graceland tour guide book

A Travel Guide for Visiting Graceland on a Budget

 Taylor McIntyre/TripSavvy

Graceland, the legendary home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, is viewed by some as a solemn experience, while others are motivated by amusement or curiosity. Whatever your reason for visiting, no one can deny that a stopover is a unique experience that attracts people from around the world. Fortunately, a value-packed Graceland tour can be done with some advance planning.

Admission Costs

Knowing what you'd like to see at Graceland can help you save money on tickets. Different tour packages cater to different visitors, from the history buff who's a casual Elvis admirer to the full-blown Elvis fanatic.

Basic admission (starting at $41) covers the Mansion Only Tour, which is audio-guided. The Elvis Experience Tour includes exhibits of his wardrobe, automobiles, gold records, and other features. An Elvis Entourage VIP ticket adds front-of-the-line admission privileges and access to the Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex museums and exhibits. An airplanes tour can be added on to those three ticket options for an additional cost. The most extensive and pricey selection is the Ultimate VIP tour, which includes everything the other tours offer plus a meal voucher, access to the Ultimate Lounge, a Graceland archives session, and more.

Children under 6 are free on all tours except for the Ultimate VIP Tour, though that has no charge for kids under age 2. Although there's a small fee, online orders could spare you long waits in line, allowing you to pick up tickets at will-call and be ready for your Graceland experience.

Money-Saving Tips

A few tricks can help you save at Graceland, whether you are in Memphis just for Elvis or simply want to stop by and pay your respects.

If Graceland is your main focus, you might want to consider becoming a member, which can help you cut back on costs if you are a frequent visitor .

If you'd like to visit the graves of Elvis and his family, walk up to the Meditation Garden at Graceland for free between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. (except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). And you can always pull off Elvis Presley Boulevard and take a selfie outside the famous mansion.

Big Elvis fans will come here just for Graceland, but for most people, it is a half-day adventure at best. Regardless, look at some of the other attractions in the area and make your trip to the city memorable. One good stop is to Sun Records, where Elvis cut his first demo record . According to legend, they asked Elvis which artist he sounded like, and he answered: "I don't sound like nobody." Soon enough, they discovered a new sound that swept the nation at this unassuming Sun Studio at 706 Union Ave.

See more Memphis music highlights using the free hourly shuttle running daily on a first come first served basis. The shuttle travels between Graceland, Heartbreak Hotel across the street, Sun Studio, and Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum. If you stay downtown, you can start out at Memphis Rock 'n' Soul and visit both Sun Studios and Graceland without spending on gas or parking.

Rock 'n' Soul also offers a discount on a Backstage Pass, which includes admissions to Graceland, Sun Studio, Stax Museum, and the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.

When to Visit

The peak time for visitors is the annual Elvis Week in early- to mid-August when there are scores of special events such as concerts, movie screenings, and an Elvis Expo (off-property in downtown Memphis) of memorabilia. Reservations during this time are highly recommended, as individual events sell out months in advance.

For less stress and more value, go on a weekday and avoid times when school is not in session. The two busiest times are the August "Elvis Week" and January 8, which was Elvis' birthday.

Travel Arrangements

As you search for flights and Memphis hotel rooms, consider Graceland's location only 4 miles from Memphis International Airport (MEM). Although it's close to the airport, don't try to see the mansion on a layover. Traffic can be intense and waits at Graceland are often long. Security lines at MEM can become busy when travelers on business or holiday trips show up at the airport. Cabs are available to and from the airport.

Staying at The Guest House at Graceland is one option with discounts including admission to Graceland, seeing landmarks, and other Elvis-related events. Also, the Graceland RV Park and Campground is a less-expensive way to camp out within walking distance to Graceland and enjoy bike trails.

Hotels in the area around Graceland can be run-down or expensive. But the proximity to I-55 means you can reach a bargain room in another part of the city fairly quickly (unless it's rush hour). Some chain offerings are good values in the Bartlett area and just across the state line in Mississippi.

