Dulce & Carlos were truly amazing, they were very sweet and very accommodating to us and our children. Your professional guide will lead you to all of Tulums most popular attractions, including the main temple El Castillo and the fascinating artwork in the Temple of the Frescoes. Rental cars in Mexico are very inexpensive and high quality (we had a brand new Volkswagen Jetta). akumal This is where the sea turtles feed and where you should head for the best chance of finding them. Under 3 years old is considered an infant and they are free, however, they will not be assigned a seat on the bus and must travel on your lap. We loved having the van to ourselves and getting to take as much time as we needed everywhere. After a couple of hours of snorkeling, we parked ourselves in the Lol-Ha restaurant to enjoy the shade, the view of the ocean, and some amazing lunch delights: chilaquiles and a cochinita pibil torta. Prices for guides varies just like the price of trinkets in Mexico we were told anywhere from 300 -500 pesos to swim in the turtle area. tulum Texas By all means, go and enjoy it either independently or with a guide. This is the new mantra. She took many family pictures of us and was just overall a pleasure! We always put ourselves in your shoes and try to be the fairest in our cancellation policies. The situation changes frequently, so check back for updates. Orient yourself so youre looking at the large white gate welcoming you to the village. In addition to this we offer you the following, pay everything at the time of pickup. 12.- Can we bring food into the archeological zone? Its in easy reach of Akumal and within minutes of Playa del Carmen at the Xcaret and Xlpor parks. And there was a lot of conflicting information about what was actually happening in Akumal Bay. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Enter name and address of the place. Thirdly, just use common sense. Children under 3 years old are considered infants and are free. 15.- What are your cancellation and refund policies? You can get close to the turtles (while still respecting their space!). They provided us with lots of water and other drinks to keep us hydrated. 9.- Are drinks included in the Tulum Turtles tour? We were here 10 years ago and things have changed dramatically. Once your group is finished enjoying the wonders of Tulum, well visit Akumal, a protected bay nearby where you can go for a swim with turtles! akumal While you are visiting or snorkeling you can leave the things you dont need in the van. Tulum and Akumal. We highly recommend Absolute Adventure Mexico. Basically, youre on the local bus. This article is very informative and accurate except now the entrance fee is $6.00 per person. Destinations tulum swim Youll also have plenty of time to soak in the amazing views of the nearby Caribbean Sea, and of course take as many photos as you like. Yes, we are flexible with our payment methods, however all we ask is that you show our online advisors that you are really going to show up at the time of the excursion ( restrictions apply) but if we have this option. In retrospect, we should have gotten there earlier. 2.- If I purchase online how do I get my tickets? See our in-depth hotel review (Check prices and book | Read reviews). As they get used to you, you can appreciate their strong front fins that propel them through the water. Corporate businesses have taken over establishments in the bay. The tour guide was energetic and very informative. They traded all kinds of items here, from honey and textiles to precious stones and coffee beans. Head up the footbridge and cross over to the other side of the road. However, in the archaeological zones the decision depends on the custodians of the zone. cenote Were Lance and Laura, two busy professionals who love photography and travel the world as much as our real world vacation schedules allow. Is there some kind of trick? We can leave later if you want to. HOWEVER, independent snorkelers are limited to the first 150 feet of the shore. Akumal is located 23 miles (38 km) south of the hotel zones in Playa del Carmen and 65 miles (104 km) south of Cancun. It was to be or last adventure before leaving PDC the next day. cenote cenotes Check prices or Book selecting date, number of people and hotel. tulum turtles ruins cenotes swim cave expedia HOWEVER, getting actual access to the beach may incur fees. This should be sacred for all those who love wildlife. We work all day, but office hours are from 07:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday to Friday and Saturday-Sunday from 07:00 am to 09:00 pm. 3.