Reception at the entrance of Akumal and together with the guide we go to the parking lot
Description
The sighting of the sea turtle is a unique activity in the world and with the mandatory equipment by the authorities and with my experience I guarantee you an extraordinary visit of a natural and sustainable activity.
Tour Options
swimming with turtles1
What's included
Included
bathrooms and showers
Entrance to the beach
All Fees and Taxes
Use of Snorkelling equipment
snorkeling activity insurance
lockers
Not included
Photography
Traveller Ratings
4.6
453 reviews
5
366
4
45
3
16
2
12
1
14
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Swim with sea turtles take?
Swim with sea turtles lasts about 1h 15min.
How much does Swim with sea turtles cost?
Prices start at $45 per person for this Playa del Carmen experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Swim with sea turtles for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Reception at the entrance of Akumal and together with the guide we go to the parking lot. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Swim with sea turtles offered in?
The experience is available in EN, IT, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(453)
G
georginahH235UF
August 11, 2026
Amazing experience
We had a lovely guide called Mariam. She outlined the rules and safety info before we headed out to the water. It was quite busy 10am when we went and lots of people were around the turtles. She took us out to the coral area to see the fish which was great. The coral was lovely and we saw a variety of fish. We then went back to the area where turtles were eating seagrass. We saw about 5 turtles and 2 of them came up for air right next to us. It was amazing.
Operator response
"Thank you so much for your comment! For us, it's essential to work with local guides who love their environment and convey that love with professionalism, respect, and warmth. Knowing that you experienced such dignified and friendly treatment confirms that we're on the right track. This will always be your home!"
M
Marsha_H
July 13, 2026
You do not go on a boat...
You do not go on a boat you swim out. I accidentally booked for two told the instructor when I got there he instructed me to submit a request through the app but denied it. They lied and said they paid for the equipment previously, but we're paying/getting the equipment in front of us. He even told the equipment guy I wasn't swimming because I dont know how to. He try to come out and convince me and I told him no I was scared. He kept asking if I was married
Operator response
Sentimos que haya tenido miedo de entrar , le mencioné que las políticas de cancelación para regresar el dinero son 24 horas antes o cuando cancelamos por mal clima , la bahia de akumal estaba super y su hijo vio las tortugas , peces y hasta mantarayas .
R
Robert_B
May 6, 2026
It was a great...
It was a great experience, had to get use to snorkeling but it didn’t take long. Overall a great experience
2
26kylew
April 23, 2026
Fun relaxing easy
Very well organized. They got us transportation from our hotel which was on time. Our tour guide met us at the parking lot and brought us thru to the lockers. Got us all setup and in the water. He was easily able to find us turtles and a sting ray. Everything was so calm and organized.
Operator response
"What a great review! We warmly appreciate your words to our local guides. We strive daily to offer a professional, yet above all human service with the warmth you deserve. It was a real pleasure to accompany you and we hope to see you again soon!"
E
Eric C
April 7, 2026
Do not take a tour with them
Worst experience in any tour I did in my life. The contact point was made as expected. The person from the agency brought us to a stand where all the guides dispatch the customers. It took at least 20 minutes before they paired us with another person. Then the guide show up. Didn’t speak much (only speaks Spanish, but we can manage so no big deal here) and we had no idea what to expect. Then he ask us to put our personal effect in a bin, no explanation except we needed to put everything you don’t need to swim. Provide us with tuba and mask but no palms. Where it gets weird, the guide has palms so in the water he was always way ahead of us and we almost lost him few times. No explanation on nothing, just swam to a location and waited so we assumed this is a spot to explore. After less than an hour, he brought us back to shore, once again way ahead of us and that’s it. We had to go find ourself the crate/bin with our personal objects, found the shower by ourself and left by ourself. As I said, worst experience ! All that for $45 usd per person. Total rip off ! Positive note : we saw many turtles. We also saw a stingray because a guide with another group said there was one . Our guide was already 5-10 meters ahead of us !
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
"We are very sorry that your experience was not adequate. We take comments about our staff very seriously and, after an internal review of what happened, we have decided to dispense with the services of this guide immediately. This behaviour does not reflect our values and we are taking steps to ensure that it does not happen again. We hope to have the opportunity to regain their confidence in the future."
G
Go63520216678
February 25, 2026
Amazing harmonious experience
We had a guided tour of the turtle grazing area and reef further out. We are a family of 5 (11, 14, 44, 47 and 74 years old). Santiago, our guide, was kind, calm, professional and very environmentally aware, sharing his knowledge and obvious appreciation of nature with us. He gently guided us to rays and turtles, as well as the reef, and kept an eye on whether our youngest or oldest was getting tired. We had an incredible harmonious experience, which was exactly what we were looking for. We saw many turtles, several rays, and beautiful fish including parrot fish and schools of colorful fish. Would warmly recommend Santiago and Akumal Ecological guides!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
"Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, Emma! We are absolutely delighted to know that you enjoyed your family tour so much and that Santiago was an excellent guide. His kindness and knowledge are highly valued by our team. We hope to see you all again very soon for another marine adventure!"
J
Jennifer_I
February 22, 2026
Excellent snorkeling to see turtles.
Our guide Russell was fantastic. We saw several turtles and fish and a ray. It was a small group and we elk organized.
A
Ali_D
February 15, 2026
Jesus was great! This was...
Jesus was great! This was so easy and such a treat to see the turtles in their natural habitat! And we saw pelicans too.
K
Kris_W
January 23, 2026
So worth it! Ask for Santiago.
William from Akumal ecological guides was in touch with us the morning of and the people at the check-in had my name on hand. Our guide was Santiago and he was fabulous. He guided us through every step of the way patiently and calmly. He even helped us get some prescription googles for family members who needed them.
We saw 1/6 dozen turtles, 2 sting rays, beautiful fish and a baracuda!
The coral is dead due to a hurricane our guide told us. Despite this, it was totally incredible!
A
Alex_V
January 16, 2026
Amazing!
Saw a lot of turtles, fish and reefs. Also, our tour guide Francisco was amazing! Definitely recommend to give them a try!
Compare similar tours in Playa del Carmen
Lowest price: Cancun Best ATV Tour, Ziplines and Cenote Swim with Lunch — $35
Best rated: Jungle Buggy Tour from Playa del Carmen Including Cenote Swim — 4.9 (1,342 reviews)