How Tours Work

The mansion and the visitor pavilion/parking complex sit on opposite sides of Elvis Presley Boulevard. Transportation across the street to the grounds and a headset enabling a self-guided tour of the property are included in the admission fee. The additional options available with the higher-priced tickets are on the pavilion-side of the boulevard: the jumpsuit, automobile, and airplane exhibits. You will be reminded at every turn that security cameras are watching you and that indoor flash photography is prohibited. The second floor of the mansion is off-limits; these rooms were Elvis' private quarters.

This is not the most elegant nor largest mansion you will ever see. You may be struck by the relative simplicity of Elvis' life, given his status as a world celebrity. Check out the "Jungle Room," furnished with outlandish carpeting, furniture, and kitsch, and the simple swing set he set up for his daughter Lisa Marie in the backyard. Everything here was left largely the way it looked at the time of Elvis' death in 1977.

Basic Information

Hours of operation vary by season, with longer hours during the summer months. It's possible to rent sections of the facility for private parties, and some people even get married here.

Elsewhere in Memphis

Memphis is known for more than Graceland. If you are staying downtown and using the free shuttle between Graceland and other attractions, you can maximize your time and money and have some other worthwhile visits. Highly recommended: the  National Civil Rights Museum , on the site of the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

A lesser-known but fascinating attraction is a five-block-long scale model of the lower Mississippi River at  Mud Island River Park , which is connected to downtown by a sky bridge. Anyone with a love of travel or geography will enjoy this site.

Downtown Memphis is home to Beale Street , which bills itself as the "home of blues and the birthplace of rock n' roll" and has two blocks of places to enjoy Memphis barbecue or live music. 

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Tips for Visiting Graceland

Make a well-planned visit to Elvis Presley’s home using these tips for visiting Graceland. Maximize your visit, there is much to see.

Use these Graceland Tour Tips to get the most out of a full day doing the Graceland Tour in Memphis.

If you don’t live nearby, you will be planning a trip. I am also sharing with you where to stay and eat while in Memphis for your Elvis experience tour.

This article contains affiliate links. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

There is much more to visiting Graceland than only touring the mansion. Directly across the street from Graceland sits a huge entertainment complex complete with museums, gift shops, and restaurants for you to explore. This is where your Graceland experience will begin.

Table of Contents

How to get into graceland, presley motors auto museum, elvis career museum, other museums include:, elvis custom jets, souvenir shops, gladys’ diner, vernon’s smokehouse, rock-n-go diner, minnie mae’s sweets, how much does it cost to tour graceland, expert guide, vip private lounge, private archives, meal voucher, buy your tickets online before you go, what can you tour for free, guesthouse at graceland, graceland rv park and campground, dining and shopping, tips for visiting graceland, more places to visit in the south.

Your tour will begin at the Elvis Presley Memphis Entertainment Complex. This is where the ticket office is located.

It’s across the street in front of Graceland. There is a $10 parking fee. If you are staying at the Guesthouse, their shuttle runs every 30 minutes so don’t drive your own vehicle over and pay to park.

Graceland tours are scheduled every 15 minutes so you will be given a time on your ticket. Prior to boarding the shuttle, that is provided for your tour, you will watch a short, 7-minute video of Elvis’s career.

Once you are directed out to board the shuttle bus, you have an opportunity for your picture to be taken in front of a fun background. You are not obligated to buy these and you can opt-out of the photo if you like. They cost about $35 currently and can be found at the auto museum after your mansion tour.

You will also be handed an iPad and headphone set to listen to an audio tour narrated by John Stamos. As you make your way through the home of Elvis Presley, John who is also a big Elvis fan will tell you information about each room of the house tour.

You can spend as much time as you like on your tour. You are not required to board the free shuttle at any particular time. Just be sure not to miss the last bus of the day. Graceland hours of operation are daily 9-4. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex

A lot has changed on Elvis Presley Blvd. since the King of Rock and Roll passed away back in 1977. Over the years Elvis Presley Enterprises was able to purchase land across the street from the mansion. They built a 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex known as Elvis Presley’s Memphis. 

Elvis Presley’s Memphis enables you to follow the life path that Elvis took, and surround yourself with the things that he loved.