- How can you guarantee that you will pick me up? All entrance fees Yes, especially during the holidays we tend to be full on all our tours. Under Mexcian law, use of Akumal public beach is free. akumal If you would prefer to take a tour to Tulum, check out this full-day tour that includes Tulum, Cob, and a cenote visit or this half-day express tour of Tulum. akumal beach turtles swim desde guardado Learn how your comment data is processed. The easiest way to find turtles is to look for the small groups of other snorkelers. Overall I recommend this company, very professional and Dulce and Carlos were amazing! Fins arent necessary, you have the potential to injure the turtles, and they kick up the silt that ruins visibility. Where you find a group, youll find turtles. This is an exclusive private tour to better meet your expectations. [Note: Is a guide necessary? Work With Us It certainly got crowded with tours coming at certain times but if you can try and go in the AM with a plan, you'll be good! Send an email for more information. Contact us for more information, Yes, we will apply the exchange rate for the day. Follow the main road as it goes slightly to the left. Walk up the steps of the dive shop on the left side (see photo below) and head out to the beach. It is not a very long excursion, a snack is included to ward off hunger and you can eat in the comfort of your hotel. Unfortunately, this is greenwashing. Head through the white gate. We recommend avoiding these offers. Youll know youre in the right place because youll soon be accosted with offers for guided tours and life jackets. tulum When the tour groups start arriving in the mid-morning (often with inexperienced snorkelers), the bottom can get stirred up very, very quickly. Itinerary is based on a departure from Playa del Carmen. The price per person over 7 years old is $75 USD or $1,500 Mexican pesos. We have tried to stay in the "free swim" areas outside the 150 ft line and have been chased away. Of our entire trip in Mexico, snorkeling in Akumal with the sea turtles was the highlight of the trip. Do not bring any valuables with you! (So much for protecting the turtles.) 8.- Can I show my confirmation number using my cell phone or tablet? We also have a bad weather policy, if it is raining very hard and you consider that it will be like this all day, you can cancel with a 100% refund. Home North America Mexico How to Snorkel with Sea Turtles in Akumal, Mexico. ), youll ultimately save money with a rental car versus booking tours, and youll save time over the colectivos. To find the turtles, look for where the ocean appears darker to find the sea grass on the bottom of the ocean floor. They also have guides for the reef area which is a separate guide/cost from swimming near the turtles. tulum cenote akumal snorkeling If you have questions please contact us, in any of our communication channels, Transparency and flexibility are the governing bodies of our company, with us there are no surprises. This includes the CEA Center building, which charges $5 USD for the use of restrooms, lockers, and other facilities. The answer is complicated, but answered below.]. You wont go very far before people will start aggressively waving you down offering tours, parking, and information.. HOWEVER, the guides are frequently willing to look the other way if it gets them a big tip. There is a cooler with water and soft drinks on board the bus, however in the Akumal beach club you are not allowed to bring in drinks. Baby food can be brought into the restaurant. If you wish to pay using another type of currency please contact us to see if we accept that currency, Yes, without problem as this is the most common form of payment. Both sites should be visited first thing in the morning to have the best experience. Better still, this private tour is ideal for families and those who are new to snorkeling! Check prices for the best deals on rental cars in the area. Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). PRIVATE TOUR: Early access private tour! Turn right for Playa del Carmen or Cancun. Its only about a half-mile to parking. 4.- I do not have a credit card, how do I reserve it? Picking a Park on the Riviera Maya Xcaret or Xel-Ha? 2.- What is considered adult vs child for pricing? Thank you so much for this amazing experience and fun day with the two of you. Being prepared for the Tulum Turtles Tours is the main element for you to fully enjoy these activities. Your email address will not be published. 7.- The price seems very low. Other companies are super restrictive with their customer service policies, come with us, here we will treat you in a professional way. It was still early so we avoided crowds and heat. Unfortunately NO, there are almost no garbage cans and a lot of garbage would be generated within the archaeological zone, food is not allowed in Tulum or Coba. 10:30am 11:30pm: Swim with turtles You are looking for the Akumal Dive Shop. turtles snorkel akumal The truly unfortunate reality is that a national treasure was sacrificed in the name of profit. Yes, contact us to find a package tailored to your needs, and see what promotions are in force. At the dive shop and at several other places on the beach, youll see a sign with rules and a map of the beach. Your email address will not be published. One of the best adventures every! If you have not hired a guide elsewhere or not come on a guided tour, this is where you can hire a licensed guide. Some visitors have also reported problems with the dive shop, so you might consider other options. While planning our trip to Mexico, wed heard about swimming with turtles in