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Two swims share one half day: a freshwater cave cenote in the jungle, then a guided snorkel with sea turtles in Akumal Bay. A small-group departure and a private vehicle both run that route. The private outing is about 4 hours 30 minutes and Easy, and the small-group departure is about 5 hours 30 minutes and Moderate.
Freshwater comes first. You swim under a roof of stalactites in mineral water, with a life vest and a guide in the cave. The small-group departure usually uses Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, and that cave can be swapped for another of similar character. The private vehicle uses a jungle cave cenote as well, without a named cave on the private notes.
From the jungle we drive to Akumal for a guided snorkel where green turtles graze on seagrass. Kit is included and the guide stays with you in the shallows. Sunscreen stays off until you leave the turtle water. Small-group pickup covers most Playa del Carmen hotels, with Hotel Andreas at 09:15 for Tulum stays.
Limestone sinkholes sit in the Riviera Maya jungle, filled with cool freshwater and a roof of stalactites. You swim rather than walk a ruins circuit, and the cave sits away from the beach towns so the drive is part of the half day.
Akumal Bay is the second stop, south of Playa del Carmen, where turtles feed in shallow, clear water close to the sand. You enter from the beach for that snorkel. The two sites sit on the same stretch of coast, so the day stays between the jungle and the bay rather than heading inland to a ruins city.
Open water and a cave roof are both part of the morning, even though no previous snorkelling is required. You should be happy in freshwater under stone and then in the open sea at Akumal. On the private vehicle infants can travel on an adult's lap. On the small-group departure the minimum age is 4.
Neither version is wheelchair or stroller accessible, and pets cannot come. The day is not recommended if you are pregnant. The private notes also say it is not recommended if you have back problems. Tell us about a fear of enclosed spaces or of the sea before you arrive.
Local aquatic guides work both the cave and the bay, so the rules for turtles and for the stalactite swim are covered before anyone enters. We keep the half day on the water at both stops, with no shopping detours.
The same route runs as a shared group of up to 14 or as a private vehicle for your own party. That lets a family with a baby take the private outing, while a pair or a small family can take the shared departure and still swim the cave and the bay in one morning.
Small-group guests are collected from most Playa del Carmen hotels, or meet at Coco Bongo, or at Hotel Andreas in Tulum at 09:15. Private guests travel in their own vehicle, with Coco Bongo listed if we are not collecting you. Both versions then head into the jungle for the cave swim.
You swim in mineral freshwater under a roof of stalactites, with a life vest and a guide in the water. The small-group departure usually uses Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, and that cave can be swapped for another of similar character. The private vehicle uses a jungle cave cenote without a named site on the private notes.
From the jungle we drive to Akumal Bay for a guided snorkel where green turtles graze on seagrass. Kit is included and the guide stays with you in the shallows. Sunscreen stays off until you leave the turtle water, and the turtle-care programme is paid in cash on the day.
We return you toward your Playa del Carmen hotel or the Coco Bongo meeting point. Small-group guests who started in Tulum finish on public transport, with the ticket paid by our staff. Private notes describe a return to your hotel in the same vehicle.
A small-group departure and a private vehicle run the same two stops. The private outing is about 4 hours 30 minutes and rated Easy. The small-group departure is about 5 hours 30 minutes and rated Moderate.
Door to door the small-group window can sit between 5 and 6 hours, and the private window between 4 and 5 hours, depending on where we collect you. Both versions swim a jungle cave, then Akumal Bay.
The lengths are about 4 hours 30 minutes on the private vehicle and about 5 hours 30 minutes on the small-group departure. Road time to the jungle and then to Akumal is included in those figures.
Where you stay changes the clock a little. Small-group notes give a 5 to 6 hour door-to-door window. Private notes give 4 to 5 hours. Your confirmation gives the pickup time that applies.
On the private vehicle the minimum age is 0, and infants sit on an adult's lap. On the small-group departure the minimum age is 4 years, and children from that age need to be happy in the water with a mask and snorkel.
Infant seats are not available on either version. Choose the private vehicle if you are travelling with a baby, and the small group only when everyone is 4 or older.
Small-group pickup covers most hotels in Playa del Carmen. If your hotel is not on that list we give you a nearby meeting point, usually Coco Bongo, postcode 77710. Tulum hotels meet at Hotel Andreas at 09:15, with no hotel collection from that town, and Tulum drop-off is on public transport with the ticket paid by our staff.
The private outing includes a private air-conditioned vehicle and a return toward your hotel. Coco Bongo is also listed as a meeting point. Your confirmation will say whether we collect you or meet you there.
The small-group departure usually swims at Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, a cave of stalactites and freshwater in the jungle. For logistics that cave can be swapped for another of similar character, so treat the name as the usual stop rather than a guaranteed ticket.
The private vehicle uses a jungle cave cenote as well. That outing does not name a specific cave, so we do not promise Nohoch Nah Chich on the private departure.
A turtle care programme is paid in cash in Mexican pesos on the travel date, before or as you enter the Akumal swim. The same kind of cash extra applies on the private vehicle and on the small-group departure.
Bring pesos rather than relying on a card machine at the beach. The amount sits on the exclusions list so you can plan cash for the day.
No type of sunscreen is allowed during the turtle swim at Akumal. The small-group notes state that clearly, and the guide will ask you to rinse off before you enter the bay.
Pack a towel and apply sunscreen only after you leave the turtle zone. A long-sleeve rash vest is useful in both the cave and the sea.
The private vehicle is sold as GROUP rates for your own party, in bands up to 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 people. The small-group departure uses Adult and Child rates, with a maximum of 14 guests sharing the outing.
Both versions stay at 14 or fewer. Choose the private vehicle when you want the van and the guide to yourselves, and the small group when you are happy to share the day.
Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, shoes that can get wet in the cave, and dry clothes for the drives. Snorkel kit is included for both the cenote and Akumal, along with bottled water and snacks.
Carry cash in Mexican pesos for the turtle care programme. Leave sunscreen for after the bay swim, and say so before the day if anyone is unsure in enclosed cave water or in the sea.
No previous snorkelling is required on either version. You should be happy swimming in freshwater under a cave roof and then in the open sea at Akumal, with a guide in the water at both stops.
The private outing is rated Easy. The small-group departure is rated Moderate, with a longer road-and-swim window. Neither version is wheelchair or stroller accessible, pets cannot come, and the day is not recommended if you are pregnant. The private notes also say it is not recommended if you have back problems.
About the centre
Playa del Carmen
Operated by Agila Tours, a partner of adventuro.
Cozumel & Island Coast, Mexico
From $126.10
