YOUR OWN PRIVATE ADVENTURE

Akumal Turtles Tour

137 tour reviews
PRIVATE TOUR: For snorkeling lovers: Swim alongside sea turtles in Akumal Bay, then explore the crystal-clear waters of 1 or 2 cenotes. End the day with a delicious meal at a local Mexican restaurant.
  • Exclusive Experience: Just you, your personal local guide, and driver!
  • Private Transportation: Convenient pick-up from your hotel or rental.
  • Encounter Sea Turtles: Snorkel from shore in Akumal for an unforgettable aquatic journey!
  • Breathtaking Cenotes: Pick 1 or 2 cenotes from open-air or cave options – You’ll love the adventure!
  • Snorkel with with Premium Gear: Full equipment is provided for the ultimate swimming experience.
  • Lunch in a One-of-a-Kind Jungle Spot: Mexican flavors await you!
  • All-Inclusive at the Best Price: Transport, guide, entrance fees, gear, lunch…

Early bird discountBook 60+ days ahead and save 10%.

Multi-tour discountBook 2+ tours and save 10%.

Offers cannot be combined. Holiday exclusions apply. See terms and conditions.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The details of your private day.

Swim with Turtles Akumal & Snorkeling in a Cenote – Private Tour

  1. A Double Snorkeling Adventure in Ocean and Jungle Waters

    Looking for the ultimate snorkeling experience in the Riviera Maya? Our Akumal Turtles Tour combines two unforgettable aquatic adventures: snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal Bay and exploring the magical waters of a jungle cenote. This tour is a favorite among families, kids, and groups of friends who want to enjoy nature and marine life in a fun, safe, and private setting.

  2. Swim with Sea Turtles in Their Natural Habitat

    The first part of your private tour takes you to the calm, clear waters of Akumal, one of the best places in Mexico to observe sea turtles in the wild. With the help of your certified private guide, you’ll snorkel alongside green sea turtles, peaceful and majestic as they glide effortlessly through the water. These gentle creatures often come close, offering a magical, up-close experience you’ll never forget.

    If you're lucky, you might also spot stingrays and colorful tropical fish swimming gracefully along the ocean floor. Don't worry—stingrays are harmless and only add to the beauty of this incredible underwater setting.

  3. Snorkel in 1 or 2 Cenotes of Your Choice

    After swimming with turtles in Akumal, the adventure continues inland. You can choose to visit one cenote or enhance your experience with two cenotes. Your guide will take you to a stunning cave cenote with dramatic rock formations or an open-air cenote surrounded by lush jungle, or both! Choosing two cenotes allows you to explore two very different environments and enjoy a more complete snorkeling adventure.

    You can find the full list of cenotes available to choose from in the “General Info” tab.

    No matter which cenote you choose, you’ll enjoy crystal-clear freshwater, impressive limestone formations, and a peaceful atmosphere. Snorkeling here gives you the chance to discover a hidden world that few travelers get to see.

  4. A Delicious Local Lunch to End the Day

    After your snorkeling activities, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch in a local Mexican restaurant, nestled in the jungle or nearby town, depending on your chosen cenote. It’s the perfect moment to relax, share stories, and reflect on your day of discovery.

  5. Akumal Turtles Tour: Perfect for All Ages and Skill Levels

    This tour is 100% private and flexible, making it ideal for snorkelers of all levels, from first-timers to experienced swimmers. Our expert guides will adapt to your pace, provide all necessary gear, and offer tips to help you feel comfortable in the water.

    Whether you're an adventurous adult or a cautious child, you’re in good hands. Swimming is easy and accessible directly from the shore—no boat needed. Children as young as 4 or 5 years old can participate as long as they know how to swim and are comfortable wearing a mask and snorkel.

    Join us on this exclusive Akumal Turtles tour paired with a cenote snorkeling experience. Whether you're drawn by the chance to meet marine life or explore the mysterious underground world of cenotes, this private tour promises memories that will last a lifetime.

     

Price includes

  • Pick up and drop off at your hotel with private air-conditioned transportation (Booster car seat and baby car seat available on request)
  • Experienced certified private guide
  • All entrance fees
  • Akumal bay cooperative fee and CONAP fee (mandatory)
  • High quality snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, wetsuits, life jackets)
  • Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda)
  • Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte and one bottle of water

Price excludes

  • Extra drinks at the restaurant
  • Tips

General info

Private Tour:
Only you, the guide and the driver, nobody else!
Duration:
 5-7 hours (check the itinerary tab, as it depends on your pick-up location).
Physicality:
 Easy
Age:
 All ages
Snorkeling:
 Basic swimming skills required. This excursion suits everyone from novices to experts.
Which cenote will you visit? 
The day of your tour, you can choose one cenote between Nicte Ha, Taak Bi Ha, Jaguar and Yal Ku Lagoon. For the tour option with 2 cenotes, you can visit one more cenote from the same list above. If you prefer to go to Dos Ojos or Pet Cemetery we will add 10 USD per person on your balance. Your guide will be happy to help you to select the best cenote for you and your party according to your expectations and snorkeling skills.
Swim with turtles:
Absolute Adventure is working with a local cooperative according to the Mexican law. (Consult Akumal Swim with Turtles regulation.)
In the event of the port being closed by the authorities making swimming with the turtles unauthorized, the tour will be amended to the 2 Cenotes tour and the price adjusted accordingly.
What’s on the menu?
Selection of quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, salbutes, fajitas, grilled chicken, grilled fish, tortas (sandwiches), soup of day, … with vegetarian, fish, shrimp, chicken & meat options. With corn or flour tortillas. We can accommodate special diets and allergies, just let us know!