Akumal and that it could be done in the wild for FREE! Pick up time is recommended time to avoid the crowds. The licensed guides are there to show you the turtles, but also to protect the turtles from you doing something stupid. The Akumal scammers took this as an opportunity to push their agenda, threaten people, and make money. Theres something about putting your mouth on a snorkel that thousands of others have used that we dont love. We do not recommend parking here. WOW, there is no form of payment that cannot be made with us. We decided to do this private tour to Tulum and Akumal bay. Consult, Pick up and drop off at your hotel with private air-conditioned transportation, Experienced certified private guide all day long, Akumal bay cooperative fee and CONAP fee (mandatory), High quality snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, life jackets), Cool drinks in the van (waters, soda, beer), Lunch in a restaurant with one main course a la carte and one drink (water, soda or beer) per person. If going by rental car, head south and follow the signs for Akumal. Oh and the lunch we had in Akumal (by the turles) was delicious!! Respond accordingly. The Akumal turtles did not disappoint and it was the highlight of our trip to Mexico. Email: contact@absolute-adventure-mexico.com. A little bit, you don't have to be an expert swimmer as long as you know how to float and are calm in the water is more than enough. akumal Only Tulum Mayan ruins. 2.- Can you guarantee that we will see turtles? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It couldnt have been better. 7.- Can I transfer my ticket to another person? Our tour guide had a lot of interesting facts to share with us. Juan was knowledgable and fun. If youre going into the Akumal snorkel zone with a licensed guide, they will be leading you. We have a reputation to uphold and nowadays with social media it is very easy to get a bad reputation. If you did not bring your own snorkel gear and you did not hire a guide who outfitted you, you can rent it at the dive shop, which will also ensure easy access to the beach. He was in a good mood for the whole morning and we felt very comfortable travelling along with him and his driver Ervin, who was the first driver we had we felt save with. And who would want to? I've been doing quite a bit of reading and have been confused about how to do this. tours tulum edventure tripadvisor Snorkeling with turtles in Akumal is easy. We saw about 6 or so which was totally rad. 07:00am: Private transportation from your hotel to Tulum To the right is the Lol-Ha restaurant. Safe, professional and most of all FUN!!! We did the Tulum and Turtles tour. The guide will carry a buoy and can help tow you to the area where the turtles are,it varies, but they are usually found at less than 100 meters from the shore, you will also have a life jacket, All snorkeling equipment, life vests, mask, fins, in addition to the beach club facilities and the guided tour of the reef by an expert guide to look for turtles. The biggest town in the region is Cancun and there are a ton of places to stay in the Cancun hotel zone. Over the next few years, various guidelines were put in place ostensibly to help protect the turtles, but they have caused a lot of confusion. tulum And as we recently discovered, EVERYONE claims to be a licensed guide. Yes, they live in Akumal and are there all year round. There have always been several colectivo terminals in Playa del Carmen. Many of the Akumal turtles are endangered, and the area they swim in is their feeding area. The self-appointed Akumal Bay Vigilance Committee was nothing short of a vigilante committee that spent several years terrorizing tourists trying to swim in the ocean. Do not take this for granted. akumal beach turtles swim desde guardado High quality snorkeling gear It is worth your time to study the map for a few minutes before you head out. Also we received a lot of photos taken by our guide during our tour which are amazing. Note: This article is updated and current as of January 2022. And thats what really saddens us about what is happening here. We take great care of our image and we will never sell you something that we are not sure we can fulfill. tulum Assuming you hire a guide, they give you speech about snorkeling with the turtles, outfit you with life jackets, and lead you the beach. tulum The collectivos now leave from the square on 2nd/45th. tulum Use of facemasks are mandatory in public areas, Guide are required to use facemasks during the excursion, Temperatures will be taken before entrance into Tulum, All personnel will have their temperature taken before when they arrive to work, Over the age of 7 years old will be charged adult prices of $75 USD or $1,500 pesos mxn per person, Ages 3-7 will be charges child prices of $70 USD or $1,400 pesos mxn per person, Under the age of 3 is considered an infant and will be free of charge, please note that they will not be assigned a seat on the transportation and must travel on your lap, Over the age of 7 years old will be charged adult prices of $85 USD or $1,700 pesos mxn per person, Ages 