Akumal Swim with Turtles + Nohoch Cenote Tour | Cancun 100

Akumal Tour: swim with sea turtles, Tulum archaeological zone and Nohoch cenote in one day

Experience one of the most memorable adventures of the Mexican Caribbean: swim with sea turtles in Akumal Bay, a Marine Species Protection Refuge Area declared by CONANP in March 2016 with 1,653 hectares. The bay is a feeding and resting zone for 3 turtle species: green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta).

This one-day tour combines swimming with turtles in Akumal with the Tulum seaside archaeological zone and one hour of swimming at Nohoch cenote. All with round-trip transport from your hotel, bilingual guide, box lunch and buffet lunch included. The activity follows CONANP regulations to protect turtles: groups maximum 6 people plus authorized guide.

Highlights

• Swim with sea turtles in Akumal Bay, refuge protected by CONANP
• Encounter with 3 turtle species: green, hawksbill and loggerhead
• Snorkel equipment included (mask, snorkel, fins and life vest)
• Admission and 1-hour guide explanation at Tulum Archaeological Zone
• 45 minutes of free time at Tulum archaeological zone
• 1 hour of swimming at Nohoch cenote (life vest included)
• Photo at the iconic Tulum letters
• Round-trip transport from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum
• Box lunch (sandwich, fruit, cookie and juice) + buffet lunch
• Bottle of water leaving Tulum

Your day, step by step

1. Hotel pick-up. We pick you up at your hotel door early in the morning. Comfortable air-conditioned transport.
2. Tulum Archaeological Zone. Arrival at the walled Mayan city of Tulum facing the Caribbean. Your bilingual guide explains the site history for 1 hour, followed by 45 minutes of free time. Photo at the iconic Tulum letters.
3. Nohoch Cenote. Transfer to Nohoch cenote for 1 hour of swimming. Crystal-clear waters in a semi-open cenote with life vest included.
4. Arrival at Akumal. Arrival at Akumal Bay. Brief briefing on CONANP rules for swimming with turtles: groups of maximum 6 people + guide, minimum distance 3 meters from turtle, no touching, observation time 5 minutes per turtle.
5. Swim with turtles. With complete snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, life vest) and CONANP-authorized guide, you enter the bay to swim with sea turtles. The session lasts maximum 55 minutes per regulation.
6. Buffet lunch. Enjoy buffet lunch with Mexican and international cuisine.
7. Return. We return to your hotel at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport from your hotel door
• Spanish-English bilingual guide
• Box lunch: sandwich, fruit, cookie and juice
• Tulum Archaeological Zone admission
• 1 hour of guide explaining the archaeological zone
• 45 minutes free time at Tulum archaeological zone
• Photo at the Tulum letters
• 1 hour at Nohoch cenote (life vest included)
• Bottle of water leaving Tulum
• Swim with turtles in Akumal (with CONANP-authorized guide)
• Complete snorkel equipment: mask, snorkel, fins and life vest
• Buffet lunch

What’s not included

• Beverages during lunch
• Federal and archaeological zone taxes (paid directly)
• Tips for guide and driver, suggested and voluntary
• Professional tour photos
• Sunscreen, you must bring biodegradable reef-safe sunscreen

General information

• Duration: Approximately 11 to 12 hours including transfers
• Guide languages: Spanish and English
• Cancellation: Free until 7:30 PM the day before the tour; after that a 50 percent charge applies
• Operating days: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; three weekly departures

Departure and meeting point

• From Cancun: pick-up at your hotel door early in the morning
• From Playa del Carmen: pick-up at your hotel door
• From Tulum: pick-up at your hotel door

Important notes

• Akumal Bay was declared a Marine Species Protection Refuge Area on March 7, 2016, published in the DOF. Covers 1,653 hectares administered by CONANP
• The Protection Program was published on October 6, 2017 in the DOF, strictly regulating turtle swimming activity to protect the 3 species
• CONANP regulations establish: groups maximum 6 people + 1 authorized guide, minimum distance 3 meters from turtle, observation time 5 minutes per specimen, maximum session 55 minutes per person, mandatory equipment (mask, snorkel, fins and life vest), prohibited to touch, feed or chase turtles
• The May to October season coincides with green turtle courtship and mating; in September CONANP sometimes temporarily suspends activity due to nesting. We will inform you if your date coincides with suspension
• Price does not include VAT; if you require a tax invoice, 16 percent is added

Restrictions and recommendations

• Tour suitable for the whole family; minors always accompanied by an adult
• Children ages 4 to 10 pay child rate
• Infants ages 0 to 3 board free with a paying adult
• Life vest mandatory for turtle swim (included)
• Only biodegradable or reef-safe sunscreen (CONANP regulation)
• Turtle swim may be temporarily suspended due to nesting season (September) or rough sea

Why book with Cancun100

• Over 10 years connecting travelers with the best experiences in the Mexican Caribbean
• Agency verified with Mexico’s National Tourism Registry (RNT SECTUR 042300561bc73), legal entity XPECTATIVE TRAVEL SRL DE CV, with a physical office in Cancun
• Social media officially verified by Meta (blue badge on Facebook and Instagram)
• Secure Stripe payments to a registered business account, not personal accounts like many competitors use
• Local 24/7 support team: our lines are open day and night
• We don’t just sell tours: we build complete packages with hotel, transfers and experiences
• Free cancellation and flexible booking: reserve your spot today and pay later