Nelson anything THANK YOU). If you worry about the heat - we did too since it was 34 degrees Celsius today, clear blue sky with a scorching sun (!) and a lot of humidity - DON’T worry!!! It is hot, yes! But actually it was totally fine and better than a lot of other activities since we’ve been walking in the shade the whole time (jungle). Plus: you get the opportunity to swim in the laguna if you want to cool off… bring swimsuits/trunks and a towel… We can’t thank Nelson and the team of Eli’s Wild Monkey Tour enough for this amazing experience! Support this local activity! You’ll be very much rewarded!!! I’m 100% sure!!!!

My hubby, son (11 yrs) and I just got back from a fun trip to Tulum. This was one of our must do excursions and it didn't disappoint. It was so nice to have a private trip, not to have to pick up other people or wait on other people and go at our own pace. This was especially true walking trough the jungle which also was with a private guide. As we arrived we saw a few groups of spider monkeys and each group had a baby! We didn't get to see any howler monkeys but it was still a good time. Our guide Nelson was great! He shared a lot of great information, was very kind and helpful. He offered to take us to food after and really let it be at our own pace. This is something we will never forget. Tito our driver did a great job as well. It was so much fun and an experience we will never forget.

Had a great time, our kiddo loved seeing monkeys in person. Such a beautiful area and to be able to learn from a Mayan guide is an honor. Worth it!

Great tour with very knowlegable guide who could call to the monkeys and get them to call back. He knew all about their behavior and answered all kinda of questions we had from their social structures to food sources and breeding. We saw over a dozen spider monkeys and two howler monkeys. Very highly recommended for anyone who wants to see wild monkeys up close.

This tour was outstanding. We had seen a lot of monkeys. Our guide provided a great tour and taught us great history of the area and culture. Very enjoyable hiking trough the jungle. They communication prior to pick up was outstanding. They arrived on time. This was a great experience.

Our guide Nelson was fabulous. He was excited as much as we were to see the spider and howler monkeys. It was a educational and enjoyable tour with the option to swim in the freshwater lake at the end. We did not swim but was a beautiful spot if you wanted to. We also had a mayan guide who imparted his knowledge and helped find the monkeys. My husband and I both said we wanted to do it again!

This was an amazing tour! Arranging pickup went very smoothly through Derek. Nelson was a wealth of knowledge and welcomed all questions. Erik was a very good driver. The monkey viewing was fantastic and also enjoyed spotting other types of wildlife while walking through the jungle. Saw both spider and howler monkeys. Got dropped off with big smiles!

My husband and I really enjoyed this tour. Nelson, our guide, made it special with his knowledge of the jungle & the monkeys. He knew how to make the vocal call that would attract the monkeys. His call got the party going with a Howler monkey taking umbrage & roaring like a lion for about 15 minutes. Quite funny. Saw plenty of Spider & Howler

Eli is an amazing guide and this tour is not to be missed! We saw tons of spider monkeys and howler monkeys during our trek through the reserve. Eli is always prompt with his pickup and so knowledgeable- you can ask him anything. We had a wonderful time and will be back!

This was such a special experience, a highlight of our trip! Nelson, our guide, and Eric, our driver, were both so knowledgeable and fun, great with our kids (12, 8) and us. We saw howler and spider monkeys and cooled off with a swim in the beautiful lagoon -- amazing. Highly highly recommend!

We had a great time where we saw loads of monkeys. It was much better than bigger groups where people were just shouting around and distracting animals. We do recommend it :-)

Lots of monkeys, good and safe driver (Eric) and a very nice and knowledgeable guide (Nelson)! Highly recommended.

Magical couple of hours with Nelson and Mayan guide Alfred in the jungle - spotting howler & spider monkeys. We also loved the leaf-cutter ants and the beautiful lagoon view! We wanted a tour that focused on the wildlife rather than the activities, and that’s exactly what we got, so very happy. Clear communication beforehand, and lots of interesting info on the trip. Prompt pick-up & drop off from & to our hotel.

Eli was awesome! He made the whole trip so much fun! Very easy to talk to and engaging. Eli was prompt and right on time with the pick up. The monkey tour itself was an amazing experience! Getting to walk through the jungle, hearing and seeing the howler monkeys and playful spider monkeys in their natural habitat is now a memory we will not forget! If you find yourself thinking, “I can see these monkeys at my local zoo” you should absolutely reconsider as they behave nothing like the ones we have seen in the zoo.

Hiking in the Mayan jungle & seeing both Spider & Howler monkeys in their natural habitat was amazing. I wish we could have stayed a little bit longer.

Last week we went with Eli on the half day monkey tour and it was amazing! As in previous days they saw few monkeys in the morning, we got the opportunity to move our tour to the afternoon and we saw lots of spider monkeys running through the tree tops! Moreover, even though our hotel was outside of the pick up region, we were picked up and dropped of at our hotel for a small extra fee. Thanks Eli for the cool tour and your colleagues for the clear communication beforehand via email and WhatsApp.

Eli was spectacular! He went out of his way to procure a local guide who basically grew up with these monkeys- and when the hiking got tough for my 75 y.o. Mom, he escorted her out and then apparently had a super fascinating conversation with her which allowed me to still experience the reserve and it was amazing for all! Highly recommend! Also- he has a great sense of humor and wonderful attitude.