What will you find there?

A nice collection of vehicles owned by Elvis which includes the infamous pink Cadillac are on display in the car museum.

Fun fact about the pink Caddy. It was referred to as Glady’s car but she never learned to drive. The car earned the name Glady’s car because she wanted a pink Cadillac and that is why Elvis bought it. He loved his Momma.

You will be able to view up close hundreds of artifacts from the extensive Graceland Archives, including Elvis’ amazing collection of gold and platinum records, his stunning jumpsuits, memorabilia from his movies, and more. This museum is the world’s largest and most comprehensive Elvis museum in the world.

The items on display change from time to time as they are sent to locations around the world for his dedicated fans to enjoy.

The display of the iconic Elvis jumpsuits is amazing. They are stacked two and three high on three walls, each encased individually and lit so they are easy to view. But that isn’t all, there are more on display in this museum in various places including the famous black leather suit he wore for the 1968 Comeback Special.

•  Lisa Marie: Growing Up Presley
• Presley Cycles; Elvis motorcycles and other vehicles
• Private Presley, showcasing his service in the U.S. Army
• ICONS: The Influence of Elvis Presley, an exhibit that showcases Elvis’ influence on other artists
•  Archives Experience, which allows you to explore the Graceland Archives

Climb aboard Elvis’ customized jet, named after his daughter Lisa Marie, that features a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom, as well as gold-plated seat belts, suede chairs, and leather-covered tables, 24-karat gold-flecked sinks, and more.

Then, take a peek inside Elvis’ smaller Lockheed Jet Star, customized by Elvis with a yellow and green interior. Remember the decor is 70’s.

There are lots of souvenir shops at the complex. Many of them have similar items but some do have different things.

The T-shirts cost around $35 and up. You can find almost anything you can imagine. Shop Amazon before your trip for lots of Elvis t-shirts right here .

Restaurants at the Entertainment Complex

The menu includes; Classic American cuisine, including burgers, hot dogs, and pizza – plus one of Elvis’ favorites – Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches.

Vernon’s Smokehouse features authentic Memphis BBQ fare, including pork ribs, chicken, and beef brisket, seasoned with exclusive Vernon’s Smokehouse BBQ sauce. Also on the menu are; meatloaf, catfish, and BBQ spaghetti.

The Rock-n-Go is attached to Glady’s Diner and they share a dining room. They serve sandwiches, salads, and snacks. The menu also includes smoothies, iced coffees, and shaken iced teas.

Be sure to also visit Minnie Mae’s Sweets for hand-dipped ice cream, Root Beer floats, candy, and more! Choose from 16 delicious ice cream flavors.  

The good news is there are tickets available in a variety of price ranges. We chose the Ultimate VIP in order to enjoy the expert guide.

Tickets currently range in price from $48 up to $196 per person depending on the type of experience you prefer.

Ticket options

The most expensive option is called the Ultimate VIP Tour and includes:

• Graceland Mansion Tour with an Expert Guide For Each Small Group of up to 10 Guests 
• Self-guided tour of Elvis’ Custom Jets
• Full Access to Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex, including Presley Motors Automobile Museum
• Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum
• Self-guided tours of the Elvis Discovery Exhibits
• Access to Ultimate Lounge and Exclusive VIP Exhibit
• A meal voucher for a restaurant at Elvis Presley’s Memphis
• Exclusive Photo Opportunity
• Personal Graceland Archives Show and Tell Session
• Keepsake Backstage pass

The least expensive option is called Elvis Presleys Memphis + Planes. This option does not include the tour of the mansion.

Benefits of the Ultimate VIP

The most significant benefit of the Ultimate VIP package is the expert guide. They will tell you lots of tidbits and stories you won’t otherwise hear.

We got lucky and our tour guide was one of the archivists who doesn’t usually do tours but we were there during Elvis week and it was busy.

You will receive a set of headphones for wearing during the tour so you can hear your guide because they don’t talk out loud for other tourists to listen to the things you paid extra to learn.

