Isla Mujeres: Snorkel El Meco & North Beach with Open Bar

Snorkel an Underwater Museum, Then Drift Back on Open Bar

You board at Playa Tortugas, snorkel El Meco's underwater sculptures and coral with a guide, spend time on North Beach, eat a regional buffet lunch with open bar, and return to Cancun with drinks and a party vibe. The noon departure lets you watch the sunset from the boat. Total time is around 8 hours, and snorkel gear is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Playa Tortugas1h
2. North Beach2h · entry included
3. Isla Mujeres2h

Caribbean sea tour and beach club

• Check in at Playa Tortugas pier
• Set sail at 10 AM
• Admire underwater museum El Meco
• Swim and relax at North Beach
• Enjoy buffet and open bar at beach club
• Return to pier and sail back to Cancun
• Party with open bar on return
• Optional sunset viewing if departing at noon

The experience

There's something about the moment the boat leaves the pier at Playa Tortugas that shifts everything. You're no longer on land, and the water around Cancun starts to look different. The staff checks you in from 9am, hands you your boarding pass, and by 10am you're moving toward Isla Mujeres. If you pick the noon departure, you'll be timing the whole day around the sunset, which changes the rhythm of it completely. Either way, the Caribbean is right there, and it's not just blue. It's layered, turquoise near the surface and deeper where the light stops.

The first real stop is El Meco, the underwater museum. A certified guide meets you in the water and points out the sculptures and coral formations that have become a habitat for fish: grouper, sergeant majors, things with colors you don't see in photographs. You're snorkeling with equipment provided, so you don't have to bring your own or rent separately. It's not a deep dive. It's shallow enough that you're moving along the surface, watching. After that, North Beach on Isla Mujeres is where you spend real time. It placed ninth in the 2019 Travelers Choice Awards, and once you're there, you understand why. The sand is fine, the water is calm, and there's space to actually sit without feeling crowded.

Lunch happens at the beach club, and it's a buffet of regional food: salads, pasta, hot dogs, the kind of spread that works when you're hungry and wet. The open bar runs through lunch and doesn't stop when you leave. On the return to Cancun, the crew creates what they call a family party atmosphere, and the bar stays open so you're not just sitting in silence watching the water go by. If conditions allow, you'll drop anchor at a sandbank on the way back so you can wade out one more time. The 12pm option means you're watching the sunset from the boat, which is the kind of thing that sounds obvious until you're actually there and it's happening.

The whole day runs around 8 hours from check-in to return. You'll need moderate fitness (there's getting in and out of the water, some movement on the boat), and the dress code is smart casual, which means no formal wear but nothing too casual either. Infants sit on a lap. The boat has restrooms and soft music playing, so it's not chaotic. Pickup from your hotel isn't mentioned, so you'll need to get to Playa Tortugas on your own or arrange transport separately.

What’s included

Your day includes a certified guide at El Meco, snorkel equipment, lunch at the beach club with a salad bar and hot dishes, unlimited drinks on the open bar during lunch and the return journey, use of lounge chairs, restrooms on board, and soft background music. The boat departs from Playa Tortugas and returns to Cancun after visiting North Beach and the underwater museum.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Joluga Catamaran´s

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day on the water with snorkeling, a meal, and drinks all handled: no need to arrange gear, food, or figure out how to get back to Cancun with a hangover. The open bar on the return is what makes the afternoon feel less like a tour and more like a day with people who know how to run a boat.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 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.

What time does the boat leave Cancun?

Check-in starts at 9am at Playa Tortugas pier. The boat departs at 10am, or you can choose a 12pm departure to catch the sunset on the return.

Is snorkel equipment included?

Yes, snorkel gear is provided. You don't need to bring your own or pay extra to rent.

How long is the whole tour?

Around 8 hours from check-in to return, including time at the beach club and both snorkel stops.

What if I can't swim?

Snorkel gear is provided and the underwater museum area is shallow. If you're not comfortable in the water, let the operator know when booking.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the boat and transportation options are wheelchair accessible according to the tour details.