Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
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Snorkeling in Cozumel: Catamaran to El Cielo or Passion IslandA shared catamaran snorkeling trip in Cozumel where you choose between El Cielo or Passion Island, with five hours total including sailing, reef snorkeling, and time on the sandbar. The boat carries a certified captain and crew; snorkeling gear, life jackets, a full meal with grilled chicken and fresh fruit, beer, rum punch and soft drinks are all included. You meet 15 minutes before departure, and the tour runs either 9am–2pm or 2pm–7pm depending on which destination you pick.Is it for me?Book the El Cielo afternoon departure if you want calm, shallow water and a relaxed sandbar setting; choose Passion Island in the morning if you're drawn to reef snorkeling and don't mind a longer boat ride. Either way, the crew handles the navigation and the meal timing, so your only job is to decide when to snorkel and when to float.
Sport Fishing in Puerto Morelos: 4-Hour Boat CharterA 4-hour sport fishing boat trip from Puerto Morelos where you fish the Caribbean using rod and reel gear provided for you—bottom fishing or trolling, depending on conditions. The operator supplies all equipment, bait, life jackets, cold drinks and a live guide in English or Spanish; your catch is cleaned before you return to shore. Newbies and experienced anglers both fish here.Is it for me?Book this if you want to fish with a small group and don't want to arrange gear or worry about what happens to the catch—the crew handles the equipment, the setup and the cleaning. It works for both first-timers and people who fish regularly.
Snorkeling in Akumal with sea turtles and sanctuary visitSnorkeling in Akumal combines a guided visit to a wildlife sanctuary with a snorkel in Akumal Bay, where you swim alongside wild sea turtles, manta rays and tropical fish in their natural habitat. The experience runs 3.5 hours and includes a certified guide in English or Spanish, snorkel equipment, hotel pickup, and close interaction with rescued monkeys and other animals at the sanctuary. Children from age 5 are welcome; the snorkeling eco fee is optional at checkout.Is it for me?You're snorkeling alongside the guide rather than watching from a boat, and the sanctuary visit beforehand means you're learning about conservation while you're in the water—a combination that suits travelers who want hands-on wildlife connection over passive observation. The small-group format with a certified guide keeps the pace manageable for families with children from age 5 and for first-time snorkelers.
Cozumel Catamaran Snorkel Tour: Private El Cielo LunchA private catamaran charter in Cozumel that departs Marina Fonatur and includes two reef snorkels, the El Cielo sand bar, gourmet lunch, and a full open bar—with a four-person crew, snorkeling gear, towels and paddleboards included. Book the 5-hour or 6-hour version depending on how much time you have; cruise passengers must provide their ship name and docking time to guarantee the tour runs.Is it for me?Book the 5-hour version if you want the full reef-and-sand-bar experience with a leisurely lunch; choose the 6-hour option if you're staying in Cozumel and want maximum time at each stop; the 4-hour sail works for cruise passengers with a tight schedule. Cruise travelers must provide their ship name and docking time at checkout to lock in the tour.
Coco Bongo Cancun: Acrobatics Show & Open Bar NightclubYou get admission, unlimited drinks until 2:30am, and a night of live acrobatics and light shows in one of Cancun's biggest nightclubs. The open bar and rotating performances mean you're never waiting for a drink or bored between acts. Arrive by 10pm if you want a seat with a view of the stage.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full night of entertainment and drinks in one place without managing multiple venues or tabs—the open bar and rotating shows mean you stay put and the night keeps moving.
Tulum Ruins & Akumal Beach swim with turtles from CancunA guided day tour from Cancun combines Tulum Ruins, a swim with sea turtles at Akumal Beach, and a cenote in the Mayan jungle, with hotel pickup, bilingual guide, and buffet lunch included. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours and departs from your hotel; Akumal access is available for ages 5 and up. A certified guide leads the Tulum visit and explains the site's history and architecture; you choose whether to add the Mayan ruins preservation fee.Is it for me?The 9- to 10-hour commitment means you leave the morning and return by late afternoon, which works if you're based in Cancun or Playa del Carmen and want to pack three major stops into a single day without renting a car or navigating on your own.
Tulum Ruins, Akumal & Cenotes: Private tour with sea turtlesA private guided tour of Tulum combines the clifftop Mayan ruins, snorkeling at Akumal bay where sea turtles swim, and four cenotes for swimming and jumping. The guide speaks English and Spanish, the day runs ten to eleven hours, and you set the pace at each stop. Pickup is included; regional food, bottled water, snorkel gear and the Tulum zone government tax are part of the price.Is it for me?Choose the private option if you need flexibility to spend extra time at ruins or in the water without waiting for others, and want your guide to navigate the route while you control the pace.
