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What are people saying about Playa del Carmen
Beth_K, May 2026
Tulum ruins/cenote/sea turtles
We did the Tulum ruins tour, cenote expedition, and snorkeling/swimming with sea turtles. The 3 activities bundled was an excellent combination for our short 4 day stay in Mexico and did not feel we were lacking enough time at any one location and all experiences met expectations. Our tour guide Pablo and driver tom cruise were excellent. Pablo is passionate about sharing his extensive knowledge and the culture of the region. He also takes great interest in the people in his group. I’d highly recommend the tour and even more so recommend going with Pablo.
Paige_L, Apr 2026
The pickup arrangements...
The pickup arrangements did not go smoothly at all but once you do get there our two tour guides made our trip! They were amazing and they both deserve a lot of credit. They made sure that we had an awesome trip in every way possible, and we sure did! Definitely recommend this trip if those guys are your tour guides.
Kathleen_R, Apr 2026
Great clear snorkeling!
This was a fantastic experience. We snorkeled in a private group; just our family of two adults, a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old. Our guides were so friendly and knowledgeable. We swam off the beach but in an area that you have to visit with guides and we saw so many turtles, rays, fish and squid! Highly recommend!
Eric_K, Apr 2026
Island paradise
Amazing experience that I’d highly recommended. Isla Contoy is the gem of the trip, truly a tropical paradise.
We skipped snorkeling during to winds and currents, which we didn’t mind bc it gave us more time to spend exploring Isla Mujeras.
Kudos to Fernando, Diego, and the whole crew for making it a very special and memorable trip.
Angela_S, Apr 2026
Great day
It was a very long day so be prepared to be out. The collection and drop off was hassle free and the. You sit back and relax.
The guides we had Rodolfo one other and Tony our driver was amazing. They were friendly and knowledgeable about everything about the day and run it very relaxed but following and on time.
The local people we met were welcoming and we really enjoyed our day.
Katherine_P, Feb 2026
Amazing experience snorkelling.
This was a fantastic experience. I had my reservations, firstly because although I’m a good swimmer, previous experience snorkelling hasn’t been good, due to challenges with the mask and spending more time adjusting the mask than seeing the sealife. I was also concerned about interfering with the sea creatures, and how tourism would impact this.
The company were excellent on all accounts. First of all, this is a protected area, and the turtles come first. All guides brief everyone on how to swim safely while respecting the turtles when you see one. That way we can enjoy these precious creatures without disturbing them, which is so so important.
Second, the guide was able to give me a float to swim along with her making it so much easier than my swimming normally. That way I didn’t have to worry so much about my mask and could enjoy everything!
I’d also add, having booked this on a whim, because of my flight timings and unsure of how tired I’d be due to jet lag, I had to travel from Playa. David helped me arrange transport from Playa giving me options to suit my budget, and picking me up from the bus stop (which was actually super easy).
Mariana was the guide and was exceptional and for an extra fee took photos and videos on her go pro camera. They aren’t expensive and I highly recommend saying yes as a group to this as a great momento for the day. So 100% recommend doing this.
We saw a whole range of fish as well as the sea turtles. You also get access to the beach afterwards.
Kris_W, Jan 2026
So worth it! Ask for Santiago.
William from Akumal ecological guides was in touch with us the morning of and the people at the check-in had my name on hand. Our guide was Santiago and he was fabulous. He guided us through every step of the way patiently and calmly. He even helped us get some prescription googles for family members who needed them.
We saw 1/6 dozen turtles, 2 sting rays, beautiful fish and a baracuda!
The coral is dead due to a hurricane our guide told us. Despite this, it was totally incredible!
Linda_S, Nov 2025
A great introduction to a...
A great introduction to a fascinating Mayan site and the bonus of a swim in a cenote afterwards! Tulum has one of the most beautiful settings of any of the ruins that I have seen over the years. Returning 32 years after my first visit I was very pleased to find it well looked after and not at all overcrowded.
Our guide Gabriel and driver Francisco were so helpful and thoughtful, making sure everyone in the group was happy throughout the tour. Fresh jicama at the end of the Tulum visit was such a nice thing to be met with.
Gabriel knows so much about the area, its history and ecology and we enjoyed talking to him about so many things that you wouldn't discover on bigger group tours.
We were the only group at the cenote so could really enjoy a refreshing swim. The food from the little food cart was really good - we recommend the tacos al pastor!
Thank you again to Gabriel and Francisco for a fantastic day out.
Silvia_Y, Oct 2025
Amazing and safe
I’ve never had so much fun in a Catamaran before. The crew was so attentive and kind. Paola made sure everyone was safe during the snorkeling. I got so many breathtaking pictures. The lunch was the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever had, maybe it was because I worked up an appetite, but drinks and food were so good. No regrets, all fun!
Regan_H, Oct 2025
10 out of 10; would do again.
It was awesome! As a scuba diver who isn’t diving this trip I needed some snorkel in my system and this was perfect. Three totally different atmospheres ! My guide Pedro was extra awesome and made sure everyone had a great time! I would definitely recommend him as a guide
Maria_D, Aug 2025
Must Do!
We were picked up right from our hotel and had about a 15 minute ride to the marina. The tour guide made us take Dramamine as soon as we got into the vehicle which was a little off putting since we could not read the label on the pills she gave us. Even after learning what it was, neither of us get sea sick to feel the need to take it.
At the marina we got a good briefing on what to expect for the course of the day. We were given the option for wet suits which, we lucked out on, but they did not have enough for everyone. We also had to pay to rent these which was not included in the excursion cost. Definitely worth having though!
The ride out was about an hour long. It was very pretty. We had a perfect day with almost no clouds. Obviously the ocean was very choppy for our little boat, but it made it very exhilarating and exciting to ride out there. Our boat was the last one to leave, but that was nice because the rest of the boats already found the pod of whales! We were able to see them right as soon as we sailed to meet everyone else.
We jumped in the water in groups of two. My friend and I got to jump in third so we could see others go first which I do think is very beneficial. You had as much time to swim next to the whale shark as long as you were able to keep up. Being able to swim in the ocean is definitely a plus here. The instructors filmed us jumping in into the whale shark which really illustrated our journey as a whole. The instructors were so agile and organized with keeping a system to make sure we all got a fair amount of time and if we wanted to jump in a third time, we had the option to do so!
After our swim, we went and did snorkeling, which I don’t know was completely necessary. It was cool and there was a lot to see, but it made for a long day. I think we could’ve just been fine. Going to the beach and eating the ceviche they made. We were also offered Coca-Cola and water!
Absolutely think everybody should try this! It was the coolest experience!
Michael_D, Jun 2025
Omar and Mitch were great tour guides
Cenote was amazing! Snorkeling in calm water was fun too! Saw all sorts of fish. Also, when you get out of the water butterflies will surround you to get the fresh water dripping from you. Mitch picked us up on time and got us where we needed to go safely. Omar was a great tour guide and made the adventure fun
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Playa del Carmen belongs on your bucket list if you’re a snorkeler. After all, it’s hard to top the turquoise blue waters of the Riviera Maya and the colorful coral reefs teeming with sea turtles, nurse sharks, barracudas, octopus, and tropical fish. Whether it’s your first or 50th time snorkeling, you can explore shipwrecks, the Inah Reef, Paradise Lagoon, or the ethereal cave systems called cenotes, found mainly in Mexico. Playa del Carmen snorkeling tours include equipment and life jackets, and some offer add-ons like hotel pickup and drop-off, food and drinks, and stand-up paddle boarding.
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