3-7 will be charges child prices of $80 USD or $1,600 pesos mxn per person, The meeting place is the the lobby of your hotel (hotels located in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Riviera Maya), The time that we will pass for you depends on the location of your hotel, If we know the address and are allowed to pass we will pick you up otherwise we will designate a nearby pickup area, Round-trip transportation to hotels located in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Riviera Maya, Comfortable vehicles with air conditioning, Early departures to take advantage of the entire day, Access to the archeological zone of Tulum, Guided visit with a guide certified by the archeological zone of Tulum, Free time at Tulum (you can swim at the beach), Snorkeling equipment (masks, life vests, fins), Snorkeling guide who are experts at finding the turtles, Use of umbrellas and beach chairs at the beach, Train from the parking lot to the entrance of Tulum, In the ruins if you bring in a video camera there is an extra charge, In the restaurant on the beach in Akumal neither food nor drinks are included we have a snack and drinks included on the van, If it is not specified on the included list, it is not included, Light comfortable clothing we will be walking in temperatures that can reach the high 80s, Comfortable shoes (tennis shoes, or sandals), A backpack or bag for bottled water (inside the archeological zone there might not be any available, or it could be expensive), Swimming suit (you can swim at the beach in Tulum and Akumal) if you want you can wear underneath your clothing, If you are apprehensive you can pay the total cost of the tour the day of, Entrance into the archeological zone of Tulum, Guided visit with a certified guide in Tulum, Archeological zone of Tulum, guided visit, free time in the zone, Visit the beach of Akumal where you will swim with the turtles, For the complicated terrain in the ruins it is not advisable for people in wheelchairs, Need to have the ability to walk in rough terrain including hills and gravel, There is a a 10 minute walk from the parking lot to the entrance of Tulum, Under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult, Tripods, and special video equipment are prohibited in the ruins, It is strictly prohibited to climb the ruins in Tulum, If you are going to swim out far from shore you should know how to swim otherwise you should stay where you can stand, No charge for cancellations with at least a 12 hour notice, If there are very heavy rains you have the option to cancel without any type of penalty, Health problems apply to the individual and not the entire group. pyramids turtles climbing turtles akumal We set out from Playa del Carmen a little later than we had expected, arriving around 10:45am. Finaly we went to swim with turtles. 11.- I can't print my coupon, what can I do? Tennessee If you plan to snorkel for a long time and feel that you may need a break, use the buoyancy of your life jacket to help you stay afloat. The small bay is protected by a reef. There are some other points of entry for the beach. Also, do not stand in the sea grass, as that destroys the very reason these gorgeous animals visit Akumal. Each experience is mesmerizing. Of course, if you are approached by actual police officers in uniform, comply with their directions. If you pay attention to the turtles actions, youll have no doubt about its behavior when its feeling threatened or harassed. Ethical travelers and those searching for sustainable tourism will quickly see through this. If you want to speak to the central offices in Playa del Carmen dial (+52 1) 987 112 9491. 10.- Can I pay with someone else's credit card? ), Comfortable shoes and light clothes to visit the ruins, Flip flops or water shoes for swimming activities. I'm not familiar with the one you mention, but there are several terminals. After a morning packed with exploring ruins on foot and swimming with turtles, youll undoubtedly be a bit hungry. As they come up for air, you can look them in the eye and see the strength and grace they project. The colectivos depart Playa del Carmen from Calle 2 Norte at Avenue 15. We are in Akumal today January 28, 2022. edventure It is best to stay at least 10 feet away, and do not hover immediately above a turtle while it is feeding. CCPA Compliance Information, Quick Links Yes, as long as the owner of the card is aware of the transaction. We have no problems in this regard, only that, restrictions apply. Private guided tour of Tulum ruins, followed by a swim with turtles at the Akumal bay and a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. This all-inclusive package, which combines a guided tour of Tulum with the chance to go snorkeling with sea turtles, will check both of those activities off your list. To leave by rental car, reclaim your vehicle and head back out to the highway. akumal 77710 Playa del Carmen. Ruins: In case you bring a go pro camera, a video camera or a phone with a selfie stick, there is a 50 pesos (less than 3USD) per device charged at the entrance of each archeological site, to be paid in