Two Cenotes, Turtle Swim

Ekinox Tours runs it as a full eight-hour day with round-trip hotel transport from most of the Riviera Maya, a guide, and a buffet lunch built in.

Overview

This day trip from Cancún packs three very different swims into one outing: an open cenote, a second cenote, and a snorkeling session at Akumal Beach where sea turtles are regularly seen.

The order of the day follows a clear arc. After pickup, the group heads first to Cenote Mariposa, an open-air sinkhole where you can swim for about 45 minutes and look at the rock formations below the surface. A short coach ride brings you to Cenote Chen-Ha for another swim of the same length. At the Akumal Beach snorkel later in the day, reviewers have reported squid, lobsters, rays and colorful reef fish.

It suits travellers who want turtles and cenotes in a single day without arranging transport themselves. Beginners are accommodated; a reviewer with little snorkeling experience said the guide supported them until they were comfortable in the water. Note that the listed activities are marked optional and you may skip any swim you prefer not to do.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel Pickup In CancúnRound-trip transportation from most Riviera Maya hotels is included. One reviewer reported a long pickup loop through hotels and a minivan change in Cancún city, so the pickup can start early and run long.
2. Cenote Mariposa Swim (45 Minutes, Optional)An open cenote with clear water, rock formations and aquatic life. The stop is listed as optional.
3. Cenote Chen-Ha Swim (45 Minutes, Optional)A second swim at another cenote. Reviewers described the water as wonderfully clear, fresh and relaxing.
4. Coach Transfer (25 Minutes)A short bus or coach ride from the cenotes toward the coast at Akumal.
5. Akumal Beach Swim (80 Minutes, Optional)Guided snorkeling with life jacket provided, in the water where sea turtles are seen at close range. Travellers have also reported rays, squid and reef fish.
6. Return To CancúnTransport back to the pickup area, with buffet lunch and two water bottles provided during the day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the day go more smoothly, from the eco tax paid on boarding to what the buffet lunch does and does not cover.

• Bring cash for taxes. A conservation tax of 25 USD per person, the same for adults and children, is collected when boarding and is not in the tour price. Admission fees and taxes are also excluded, as are drinks at lunch. Bring enough cash to cover these.
• Follow the email, not the app. The listing warns that the activity start time differs from the pickup time, and that travellers should disregard the platform's notifications and follow the operator's confirmation email instead. Check that email the evening before.
• Beginners are fine in the water. One reviewer with little or no snorkeling experience found the sea session challenging at first but said the guide supported and led them through it until they saw turtles up close. Life jackets are provided, and the Akumal swim is optional if you would rather stay on the beach.
• Lunch is a proper buffet. A buffet lunch and two water bottles are included. Reviewers were pleasantly surprised by the quality, with one calling out the Mexican specialities as excellent. Drinks during lunch cost extra.
• Weather affects visibility. The tour runs rain or shine. One reviewer had poor weather and low visibility in the sea, and another hit a large amount of sargassum at Akumal that made swimming less pleasant. Turtles were still seen on both days, but conditions vary.
• It is a long, full day. Several travellers described the day as full and long, with hotel-to-hotel pickups adding waiting time before the tour properly starts.

Common issues. The downsides reviewers mention are mostly about timing and logistics. One reviewer reported a long morning of hotel pickups and a minivan change in Cancún before the tour got going, and another said the wait for other guests dragged. One felt the first cenote stop and the lunch break were too short. Weather is outside the operator's control: poor visibility and heavy sargassum at Akumal both appear in reviews. Budget for the 25 USD per person eco tax and any drinks at lunch, which are not included.

Common Questions