Near the end of the mansion tour, you will be taken to the VIP Private Lounge to sit and relax for a few minutes. There is water available and a few displays for you to look at that others won’t see. We enjoyed it because it was very hot the day of our visit and it was nice to cool off.

After leaving the lounge, we were shuttled down to the only building on the property which isn’t original to the home. It was built to house memorabilia and archives.

If you are not doing the Ultimate VIP Tour, you won’t come to this archives building.

Here, you get to see up close some of Elvis’s personal possessions and will be allowed to touch one thing. On our visit that thing was one of Elvis’ guitars.

Also part of the Ultimate VIP package is a meal voucher to one of the restaurants on the Elvis Memphis campus. We ate at Vernon’s and it was very good.

Save time and buy your tickets online before you go. You can print them or have them available on your cell phone when you get there. If you have the QR code open on your phone, the ticket agent will scan it quickly and you can go through the line. They will scan the code for each ticket you purchased.

You are allowed to visit the Meditation Garden which is Elvis’s burial site during a one-hour time frame each morning. Visitor walk-up times are daily from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. All guests must enter the gates by 8:30 a.m. to walk up, and guests must leave the mansion grounds before Graceland tours start.

Elvis, Gladys, Vernon, his Grandmother who he lovingly called ‘Dodger’, and his grandson, Benjamin is buried there. You will also see a memorial marker for Elvis’s twin brother, Jessie, who died at birth.

Where to stay

The Guesthouse, built in 2016, is a quite beautifully equipped, luxurious hotel decorated to reflect the colorful style of Elvis Presley. Located literally next door to Graceland, you can walk over to the mansion.

The gorgeous furniture in the lobby is designed to pay homage to the high collars of Elvis stage wear.

Read my Review of The Guest House at Graceland . It’s full of pictures.

The Graceland RV Park & Campground is located on 19 acres just off Elvis Presley Boulevard. It is part of the Graceland Campus.

The Memphis campgrounds feature:

• Full Hookup Sites
• 30/50 Amp Service
• Bathhouse and laundry facilities
• Bike & Walking Trails
• Patrolled 24-hour Security
• Free campground-wide wireless internet access
• Swimming Pool
• Camping store providing ice, drinks, propane, souvenirs, books, t-shirts, camping and RV supplies, and a small business center.
• Brochures and local information are also available in the store along with maps and other related items.
• The office staff can assist you in making reservations for tours and [dining] out at represented restaurants in the area.

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of dining options located in the general area around Graceland or the Guesthouse. There are two restaurants inside the hotel but if you are staying a full week you will get tired of those. Their food is good but the prices are on the high side and the menus are limited.

We drove down to Southaven, Ms . for shopping. There is a nice Tanger Outlet there and we had a fun day shopping. It’s only about 11 miles from the Guesthouse so not far at all.

There are more dining options in this same area where the Tanger Outlets are. We went to a little pizza place where the food and service were both good and it was budget friendly.

Be sure to go to Marlowe’s Ribs and Restaurant which is just a few blocks down the street from Graceland.

They will come and pick you up in their pink limousine and bring you back. It’s a fun adventure and the food is quite good.

Graceland is the second most visited home in the U.S., second only to the White House. Of course, you want to get the most out of your visit. Use these tips to plan your trip to Graceland.

Visit the Graceland website to purchase your tickets in advance online.

• Wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking involved.
• You are allowed to have bottled water in the mansion but no food.
• Flash photography is not allowed. Snap all the photos you want without the flash.
• Graceland is typically less busy in the afternoons, especially after 2:00 p.m.
• The last mansion tour of the day begins at 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m., depending on the day of the week and time of year.
• Bring a sharpie. You can sign the famous Graceland wall.
• The Graceland gates close at 5 p.m., that is when you can get a picture of the closed gates or early in the morning.
• Walking up to Elvis’s grave is free. You are only allowed to do that between 7:30-8:30 am before tours begin.
• The mansion tour takes about an hour to an hour and a half.
• You can easily spend most of a day touring the mansion and the entertainment complex with a break for lunch at one of the restaurants.
• Take cash for tips if you plan to tip the driver of the free shuttle.
• Use #graceland when sharing
• If you plan to visit during Elvis Week, book everything in advance and buy tickets to the shows in advance.
• Visit during Elvis week and buy tickets to the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Finals. The concerts are fabulous.