Fishing and Snorkeling in Cabo Catoche: Fresh Ceviche LunchA fishing and snorkeling activity in Cabo Catoche, off Isla Holbox, where you cast for local species, snorkel the reef, and eat ceviche made from your own catch. The 45-minute ride from Holbox, all fishing and snorkel gear, pickup, and a meal of fresh ceviche with totopos and guacamole are included. A guide speaks English or Spanish and leads the full 5.5-hour outing; children from age 1 are welcome.Is it for me?This works best for small groups or families who want a hands-on day on the water—you're fishing and snorkeling yourself, not watching a demonstration. The catch and the snorkeling conditions depend on the weather and the sea that day, so come ready for what shows up rather than a guaranteed outcome. Children from age 1 can join, though the boat ride and the full 5.5 hours matter for very young travelers.
Isla Mujeres Sunset Catamaran & Transfer from CancúnYou're picked up from your Cancún hotel in the afternoon and sail to Isla Mujeres on a spacious catamaran with cocktails, beer, sodas, and snacks included. You get free time to walk the island's center and relax on Playa Norte, then sail back under the stars with your drink in hand. The whole thing runs from pickup to return, so you don't arrange transport or timing yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want a sunset on the water without arranging your own boat, drinks, or timing—the pickup and return from your hotel means you just show up and the rest unfolds. The afternoon departure gives you the full golden-hour experience instead of catching the tail end.
Tulum boat tour: Sian Ka'an lagoon and cenote swimThis half-day boat tour from Tulum takes you into the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve to swim in mangrove canals, then moves to Cenote Corazon del Paraiso, a heart-shaped open-air cenote with clear turquoise water. The tour runs about five hours and includes pickup, a guide, public transportation and a taco order. It's built for travelers who want the lagoon and cenote without a full-day commitment.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're short on time but don't want to skip the cenote—the five-hour window fits a morning or early afternoon and covers both the lagoon and the heart-shaped cenote without eating your whole day.
Akumal & Cenote Snorkel: Sea Turtles & StalagmitesYou start the morning snorkeling in Akumal Bay with sea turtles and tropical fish in clear Caribbean water, then travel into the rainforest to swim and snorkel in a freshwater cenote surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites. The tour includes all snorkel equipment, water, snacks, and hotel pickup, with a guide managing the route and timing so you focus on being in the water.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see sea turtles and explore two very different underwater environments in one day without arranging your own transport or gear — the fixed itinerary and included pickup handle the logistics so you just show up and snorkel.
ATV & Cenote Tour Cozumel: Jade Cavern & Tequila TastingThis shore excursion combines ATV riding through Cozumel's jungle, a swim in Jade Cavern (the island's largest cenote), and an authentic tequila tasting, all guided in English or Spanish. The five-hour experience includes round-trip transport from your ship, cenote entry with lifevest, ATV rental and safety equipment, and a tasting session that walks you through the traditional distillation process. You must have a valid driver's license and be at least 16 to ride; children from age 7 can join as passengers on a double ATV with an adult.Is it for me?Book this if you want to move through Cozumel's interior rather than stay on the beach—the ATV ride and cenote swim are the core, and the tequila tasting rounds out the experience without padding it. The fixed schedule works because the tour is built around cruise timing, so you're not managing your own return to the ship.
Cozumel Craft Beer & Mezcal Tasting Tour with Brewery TastingsThis guided tasting tour in Cozumel combines a brewery tour at Punta Sur with mezcal and food pairings at Mezcalteca, a short walk away. You'll taste four distinct craft beers with guacamole, four varieties of mezcal with tacos made from fresh ingredients, and finish with a sweet mezcal paired with a local dessert. A professional guide leads the experience in English or Spanish, and the whole tour runs about two and a half hours. Minimum age is 18 for the beer and mezcal tastings; bring your ID to verify.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're cruising into Cozumel and want a guided tasting experience that moves between two venues without you arranging the stops or the pairings—the brewery, the food, the mezcal varieties and the timing are all planned. It works best for groups of mixed experience with beer and mezcal, since the guide explains what you're tasting and why.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Buggy drive, Punta Sur Park & reefA 6-hour Cozumel shore excursion for cruise passengers combines buggy driving, a visit to Punta Sur Park's ecological reserve, and guided snorkeling from the beach, with lunch and all equipment included. The tour departs and returns on a schedule timed to your ship, and a certified guide leads the snorkeling portion while you navigate the buggy yourself. Children from age 7 are welcome; all drivers need a valid license and must be at least 16.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to drive yourself and control the pace—the buggy puts you in the driver's seat instead of watching from a bus seat, and the snorkeling from the beach means no boat ride. The fixed schedule is what keeps all three stops inside your port time without you building the itinerary yourself.
