15 Cenote & Manatee Snorkeling Trips Worth Flying For

1.Viator Exclusive: Tulum Ruins, Reef Snorkeling, Cenote and Caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,242 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $129Our pick

Review of the Tulum ruins, reef snorkeling, cenote, and caves tour from Cancun, with practical tips on timing, fees, transport, and value.

“The entire experience was great: Tulum, snorkeling and cenote. The guide Ulrick was very informative and safe. The ride to and from was not too long and comfortable. Compared to other tours we took, this was a joy. We highly recommend it.”

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2.The ‘OG’ Manatee Snorkel Tour with In-Water Guide/Photographer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,539 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $76Best value

Swim with wild manatees in Crystal River on a small-group tour with gear, guides, boat ride, photos, drinks, and flexible cancellation.

“AMAZING!! Eddie and JJ were our guides and did a fantastic job. Within minutes, with the help of JJ’s drone, they found 2 manatees and we jumped in the water. Eddie was super helpful navigating everyone to see the manatees. There ended up being 3 manatees- a mom, calf and young male all in the same area. This was truly an unforgettable experience and can’t wait to do it again! Highly recommend!”

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3.Half-Day Sea Turtle and Cenote Snorkeling Tour from Cancun & Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,039 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Snorkel with sea turtles at Akumal and swim through a Yucatan cenote on this family-friendly half-day tour from Cancun.

“Tour was excellent! We saw fish, a few sea turtles, a stingray, and some squid while snorkeling at Akumal. The cenote was absolutely amazing and so cool to see! We had 12 people in our group which felt a little snug at times in the cenote but I didn’t mind because we still got to see everything. They also provided us with 2 empanadas and a snack (banana and granola bar) which was enough to keep me full during the whole trip (I did eat breakfast before). The drive was long from Cancun but also didn’t bother me because it was definitely worth it! Cenote was a must see and…”

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4.Tulum Guided Tour, Magical Cenote, Lagoon Snorkeling and Beachside Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,888 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $169

Review of a Tulum tour with cenote swimming, Yal Ku Lagoon snorkeling, Mayan ruins, beach lunch, transport, costs, and practical tips.

“Cenotes were absolutely the best part of the experience. Tulum was breathtaking, but I have seen other similar ruins. The snorkeling was good, but unfortunately, there were so many other inexperienced snorkelers that it felt like driving in rush-hour traffic. I got run over more than once by someone with fins and elbows.. no consideration for anyone near them just to see a fish. The best part of the tour were the guide and the driver, Gato and Adrian. Some of the most professional excursion guides I have ever seen with no thought of anything, but the safety and comfort and enjoyment of their charges. I give them an 11…”

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5.5-in-1 Cancun Snorkeling: Turtles, Reef, Musa, Shipwreck, Cenote

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,678 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $79

Review of Cancun’s 5-in-1 snorkeling tour, with turtles, reef, MUSA statues, shipwreck, cenote, transport, costs, and practical tips.

“This was my favorite thing I did in Mexico and I would absolutely do it again. It was my first time snorkeling but they made it very easy and I felt very safe. We saw turtles and stingrays and so many fish and the whole thing was incredible.”

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6.Guided Small Group Manatee Snorkeling Tour with In-Water Photographer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,336 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79

Review of Crystal River’s small-group manatee snorkeling tour, with guides, wetsuits, photos, hot drinks, practical tips, and honest value advice.

“This specialized tour was great! The small group tour size allowed us flexibility to adjust the experience to our needs. Ron and Celeste were kind, welcoming, and made sure we felt comfortable and understood the experience. It was a colder day and they had wetsuits, noodles, jackets to wear on the boat, hot chocolate and coffee! They even took pictures of us and answered our many questions about manatees and the local ecosystem. Would definitely recommend this tour!”

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7.Hidden Cenote Swim: Snorkeling, Sea Turtles and Beachside Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,222 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $169

Review of Playa del Carmen’s cenote and Akumal turtle tour, with practical advice on swimming, transport, lunch, costs, and what to expect.

“Not good,tried to get refund didn’t get one really unhappy and upset as I wasted £80 per person so over £100”

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8.Exclusive Small Group VIP Heated Manatee Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,023 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $108

Review of Crystal River’s VIP manatee snorkel tour, with heated boat, small groups, wildlife tips, price, timing, and practical advice.

“Michael and Captain Tanner are a Delight. Funny, Knowledgeable and great People to be around. As middle aged People it was an easy and fantastic experience. Thank you Guys. PS. The Check in was very easy and great People at the Front desk.”

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9.Magical Cenote and Paradise Lagoon Snorkeling Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 808 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Swim through a Mayan cenote and snorkel Yal-Ku Lagoon on a small-group Tulum tour with transport, gear, snacks, and expert guides.

“The cenote tour was beautiful and informative. The school of sardines in the lagoon was incredible! I’ve never seen anything like that.”

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10.Manatee Snorkel Tour w/ In-Water Photographer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 633 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Swim beside wild manatees at Three Sisters Springs on a small-group Crystal River tour with a captain, guide, and photographer.

“We had a wonderful morning to remember! We saw so many manatees and had a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them up close. Captain Brian and Ed made a wonderful team.”

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11.Private ‘OG’ Manatee Snorkel Tour with Guide for up to 10 people

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 598 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Swim with Crystal River manatees on a private three-hour tour with gear, guides, photos, and room for up to 10 people.

“The captain and mate (Micheal and Dani) were great we loved them, I would have rated this 5 stars if maybe we were warned ahead of time that we were going to be in very murky water and not really see much of the manatees. It was a fun day but we only really saw one maybe two and there were a lot of other tours in the same area and we only could spend a limited time with the one we saw. I have done the tour before and it was in the winter in the springs. That is the way to go, don't go anytime past February or…”

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12.Manatee Snorkel Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 581 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Swim with manatees at Three Sisters Springs on a small Crystal River tour with gear, guides, boat ride, and photos available.

“Excellent tour guide providing interesting details added to the trip (Zachary)! Or Captain Jason was excellent. You can tell they love these animals and it shows. Very well run organization, good price, super cute shop and very helpful overall.”

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13.Small Group Manatee Snorkel Tour with In-Water Guide and Photographer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 574 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $89

Swim with wild manatees in Crystal River on a six-person tour with a guide, photographer, wetsuit, heated boat, and conservation tips.

“Fun great experience! Glad we did this! Was a great addition to our trip! We got to be up close to the manatees.”

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14.Tulum, Snorkeling with Sea Turtles, Cenote and Beachside Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 446 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $189

Review of Tulum’s ruins, cenote, Akumal turtles, and beach lunch, with honest advice on timing, crowds, transport, price, and what to pack.

“Soooooooooo crowded. So sad to me how crowded Cancun has become in the last 35 years. Completely different than the place I remember!”

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15.Private Tulum Ruins, Reef Snorkel & Cenote Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 304 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $332

Explore Tulum ruins, Caribbean reef snorkeling, cenotes, and Mayan tacos on a private Cancun day tour with hotel pickup.

“We did the private tour and Alma was an amazing tour guide! Very knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to work with. We had plenty of time at each location, and we never felt rushed—we could go at our own pace. We had a group of 10, with 2 adults, and 8 kids ranging in age from 7-18. Everyone had a great time and this was their favorite activity of our trip—and it’s usually impossible for us to find something that EVERYONE in our group likes. I would a million percent recommend this to anyone.”

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