Snorkel and swim in the Caribbean Sea and a freshwater cenote on a half-day tour from Cancun. Your guide first takes you to a snorkeling spot in the Caribbean to look for sea turtles and colorful tropical fish. Next, you continue into the rain forest to a nature park with an extensive underground river system. There you can swim in the crystal clear waters of the cenote for a quintessential experience in the Yucatan of Mexico. Includes snacks, guide, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Half-day snorkeling tour with Caribbean sea turtles and Yucatan cenote, from Cancun
Look for three of the world's seven sea turtle species while snorkeling in the Caribbean
Swim in the fresh water of the massive cenote and view thousands of stalagmites and stalactites
Includes use of snorkeling equipment, snacks, guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off

What's Included

Bilingual guide
Round Transportation with AC (From Playa del Carmen or Cancun Hotel Zone)
Equipment required for both water activities
Light snack: Pastries, and refreshments,
Vegetarian or Gluten Free Options available under request.
Bottled water

15 USD p.p. conservation fee to be paid in cash on the day of the tour

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

For Airbnb please provide the full address to provide you the nearest meeting point. Pick up from Cancun between 06:00am -07:00 am. Pick up from Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen between 07:00 am-08:00 am and Pick up from Tulum around 09:00 am

What To Expect

Akumal Beach

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

XTUN CAVERNAS

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for pregnant travellers
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travellers with back problems
WHAT TO BRING:
Towel
Comfortable, fresh clothing
Change of clothing
Swimsuit

Hat or cap
Sunglasses
Sandals
Money for photos, souvenirs and tips
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The use of sunblock is not allowed before water activities.
Not recommended for participants who do not have basic swimming skills (for aquatic activities)
The given times are START TIMES for the activity. You will get a personal pick up time from your hotel.
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:How can I let you know where to pick me up for the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya?

A:We offer pick-ups from most hotels. Let us know where you are staying in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.

Mar. 2021

Q:What time can we expect to be picked up for the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya?

A:We will contact you to arrange pickup after making your reservation. Approximate pickup times range from 7:00 am to 8:00 am depending on the hotel location.

Mar. 2021

Q:What is a cenote?

A:A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole, usually filled with water. Snorkeling inside the cenotes in the Riviera Maya is one of the most requested aquatic activities since it is such a unique experience in this area of the world.

Mar. 2021

Q:Is the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya appropriate for children?

A:Absolutely! The tour is child-friendly and elderly-friendly. Everyone's invited to join!

Mar. 2021

Q:What should I bring with me on the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya?

A:We recommend bringing a towel, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a change of clothing, and money for souvenirs, photos, and the required Natural Reserve Fee ($13 USD per person).

Mar. 2021

Q:Should I bring my camera on the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya?

A:You are welcome to bring your own camera. Your guide will also shoot videos & pictures on a GoPro in high-definition during your Whale Shark experience. At the end of your trip, you're able to purchase a digital copy.

Mar. 2021

Q:What should I wear on the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya?

A:Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. We recommend wearing your bathing suit under your regular clothes and bringing sandals or water shoes and an extra set of dry clothes.

Mar. 2021

Q:Can I participate in the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour if I'm not an experienced snorkeler/swimmer?

A:Yes! Our professional guides will make sure you feel safe and have a great experience. Even if you are not an experienced snorkeler or if you are not the strongest swimmer, the guide will adapt to your level.

Mar. 2021

Q:Do I have to bring snorkeling gear on the Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya?

A:You can if you want to, but we provide all snorkeling gear including mask, snorkel, fins, and life jacket.

Mar. 2021

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Melissa_W

David, our tour guide was amazing! So passionate & full of energy and knowledge about the area and our excursions! He made the trip so memorable! And we saw 2 turtles & lots of other fish! And the cenotes were absolutely breathtaking! What a amazing memory filled day!

Reviews

5.0

632 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 632 reviews

Great Experience

Disha_D, May 2023

Such a great experience, especially seeing the turtles! And we saw a baby sea turtle as well. Our tour guides Paco and Lucho were amazing. They were very friendly, knowledgeable and overall great experience. First time seeing a cenote and it was perfect! Definitely recommend!

Response from Host, May 2023

HI , Thanks for share this experience with us and your comments . We are happy to know that enjoyed the turtles and the baby with Paco and Lucho . We wish to see you again . Best regards Laura Ocean Tours

Absolutely amazing!! well worth it!!