Clear Boat & Snorkel Tour in Cozumel: Glass-Bottom ViewsA shore excursion in Cozumel combining a glass-bottom boat ride and snorkeling in one 90-minute outing, designed for cruise passengers with limited port time. You board a transparent boat to watch coral reefs and tropical fish from above, then enter the water to swim among the same marine life up close, with two drinks and snorkeling gear included. The guide speaks English and Spanish, and the tour departs and returns to the cruise dock area.Is it for me?Choose this if you want both glass-bottom viewing and in-water snorkeling in one outing, with bilingual narration in English or Spanish, and a 90-minute duration that fits a cruise port schedule.
Tulum Ruins & Akumal Turtle Swim Snorkel Guided TourA full-day guided tour from Tulum through three stops—the Tulum Ruins overlooking the sea, a boat ride and snorkel with sea turtles at Akumal, and a swim in Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich—with a certified bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch and all equipment included. Hotel pickup is part of the booking, so the day starts without arranging transport.Is it for me?Hotel pickup means the day starts without arranging a car or finding a meeting point—your guide collects you and handles all the driving, so the full itinerary stays intact even if you're staying away from Tulum town or don't have your own transport.
Chichen Itza & Cenote Ik Kil Day Trip from CancunYou spend three hours exploring Chichen Itza with a certified guide, then swim for two hours in the crystal-clear Cenote Ik Kil, stop in the colonial town of Valladolid, and return with lunch and transport included. Small groups and no commercial stops mean you're not racing through the day or sitting through sales pitches.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Chichen Itza properly without rushing, and you'd rather not arrange your own transport, guide, or figure out timing—the fixed schedule and small group size mean you get the depth without the logistics.
Xcaret Tour from Cancun: Underground Rivers & Mexico EspectacularXcaret is an eco-archaeological park tour departing from Cancun hotels that combines water activities in three underground rivers, snorkeling in natural cenotes, and access to over 50 attractions across the Mayan jungle and Caribbean coastline. The tour runs 11 to 12 hours and includes roundtrip transportation, a lunch buffet with beer and unlimited beverages, snorkeling gear, life jackets, and entry to the Mexico Espectacular folkloric show that runs nightly from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Children from age 1 are welcome, though pricing depends on height; infants must be registered at booking to access transportation.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Cancun without a car, since roundtrip hotel pickup eliminates the need to arrange your own transport to Xcaret. The fixed schedule—departure in the morning, return after the 9 p.m. show—means the full day holds together without you building it, and the lunch buffet and all water gear are already accounted for.
Sian Ka'an Bike Tour & Fishing at Crocodile BridgeA guided bike tour through the UNESCO-protected Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve near Tulum, where you ride through mangroves and jungle to pristine beaches, fish with local fishermen at Crocodile Bridge, and swim in secluded lagoons. The tour includes park entrance, a ceviche lunch prepared by locals, and stops at a mangrove lagoon and virgin beach; it runs about five and a half hours and requires a moderate fitness level.Is it for me?This is a shared guided tour where you bike and fish yourself rather than watch — suited for active travelers who want to move through the landscape and do what locals do, not sit in a vehicle. The moderate fitness requirement and five-and-a-half-hour pace mean it works best for people comfortable on a bike and in the water, not for those with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.
Snorkeling Costa Maya: Coral Reefs & Sea Turtles, 2.5 HoursA 2.5-hour snorkeling activity in Costa Maya takes you to two shallow-water sites on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef—first to observe tropical fish and corals, then to search for sea turtles in their natural habitat. An aquatic guide leads both stops; masks, fins, life jackets, GoPro photos, a soft drink or beer, and beach club access are included. Children from age 5 are welcome, and the guide speaks English or Spanish.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you're a confident swimmer comfortable spending an hour underwater at each stop—the second location focuses on turtle grounds where that depth of time lets you observe behavior rather than glimpse and move on.
