This is OP.

I want to thank you all for your responses. I’m leaning toward a private tour so that we can hopefully come back earlier. The benefits of a bus tour are, as someone mentioned, there’s a bathroom on the bus on this long drive and the cost. Downsides are that it’s going to be a structured tour and will need to be on the bus while they pick up/drop off at various locations which means it will be a long day.

Any recommendations for a private tour besides the USA Transfer? Do you usually use Trip Advisor for reviews to determine if a vendor is ok?

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:We hired a driver and he was a certified tour guide - which was just a bonus. If I remember hotel arranged for the driver - very very affordable. We love the cenotes - but maybe not one mentioned? Love so much another driver we’ve used multiple times brings us on a day of cenotes - in all kinds of unusual locations.

This is OP. Thanks for your reply. Do you have contact information for the private driver?

We hired a driver and he was a certified tour guide - which was just a bonus. If I remember hotel arranged for the driver - very very affordable. We love the cenotes - but maybe not one mentioned? Love so much another driver we’ve used multiple times brings us on a day of cenotes - in all kinds of unusual locations.

Anonymous wrote:Check viator.com. You'll find private options there that pick up from your hotel

This or Trip Advisor is what I would do, but really scrutinize reviews. There are many scammers. Avoid any that want to take you to extra stops where you’ll be pressured to buy totchkes so the “guide” can get a cut.