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Join a local aquatic guide in the shallows of Akumal Bay, where turtles graze on seagrass in water clear enough to see them from the surface. After the guided swim we put snacks and drinks on the beach, then leave you two hours on the sand. Pickup from most Playa del Carmen hotels is included, or you meet us at Coco Bongo if your hotel is not on the list.
In the shallows the guide keeps the group together in the turtle zone and talks you through how close to swim. You wear a mask, snorkel and fins from us, and you stay on the surface above seagrass where green turtles feed in clear water. The swim is the point of the morning, not a look from a boat.
Once you leave the water, snacks and drinks come out on the beach. Two hours of free time follow, so you can rest under the palms, walk the shore, or go back in away from the turtle zone. Sunscreen stays off until you have left the snorkel water.
South of Playa del Carmen and north of Tulum, Akumal Bay is a shallow curve of sand and seagrass on the Riviera Maya. Green turtles feed close to shore here in calm, clear water. You enter from the beach rather than from a boat, so the swim stays in one bay once you arrive.
The drive from Playa del Carmen is the main travel block of the half day. Palms line the beach and the water stays shallow for much of the session, which suits mixed abilities. You are in a protected marine area, so the guide sets the pace and the rules before anyone enters.
No previous snorkelling is required. You should be happy swimming in the open sea with a mask and snorkel, and children from 4 years old can join when they are comfortable in the water. Infants sit on an adult's lap in the vehicle, and infant seats are not available.
The outing is not recommended if you are pregnant, and it is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Pets cannot come. Tell us about any fear of the sea or a medical issue before the day. Sunscreen is not allowed in the water during the turtle swim.
More than fifteen years on the Riviera Maya sit behind this morning, from Akumal's turtle waters to the cliff and jungle sites we run on other days. Your aquatic guide works this bay regularly and talks you through how to stay a respectful distance from the turtles.
Groups stay at 14 or fewer, so you can hear the briefing and stay with the same person in the shallows. We work in English as well as Spanish, and we keep the half day on the water and the beach rather than adding extra stops.
We pick you up from most hotels in Playa del Carmen, or you meet us at Coco Bongo if your stay is not on the list. Tulum hotels come to Hotel Andreas at 09:25. The air-conditioned vehicle then runs south to Akumal Bay.
On the beach the aquatic guide covers mask fit, how to stay with the group, and how far to keep from a turtle. You then snorkel in the seagrass shallows, where green turtles feed in clear water. Kit is included and the guide stays in the water with you.
After the guided swim you have snacks and drinks on the beach. Two hours of free time follow, so you can rest under the palms, walk the shore, or go back in for an unguided splash away from the turtle zone. Sunscreen stays off until you have left the snorkel water.
We drive you back to your Playa del Carmen hotel or the Coco Bongo meeting point. If you started in Tulum the return is on public transport and our staff pays the ticket. The whole half day, including the road, sits around 4 hours 30 minutes.
The slot is about 4 hours 30 minutes from collection to drop-off. Door to door, including the drive from your hotel or the Coco Bongo meeting point and the return, the window can sit between 4 and 5 hours depending on where we collect you.
Most of that time is the road to Akumal, the guided snorkel, snacks on the beach, and two hours of free time on the sand. We do not add extra stops on the way.
No previous snorkelling is required. The guide briefs you on the beach, then stays with the group in the shallows so first-timers can keep the same line as regular swimmers.
You should still be happy in the open sea with a mask and snorkel. This is a bay swim, not a pool, and the turtles move in water that is usually calm but still the sea.
Minimum age is 4 years. Children from that age can join when they are comfortable swimming with a mask and snorkel and can follow the guide in the turtle zone.
Infants sit on an adult's lap in the vehicle. Infant seats are not available, and the outing is not stroller accessible, so plan the road time with that in mind.
Pickup is included from most hotels in Playa del Carmen. If your hotel does not have a pickup service we give you the nearest meeting point, which is usually Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen, postcode 77710.
Tulum hotels have no hotel pickup. The meeting point there is Hotel Andreas at 09:25. Your confirmation will say which option applies, so read it before you set out.
A turtle care programme is paid in cash on the travel date, before or as you enter the swim area. Bring Mexican pesos rather than relying on a card machine at the beach.
The fee goes to the local programme that looks after this bay. The amount sits on the exclusions list so you can plan cash for the day.
No type of sunscreen is allowed during the swim with turtles. That rule protects the seagrass and the animals that feed in the bay, and the guide will ask you to rinse off before you enter.
Pack a towel and apply sunscreen only after you leave the snorkel zone, during the free time on the beach. A long-sleeve rash vest is a useful alternative in the water.
Groups are between 1 and 14 guests. That cap keeps the briefing audible and stops the shallows turning into a crowd around a single turtle.
Adult and Child rates are available, with a Playa del Carmen departure or a Tulum meeting-point option. Solo travellers are welcome when the departure is running.
Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, shoes that can get sandy, and dry clothes for the drive back. Mask, snorkel and fins come from us, along with bottled water and snacks after the swim.
Carry cash in Mexican pesos for the turtle care programme. Leave sunscreen for after the water time, and say so before the day if anyone in your party is unsure in the sea.
Tulum hotels have no pickup. You make your own way to Hotel Andreas for a 09:25 meeting, then we handle the rest of the half day from there, including the drive to Akumal and the guided snorkel.
Drop-off to Tulum is on public transport for operational reasons, and our staff pays the ticket. Allow a little extra time at the end of the outing compared with a hotel drop in Playa del Carmen.
This is a sea snorkel in an open bay. Wind and swell can shorten the swim or keep you closer to shore, and the guide reads the water before anyone enters.
Light cloud is often fine. Do not assume every grey morning is called off, and do not enter if you have been told the bay is unsafe. The two hours on the beach still sit after the guided session when the swim can run.
About the centre
Playa del Carmen
Operated by Agila Tours, a partner of adventuro.
Cozumel & Island Coast, Mexico
From $126.10
