You’ll board a catamaran in Puerto Morelos for a relaxed sail through clear lagoon waters before stopping at a shallow sandbar—perfect for swimming or just floating around. Enjoy a light lunch onboard with drinks included. With friendly guides and no pressure to rush, you’ll have time to soak up both sun and quiet moments—leaving you with more than just photos.
The first thing I noticed was the way the sunlight bounced off the water as we left Marina La Bonita—almost too bright, but not harsh, just that soft shimmer you get near Puerto Morelos. Our guide, Carlos, had this easy laugh and pointed out pelicans gliding by like they owned the place. The catamaran felt steady under my feet (I always worry I’ll trip on those things), and there was this faint salty smell mixed with sunscreen and fruit from someone’s bag. We drifted past the edge of the reef—Carlos said it’s part of Puerto Morelos Reef Park, but honestly I was just watching how clear the water got as we moved further out.
It didn’t take long before we anchored at what they called their “secret sandbar.” Not sure how secret it is, but it did feel tucked away—just shallow turquoise water stretching around us, barely up to my waist. Kids were already laughing and flopping onto these big floating mats (I tried one too; surprisingly fun). The lagoon was so calm you could hear people chatting from across the boat, and every now and then someone would shout when they found a tiny crab or fish darting by their toes. Lunch was simple—a baguette with ham and cheese, some fruit, chips—and honestly after swimming it tasted better than I expected. One woman tried to order another drink in Spanish; Carlos grinned and corrected her pronunciation (she laughed it off). It all felt easygoing.
I kept thinking how different this was from the usual beach crowds—no vendors or loud music, just our small group floating around or sitting on the deck with wet hair drying in the sun. There was this moment where everything went quiet except for seagulls overhead and someone opening a can of beer nearby. I still think about that view back toward Puerto Morelos—the town looking tiny behind us, clouds hanging low over the mangroves. On the way back I just lay down on one of those mats, half-listening to stories about local fishermen that Carlos told (I missed half of it because I dozed off for a minute). So yeah…not what I expected when I booked a catamaran day trip in Puerto Morelos.
Operated by Marina La Bonita
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4h · EN · IT +2 · at your hotel
from US$ 140 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.70417 reviews