pesos (INAH tax) Drones and Tripods for video/cameras are forbidden. If you dial from the United States we have US phone numbers. You can bring personal belongings you require during the tour (phone, camera, extra set of clothes). USA We invite you to check our competition and you will realize that we are your best option, You can pay in any currency at the day of the excursion without any problem, Children who are taller than 5ft 4 inches, but under 7 years old will require an ID that proves their age in order to apply the child prices, We are always asking our guests ways to improve and make our activities more comfortable and something they like a lot is the comfort of the meeting place, We know and understand that comfort is one of the main reasons for booking with us, we will almost never make you go to another place to board our transportation. Thats why our final stop is a local restaurant, where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch with your friends and family. Hello: My name is Paul, feel confident to send me an email, WhatsApp or call anytime of the day I am here to help you! We enjoyed snorkeling, drinks, and relaxing on the beach! 01:30pm 02:00pm: Transportation to your hotel. Europe Well provide all of the equipment you need, and a professional certified guide will accompany you to ensure that everyone has a fun, safe time while snorkeling with these majestic creatures. There is no other company that offers you all these flexible options. Were certified scuba divers, and the very first thing you learn in diving is that you are a guest in the ocean. Skip the fins. Theres something refreshing about food and drink after spending a few hours in the salt water. tulum turtles cenote ruins snorkeling tour mexico Just keep walking. 5.- I am very apprehensive I have had bad experiences in the past, can I pay for the tour the day of? Yes, prices are the same for everyone. To avoid misunderstandings, we try to be as upfront as possible about what is included and what's NOT included on the excursion, The simple answer is NO, THERE IS NO TRICK, if you have any questions please contact us. Thank you for your clarity in describing access to the turtles. First of all, keep your distance. The problem with visiting Akumal and Tulum on the same day is one of timing. Youll see a car park on the left. We had to pay ~$6 to get a wristband to enter the beach. Beyond that, it is required to go with a licensed guide. We went first to Tulum. We recommend leaving your gear/towels in the rental car. Just past the parking lot on your right side, youll find the Akumal Dive Shop. 8.- How do I call from outside of Mexico? Under Mexican law (the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone), the beach is free to use, however, the businesses have organized to privatize (or close) nearly all public access points to the beach. Mexico 6.- What is included in the Tulum Turtles tour? In the blue-green haze, a black silhouette emerges in the distance. tulum turtles ruins snorkeling And tourists are left stuck between the competing factions of licensed guides. Cross over the highway make a left for Tulum. However, staying closer to Akumal may make for a more enjoyable, convenient experience if snorkeling with the sea turtles is at the top of your Mexico to do list. 3.- We are a big family, do you have group prices? And there were always so many turtles in the water and people for the most part were very respectful and watching them and now there is so many more people and I agree its a moneymaking operation. 4.- How many minutes will you wait for me when picking me up? :) This post certainly helped add this to our list of activities! Tulum is very exposed. When it comes to making the most of your trip to the Riviera Maya, there are two things you should definitely do: visit a Mayan archaeological site and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the Caribbean Sea while snorkeling. If you have questions send us an email we are here to serve you. It was a private tour and well worth it! 5 minutes, remember this is a shared tour and there are others that we have to pickup, We reserve the right to change the order of our tour due to forces out of our control, based on our previous experiences, of course always trying to comply with the specifications and previously pre-established stops, Certain limitations must be taken into consideration, due to the configuration of the terrain in the archaeological zone and the places we visit. akumal If you want to go the private tour route, youll save some cash by pre-booking your half-day snorkeling trip. One of the most common questions we get are for hotel recommendations. Thankfully, new guidelines were put in place to clarify years of confusing rules and numerous problems. Dulce was very knowledgeable and answered all our and ours kids very inquisitive questions. Tell the driver where you are going (Akumal, por favor). Tulum was beautiful and we were there before it was too busy. We will be in hot places and it is always better to come prepared so that you feel comfortable and can enjoy the day with your loved ones.