Neil_S, May 2023

I booked this tour in the UK before I went to Mexico. The price was approximately 10 US dollars cheaper than buying it in Mexico. I highly recommend this tour. The communication was brilliant. They collected us from our hotel. They were on time. The tour always kept me updated. The tour guide was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about the turtles and the history of cenotes. The driver's name was Tony and the tour guide girl was a blonde girl who was extremely passionate and spoke French English and Spanish. She stayed with us from start to finish. She had great care for everybody on the tour. She swam with us and showed us turtles stingrays and octopus. Then she took us in a number one cenote. This cenote was in a cave and was absolutely amazing with fresh water. She told us exactly where to walk exactly how to avoid the rocks she took care of us all so well we felt like we were her family. She provided us with torches. The drinks and snacks and food was all great. We were all in very safe hands throughout the day and she dropped us back to our hotel. Our belongings were kept safe all day on the bus. It was a lifetime memory thank you so much for organizing this tour it is very special and tour was absolutely fantastic.

Response from Host, May 2023

I'm thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience with the tour you booked in the UK! It's great to know that you received excellent communication and that they picked you up from your hotel on time. Staying updated throughout the tour is important for a smooth and enjoyable experience. Having a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide can greatly enhance the experience, and it's wonderful that they were well-informed about turtles and the history of cenotes. Tony, the driver, and the blonde tour guide girl, who spoke multiple languages and showed great passion, made sure to provide exceptional care for everyone on the tour. The opportunity to swim with turtles, stingrays, and octopus must have been incredible. Exploring the cave cenote with fresh water sounds truly amazing, especially with the guidance and care provided by the tour guide. Safety and security are essential aspects of a tour, and it's great to hear that you felt well taken care of throughout the day. The provision of torches, along with drinks, snacks, and food, adds to the overall comfort and enjoyment. I'm glad to hear that your belongings were kept safe on the bus, and that the tour created a lifetime memory for you. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback and expressing your gratitude for the organization of the tour. Sasha; Ocean Tours Team

I wanna go again

Liam_P, May 2023

Brilliant driver was on time and had good tunes , Cecilia our guide was amazing and included everybody well on the tour , the photographs taken were awesome and a good price , definitely worth the package , 100% we want to go again !

Response from Host, May 2023

It sounds like you had a great experience on your tour! I'm glad to hear that your driver was punctual and provided good music for the trip. It's also great to hear that your guide Cecilia was amazing and made sure everyone felt included. And it's always nice to have some great photographs to remember the trip by. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback and I hope you get to go on another tour soon! Sasha; Ocean Tours Team

Great day for a swim

RichardKyle, Apr 2023

Great day trip to swim with turtles. I saw three and my wife saw four. One nearly swam right into my stomach. Downside is that we were in the water only about a half an hour, would have liked to spent more time there. Then we drove a ways into the jungle to swim in a cave cenote. This was really cool considering that I have never done anything like this before. After we had a quick snack of empanadas that were delicious. Early start but we got back at a reasonable hour.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hello Richard, Getting so close to the turtles is such a priviledge. the duration of the activity was designed to provide anyone the chance to enjoy this experience, and to give the turtles the much needed respite from the visitors. Happy to hear that you enjoyed the Mexican snacks, our personal favorites. See you on your next holiday in Mexico Mariana Ocean Tours

The cenote was very...

Tanagra_S, Apr 2023

The cenote was very interesting. We saw a few turtles. Over all a fun experience. Would recommend.!!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi , Thanks for choosing us and your words . We are glad to know that you enjoyed the turtles adn the cenote . We wish to see you again , Best regards Laura Ocean Tours

Magical & very special

Gill_N, Apr 2023

We had a fantastic day saw 2 turtles & the cenote was magical experience. 1st class trip & lovely lunch

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi , Thanks for share with us the adventure and your words . We are glad to know about your magical and very special day with the turtles and cenote . We hope to see you again . Best regards Laura Ocean Tours

You have to do this

deb62pink, Apr 2023

This tour was fantastic, swimming with the turtles was fun, but going into the underground cenote was amazing and Alejandro or guide was amazing. Worth every cent!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi Deb, thank you very much for your comment :) Yes absolutely the cenote is an amazing experience, it's highly recommended! We hope to see you again soon! Paula Ocean Tours

