Pontoon tour San Andrés: Swim with manta rays

Relax on a spacious pontoon while island rhythms set the mood on the bay

The Platinum Pontoon Tour is a six-hour boat tour of San Andrés Bay that visits the Natural Aquarium, Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, Palito Bay and the Old Point Red Mangroves, with stops to swim with manta rays and explore marine life. Life jackets and full HD music are included on board. Lunch at a beachside restaurant is your own cost and takes up to two hours midday. The guide speaks English or Spanish and the tour suits families, groups and anyone on a budget exploring the Colombian Caribbean.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore San Andrés Bay highlights

• Sail through Old Point Red Mangroves
• Take photos at El Ojo mural
• Enjoy music and atmosphere at El Palito
• Visit Instagram Beach and spot manta rays
• Swim with manta rays in natural habitat
• Lunch and relax on the beach

The experience

The pontoon departs for the Old Point Red Mangroves, where your guide points out the flora and fauna and you photograph "El Ojo," a mural by local artist Jota. From there you head to El Palito, where the boats gather for music and a festive atmosphere on the water. The route then swings past Instagram Beach, named for the photos that work best there, and where manta rays often appear, before the boat anchors for a two-hour lunch break at a beachside restaurant where you order and pay for your own meal.

The main event is swimming with manta rays in their natural habitat at the Natural Aquarium. You enter the water with a life jacket and observe the rays as they move freely around you. Touching or grabbing them is not permitted. Rose Cay and Haynes Cay offer time to swim in clear water, and Mundo Marino provides information about the region's marine biodiversity. The pontoon itself is designed for comfort and safety, with life jackets for all passengers and a full HD sound system playing current music throughout the day.

You can bring your own drinks aboard without restriction. Infants sit on an adult's lap at no charge. Children from two years old pay the full rate. The tour runs six hours total, with the two-hour lunch break built into that time.

What’s included

• Life jackets for all passengers.
• full HD music on board with current songs.
• a guide in English or Spanish.
• stops at the Natural Aquarium, Rose Cay, Haynes Cay, Palito Bay, the Old Point Red Mangroves and Instagram Beach.
• time to swim with manta rays and explore marine life.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesUp to age 80

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 1.57

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tour Mundo Marino #PontoonBabyChar

Is this one for you?At six hours with a two-hour lunch break in the middle, the tour leaves room to visit other sites in San Andrés before or after, or to spend the afternoon on land. If you want a full-day immersion in the bay without splitting your day, this fits. If you need to pack multiple activities into one day, the lunch stop and travel time between sites will limit what else you can do.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens when you swim with the manta rays?

You enter the water wearing a life jacket and swim freely alongside the manta rays in their natural habitat at the Natural Aquarium. You observe them as they move around you, but you do not touch or grab them. The point is to watch them in complete freedom in the water where they live.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. The tour stops at a beachside restaurant at noon for up to two hours, and you order and pay for your own meal there. You can eat on the beach during that time or use it to rest.

What do I need to bring for snorkeling?

You need to bring your own snorkeling equipment and face shields or masks for biosafety protocols. Life jackets are provided on board.

Can I bring drinks and snacks on the pontoon?

Yes, you can bring your own drinks aboard without any restrictions. Snacks are your choice as well.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes. Infants sit on an adult's lap and travel free. Children from two years old pay the full rate. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the pontoon is a comfortable, safe vessel designed for families and groups.