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Graceland Cemetery

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• Jessie Williams de Priest, the Black wife of a congressman whose 1929 invitation to a White House tea party set off a storm of controversy;
• Engineer and architect Fazlur Khan, the Bangladeshi American who revived the city's skyscraper culture;
• The still-mysterious Kate Warn (listed as Warn on her tombstone), the United States’ first female private detective.

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Things to see on the graceland tours.

• On 20January2020

Self-Guided Tour of Graceland

I had the fantastic opportunity to work with the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, who set up an Elvis Experience tour for a fellow travel blogger and me. We took an Uber from the Peabody Hotel . Graceland is less than 15 minutes from downtown Memphis. You need to start your tour by the museum buildings and not at Graceland itself. Tickets are $69 for the Elvis Experience VIP Tour, which includes the Graceland Mansion, Elvis Presley’s Memphis, and Elvis’ iconic airplanes. You can see all the experiences offered and buy tickets here .  Graceland open hours are from Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays are open to 4 p.m. (Mar.-Oct.). From November to February, open hours are from Monday through Sunday at 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Living Room

Parents Bedroom

Dining Room

This is the formal dining room at Graceland. Elvis would sit in the chair by the window at the head of the table. He chose this seat because he had a direct line of sight to the TV in the living room.

The kitchen is definitely from the 70s with its yellow refrigerator, green trash compactor, wood paneling, and Tiffany lamps. The TV set in on one of the counters. Elvis loved Technology and upgraded his kitchen with the latest appliances. He even had one of the first microwave ovens that cost him $1000. I don’t know why he would want to carpet his kitchen. Maybe to keep his feet warm?

And of course, what would Graceland be without having a room dedicated to TVs. He used to watch three televisions at the same time while sitting in here. This bright yellow and black room also has a bar set in the corner. Elvis has a passion for decorating and was continually updating Graceland. He didn’t stop at the walls; he even made sure the ceilings were covered as well. The TV room had mirrors covering the ceiling.

The Pool Room is my favorite room on the Graceland tours. It is so colorful, and the pleated fabric ceiling radiating from the center medallion is impressive. This is even the original pool table as you can see a tear on the table in the far right corner. It has almost an Asian flair with the furnishings.

Jungle Room

Elvis and his family-owned several horses. And there are still horses in the stables behind the house today. You can see them grazing in the field behind the white fence while walking behind the mansion.

Racquetball Building

The racquetball building is decorated like a country club. There is a bar, game area, lounge with sofa chairs, and of course the racquetball court. Music was so crucial to Elvis that he had a stereo system built-in and connected through the entire mansion and supplement buildings, including the racquetball building. Most of the rooms in Graceland are precisely the way they were on the day that Elvis died.

Elvis Tupelo

Trophy Building

Elvis has a kidney-shaped pool on the south end of Graceland. It seems simple compared to the extravagance of all of his other renovations and additions. You walk past the pool to get to the Meditation Garden.

Meditation Garden

Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum

Presley Motors Automobile Museum & Presley Cycles

Icons: The Influence of Elvis Presley

Elvis Fashion

Elvis Custom Airplanes

Going on the Graceland Tours is a must-have destination when you are visiting Memphis. Schedule a full day to explore the mansion, grounds, exhibits, and restaurants in the Graceland complex. I enjoyed my time seeing how the King of Rock and Roll lived and admiring all of his favorite things he collected in his short life. Thank you for reading and sharing my Elvis Presley’s Graceland Tours. Thank you. Thank you very much.

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Further Reading

If you are coming to Tennessee for a visit, check out these posts for further travel inspiration:

• Be a Part of History at The Peabody Hotel

Unique Things to Do in Memphis

• Little Free Library Locations Around the World
• The Best Memphis Restaurants You Must Try

Thank You to Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau for offering this opportunity to go on this Elvis Experience tour at Graceland. As always, opinions are 100% my own.