Itinerary options

Times at each stop are estimates. Driving and your exact pickup location affect the schedule.

Cenote and turtles

  1. Akumal turtles — 75 min
  2. Cenote snorkel — 60 min
  3. Lunch at Juanita restaurant — 40 min

The recommended early pick-up time helps you avoid traffic, crowds, and heat at the sites, but you can opt for a later pick-up when booking.
Timing may vary based on traffic and your exact location.
We can spend more or less time at Akumal and the cenote, moving at your own pace.

What to bring

  • Beach Towels
  • Swimsuit (We recommend wearing it in the morning and feel free to change after snorkeling activities)
  • Flip flops or sandals for water activities (Water shoes are optional but can be worn for added comfort)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen and we recommend wearing a rash-guard/UV-Shirt for water activities*
  • Mosquito repellent*
  • Camera/Underwater camera/Waterproof case for your phone
  • Cash (for tour payment, tips, souvenirs…)

FROM OUR GUESTS

A day worth remembering.

4.99/5 · 137 tour reviews

Showing reviews 10–18 of 137

Great experience for all the family.Wonderful trip today to see the turtles (rays and many fish) followed by a cenote swim and lunch at a local restaurant. We were 2 adults with a 15 and 12 year old. Everyone loved it and went home very happy! Our guide Arturo was excellent - great information and advised us on which cenote to go to given other…

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Great experience for all the family.Wonderful trip today to see the turtles (rays and many fish) followed by a cenote swim and lunch at a local restaurant. We were 2 adults with a 15 and 12 year old. Everyone loved it and went home very happy! Our guide Arturo was excellent - great information and advised us on which cenote to go to given other trips planned.

Trip19810437610 · Apr 2026

Unforgettable turtle/cenote tourI went on this excursion with a group of friends and we had the best time from start to finish. Swimming with the turtles and then exploring the beautiful Taak Bi Ha Cenote is something our group will never forget and I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Everything felt seamless and stress free, including the pick up and drop off…

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Unforgettable turtle/cenote tourI went on this excursion with a group of friends and we had the best time from start to finish. Swimming with the turtles and then exploring the beautiful Taak Bi Ha Cenote is something our group will never forget and I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Everything felt seamless and stress free, including the pick up and drop off from our hotel.A special shoutout to our driver Hugo, who was fantastic, and to our guide Arturo, who made an already beautiful experience even more enjoyable. He was incredibly informative, engaging, and kept our whole group smiling the entire time.The cherry on top was the delicious meal at the end of the tour, which was the perfect way to wrap up such an unforgettable day together. Thank you!!

Ale · Apr 2026

Fantastic experience, our guide Joshua was excellent and our family had a wonderful time with Absolute Adventure! Would highly recommend this company!

josh · Apr 2026

We booked a cenote & sea turtle excursion a couple weeks ago. We had a great experience w Cristina & Pablo! She was super informative and friendly. Don’t miss Cenote Taak Bi Ha or Juanita’s for lunch!

Brooke · Apr 2026

Another great adventureThis was our second adventure with our private guide Arturo and his driver Hugo. We enjoy the private and professional experience, for us well worth the money. Arturo is so knowledgeable and makes each experience a wonderful learning and memorable event. We highly recommend the company 😊

Jackie A · Mar 2026

We did the Swim with the turtles and cenote tour. Cristina and Kiki picked us up on time from our resort. Everything was explained about the day and what would happen. Swimming with the turtles was awesome! We even seen stingrays. We then went to our cenote and had a wonderful time there. We had lunch at a local restaurant with authentic food. It was…

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We did the Swim with the turtles and cenote tour. Cristina and Kiki picked us up on time from our resort. Everything was explained about the day and what would happen. Swimming with the turtles was awesome! We even seen stingrays. We then went to our cenote and had a wonderful time there. We had lunch at a local restaurant with authentic food. It was very good. The tour was better than advertised and exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend using this company. Thank you Cristina and Kiki.

