Snorkeling in Chachalacas Beach with sandboarding

Sandboard down dunes, then snorkel the reefs

Snorkel the Veracruz Reef System and sandboard across 550 acres of dunes at Chachalacas Beach near Veracruz, with a bilingual guide, all equipment, air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup. The day runs 6 hours, starting at 9 a.m., and includes a stop at La Antigua, the first city council of America.

The Experience

The morning starts at your hotel and heads straight to Chachalacas Beach, where you spend the first half of the day sandboarding across 550 acres of dunes. You get the board and instruction, and the adrenaline comes from sliding yourself down the sand rather than watching it pass. The ocean view sits at the edge of the dunes, so you can see where the water starts while you're still riding.

After sandboarding, the guide takes you into the water to snorkel the Veracruz Reef System. You wear the snorkeling equipment provided (mask, fins, snorkel), and move at your own pace through the reefs. The guide stays with the group and speaks English or Spanish, so you get information about what you're seeing without needing to surface to ask. The whole activity wraps by 3 p.m., and the route back includes a quick stop at La Antigua, the first city council of America, so you see a piece of the region's history on the same day.

An air-conditioned vehicle handles the transport between your hotel and the beach, and the operator provides digital photos from the day. Bring a swimming suit, sun protection, long sleeves or shorts, and an extra set of clothes that dry quickly: the sandboarding and snorkeling both leave you wet and sandy. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. The operator supplies it.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• sandboard and instruction.
• snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel).
• guide in English or Spanish.
• digital photos from the day.
• stop at La Antigua.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tours Amphibian

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to move through two different landscapes (sand and water) in a single morning and afternoon, with a guide handling both the instruction and the logistics so you can focus on the activity itself.

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Top questions

What's the Veracruz Reef System like when you get there?

The Veracruz Reef System is a coral reef formation you snorkel directly in the water at Chachalacas Beach. The guide shows you the reefs and stays with the group, so you see what's there without needing to navigate on your own.

Do I need sandboarding experience to do this?

No prior sandboarding experience is required. The guide provides instruction and the board, and you slide down the dunes at your own pace. The operator does note that a high level of physical fitness helps, since sandboarding and snorkeling both demand some stamina.

What time does this start and end?

The activity starts at 9 a.m. from your hotel lobby and ends at 3 p.m., running 6 hours total. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and the operator runs departures 7 days a week.

Is lunch included?

Food and drinks are not included in the activity. The operator supplies drinkable water throughout the day, but you'll want to bring snacks or plan a meal before or after.

How does the pickup work?

The guide meets you at your hotel lobby at 9 a.m. and returns you there after the activity ends. The air-conditioned vehicle is included, so you don't arrange separate transport to the beach.