Snorkeling in Cozumel from Tulum: Three Reefs & El Cielo

Starfish, stingrays and shallow turquoise water at El Cielo, where you can touch the bottom.

Snorkel three reef sites off Cozumel Island on a full day from Tulum, starting with a ferry crossing and continuing by motor boat to El Cielo, Palancar Reef and Colombia Reef. You'll see starfish, stingrays, turtles, eagle rays and tropical fish in shallow and deeper waters, then eat lunch at a beachside restaurant with pool access before spending two hours exploring downtown Cozumel. Round transport from Tulum, ferry ticket, boat tour, snorkel gear and one drink per person on the boat are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling and exploring Cozumel Island

• Ferry ride to Cozumel Island
• Snorkel at El Cielo
• Snorkel at Palancar Reef
• Snorkel at Columbia Reef
• Enjoy meal at restaurant with pool
• Relax and swim at restaurant pool
• Free time in downtown Cozumel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from Super Aki Market in Tulum City and a ferry ride to Cozumel Island. Once there, you board a motor boat for three separate snorkel stops. El Cielo comes first: a shallow turquoise lagoon where you can stand on the sandy bottom and watch starfish and stingrays move around your feet. The water is so clear you'll see them from the surface. From there the boat moves to Palancar Reef and Colombia Reef, deeper sites where the corals are larger and the fish more varied: turtles, spotted eagle rays, eels and schools of tropical species that don't come into the shallows.

After snorkeling, you head to a beachside restaurant for lunch, your choice of dish, with a pool and beach access to rinse off and dry out. One drink comes with the meal. The boat ride back to the ferry takes about an hour, and then you have two free hours in downtown Cozumel to walk the shops, grab a café, or just sit by the water before the ferry returns you to Tulum. The whole day runs about eleven hours from pickup to drop-off, with roughly five of those spent in transport and the rest split between snorkeling, lunch and town time.

Bring your own swimsuit, towels and extra clothes. Only biodegradable sunscreen is allowed on the reef. Snorkeling is not available for non-swimmers, children under ten, or travelers over fifty-nine. The marine conservation tax of four dollars per person is not included and is paid separately at the reef. A live guide speaks English and Spanish throughout the day.

What’s included

• Round transportation from Super Aki Market in Tulum City.
• ferry ticket to Cozumel Island.
• motor boat tour between three snorkel sites.
• snorkel equipment.
• one beverage per person on the boat (soda, beer or water).
• box lunch with a dish of your choice.
• one drink with lunch.
• two hours of free time in downtown Cozumel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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$ 4

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nauticos del Caribe

Is this one for you?The eleven-hour day means you need a full commitment, but the five hours of transport time is split across the morning ferry, boat rides between reefs, and the return journey, so snorkeling and town time fit inside without feeling rushed. If your Tulum schedule has only a half-day free, this won't work. If you have a full day and want to see three different reef ecosystems in one outing, the time commitment is what makes all three stops reachable.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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 will I see when I snorkel at El Cielo?

El Cielo is a shallow lagoon where starfish and stingrays live on the sandy bottom in water clear enough to see them from the surface. You can stand in the water and watch the marine life move around you, and the spot is known for its turquoise color and soft white sand.

How much time do I spend actually snorkeling versus traveling?

The full day is about eleven hours from pickup to drop-off. Roughly five hours are spent in transport (the ferry to and from the island and the boat between snorkel sites) leaving six hours for snorkeling, lunch, beach time and exploring downtown Cozumel.

Is lunch included, and what are my options?

Lunch is included at a beachside restaurant where you choose your dish. One drink comes with the meal, and the restaurant has a pool and beach access so you can relax and swim between snorkel stops.

What should I bring and what equipment is provided?

Bring your swimsuit, towels, extra clothes and biodegradable sunscreen only: regular sunscreen damages the reef. Snorkel gear, including mask and fins, is provided. A marine tax of four dollars per person for reef conservation is not included and is paid on site.

Do I need to be an experienced swimmer to snorkel here?

Snorkeling is not available for non-swimmers, children under ten, or travelers over fifty-nine. If you can swim, you can participate at all three reef sites, which range from shallow water at El Cielo to deeper reefs where turtles and eagle rays are found.