Reef Snorkeling in Cancun: The 10 Best Trips

1.Viator Exclusive: Tulum Ruins, Reef Snorkeling, Cenote and Caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,242 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $129Our pick

Visit Tulum with guides such as Suly, Raul, Ulrich, and Mimi, then snorkel by boat for turtles, rays, and reef fish before swimming in a jungle cenote. Tacos, gear, transport, and entrance fees are included. Plan for an early start, a $35 cash conservation fee, and a long day from Cancun.

“This excursion was well worth the price and the guide was fantastic. The packed in just the right amount of activity.”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

2.Reef Snorkeling & Jungle Speedboat Adventure with Mayan Ceremony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,208 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Drive your own two-person speedboat through Nichupte Lagoon, pass mangroves, attend a Mayan presentation, and snorkel among reef fish. Guides such as Juan, Fabio, Captain Fox, and Flash lead the experience in English. Expect about 2.5 hours, a modest included meal, lockers, and extra fees for transport, tax, and photos.

“Everyone was professional and made sure we were safe at all times. We had fun snorkeling!!! This was the best excursion I’ve been on!”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

3.Reef Snorkeling in National Park from Cancun with Beachside Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,781 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $44Best value

Travel from Cancun or the Riviera Maya to Puerto Morelos for about an hour of guided snorkeling on the Great Maya Reef. Guides such as Carlos and Francisco help beginners spot turtles, rays, barracuda, and fish, followed by tacos at Boquinete, free time, and an optional tequila tasting.

“Excellent activity, well coordinated. Pick up at hotel on time toPuerto Morelos, keeps it townish aspect. Very professional guide, captan and team. Pleasent snorkeling in shallow reef with time to enjoy. Later tekila tasting, and a very nice snack/lunck of tacos in a cozy restaurant by the beach.”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

4.5-in-1 Cancun Snorkeling: Turtles, Reef, Musa, Shipwreck, Cenote

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,678 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $79

Join guides such as Daisy, Chuy, Mauricio, or Kiko for a beginner-friendly Cancun snorkel outing covering reef fish, sea turtles, rays, two MUSA galleries, a shipwreck, and a cenote. The water is generally shallow, equipment and transport are included, and the crew helps nervous swimmers. Expect a busy, tightly timed trip with a $20 dock fee.

“Wow! I can’t give this activity enough stars. It was exactly what was described, and the sites themselves were spectacular. The cenotes, the reef…all that the island has to offer on a good day is indescribably beautiful. I wish you as good fortune as we had on our excursion. In addition, I have to commend the professionalism of our guide, Captain, and crewperson/photographer (Kika, Barracuda, and Layden, I believe). They were focused on our safety at all times and ensured that explanations and expectations were communicated ahead of time. Equipment was in excellent working order and any questions were thoroughly answered. This is a good activity for people who are…”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

5.Small-Group Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Snorkeling in Puerto Morelos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 500 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $45

Meet Wet Set Diving Adventures in Puerto Morelos for a short boat ride to the protected reef. You get two 45-minute snorkel sessions, a life jacket, fins, mask, wetsuit, water, and an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Chris, Christian, and Mario are known for spotting turtles, rays, barracuda, and sharks while keeping the group safe.

“We did not get to snorkel due to rough waters. The company communicated this and tried to reschedule us. Unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

6.Private Tulum Ruins, Reef Snorkel & Cenote Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 304 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $332

Travel privately from Cancun to Tulum, a coral reef, and Yax-Muul cenotes with a bilingual guide such as Alma, Arturo, or Mariano. You get hotel pickup, snorkeling gear, water, and a Mayan taco lunch. Expect a full day of ruins, sea life, freshwater swimming, and extra fees for admission, photos, and reserve costs.

“We had a wonderful day on this tour! Our guide, Arturo, was friendly, outgoing, and very knowledgeable about the sites we visited. Taking a private tour was perfect because we could travel on the schedule that worked for us. We were picked up at our hotel and didn't have to worry about making several other stops to pick up others. Tulum was beautiful and so interesting, and we saw sea turtles, fish and sting rays when we snorkeled. Amazing! The cenotes were gorgeous and unlike anything we had seen before. The lunch served there was delicious too! My only advice would be to realize the tour company highly discourages the…”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

7.Snorkel Tour at Musa and Manchones Reef

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 169 reviews · 4 hours · from $50

Spend four hours with Pocna Dive Center snorkeling at Isla Mujeres’ MUSA underwater museum and Manchones Reef. Guides such as Lalo, Kelo, Salvador, Lidia, and Bruno help beginners feel safe while pointing out sculptures, turtles, rays, colorful fish, and corals. Gear, cookies, fruit, and water are included. Expect an extra $15 in cash for park and dock fees.

“LALO was the best guide ever. so friendly and patience. we saw soooo many colored fishes and statues on the ground. we really had our time to snorkel - no bullshit besides. ;)”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

8.Puerto Morelos Catamaran Reef Sail and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Sail from Marina La Bonita to Puerto Morelos National Marine Park on a modern catamaran capped at 18 people. A certified guide leads a 30 to 45 minute reef snorkel, then you return aboard for lunch, drinks, and coastal sailing. Pickup from select Cancun hotels can be arranged.

“Best time!!!! From coordinating our transportation, snorkeling and the captain and crew taking care of us was outstanding. I would highly recommend this excursion. My family fully enjoyed every moment!!!”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

9.Cozumel Starfish and Tropical Reef Snorkeling by Powerboat with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 118 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $139

Take a high-speed boat from Cozumel’s south shore to three snorkeling spots in the reef park, then visit El Cielo sandbar, where starfish gather in shallow water. Guides such as James lead you through the water and point out marine life. Gear, rash guards, life jackets, lunch, and hotel transport are included, but the $30 ferry fee is extra.

“Vom Veranstalter wurde die Tour Meeressafari genannt und so war es auch. Schnorcheln an 3 Spots mit unterschiedlicher Tiefe. Der Guide James war sehr gut. Er hat von vornherein gesagt, dass er uns nicht versprechen kann, wieviel und was wir sehen. Das fand ich super ehrlich. Aber wir haben jede Menge tolle Meeresfauna gesehen. Er hat uns im Wasser geführt und uns auf alle Tiere aufmerksam gemacht. Am letzten Spot sind wir den Adler- und Stachelrochen ganz nah gekommen. Immer wieder hat sich James vergewissern, ob es auch allen gut geht. Auch der Rest des Teams war sehr fürsorglich. Die Gruppengröße war mit ca. 15-18 Personen auch sehr angenehm. Das…”

Dates and prices →Read our full review

10.Private (only you) Reef Snorkeling in Puerto Morelos 2×40 minutes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $185

Leave Cancun or another Riviera Maya hotel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle for Puerto Morelos. With your own guide and boat crew, you snorkel two 40-minute sessions in the National Marine Park, often spotting turtles, rays, barracuda, lobsters, starfish, and reef fish. You can also spend up to three hours exploring the fishermen’s village.

“My wife and I went on the four hour private snorkeling excursion off Puerto Morelos near Cancun. The tour operator, Kays Tours, was very professional, keeping in touch via email and WhatsApp and promptly answering all our questions. Our guide Mauricio showed up at the hotel a few minutes before the 7:00 am meeting time. He drove expertly and was very knowledgeable about the area. He stayed with us, including the snorkeling, the entire time. The boat, equipment, guiding, etc. were all well organized. The snorkeling was nice, the water clear, lots of fish. We had an excellent time.”

Dates and prices →Read our full review