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Akumal & Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich: Turtle Swim & Cenote Snorkel

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/13

Duration6h–7h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Turtles Show Up at Akumal—You Just Have to Know Where to Look

You swim with wild turtles at Akumal Beach, then snorkel inside Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, a freshwater cave system sacred to the Maya. Hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen or Tulum is included, along with snorkeling equipment, a guide, water and snacks. The whole half-day takes about four to five hours, and you're back before lunch.

6h–7h

Step-by-step itinerary

Swim with turtles and cenote visit

Arrive at Akumal Beach
Swim with wild turtles
Put on snorkel mask
Float over vibrant reef
Pick up snorkeling equipment
Swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich
Relax in refreshing cenote waters
Transfer back to starting point

The Experience

The turtles are there before you even get in the water. You pull up to Akumal Beach on the Riviera Maya and they're already cruising the shallows, unbothered, eating seagrass like it's just another Tuesday. That's the first surprise—they don't hide, they don't perform. They're just living their day and you're invited to float alongside them with a snorkel mask on. The half-day tour starts with hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen or Tulum, then heads straight to the beach. You get snorkeling equipment, a guide who knows the reef, and about an hour to watch the turtles move through the water at their own pace. The reef itself is sharp with color—fish everywhere, coral formations you didn't expect to find this close to shore.

After Akumal, the tour moves inland to Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, one of the larger underground cenotes in the region. The cenote is a freshwater cave system that the Maya considered sacred, and walking into it, you understand why—the light comes through cracks in the limestone ceiling and hits the water in these pale blue shafts. You snorkel here too, but it's a different feeling. The water is still, the air is cool, and there's no current pulling you anywhere. Your aquatic guide stays with you the whole time, pointing out the rock formations and explaining how these cenotes work as part of the underground river system. The whole experience is quieter than the beach, more interior.

The tour wraps with a transfer back to your hotel, and you're done by early afternoon. Bottled water and snacks are included, as is all the snorkeling gear—you don't need to bring your own or rent separately. One thing to know: the Akumal Bay turtle care program costs an extra 500 Mexican Pesos per person, paid on the day, if you want to support the conservation work there. It's optional, but most people do it once they see how many turtles depend on that beach.

What’s included

Round-trip hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or the Riviera Maya.
snorkeling equipment for both Akumal Beach and Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich.
bottled water and snacks.
an aquatic guide at both locations.
and air-conditioned vehicle transport between stops.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Holbox Magico

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see wild turtles and explore a cenote in one half-day without arranging transport, gear rental, or timing yourself—the fixed schedule fits both Akumal and the cenote into a single morning or afternoon.