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Graceland Cemetery: Chicago Stories, Symbols, and Secrets Paperback – August 9, 2022

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Chosen for the 2024 Illinois Reads Program by the Illinois Reading Council

One of Chicago’s landmark attractions, Graceland Cemetery chronicles the city’s sprawling history through the stories of its people. Local historian and Graceland tour guide Adam Selzer presents ten walking tours covering almost the entirety of the cemetery grounds. While nodding to famous Graceland figures from Marshall Field to Ernie Banks to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Selzer also leads readers past the vaults, obelisks, and other markers that call attention to less recognized Chicagoans like:

• Jessie Williams de Priest, the Black wife of a congressman whose 1929 invitation to a White House tea party set off a storm of controversy;
• Engineer and architect Fazlur Khan, the Bangladeshi American who revived the city's skyscraper culture;
• The still-mysterious Kate Warn (listed as Warn on her tombstone), the United States’ first female private detective.

Filled with photographs and including detailed maps of each tour route, Graceland Cemetery is an insider's guide to one of Chicago's great outdoor destinations for city lore and history.

• Print length 318 pages
• Language English
• Publication date August 9, 2022
• Dimensions 7 x 0.9 x 10 inches
• ISBN-10 0252086503
• ISBN-13 978-0252086502
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ 3 Fields Books; First Edition (August 9, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0252086503
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0252086502
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.9 x 10 inches
• #176 in Railroad Travel Reference
• #1,833 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides
• #9,764 in U.S. State & Local History

About the author

Adam selzer.

Adam Selzer began his career writing humorous young adult novels, but soon began a side career researching and writing about the stranger side of history, rescuing long-lost stories from microfilm reels and tracing urban legends to their sources. He is a tour guide in Chicago and New York, hosts the Cemetery Mixtape podcast, and appears frequently on TV and the radio. See him online at adamchicago.com

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7 best cancun tours: chichen itza, snorkeling & more.

These excursions will show you what lies beyond the city's bright beaches.

The Best Cancun Tours

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Experience some of Cancun's history with a visit to Chichen Itza.

From Mayan ruins to the turquoise Caribbean Sea to abundant coral reefs, there is so much to see in and around Cancún . To make the most of your time on the Yucatán Peninsula, consider signing up for a guided tour. U.S. News selected the top Cancún tours by relying on expert opinion and traveler sentiment. Whether you pick an easygoing bus tour or a thrilling speedboat excursion, you're sure to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Amigo Tours – Chichen Itza VIP Tour

Price: From $52 Duration: 12 hours

To beat the crowds at the ancient Mayan site of Chichén Itzá , this excursion starts at 6 a.m. After picking you up at your hotel, a bilingual guide leads the full-day, 12-hour tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site while giving a history of Mayan culture and the ruins. The tour also includes a buffet lunch, a tequila tasting, the opportunity to swim in a cenote (a natural well) and a visit to the city of Valladolid. Reviewers enjoy the swim and praise their guides, while others advise bringing bug spray and cash for additional fees, including the historic site's tax and a life vest rental at the cenote.

Tours, which are offered daily and include pickup at a location of your choosing, start at $52 for participants 3 and older; children younger than 3 can join for free. The company also offers tours of the site at sunrise, as well as tours of Tulum and Isla Mujeres , among others.

View & Book Tickets:  Option 1 | Option 2

Jungle Tour Adventure Cancún – Speedboat & Snorkeling Tour

Price: From $45 Duration: 2 hours

Travelers on this two-hour excursion will drive their own speedboat while exploring mangrove canals and the Punta Nizuc bay alongside a guide. Afterward, tourgoers will snorkel through the clear waters of the Punta Nizuc coral reef. Reviewers say the tour is super fun and appreciate the guides' attention to safety.

Tickets start at $45 per person for a shared boat. Solo travelers will pay about $80 for their own boat. Additional dock fees (about $20) are not included in the ticket price. Children must be at least 4 years old to participate and some health restrictions apply. Tours operate at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. daily. No boating experience is required. The company also runs a mangrove tour using the speedboats.

