Catamaran Excursion + Open bar + Snorkeling at El Cielo
Description
Set sail from Cozumel on a Caribbean catamaran adventure that blends beach club time, reef snorkeling, open bar, music, and some of the island’s most beautiful marine spots. This experience is designed for travelers who want a lively day on the water, with time to relax before boarding and a route that reaches Palancar Reef, Columbia Reef, El Cielo, and El Cielito.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travelers will begin the experience by checking in with the team at the meeting point in downtown Cozumel. This first moment prepares the group for a relaxed afternoon that moves from beach club comfort to reef snorkeling and catamaran fun. After check-in, travelers will be directed to Playa Tortugas Beach Club, the pre-departure location for guests booked on this excursion. And don't worry, because your one-way transport from the meeting point to the Beach Club is included.
Before boarding the catamaran, travelers will enjoy access to Playa Tortugas Beach Club in Cozumel. This is a relaxed opening to the day, giving guests time to enjoy the facilities, settle into the Caribbean mood, and get ready for the ocean portion of the adventure. The catamaran departure is scheduled for 2:00 PM. And don't worry, your return transport is also included so you can board the catamaran.
The first snorkeling stop takes travelers to Palancar Reef, one of Cozumel’s most recognized reef areas. Here, guests can enter the water with included snorkeling equipment and enjoy the clear Caribbean sea while exploring one of the island’s beautiful marine environments. This stop introduces the underwater side of the tour, with reef scenery, tropical water, and the excitement of snorkeling from the catamaran.
The adventure continues at Columbia Reef, another remarkable snorkeling area in Cozumel. Travelers will have another opportunity to enjoy the water, admire the reef environment, and experience the natural marine beauty that makes Cozumel such a popular snorkeling destination. Back on board, the catamaran atmosphere continues with music, entertainment, and drinks, keeping the day lively between each stop.
The route then continues to El Cielo, one of Cozumel’s most famous marine locations. Known for its clear shallow waters and starfish resting on the seabed, this stop brings a calmer and more scenic feeling to the experience. It is one of the most iconic moments of the day, perfect for enjoying the turquoise water and taking in the natural beauty that gives El Cielo its name.
The final marine stop takes travelers to El Cielito (the sandbar), a shallow turquoise area known for its relaxed atmosphere and rays moving through the water. This part of the tour feels easygoing and beautiful, creating the perfect closing moment after the reef snorkeling stops. During this part of the experience, travelers will enjoy the included snack: fish ceviche and one hot dog per person. Drinks continue on board, including margaritas, beer, bottled water, and soft drinks.
After enjoying El Cielito, the catamaran will begin the return to the original departure point. Travelers can relax on board, enjoy the music and sea views, and close the experience with the same fun Caribbean atmosphere that accompanied the day from the beginning.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The meal included with this excursion is served as a fixed dish. At this time, substitutions or adjustments are not available for dietary restrictions, food preferences, personal tastes, or any other special meal requests.
- The meal included with this excursion is served as a fixed dish. At this time, substitutions or adjustments are not available for dietary restrictions, food preferences, personal tastes, or any other special meal requests.
Reviews(34)
I would not recommend this catamaran tour. It was advertised at $35 per person, but after paying we were charged an additional $30 plus extra taxes and dock fees that were not clearly disclosed. We waited 30 minutes at the Anchor Monument for our guide, Ruth, and then spent another 45 minutes walking around in the heat while she looked for a taxi. The boat was extremely overcrowded with about 75 passengers, and the food and alcohol were low quality. Overall, the poor organization, hidden fees, and overcrowded conditions made this a very disappointing experience.
We go where we were supposed to there were no coattails until the end of the excurisons the food was a cold hotdogs on a dry bun and a salad of some kind We paid to much plus we paid a extra $30.00 dollars for docking fees
This is by far one of the worst excursions I have ever been on. First thing is they collect another $64 for reef chatges.Once they loaded us up to go to the boat it was a long ride there. They tell you to get off the van and they drive away. No one from the excursion is there for well over an hour. As mentioned when they did show up all instructions are in Spanish, so we did not know what was going on. The boat is not as advertised. The food was a cold hotdog . There is no stop with people in the water drinking and eating from a paddle board. No open bar. We had to ask for a drink. This is a classic bate and switch.
