Akumal Snorkeling Tour: Swim with Sea Turtles
Snorkel next to wild green sea turtles in Akumal Bay with a licensed guide, then cool off in a cenote. Life vest, gear and all bay fees included, with pickup from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya, Cancun, Cozumel or Merida. Half day, from US$79 per adult.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
Akumal Snorkeling Tour Prices by Pickup Area
The Akumal snorkeling tour costs US$79 per adult from Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, US$89 from Cancun, US$99 from Cozumel and US$159 from Merida. Children aged 4 to 11 pay 25% less, and children under 4 ride free.
| Pickup from | Adult price | Child 4-11 |
|---|---|---|
| Tulum | US$79 | US$59 |
| Playa del Carmen | US$79 | US$59 |
| Riviera Maya (Akumal, Puerto Aventuras) | US$79 | US$59 |
| Cancun | US$89 | US$67 |
| Cozumel (Playa pier) | US$99 | US$74 |
| Merida | US$159 | US$119 |
All Akumal Bay Fees Included
Swimming out to the turtles in Akumal Bay costs money on top of beach access: you pay a licensed guide for the protected turtle area, and many visitors are surprised by a second charge at the water. On our tour, the guide fee for the turtle area, the life vest, the snorkel gear and the cenote entry are all in the price. You only pay extra for food, tips and, from Cozumel, the ferry.
New to the area? Our Akumal beach and Yal-Ku guide explains the bay, the rules and the quieter beaches.
What's Included in the Akumal Turtle Tour
- ✓Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off (or Playa pier for Cozumel)
- ✓Air-conditioned transport
- ✓Licensed guide for the Akumal Bay turtle area
- ✓Life vest, mask, snorkel and fins
- ✓Cenote entry
- ✓Bottled water
Not Included
- ✗Lunch and snacks
- ✗Locker or towel rental
- ✗Cozumel to Playa del Carmen ferry ticket
- ✗Tips for your guide and driver
Akumal Tour Timetable: Your Half Day
The Akumal tour takes about 5 to 6 hours from Playa del Carmen, door to door. Akumal is about 35 minutes from Playa and 30 minutes from Tulum. We go early because the bay is calmer and less busy between 8 and 10 am, and the turtles are feeding.
- 8:00 amPickup at your Playa del Carmen hotel (other areas: see pickup times below)
- 8:45 amArrive at Akumal Bay, meet your licensed guide, get your vest, mask and fins
- 9:00 to 9:45 amSnorkel with your guide in the turtle area of the bay, about 45 minutes in the water
- 10:00 amRinse off, change, short drive to a nearby cenote
- 10:30 to 11:30 amSwim and snorkel in the cenote's fresh water
- about 1:30 pmBack at your Playa del Carmen hotel, with the afternoon free
Swimming with Turtles in Akumal Bay
Akumal means "place of the turtles" in Maya. Green sea turtles live in the bay all year because it has a large field of seagrass, which is their food. You float at the surface in 2 to 4 metres of clear, warm water and watch them eat on the bottom, then swim up to breathe, often right beside you. Your guide also points out rays, fish and, in summer, sometimes loggerhead turtles.
Will You See Sea Turtles in Akumal?
Almost always. The turtles feed in the bay every day, so sightings are very likely in any month. They are wild animals, though, so we cannot promise a number. Going early, as we do, gives you the best chance.
Akumal Snorkeling Rules: Guide, Life Vest and Sunscreen
Yes, you need a guide to swim with turtles in Akumal. Akumal Bay is a protected area, and the turtle area can only be entered with a licensed guide. These are the main rules in 2026:
- ✓A licensed guide is required, with a maximum of 6 snorkelers per guide
- ✓Everyone wears a life vest, even strong swimmers
- ✓About 45 minutes in the turtle area
- ✓Stay about 3 metres (10 feet) from turtles; no touching or chasing
- ✓Do not stand on the seagrass or coral
- ✓Reef-safe sunscreen only, or better, a rash guard
The rules are why the turtles still come back. Our guides follow them, and so does every group we book.
Akumal Snorkeling for Non-Swimmers and Kids
You do not need to be a strong swimmer. The life vest keeps you floating, the water is calm and shallow, and you walk in from the beach, so there is no boat and no deep-water jump. Your guide stays close the whole time. If you have never snorkeled, the guide shows you how on the beach before you go in. Kids who are comfortable in the sea with a vest can join; tell us their ages and we will confirm.
Cenote Swim After Akumal Bay
After the sea, we drive a few minutes to a cenote near Akumal for about an hour in clear fresh water. It washes off the salt and is a very different swim: cool, still water and rock walls. We choose the cenote on the day based on crowds.