Sweet 16 w/sea turtles

Stephani_D, Apr 2023

We saw two large sea turtles! They came up for air right in front of us! We could have kissed them! JP was great! It was my daughters birthday and she loves sea turtles! What a great gift this was

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi Stephan, wow, it sounds like you had an incredible experience seeing those sea turtles up soo close! I'm so glad to hear that JP was a great guide and helped make your experience even more special. Wow, what a wonderful birthday gift for your daughter! It's great to hear that she loves sea turtles and was able to have such a memorable experience on her sweet 16. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, and I hope that you have many more wonderful adventures in the future! Paula Ocean Tours

Amazing service, great communication, fabulous tour guide and driver.

Charlotte_M, Apr 2023

Booking was really easy through the app. We had contact from the tour operator soon after booking confirming pick up time and location. Pick up was on time and Diego our tour guide introduced himself and Miguel the driver. Diego was excellent at explaining the plan for the day and making sure we knew what was happening. The snorkelling in akumal was incredible, we saw 3 turtles, starfish, sting rays and loads of fish. Our guide was very knowledgeable and estimated the turtles age and told us facts about the creatures we were seeing. After the snorkelling we went to a very cool underground cenote and again Diego was very knowledgeable and helpful. We had a great time and could not have wished for anything else for the tour. excellent value for money considering the amazing experience we had. We have since booked another tour with this company because we are so impressed with the service we had.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi Charlotte! Thank you so much for these amazing comments. We do put a lot of efforts in providing a perfect experience for our guests, and we are proud when we receive great comments like yours. We really hope your next tour will be as close to perfection as this one was. Thank you again. See you soon! All the best! Noemie- Ocean Tours

Do it you won’t regret it!

Lisa_B, Mar 2023

The cenotes are such a cool natural phenomenon you have to see! Followed by snorkeling with turtles, you can’t go wrong. Our tour guide, driver and photographer were all spectacular and made this experience perfect. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi , Thanks for choosing Ocean Tours and for your comments . We are happy to know about your experience with our team , we will share the review with them . We hope to see you again Best regards Laura Ocean Tours

