Cenote Cavern Tour and Swim with Sea Turtles in Akumal

This half-day guided excursion pairs two water experiences on the Riviera Maya coast: a swim with wild turtles at Akumal Beach and time in a cenote cavern. Round-trip transfers are included from a hotel or meeting point in Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya and Tulum, so you do not need to arrange your own transport.

The first part of the itinerary takes place at Akumal Beach. You put on a snorkel mask and float over the reef, where the opportunity to swim with wild turtles is the main draw, along with the marine life you can see below. This block is listed at around 90 minutes.

The second part is the cenote. You bathe in its fresh water in an environment the listing describes as sacred to the Mayan people, and you pick up snorkeling equipment to see the underwater world of the cenote from below the surface. This block is also listed at about 90 minutes, after which a relaxed transfer takes you back to the starting point.

The tour is described as suitable for all physical fitness levels, which makes it a reasonable choice for families and for travelers who prefer a gentler pace. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, infants must sit on an adult's lap and specialized infant seats are available.

Included are bottled water, snacks, snorkeling equipment, air conditioning in the vehicle and an aquatic guide in both the cenote and Akumal. Gratuities are not included. One cost to plan for: the Akumal Bay turtle care program is not included, costs 500 Mexican pesos per person and must be paid on the travel date, after boarding. Bring cash for it.

Pick-up is offered from almost all hotels. If yours has no pick-up service, the operator will tell you the closest meeting point the afternoon before the tour, by message to your phone or by email to the address on your booking. Tulum has no hotel pick-up: for Tulum Hotel Zone or downtown, the meeting point is the Super Aki supermarket at 9:15 am.