VIP Snorkel, GoPro, Free Time

This short tour from Akumal Mayan Trips puts swimmers in a protected area of Akumal Bay where green sea turtles feed on seagrass.

Overview

The whole experience runs about 1.5 hours, starting with check-in and a safety briefing at the operator's base near the white arch past the Shomak store in Yodzonot. Gear is handed out on the spot: mask, snorkel, and a life jacket, which is required for everyone in the water.

Once in the water, the group follows a turtle circuit inside Tsuuk Akumal Natural Park. Turtles are the main draw, gliding over the seagrass a few meters away, but reviewers also report rays and plenty of reef fish on their swims. A certified guide stays with the group the whole time, and a GoPro camera captures the session, with photos usually delivered the same day, sometimes within a few hours.

Groups are kept small, a point one reviewer appreciated, including families with weaker swimmers. Entry to the park and the beach for the day is covered by the wristband, and lockers, showers, changing rooms, and palapas are available at the site. Hotel pickup is not included, so travelers make their own way to the meeting point.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet At Akumal Mayan TripsArrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time at the operator's base beside the white arch past the Shomak store in Yodzonot, Akumal.
2. Check-in And Safety TalkA quick check-in is followed by a briefing from the guide. Mask, snorkel, and a mandatory life jacket are provided.
3. Guided Turtle SnorkelA guided tour of the turtle circuit in Tsuuk Akumal Natural Park lasts 1 hour, with the guide recording the swim on a GoPro.
4. Free Time In The ParkAfter the swim, there is free time at Tsuuk Akumal Natural Park. The beach wristband is valid all day.
5. Photos DeliveredGoPro photos are handed over the same day whenever possible, or at the end of the activity.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this tour goes, from what to carry to how the group moves through the water.

• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup, so travelers arrange their own transport to the meeting point near the white arch in Yodzonot. Arriving 15 minutes early is requested. The beach wristband covers entry for the whole day, so it is possible to stay on after the swim.
• Mixed swimmers. Life jackets are mandatory and the group stays together. One reviewer noted two weak swimmers in the group who were looked after without slowing stronger swimmers down. Another reviewer described a guide who took care of the whole group and made sure everyone saw the turtles and fish.
• Bring cash. Cash is on the operator's what-to-bring list. One reviewer had none and a guide lent them 100 pesos for the locker. Lockers, showers, and changing rooms are available at the park.
• Sunscreen rules. Regular sunscreen is not allowed in the water, and the listing asks for biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent instead. Beachwear and cash round out the packing list. Glass objects are also prohibited.
• Marine sightings. Turtles are the focus, feeding on seagrass in the protected area. Multiple reviewers also saw rays, including what one family believed was a Cortez round ray, plus abundant reef fish. Sightings beyond turtles depend on sea conditions.
• Photos. The guide films with a GoPro during the swim and the photos are included. Delivery is usually the same day; one reviewer received theirs within a few hours. The listing notes that quality and quantity of photos depend on sea conditions.

Common issues. Sea conditions matter: one reviewer found algae everywhere and yellowish water, which is beyond any operator's control, and the listing itself notes that marine sightings and photo quality vary with conditions. Hotel pickup is not included, so travelers need to arrange their own transport to Akumal. Touching turtles or any marine life is strictly not allowed, and standard sunscreen is banned.

Common Questions