This tour delivered exactly what we were hoping for: great views, good music, and a laid-back vibe. The snorkeling spot at El Cielo was stunning and easy even for beginners. Drinks were flowing, but the atmosphere stayed comfortable and not too wild. A great mix of fun and relaxation.
So i am writing this review for people like me who truly read reviews. I was excited to snorkel and see all the beautiful waters of Cozumel. First, they definitely overbook the boat. Secondly, the boat is not “luxurious” whatsoever. They mention open bar, but what they don’t tell you is 3/4th of the time “they’re not allowed to serve you”. We did not get an “open bar” until our last stop. Also the itinerary is a bit dishonest. We did not stay more than 20/25 minutes at each location. Also, the itinerary says the last stop is Playa Cielo, which is beach. When i did a catamaran tour in DR, the boat anchored and allowed us to get on the actual beach for 90 minutes. At playa cielo, the boat anchored far away from the shore, and although the most beautiful stop, it also was the shortest. We only were there about 15 minutes. They also have you get off and snorkel, and the boat disappeared. They do not allow you to get back on the boat until “the time is up”. There was an elderly gentleman who mentioned he was tired and wanted to get back on the boat, and they specifically told him no they would not bring the boat back for just one & that he had to stay in the water the whole duration. This was scary because what if something happened to us and we are so far from the boat? Another thing is they never stop yelling at you. You’re trying to snorkel and enjoy the few minutes you have and the whole time the guides are yelling at you to stay close, come here, come there, and do allow you to relax and enjoy yourself. Also, make sure to eat a good breakfast before you go, because they give you 2 baby scoops of ceviche on plastic toddler size plates with the tiniest hot dog you ever seen. Do not expect a lavish open bar or buffet style lunch on a fancy catamaran with bougie vibes. This is not that. I give it 3 stars bc the water was beautiful, we saw turtles, manta rays, starfish and got to experience amazing waters. But i would not have gone on this if i knew we weren’t actually going to anchor and get on the beach for a 90 minute stay like it says.
If you’re visiting Cozumel, this tour is definitely worth it. The crew created a really welcoming atmosphere and made sure everyone had a great time. Snorkeling was a highlight with plenty of marine life, and El Cielo was simply stunning. The open bar, music, and views on the sail back made the whole day feel special. We’d absolutely do it again.
1) We had prepaid the tour, but upon arrival we were told to pay extra port taxes (we were not even in the port), which raised the tour price to the double. 2) The tour should be from 13.00 - 18.00, but it was more than 19.00 when we returned, which gave us concerns, as we had to get back to our cruise ship, before it left. 3) All info and instructions, safety briefings, were told only in Spanish, as the tour people did not speak English. We were left with no idea of what was going on, and felt quite unsecure.
Very good service and beautiful snorkeling so much fun! Camera man was amazing as well. Would go again!
The picture of the boat depicted is not even close to what was provided.There was no water slide nor was there a canopy. There was no mention of having to take a half hour cab to a beach bar (other sites stated there was, that is why I chose this tour)at which point we had to wait 20 min.for the taxi. At the beach bar we had to wait another half hour to get on the boat. The trip was supposed to start at 1:30 we didn’t get going until 2:30. When we arrived back at the beach bar we were not told the beach bar was closed and there were no washroom facilities. Everyone was expecting to use the bathroom and get out of our wet clothing at a minimum. Then we had to endure another half hour cab ride back to town. Very poor communication.
I would not recommend. The pictures of the boat shown was not the boat we had. It had no slide and the top seating area was not covered. The bathroom was out of commission after the first 30 minutes. We booked the 1:00pm and were told to meet at 12:30pm. We then had to get put into several different taxes and drive for 30 minutes. We were taken to a beach club where we had to spend 30 mins there. We weren’t on the boat leaving until 2:30pm. We didn’t get back to the beach club until 6:30pm and it was closed and we couldn’t use their bathrooms. We got back to the starting point at 7:30pm. The snorkeling was cool but it was mostly travel time. Only got to snorkel for about 30ish minutes of the 7 hours we were gone.