View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide

Contoy Adventures – Contoy Eco Adventure

Price: Adults from $110; kids from $85 Duration: 7.5 hours

Only 200 people per day are allowed to visit Isla Contoy , a protected natural reserve and bird sanctuary north of Cancún. Contoy Adventures takes you by boat to this preserved area, where you will have ample opportunities to swim and snorkel after you take a guided tour of the island. You'll also stop at Isla Mujeres on the way back to Cancún. Reviewers say they enjoy the excursion, but note that the stop at Isla Mujeres is short without much time to explore.

Tickets start at $110 per adult and $85 per child ages 5 to 11; kids 4 and younger cost $45. Breakfast, lunch and pickup from select hotels are all included in the ticket cost; however, a $20 fee that covers dock and national park fees must be paid in cash the day of your tour is not. The tour runs from about 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. Contoy Adventures also offers whale shark tours, among others.

Courtesy of EcoColors Tours

Though large, whale sharks are gentle and safe to swim with. Meet these creatures on a tour with EcoColors.

EcoColors Tours – Whale Sharks Cancun Tour

Price: Adults from $195; kids from $169 Duration 5 to 8 hours

This adventure gives travelers the opportunity to swim alongside magnificent whale sharks. Guides lead the small-group tours to the whale shark feeding ground, where travelers can snorkel alongside the gentle giants. After snorkeling, you'll stop on Isla Mujeres to relax. Tourgoers describe the excursion as an amazing experience and report seeing many whale sharks. Others advise taking motion sickness medicine before boarding the boat and wearing rash guards or bringing cover-ups for the trip, as you cannot wear sunscreen (even reef-safe sunscreen options) for environmental reasons.

Tours, which last approximately five to eight hours, are offered May to mid-September. Tickets start at $195 for participants 8 and older and $169 for children ages 5 to 7. Tickets include snacks and lunch, but not the dock and environmental taxes, which are $15 per person and must be paid in cash. Patrons must be at least 5 years old to participate. Tours pick up at hotels in Cancún around 7 a.m.; they also pick up from Playa del Carmen at 6 a.m. EcoColors Tours offers other nature tours, such as a sea turtle snorkeling tour.

Ocean Tours – Tulum Ruins, Cenotes and Snorkeling Tour

Price: Adults from $119; kids from $99 Duration: 10 hours

If you want to enjoy a day trip to Tulum, but don't want to deal with the logistics of planning your own transportation and activities, consider this popular tour. Tourgoers take a morning guided tour of the Tulum archaeological site , snorkel at Tulum's beach alongside colorful fish and stingrays, and swim in two cenotes. Reviewers praise their guides and recommend the tour, saying it is fun and worth the cost.

Tickets start at $119 for adults and $99 for children ages 4 to 11, and include lunch, snacks and refreshments, but do not include the $15 marine fee. Pickup from area accommodations begins at 6 a.m., and the tour concludes around 4 p.m. Ocean Tours also offers excursions to Coba , Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres, among others.

KayTours Mexico – Puerto Morelos

Price: Adults from $195; kids from $180 Duration: 8 hours

This adventurous private tour includes snorkeling in the national marine park of Puerto Morelos followed by a visit to several cenotes for activities like rope swings and zip lines. Reviewers highly recommend the company and describe the tours as fun and amazing.

The full-day tour runs daily and you can select your own pickup time between 7:15 and 11 a.m., though the company recommends a pickup no later than 8 a.m. Tours include lunch and snacks, as well as round-trip transportation. Ticket prices vary depending on the number of people in your group; a couple can expect to pay about $195 per person; fees for children ages 4 to 17 start at $180. KayTours Mexico also offers excursions to Mayan ruins, Las Coloradas pink lake, whale shark tours and more.

Cancun Sailing – Plus Experience Tour to Isla Mujeres

Price: Adults from $89; kids from $59

Duration: 7 hours

Public ferries from Cancún to Isla Mujeres are readily available, but if you're looking for a tour option that allows for swimming and snorkeling, reviewers say this excursion from Cancun Sailing fits the bill. The seven-hour catamaran tour also includes transportation, a buffet lunch and an open bar. Plus, you'll have time to explore Isla Mujeres on your own. Reviewers describe the tour as fun but wish they had more time for snorkeling. They also note there are heavy crowds at the snorkeling stop.