Akumal Tour Pickup from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Merida
These are typical pickup and return times for the turtle snorkel; your exact hotel time is confirmed on WhatsApp the day before.
| Pickup from | Pickup time | Back at |
|---|---|---|
| Tulum | 8:00 am | about 1:00 pm |
| Playa del Carmen | 8:00 am | about 1:30 pm |
| Riviera Maya (Akumal, Puerto Aventuras) | 8:15 am | about 1:00 pm |
| Cancun | 7:00 am | about 2:30 pm |
| Cozumel (Playa pier) | 9:00 am at the pier | about 2:30 pm at the pier |
| Merida | 4:30 am | about 5:30 pm |
From Merida, Akumal is about 4 hours each way, so it is a very long day for a half-day tour. We only suggest it if you cannot stay a night on the coast.
Akumal Turtle Tour from Cozumel (Cruise Passengers)
The Akumal turtle tour is one of the easiest tours for cruise guests. Take the ferry to Playa del Carmen; we meet you at the pier at 9:00 am and have you back there around 2:30 pm. That fits most ships. Send us your ship name and all-aboard time before you book, and we will check it.
Check pickup for my hotel or shipPrivate Akumal Snorkeling Tour
The private Akumal snorkeling tour costs US$259 for up to 4 people, with your own vehicle and a guide for your group only. You choose the start time, and families with small children get more attention in the water. Ask us for larger groups or pickup from Cancun, Cozumel or Merida.
Ask for a private Akumal tourAkumal Snorkeling Tour vs Going on Your Own
The beach at Akumal is public, so you can go on your own. But to reach the turtle area you still need a licensed guide and a vest, and you sort out parking, gear and the guide yourself on the day. Watch out for people on the highway or at the entrance selling "official tickets" before you reach the beach. They are not needed.
| Our tour | On your own | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Hotel pickup and drop-off | Car, taxi or colectivo, plus parking |
| Turtle area guide | Booked and included | Find and pay a guide at the beach |
| Gear and vest | Included | Rent on the spot |
| Cenote | Included | Separate trip and entry |
| Best for | Most visitors, cruise guests, families | People staying in Akumal with a car |
Cancellation, Weather and Booking with a New Local Company
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup, with a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours or no-shows are not refunded. You can change your date for free up to 24 hours before. If the bay is closed for weather, you choose a new date or a full refund.
Tulum Ruins Trip is a new website, so this Akumal tour has no reviews from us yet, and we would rather show none than fake them. You get a clear price before paying, our cancellation policy in writing, and a real guide contact on WhatsApp before and during your snorkel.
Akumal Snorkeling Tour FAQ
Can you still swim with turtles in Akumal?
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Yes. In 2026 you can still swim with wild green sea turtles in Akumal Bay. The difference from a few years ago is that the turtle area is now protected, so you must go with a licensed guide and wear a life vest. That is what this tour includes.
Can I touch the turtles?
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No. Touching, chasing or feeding the turtles is against the law, and you must stay about 3 metres (10 feet) away. The turtles are used to snorkelers and often swim close to you on their own.
Can I bring a GoPro?
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Yes, waterproof cameras and phones in a waterproof case are fine. Do not use a flash, and do not dive down to get closer to a turtle for a photo.
What age can kids join?
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Kids who are comfortable in the sea with a life vest can join, often from about 6 years old. Tell us the ages and we will check with the guide. Children under 4 ride free and children aged 4 to 11 pay 25% less.
Do I need a boat? I get seasick.
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No boat. You walk into the bay from the beach and the water is shallow and calm most days, so seasickness is rarely a problem.
What happens if the sea is rough?
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Akumal Bay is protected by the reef, so it is calm on most days. If the port authority or the guides close the bay because of strong wind or a storm, you choose a new date or a full refund.
Can I do Akumal and the Tulum ruins on the same day?
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Yes. The Akumal tour ends around midday, so it pairs well with an afternoon at Tulum. Many guests do Akumal one day and our Tulum ruins and cenote tour another day. Message us on WhatsApp to plan both.
Book Your Akumal Snorkeling Tour on WhatsApp
To book the Akumal snorkel, message your date, pickup hotel or ship, number of adults, kids' ages, and shared or private group. We reply with your pickup time and total price, from US$79 per adult.
What to Bring to Akumal
- • Swimsuit under your clothes
- • Rash guard or T-shirt for sun
- • Reef-safe sunscreen only
- • Towel and a change of clothes
- • Waterproof phone case or GoPro
- • Pesos for food and tips
Want ruins too? See the Tulum ruins and cenote tour, the Coba ruins tour, or all our Tulum tours.
Before Your Akumal Snorkel
Our Akumal guide explains the bay, turtle rules and beach access. Nearby, Casa Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojos are good extra swims, and the best cenotes in Tulum list compares them all.
Want ruins too? Pair it with the Tulum ruins and cenote tour, or browse all Tulum tours. Comparing every option from your hotel? See Tulum tours from Cancun or Tulum tours from Playa del Carmen.