David · Feb 2026

INCREDIBLE EXCURSION 100/10 stars. My friends and i celebrated a bachelorette party and the experience was wonderful and seamless. Our tour guide Arturo and driver Hugo were so incredibly helpful and very sweet! Very professional and easy to spend the day with! We were able to Snorkel with turtles up close which was incredible and we even saw a stingray. Then we drove to the…

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INCREDIBLE EXCURSION
100/10 stars. My friends and i celebrated a bachelorette party and the experience was wonderful and seamless. Our tour guide Arturo and driver Hugo were so incredibly helpful and very sweet! Very professional and easy to spend the day with! We were able to Snorkel with turtles up close which was incredible and we even saw a stingray. Then we drove to the cenote which we basically had to ourselves and that was otherworldly. So serene, so pristine, and such a beautiful, natural environment. We ended the excursion at a very classic Mexican restaurant and had traditional food which tasted INSANELY DELICIOUS! service was great and prices were very fair! All in all a wonderful day we will all remember and such a special memory made

Jesse · Feb 2026

Snorkeling, Sea Turtles, and Cenotes! Snorkeled with sea turtles at Akumal Beach then visited la Casa Cenote and Dos Ojos Cenote. Very fun and different experiences, would recommend. Dulce and Omar were great and friendly and had all the supplies we needed!

mluansing · Jan 2026

We did 2 different trips with Absolute Adventures during our stay in PDC. Our Guide Arturo and Driver Omar were amazing from start to finish. They took care of our every need and answered all 1000 of our questions about mexico. We would definitely book again with them!

Craig · Jan 2026

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW

Your tour questions, answered.

Tour basics

Is the Akumal Turtles tour private or shared?

This is a private tour, just for you and your group.

You’ll have a dedicated guide and vehicle all to yourselves—no crowds, no waiting, just a smooth and personalized experience.

Is the driver also the guide?

No. The driver and guide are two different professionals.

All our tours include a dedicated driver and a separate certified guide. 

While some companies offer a guide-driver, we believe this is not safe. Having a driver focused solely on the road and a guide fully dedicated to our guests ensures a safer and higher-quality experience.

How long does the private Akumal Turtles snorkeling tour take?

It typically lasts between 5 to 6 hours, depending on your hotel location and how much time you’d like to spend at each site. Please check the full itinerary in the “Itinerary” tab for more details.

Pickup & transport

Is transportation included from my hotel or Airbnb?

Yes, round-trip transportation is included from Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum. We’ll pick you up right from your hotel, resort, or Airbnb for a stress-free start to your day.

Please note: we don’t offer pick up from Cancun Playa Mujeres hotels unless your group has 6 or more adults.

What vehicles do you use for your tours?

We offer a range of modern, air-conditioned vans to suit the size of your group and ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Visit our fleet page for more details.

Can I change the pick up time?

Yes, you’re welcome to choose your preferred pick-up time when booking.

That said, we recommend an early morning start to help you beat the crowds, skip the traffic, and enjoy cooler temperatures—it really makes a difference!

Activities & facilities

Is snorkeling experience required for this tour?

No previous snorkeling experience is required, but basic swimming skills are necessary.

We provide mandatory life vests, and our guide ensures a safe and comfortable experience for everyone.

Which cenote do we visit on this tour?

You can view the list of cenotes available for this tour under the ‘Tour Description and General Info’ tab, where you'll also find links to full descriptions of each cenote.

We offer a variety of cenote types, including open-air, semi-open, and cave cenotes.

Unless you've already made your choice, you can decide which cenote to visit together with your tour guide on the day of your tour.

Are turtle sightings guaranteed in Akumal?

Turtle sightings are very likely but not guaranteed, as they are wild animals.

Akumal is one of the best places in the region to see them.

What type of boat is used to swim with the turtles?

There is no boat involved. The swim starts directly from the shore, and you’ll enter the water with your guide to reach the turtle area.

Are there showers or changing rooms at the cenote or at Akumal beach?

Yes. Facilities include clean showers, restrooms, and changing areas at both locations.

Planning & booking

What should I bring for the tour? Where can I leave my belongings?

Check the "What to bring" tab on the tour page for the full packing list. Essentials include swimwear, a towel and comfortable shoes.

You can safely leave your belongings in the van—our driver stays with it the entire time while you're out enjoying the activities.

Can I bring my own snorkeling gear?

Yes, you can bring your own mask and snorkel.

However, fins are not allowed when swimming with turtles or in the cenote, so please do not bring them.

We will still provide our own gear as a backup if needed. We will also provide mandatory life vests and optional wetsuits at the cenote if you want to wear one.

Are vegetarian or special dietary meals available?

Yes, we’re happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs or allergies.

After booking, you can let us know your needs by filling out the check-in form—just follow the link in your booking confirmation email.

What is the cancellation policy?

Go ahead and plan with confidence—your booking is fully flexible!

You can cancel free of charge or reschedule (subject to availability) up to 24 hours before your tour.

We’re a small team and often fully booked 1–2 weeks in advance, so we recommend booking early to secure your spot.

Bonus: if you book at least 2 months in advance (60 days), you’ll qualify for our early bird discount*!

For full details, check out our booking policy page.

More questions?

Visit our main FAQ page or contact us by email, WhatsApp or via chat, we're happy to help!

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Private adventures, thoughtfully planned by our local team.

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Coupon terms & conditions

EARLY2MONTHS — 10% off
Book at least 60 days before your tour date.

MULTITOUR — 10% off
Book at least 2 tours in one transaction.

If part of a multi-tour booking is canceled and only one tour remains, the discount becomes void and the remaining balance will be adjusted.

Enter your coupon code at checkout.

Tour photos

MAKE IT YOUR DAY

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Akumal Turtles Tour

Choose your date, number of guests and pickup location to see your exact price.

Enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour.