Experience Guided Snorkeling in Costa Maya
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Costa Maya, Mexico
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- Bottled water
- Gratuity
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- P78V+R9 MahahualP78V+R9W Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Marks Tour's Mahahual-Costa Maya, Calle Malecón, .Street Cherna, 77976 Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The best way to get there is by taxi. Taxi recommended. Ask for directions! (taxi stand better known as Campo) You can take one and give the driver your instructions.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Gregory_V
The guided snorkeling experience in Costa Maya was absolutely amazing and easily one of the highlights of our trip. The water was clear, the reef was vibrant, and there was so much to see. We came across all kinds of fish, beautiful coral reef, a squid, and even a stingray, which made the whole experience feel surreal.
Armando and Ernesto were outstanding guides. They were knowledgeable, patient, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and safe in the water. You could tell they genuinely enjoy what they do, and that energy made the experience even better.
For anyone considering this excursion, come ready to enjoy the moment and take it all in. It is well organized, beginner friendly, and worth every minute. Definitely something I would recommend to anyone visiting Costa Maya.
Reviews
4.9
based on 77 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Courtney_R, Jul 2026
We had a great time as a family on this snorkeling experience. The guides were so friendly and helpful and took many pictures that they sent to us. We got an email right before the excursion that the location had changed, which felt a little sketchy but turned out OK. The taxi drivers were all confused by the address sent to us but we made it. They brought us to a little beach club to wait for the tour, which did feel like it was a coordinated effort between the club and the tour operator and we ended up spending a lot more money on lunch and drinks after we were escorted to a table to "wait" for our tour.
Overall, the snorkeling and experience were great and would recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your family experience! We're so glad you loved the snorkeling, that our guides were friendly and helpful, and that you enjoyed the photos we sent you 📸
Regarding the last-minute change of location: we sincerely apologize. Sometimes the port or sea conditions require us to move the departure point for safety reasons, and we know this can cause confusion with taxis. We'll review how we give directions to make them clearer and avoid any issues.
We've also taken note of your comment about the beach club. The idea is to have a comfortable place to wait, never to pressure you into buying anything. We'll speak with the establishment to ensure the wait is free and without any obligation to reserve a table.
Thank you for recommending us despite these minor issues. Your feedback helps us improve.
Warm regards from the entire team, Marks Tour's
Jamie_T, Jul 2026
Baltazar and Manuel did a great job taking us out to the reef to see lots of fish! Bonus, they took tons of pictures of us from the boat and underwater to capture our adventure and sent us the pictures for free!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello, thank you for your comments. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us. We hope to see you again. Thank you.
Amber_H, Jul 2026
This was a fun experience with great guides but we just didn’t see a lot in the water. But it was still fun.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your review! We're so glad you had a great time and that our guides were excellent. They're a key part of Marks Tour's and will be thrilled to read this.
Regarding visibility and marine life: you're absolutely right, the sea is unpredictable. Some days are amazing, teeming with fish and turtles, while others are much calmer. Even so, we're so glad you enjoyed yourselves.
Thank you for choosing us. We hope to see you again soon for a rematch at the reef! 🤿🐠
Latonya_A, May 2026
The guides were very patient an waited on us due to taxi issues. There was a small group of us, maybe 6 people total which I liked better. The weather was perfect but the water was really choppy and salty.
Response from Host, May 2026
Gracias por elegirnos. Siempre nos esforzamos por ofrecerle lo mejor para que tenga una experiencia excelente. Saludos cordiales, Marks's Tours.
Annika_M, May 2026
Balthasar and Ernesto were amazing guides. Ernesto made sure we saw all the best reefs and fish. We even saw a sea turtle! They took lots of pictures for us. Balthasar spoke more English and was knowledgeable about the local area. Boat ride was smooth. Equipment was clean and good fit. We snorkelled for an hour; well worth it. Strongly recommend!
Response from Host, May 2026
"I'm so glad to hear you had an amazing time! Baltazar and Ernesto are a great team, thanks for recommending them! We'll make sure they continue to provide unforgettable experiences at sea. We hope to see you again soon!"
kerry_t, May 2026
This was an awesome trip! Ernesto and Capitain B were so great ! We were on the Carnival Cruise and decided to try an outside tour and I'm so happy we did. It was just my husband and myself way better than a full tour group!
Way cheaper as well which we used as a tip instead 😊
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear that you and your husband enjoyed the tour with Ernesto and Captain B, Altazar. It's wonderful that you were able to enjoy a personalized trip. We appreciate you choosing our tour and hope to see you again on a future trip. Thanks for the recommendation!
Jennifer_P, Apr 2026
We booked this excursion while our cruise docked for the day in Costa Maya. The directions were clear and took us right to the meeting place. The snorkeling was amazing and our guides were friendly & knowledgeable... they even sent us pics of our time underwater. The highlight was seeing spotted eagle ray! I would book this again next time I’m in Costa Maya.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear that everything went perfectly for you and that you enjoyed snorkeling in Costa Maya. Seeing an eagle ray must have been an amazing moment!
We appreciate that you had a positive experience with our guides and that you sent us photos of your underwater adventure. That means a lot to us. Thank you for recommending our tour, and we hope to see you again in Costa Maya!
Stephanie_W, Apr 2026
Do it! It was such a good experience, and wayyyy better than going through the cruiseline. We got out at the port, found a taxi, and got to the aquastar hotel. Walked out to the beach (the little hut really isn't there anymore) BUT the guy was at the pier right next to it waiting for us! (I can't remember their names but they were so great!) We went a little ways out and went saw some beautiful sights. (No turtles sadly but it was still great) My 9 y.o LOVED it and would've stayed all day if he could've. We finished up, got a taxi back and got to enjoy a less crowded boat.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your comments; they help us a lot to reach more people. We hope to see you in the future. Thank you.
Benjamin_T, Apr 2026
Hermando and Ernesto were sooooo kind and friendly. Never rushed us during tour, always ready to help. Amazing experience and will be back.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your recommendation! We're happy to know we're doing a good job and that you're satisfied with our services.
Thank you for being part of our community and for recommending us!
Gregory_V, Apr 2026
The guided snorkeling experience in Costa Maya was absolutely amazing and easily one of the highlights of our trip. The water was clear, the reef was vibrant, and there was so much to see. We came across all kinds of fish, beautiful coral reef, a squid, and even a stingray, which made the whole experience feel surreal.
Armando and Ernesto were outstanding guides. They were knowledgeable, patient, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and safe in the water. You could tell they genuinely enjoy what they do, and that energy made the experience even better.
For anyone considering this excursion, come ready to enjoy the moment and take it all in. It is well organized, beginner friendly, and worth every minute. Definitely something I would recommend to anyone visiting Costa Maya.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear you thoroughly enjoyed your guided snorkeling tour in Costa Maya. The water clarity, the beauty of the reef, and the variety of marine life are truly breathtaking. And there's nothing like having passionate guides like Armando and Ernesto, who make the experience even more special.
Your review is a great testament to the quality of the tour and the team that runs it. We're sure it will be very helpful for other travelers considering this adventure. Thank you for recommending it!
Jerome_A, Apr 2026
Had a great snorkeling experience with this group today! I love that they provide pictures for free. Saw a sea turtle and a bunch of other fish. Definitely worth it!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hola, thanks for your review, We are so glad you loved the activity and took the time to leave us this wonderful recommendation!
Danyll_N, Mar 2026
I was a little unsure when I arrived at the meeting point for the excursion. It was a smaller boat, and it was only myself, my niece and my daughter. I did not realize it was going to be a private snorkeling tour. This was by far one of the best snorkeling excursions I have been on. As soon as the girls got into the water with their gear, they saw a huge stingray. The reefs that Humberto had taken us two were beautiful with lots of fish and aquatic life. We later saw a sea turtle that was just almost unreal, but absolutely stunning. I honestly could not have asked for a better day and the tour guides made us feel very comfortable. I absolutely 100% would recommend this to anyone and have gushed about this snorkeling excursion to everyone at home. <3
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that we exceeded your expectations and that you had an unforgettable private snorkeling tour. The surprise of seeing a huge stingray, the beautiful reefs teeming with marine life, and the sea turtle are memories that will stay with you forever. And there's nothing like having guides like Armando who make you feel comfortable and safe at all times.
It's wonderful to know that you felt well taken care of and that the excursion was perfect for you and your family. Thank you for recommending it and for sharing your experience with others! We're sure you'll inspire more people to experience this adventure in Costa Maya.
Ziang_L, Feb 2026
I book this tour after cruise stops at Costa Maya, we enjoyed the time with our snorkeling tour guide and captain and see lots of fishes and even squid!
More affordable than the shore excursion booking from ship.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hello, thank you for your comment. We always try to do our best. Best regards from Marks Tours.
Xiang_L, Feb 2026
Mark’s group guide are excellent people. They are very knowledgeable and took all the pictures. I really appreciate because I am not good diver. An hour and half are plenty to see corrals and fishes.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hello, thank you for your comment. We always try to do our best. Best regards from Marks Tours
Brinda_b, Feb 2026
We did this today. Enjoyable and informative. Armando and co worker spent time showing us and helping.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
RACHEL_A, Feb 2026
Great experience! There were nine adults and one child on our tour and Ernesto and Armando were great at taking care of each of us. Armando was in the water with us guiding us and pointing out different fish and taking pictures. He even learned and remembered each of our names! It was a short boat ride to a spot with great coral and a lot of fish. The tour starts and ends off a pier on a nice beach area that you can relax at before/after the tour. And then they sent us 80+ pictures of our adventure via Whatsapp afterwards, which was awesome! This tour is a no-brainer, especially at the great price! Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hello, thank you for your comment. We always try to do our best. Best regards from Marks Tours
ramcguir, Jan 2026
We had a great time snorkeling! Armando and Ernesto were great. We were able to see a lot of coral and many different fish. They also sent us pictures of the excursion for free!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
susan_Y, Jan 2026
This was a great snorkeling trip. I highly recommend it! I could have them change anything it would be the loading on and off the boat at the dock. The crew was great and the location away from the port area was extremely good!
$5.00pp VERY easy and didn’t need to negotiate at all.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
Rebecca_M, Jan 2026
We just completed a private snorkeling boat tour with Baltazar and his crew while on shore from our Royal Caribbean cruise.
We highly recommend this tour for a local, personal experience. The guys were very cheerful and helpful. We had one guy in the water with the seven of us the whole time and he would point out interesting things to see underwater. Great price for the experience - much less than going thru the cruise lines.
You do need to take a taxi to get to the snorkel dock from the cruise port. It is five dollars per person each way and cash is needed. There are also many small vendors right near the snorkel/diving area that are cash only so be ready with currency – US dollars are readily accepted.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
Lynna_T, Jan 2026
We (family of 5) got off the cruise ship and did easily find a taxi to get us there. We were kinda nervous about not being able to find one and getting to our meeting place, but it went smoothly! The taxi ride ($5/person) to aqua star hotel was roughly 10 minutes and we easily found mark’s stand. We loaded onto the boat and they gave us our gear. We snorkeled for probably 45 minutes. My 3 boys were nervous about it in the beginning but by the end loved it! The boat picked us back up and we went back to the dock. Once there we easily got a taxi back to the cruise ship port. Highly recommend this excursion! Another nice touch was the go pro pics they took of us that was included!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
Brandle_S, Dec 2025
Great. They waited 15 minutes for us so we didn’t have to worry when ship a little delayed. Friendly. Underwater pics were a nice touch st no added fee!! Perfect amount of time in the water at the reef. Note: Taxi from port takes 10 mins and $5 per person. Walking takes 40 minutes to the left when leaving port but is along the road.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
jessica_g, Dec 2025
The absolute best experience! The crew was amazing and made us all feel comfortable, even my 4 year old who was a handful the whole time! Thank you guys!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hello, thank you so much for your comments; they help us attract more visitors. We hope to see you again. Greetings from the Marks Tours team.
Cora_D, Nov 2025
I spent A LOT of time pouring over and comparing options across Viator, through the cruise line and ShoreExcursions.com. This was our first cruise and I wanted to get it right and you know, not disappear in Mexico. I am SOOOO glad we settled on Mark's Tours. I can’t say enough good things about this. They were friendly, patient, professional and knowledgeable. We were immediately at ease. After a short boat ride to the location we were handed our gear and our guides helped us adjust our snorkels, flippers and life vests. They gave special attention to my 6 year old, whose feet were too small for the flippers, but when they saw how disappointed he was by this they had him put them on over water shoes to make up for the empty space between and he was ready to go! The helped us each off the boat one by one. My kids were instant fish. They were so excited to see so much activity on the ocean floor. One guide, Ernesto, was in the water with us for the duration. He took a ton of photos of us all and sent them to our Whats Apps before we had left the port. For those who wanted a more led-experience, he was there to point out reef formations and sea life. For our more confident adventurers, he gave us just the right amount of freedom, allowing us to explore on our own and wander at our own pace. The remaining guide stayed on the boat where he could keep a better view of our group as a whole. Whenever I looked back to the boat to orientate myself, he was always standing up, eyes out on the water. He was so alert in fact, that the second he registered my searching gaze he would call out to make sure I wasn’t in need of help and I heard him doing the same for the rest of my family. There were 5 kids in our group in all and having the confidence in those other adults really freed up us parents to relax a little and enjoy our vacation – no easy feat with young kids out of the country for the first time!