Disappointing experience, but Cenote was beautiful

Carolyn_M, Mar 2023

Overall we were disappointed with this tour. There were some great moments, but in general it was not a great experience. First of all the tour says 9:00 a.m. to start, but our pickup time from Cancun was 6:25 a.m.!!!! The tour was 12 people and it was extremely crowded in the tiny tour van, barely any room for towels and items that we brought with us (change of clothes, snacks for the kids, water shoes, towels). The tour guide hardly gave any information at all, except for 5 minutes before snorkeling, and some limited information during the Cenote tour. We were hoping for a little more info about geography, sea life, formation of Cenotes, etc. Instead we just sat on a silent van ride for 2.5 hours each way. The worst part of the tour was the snorkeling. We went on a day where it was a bit windy and there were significant waves and horrible visibility. Honestly the snorkeling part should have been cancelled because in my opinion there was no point in snorkeling when visibility was so horrendous. We saw the shadow of a turtle and the shadow of a sting ray through murky waters. I asked if conditions were usually better, and I was told that sometimes yes and sometimes no there's a lot of variability. The waves and current were so strong I would not recommend it for children under 12 years old. All of the kids that I saw out in the water went back to shore after a few minutes. Also, the location where we went snorkeling was a total tourist trap filled with hundreds of people all snorkeling to see the 2 or 3 turtles hidden in murky water. I was kicked multiple times by people in my own group and other groups all rushing to see the one turtle under water. After snorkeling was a 45 minute ride to the Cenote. The road through the jungle is filled with massive construction trucks that are part of the railroad project being built across Mexico. These trucks are filled with debris and rocks, and all vehicles are all fighting to get through a 1 way road that has now become a 2 way construction site. I honestly felt a bit unsafe on this part of the journey. But once we arrived at the Cenote, the cave did not disappoint. This was the highlight of the tour. We were actually the only group in the cave when we arrived, and it was as gorgeous as I had hoped and a lot of fun. The water was a bit cold, but totally worth it. As we exited the cave, there were 2 more tours arriving. Lunch was pretty tasty, we were served empanadas along with some beverages that we all enjoyed. The ride home was long, and again silent - no information shared about Mexico. We did not get back to our hotel room until 4:30 p.m. making the total time about 10 hours (much longer than the half-day expected). Final note, there is a photographer that takes photos of you during the tour, but it was $72 for a 4 person family...which we thought was very overpriced, when all we wanted was a few photos of our family together. The photographer is talented and takes great photos, we wish there was a cheaper option.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear Carolyn, Thank you for taking the time to share your comments about your day with us. Our aim is to leave every client with the best memories of their trip with Ocean tours, and when this is not the case, we want to see where we can improve. Obviously, the weather is an important factor where we do not have the control on of course. And I can understand that with younger kids, when the weather is not ideal, one can be concerned about the idea of snorkeling in the sea, especially that the visibility will also be affected. This is fortunately not every day like this, but this is true that we experienced windy days this week. When this is too windy to be practicable, we would actually cancel the snorkeling activity or offer to go on a different day, to be safe. The day you went was probably not the best, but not to the point to cancel the trip. As to the pick up time, the 9am time is given by default versus the 12pm tour that we have, but these are Starting tour times, not pick ups from your place. The reason for this is that we offer a pick up from all over the coast, and all will have a different pick up time depending on the location our guests have, those coming from Cancun being the earliest ones to be picked up of course. I hope to have explained that part a bit. When you stay in Cancun, this is a longer ride indeed to the south, and for those who long for a half day trip, we do recommend to remain close to Akumal, Tulum or Playa del Carmen, as the driving time will be surely less. And finally we are sorry to see that there was not a great match with your guide apparently. All guides have their own essence and manner to proceed and this is true that a guide that has a lot to tell about the story can make the whole difference between a GREAT tour and a "So So" tour. We are happy to see that the cenotes made the rest of the day enjoyable, and that you could enjoy the calm and beauty of this incredible place. Carolyn, we have contacted you on a more private end and will be at your own disposal for any other comments you may want to add. Kind regards, Geraldine Ocean tours

Do it!

Erin_B, Mar 2023

Maryna and Luis were spectacular. Having an extremely personable tour guide made all the difference in this half day trip. The closed Cenote was absolutely amazing despite the cold water!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Erin, Good to see that you enjoyed our services, and thank you so much for the 5 star review, really appreciated! Maryna and Luis will be happy to see the good comments made towards them! We hope to see you again soon!

CoCo *MADE* our Tour!

Alyssa_A, Mar 2023

CoCo was an absolutely AMAZING guide!! He was genuine, hilarious and comforting to all the guests in my party. He went above and beyond to help ease the nerves for one of our group members who had never gone snorkeling; he walked her through breathing techniques and taxied her around the reef until she was comfortable. I was so thankful to have him has a guide!!

Great fun!

Emily_L, Mar 2023

Maryna was great! Good energy to help make the outing really fun. Conditions were great. Everything very good!

Amazing experience

Jennifer_F, Mar 2023

I loved this tour. Our guide Rachelle was very knowledgeable and genuinely cared about our experience. Thank you!

Great adventure!

Naomi_T, Mar 2023

We got to see sea turtles, sting rays, big starfish and it was what we were looking for. The Cenote part was different from what we had expected it to be (in a far more better way) and we came back with a great feeling of accomplishment of an adventure.

Great day!

denise_v, Mar 2023

Nora was an incredible tour guide who worked very hard to make sure all our needs were met and expectations exceeded!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear Denise, thanks for your comment! we are glad you had a good experience with our team :) Kind regards

Sea turtle, cenote and lunch

Lisa_W, Feb 2023

We saw many beautiful green sea turtles. The Cenote was amaaazzzing! The lunch was authentic and plentiful. Caesar salad, chicken and cheese (names of our crew) were the absolute best! Highly recommend

A much do

Mark_A, Feb 2023

First off let me say our driver and guide were amazing. Our daughter was carsick and the driver showed genuine concern and was compassionate. The turtle experience was great. Very crowded at the beach but our guide got us up close and was amazing. The Cenote portion was exceptional. I’ve been in centotes before but this one is incredible. Loved it.

Great time

Richard_F, Feb 2023

Had a great experience our tour guide was amazing. Got to see sea turtles and an eagle ray. Would recommend for any beginner snorkeler.

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