Tickets start at $89 for adults and $59 for children ages 5 to 10. Children 5 and younger can join for free, though Cancun Sailing recommends alerting them if you're traveling with kids so they can place you on a more family-oriented tour. Cancun Sailing also offers a few premium experiences of this tour that can include snacks, a luxury boat and more free time.

View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Things to Do in Cancun
• The Best Puerto Vallarta Tours
• The Best Mexico City Tours
• The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Cancun
• The Best Cancun All-Inclusive Family Resorts
• The Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico

Tags: Tours , Vacations , Travel , Mexico

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

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‘I had fun’: Alleged scammer takes credit for Graceland foreclosure upheaval

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A self-proclaimed identity thief based in Nigeria claimed responsibility over the puzzling, and now court-blocked, auction of Elvis Presley’s historic Graceland mansion .

The thief sent an email to the New York Times claiming to be part of a criminal network that targets the dead and elderly, particularly those from Florida and California, the outlet reported Tuesday.

The statement, which was sent in reply to questions about the case, came from an email address listed in court documents related to Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC. Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter and owner of Graceland, sued the company earlier this month to stop a foreclosure sale of the Memphis property.

“We figure out how to steal,” the thief wrote to the New York Times on Friday. “That’s what we do.”

Naussany Investments presented a deed of trust to the estate in September via the Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming that the late Lisa Marie Presley , Keough’s mother, borrowed $3.8 million from the company and offered Graceland as collateral. Keough fiercely disputed the claims, calling the documents “fraudulent” and “forgeries” in her lawsuit.

Riley Keough says ‘clarity has been had’ after mom’s death, ‘upheaval’ over Elvis’ estate

After Lisa Marie’s Presley’s death and a legal dispute with grandmother Priscilla Presley, Riley Keough says she’s strengthened qualities that ‘come about through adversity.”

Aug. 8, 2023

The alleged thief accepted defeat.

“I had fun figuring this one out and it didn’t succeed very well,” the statement continued.

Referencing Keough’s legal victories in the case, the message, as reportedly written, continued: “Yo client dont have nothing to worries, win fir her. She beat me at my own game.”

The New York Times reported that the thief wrote their message in Luganda, a Bantu language of Uganda. The email, the outlet said, was faxed from a North American toll-free number that also appeared in court documents.

A Tennessee judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the sale at a hearing last Wednesday, in which no representatives from Naussany Investments appeared. Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins said he would proceed with Keough’s fraud lawsuit, which asked the court to declare the deed of trust illegitimate.

What Priscilla Presley got for giving up Lisa Marie’s trust: Graceland burial and $1 million

Priscilla Presley agreed to step down as a co-trustee on the estate of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Now, the exact terms of that exchange have been made public.

Nov. 3, 2023

Tennessee’s Shelby County Register of Deeds said last Tuesday that it did not have any filings relating to a Graceland deed, according to broadcast outlet WREG Memphis . The deed also included the signature of Florida notary Kimberly L. Philbrick, who submitted an affidavit stating she had never met Lisa Marie Presley or notarized a document signed by the singer.

Hours after the Wednesday ruling, a person purporting to be a Naussany Investments representative submitted a statement that said the company intended to drop its claims on Graceland, according to the Associated Press. However, the legal filings have yet to appear.

Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the Presley estate, told The Times in a statement at the time that it agreed with the court’s ruling to block the sale.

“As the court has now made clear, there was no validity to the claims,” the statement read. “There will be no foreclosure. Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have a best in class experience when visiting his iconic home.”

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Angie Orellana Hernandez is a 2023-24 reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. She previously worked at The Times as an arts and entertainment intern. She graduated from USC, where she studied journalism and Spanish. Prior to joining The Times, she covered entertainment, as well as human interest, legal and crime stories at E! News. Her writing can also be found in USA Today, the Boston Globe, CNN and KCRA3.

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