Additional things to mention:
*Mark’s tours allowed us to add 2 more kids to our party only an hour before our scheduled excursion when plans with other family members fell through. That was VERY COOL and really saved the day.
*The bottled water was a welcome touch. THANK YOU.
Helpful tips for other travelers:
*Bring some hard candies with you if you can. Your mouth will be puckered and salty for awhile afterward and we will sure bring a bag of crème savors next time.
*There IS a place to get changed. A small public restroom right across from the stand. It was modest, but clean enough and it was very helpful with the kiddos.
*Bring cash! You’re gonna want to tip these guys. I only wish I had brought more.
*The meeting place itself is a small wooden stand on the ocean side of the boardwalk. Our cab driver knew right where to go when I showed him the listing. They dropped us off in front of a row of hotels and restaurants and instructed us to walk between them to find our tour. As we did, we entered onto a boardwalk with hotels and bars and pools on one side and lovely beach spots on the other side. The location itself is a small information stand but all around were areas to sit, swing, hammock and even swim. When I book this for our next vacation (AND I WILL) I will budget the rest of the day around this spot. There were plenty of bars and food vendors everywhere and it was removed enough from the craziness of the pier that you didn’t feel swarmed or crowded. Taxis are easy to come by and the money you spend on transportation to and from the pier will be less than the difference of being price gouged right out of the port.
All in all this was the best decision I made throughout the whole vacation. The MOST value, the MOST fun and certainly the MOST memorable. Thank you all so much!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hello, thank you so much for choosing us. We always try to give our best. Thank you. Best regards from Marks Tours
johnandlisabarger, Sep 2025
The guides were amazing! They made us feel very safe. The life vests were all checked. A lot of time and care was extended on the equipment and instructions. They explained everything and were very hands on which comforted our nerves and we had a blast! We saw multiple rays and lots of fish.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
"Thank you so much for your recommendation! It means a lot to us that you enjoyed your snorkeling experience with us. We hope to see you again soon!"
Heather_B, Dec 2024
Our ship was supposed to dock at 2pm so I made reservations at 4:00 thinking that would give us enough time to make our way to the place. However, I didn't know that Cozumel was an hour ahead of the ship time (docking at 3:00 Cozumel time). AND Our ship was late putting us even further behind. But we got over to the snorkel place as fast as we could. The moment my family (husband, son & daughter) came over the hill, Mark greeted us and called me by name! He was super friendly and personable. I apologized for being late and he said "don't worry about it! " and proceeded to give us bottled waters and give us a detailed explanation of what we were going to be doing and how with a huge smile on his face. He answered all our questions. Our boat driver was super friendly and at first we were hesitant about leaving our stuff just on the boat, but he put it all in a box type hole in the boat so it wouldn't get wet. Our stuff was very safe and I realized I had no need to worry. He stayed on the boat within eye distance while our snorkel guide came with us into open water and captured great pictures of us underwater. It was a superb experience! The only thing I would change is the weather. It was overcast and the water was a bit choppy and chilly but that's out of our control. Lol. The snorkeling was fantastic and our guide pointed out stuff we didn't see. After we were done, we weren't even to our taxi yet and they sent us pictures of our adventures. I would highly recommend this excursion with these people! A+++
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hola! Amigos (: agradecemos mucho su confianza y preferencia nos da mucho gusto saber que les gustó el servicio y la actividad de snorkel de parte de nosotros. Esperamos verlos de nuevo Un saludo y abrazo de parte de Mark Espera verlos de nuevo Gracias! De parte de Mark's Tours
Jay_A, Mar 2024
Very friendly and helpful crew - Baltazar called me personally the morning of the tour to confirm, and patiently waited for us, as we were really running late getting off the cruise ship. Laid back, easy snorkeling tour - first time my 11 yr old tried it and he did great. Alejandro did a good job keeping the group together in the water, and we found a few turtles. From my memories of Cozumel, the reefs and fish in Costa Maya aren't quite as beautiful and colorful by comparison, but this crew did a good job - nice guys!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Hello Jay,
Thanks for your review. We appreciate that you chose us for this tour. We hope that you and your family had a great time with us ! We also hope that you can visit us at Costa Maya again :)
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Experience Guided Snorkeling in Costa Maya
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