Playa del Carmen: Cenote Swim & Akumal Sea Turtle Snorkeling

Two Hours in the Water, One Unforgettable Day

You get picked up from your hotel, swim in a cenote with crystal-clear water and rock formations, snorkel in Akumal where sea turtles swim nearby, and finish with lunch at a beach club. Transport, guide, snorkeling gear, life jacket, and snacks are all included. The whole day is about five to six hours out, depending on your hotel location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Swim cenote, snorkel Akumal, beach lunch

• Swim in Mayan cenote
• Snorkel with sea turtles
• Enjoy beachside lunch

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel in Cancun or the Riviera Maya and driven straight into the limestone landscape where the cenote waits: a natural sinkhole so clear you see the bottom before you're in it. The water is cold at first, then perfect. Your guide hands you a life jacket (mandatory, but you won't think about it once you're floating past the rock formations), and you have time to swim, to look up at the cave ceiling, to let the strangeness of it sink in. No crowds, no rush. Just you and the water that's been there for thousands of years.

After the cenote, you drive to Akumal, a small beach town about thirty minutes away where the snorkeling is the real draw. The guide gears you up with mask and snorkel, and you wade in. The sea turtles are there, not always guaranteed, but they're there most days, moving through the shallows like they own the place, which they do. You'll see tropical fish in colors that don't look real, coral formations, the whole underwater thing. It's not a rushed tour. The guide stays with you, points things out, lets you linger when something interesting shows up. Groups stay small, which changes everything about how the day feels.

Lunch happens at an exclusive beach club. Nothing fancy, but the food is good and you're sitting on sand with your feet in the sand, which is the only way lunch should happen after a morning in the water. There's time to rest, to dry off, to just be there without moving. The van picks you up in the afternoon and takes you back to your hotel, and you spend the drive half-asleep, salt in your hair, already thinking about when you can do it again.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup from Cancun or Riviera Maya hotels, entry to the cenote and beach club, a professional bilingual guide, snorkeling gear (mask and snorkel), a mandatory life jacket, a beachside lunch at an exclusive beach club, and snacks (water, fruit, and crackers) during the van ride. The pickup time depends on where your hotel is located.

Information

Lasts 4h 30m, runs Monday to Saturday at 09:00, from US$ 119 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 164 private ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 79 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cancun Adventures

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in Cancun or the Riviera Maya who want both cenote swimming and snorkeling in one morning without arranging transport or gear. Expect a full day out with a drive each way. That's what fits two distinct water experiences and lunch into a single excursion.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

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.

Do you need to be a strong swimmer for this tour?

No, but you need at least moderate fitness. Life jackets are mandatory in the cenote. The snorkeling in Akumal is in shallow water, and your guide stays with the group.

Will you definitely see sea turtles?

Sea turtles are common in Akumal, but sightings are not guaranteed. They're wild animals. Most days you'll see them, but it depends on the day and the season.

What's included in the price?

Round-trip hotel pickup, cenote and beach club entry, snorkeling gear, life jacket, a bilingual guide, lunch, and snacks (water, fruit, crackers) in the van.

How long is the drive from Cancun?

Pickup times vary by hotel location. Akumal is about 45 minutes south of Cancun. The full day is roughly five to six hours out.

Can you bring a camera or phone into the cenote?

No devices are allowed inside the cenote. You can take photos at the beach club and during snorkeling if you have an underwater camera.

What if you're not comfortable snorkeling?

Snorkeling is part of the itinerary in Akumal. If you prefer not to snorkel, you can stay on the beach while others are in the water.

Are there two different price options?

Yes. One option includes cenote and beach club entrance fees plus an environmental conservation fee. The other does not. Check which applies before booking.