Snorkeling with Turtles at Akumal and Tulum Ruins

Swim alongside turtles in clear water, then walk through a Mayan port city built on a cliff.

This full-day snorkeling and archaeological tour from Riviera Maya, Tulum or Cancun combines two stops: a guided snorkel at Akumal beach where you'll see turtles, colorful fish and corals, then skip-the-line access to Tulum's ruins with a local guide explaining the Mayan civilization. The tour includes snorkeling gear, a safety briefing, buffet lunch, and hotel pickup from most hotels (Tulum hotel guests meet at a designated point). You'll arrange your exact departure time with the operator, and a mandatory government fee of 750 MXN per person is payable in cash on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Akumal2h · entry included
2. Tulum Ruins2h · entry included

Snorkeling and Tulum Ruins Tour

• Travel to Akumal Beach
• Receive safety briefing
• Gear up for snorkeling
• Snorkel with turtles and marine life
• Travel to Tulum Archaeological Site
• Guided tour of Tulum ruins

The experience

Your morning starts with a pickup from your hotel or meeting point, heading straight to Akumal beach. Mornings offer the best chance to spot turtles in their natural habitat. Once you arrive, your guide gives a safety briefing, you gear up with snorkeling equipment, and you enter the water to see turtles gliding through clear shallows alongside colorful fish and coral formations. The snorkel lasts as long as the conditions and your comfort allow. This is the time to move at your own pace in the water while the guide stays with the group.

After Akumal, you head to Tulum Archaeological Site. Skip-the-line entry means you walk past the queue at the gate and go straight in with your guide, who teaches you about the Mayans as a civilization: their knowledge, their findings, their understanding of the world around them. You'll visit the castle, the observatory and the main temples. Tulum was a port city of significance, and the ruins sit on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean, which the guide will explain as you move through the site.

Buffet lunch is included partway through the day. Bring swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent. The operator will tell you the exact meeting time once you book. The tour runs about eight hours total. Note that a mandatory government surcharge of 750 MXN per person (covering park fees, the Tulum archaeological fee and natural reserve tax) is collected in cash on the day of the activity. This is separate from your tour price.

What’s included

• Snorkeling gear and a safety briefing at Akumal.
• guided snorkel with turtles, fish and coral.
• skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Tulum Archaeological Site.
• buffet lunch.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from most Riviera Maya and Cancun hotels (or meeting point transfer for Tulum hotel guests).

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour from TulumGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00Lunch options: a burger with fries, a serving of tacos, or a vegetarian option; one soft drink is included. Hotel pickup is not available; you will meet the tour at the designated meeting point.

Tour from Cancun and Costa MujeresGuide in English or Spanish · Available from 10 Oct 2027Lunch options: a burger with fries, a serving of tacos, or a vegetarian option; one soft drink is included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from most centrally located hotels in Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres. Pickup is included.

Excursion departing from Riviera MayaGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Duration: 8 hours. Lunch options: a burger with fries, a serving of tacos, or a vegetarian option; one soft drink is included. Hotel pickup is included from most centrally located hotels in Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday, Friday and SundayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 50

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cancun Travel Experience

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you're staying in Riviera Maya or Cancun and want the best light and turtle activity at Akumal. The fixed schedule keeps both snorkeling and ruins inside one full day without you arranging transport between them. If you're based in Tulum, the meeting point option works the same way, just without the hotel pickup leg.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Can I book this snorkeling tour if I'm staying at a Tulum hotel?

Yes, but hotel pickup is not available from Tulum hotels. You'll meet the tour at a designated meeting point in Tulum instead, and you should be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.

What will I see when I snorkel at Akumal?

Akumal is known for sea turtles that swim in the shallow, clear water. You'll also see colorful fish and coral formations. Mornings increase your chances of spotting turtles in their natural habitat.

Do I need snorkeling experience to join this tour?

No. Your guide gives a safety briefing before you enter the water, and snorkeling gear is provided. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes snorkeling gear, a guided snorkel at Akumal, skip-the-line entry to Tulum ruins with a guided tour, buffet lunch, and hotel pickup or meeting point transfer depending on which option you select. A mandatory government fee of 750 MXN per person is paid separately in cash on the day.

What should I bring on this tour?

Bring swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes, sunscreen, insect repellent and spending cash for incidentals. The operator will confirm your exact departure time once you book.

What's the minimum group size for this tour to run?

The tour requires a minimum of four passengers. If the minimum isn't reached, you'll be offered to reschedule or receive a full refund.