To preserve the island of Contoy we are enforcing the rules of the National Park which are: Don’t touch any wildlife. No animals, no sea creatures. As a wildlife sanctuary, humans are only visitors. No sunscreen or bug spray is permitted. This includes reef-safe or environmentally friendly brands. Zero chemicals are permitted in the National Park area, either on the beaches or in the water. Sunscreen is not permitted on day trips to Isla Contoy. Don’t hang anything from trees or bushes. This includes wet clothes. Living things need those plants for food or for their homes. Hanging things from them could damage the plants. No smoking anywhere in the National Park. Including on the boats while they are docked. Most guides will not permit smoking on board at all. Avoid the turtle nests. These are clearly marked with posts and caution tape. You cannot miss them. Stay far away if you see any. Sea turtles are endangered, and Mexico takes seriously its role in increasing sea turtle populations.

Isla Contoy is a Natural Protected Area decreed National Park for its exceptional natural conditions; in addition to being one of the few Caribbean islands that keeps its ecosystems intact.

The water around Contoy is very rich in nutrients that serve as food to the plancton that makes up the diet of more than 234 species of fish that have been identified in the area, including the majestic Whale Sharks and Manta Rays that feed off its shores.

Due to the lack of fresh water on Isla Contoy, no mammals inhabit the island. The only exception is some types of bats that occasionally roost in the area of the field station and the southern tip of the island. 

Other fauna to be found: Four species of turtle find a safe haven for nesting on the beaches of the island, namely the loggerhead turtle, Green turtle, Hawksbill turtle, and the leatherback turtle. The reserve is also a sanctuary to approximately 152 tropical marine birds, like the frigate bird, brown pelican, and the double-crested cormorant.

Because the island is preserved from mass tourism, it is one of the more exclusive tour experiences in Riviera Maya offering the unique opportunity to experience an untouched Mexican Caribbean paradise. Basically if you want to see one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico, then visiting Isla Contoy is right for you!

Great diversity of flora and fauna.

Contoy Island is home to 98 identified species of plants, 234 species of birds, 14 species of reptiles on both land and water (one of them endemic to the Island, known as Star Gecko – Aristelliger georgeensis), 17 species of hard coral, 14 species of soft coral, and 173 species of birds.

Just off the coast of Isla Contoy is the coral reef Ixlaché, part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world and where many sea turtles stay. Of the 7 species of Sea Turtles in the World, 3 of them have chosen the white sandy beaches of Contoy to nest and lay their eggs. These species are the Carey Turtle, the White Turtle, and the Caguama Turtle. Isla Contoy National Park is a sustainable protected area for the conservation of sea turtles and works as a reserve, refuge, reproduction, nesting, and nesting area for sea turtles. On our tours we often see turtles during the boat ride. Our team is specialized in finding them!

South of Contoy Island is "Ixlaché", which is the name of the beginning of the Mesoamerican Reef Barrier, the second largest on the Planet, with almost 1000 km in length along the Caribbean coasts. During our tour Isla Contoy & Isla Mujeres we include a half hour snorkel stop, weather permitting.  

Here are some suggestions to make the most of your free time on the “Island of Women” during our tour: Visit the beach: Relax on one of the best beaches in the world; Year after year, Playa Norte continues to appear on the Travelers Choice Awards list of the 10 Best Beaches in the World. Walk the waterfront promenade Take a walk along the waterfront: Isla Mujeres has a beautiful waterfront promenade that offers stunning views of the ocean and the mainland. You can take a leisurely walk along the promenade, stopping to take photos or to enjoy a cold drink at one of the many outdoor cafes. Go Shopping: Isla Mujeres has a variety of interesting shops and markets where you can find unique souvenirs, handmade crafts, and other local products. The island has a laid-back, bohemian atmosphere, and many of the shops and markets reflect this vibe, offering a range of handmade and artisanal items that are not commonly found in more mainstream tourist areas. In addition to souvenirs, you can also find clothing, jewelry, and other items made by local artists and craftsmen. Shopping in Isla Mujeres is a fun and enjoyable experience and is a great way to support the local economy and take home a piece of the island's unique culture. Enjoy a delicious homemade Ice cream or coffee. If you are looking for handmade ice cream in Isla Mujeres, there are several specialized shops to choose from. You can find many Ice cream shops or parlors on the island. These shops offer a range of flavors using traditional, handmade techniques, including traditional favorites and more exotic options.No matter where you go, you're sure to find delicious, handmade ice cream or coffee in Isla Mujeres.

Isla Mujeres is a Spanish phrase that means "Island of Women." The island was named by the first Spanish explorers who visited the area, who found many statues of goddesses and other female figures on the island. The statues were believed to be ancient Mayan artifacts, and were thought to represent the goddess Ixchel, who was the Maya goddess of fertility, childbirth, and medicine. As a result, the island was named Isla Mujeres in honor of these statues. Today, the island is known for its rich cultural and natural history, and is a popular destination for tourists from around the world.

Yes, we will happily schedule your pickup from your Airbnb or Private Excursion. As soon as you arrive at your destination let us know your exact location. For some locations, we have special nearby meeting points.

Please ask our Ocean Tours Team before booking if you want to be dropped off at another location. We will try our best to accommodate your request. We cannot take luggage like suitcases and backpacks on our coach excursion. We can accommodate you on our Private Excursion.

We take all the precautions we can to make sure your belongings are safe; our guides will recommend the places where you can leave your belongings safely. Please take in mind that we can only take small bags with personal items you need on the excursion. In our coach, we cannot take suitcases or backpacks.  If you need to move from one hotel to the other on the day of your excursion a Private Trip will be perfect for you.

Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information to our provider. We offer vegetarian and gluten-free options without any cost, but please let us know, as we need to know this at least 24 hours before the excursion starts.

All our guides speak English and Spanish. 

We also have international staff, and we can offer our excursions on specific days with other languages like German, French, Italian Dutch, Polish, and Russian. If you want another language guide, please contact our customer service.  Spanish and English language is always available.

Although we recommend our hassle-free transportation from your hotel or Airbnb you can take your car and leave the car at a meeting point. In between the activities, we will take you with our transportation and after the excursion, we bring you back to the car. Please take note that parking fees are not included. Please contact our customer service if you want to bring your own car.

In our excursions, we create small groups so that you can enjoy the freedom of movement and be able to interact closely with your surroundings, as well as so that you can receive more personalized attention from our guides. This small size ensures that your group will not encroach on your personal experience. Most of our transportations fits 12 persons but some of our excursions involve boat trips, which may have specific capacity limitations.

Although not obligatory, it's standard practice in Mexico, and for many of our visitors is a form of thanks on finishing the excursion, always when the service and attention of these professionals have been as expected or has surpassed your expectations.

But we repeat, this is NOT OBLIGATORY.

Our existing itineraries are not specifically designed for travelers with disabilities, but that doesn’t mean you will not be able to enjoy one of our small group excursions – it’s largely dependent on your specific needs and the location you wish to visit.

Some destinations are better suited for travelers with disabilities than others. Many destinations we visit lack accessible public infrastructure or facilities designed to accommodate travelers with disabilities, but we will do our best to arrange suitable alternatives where possible.  

You may also prefer to speak to our Customer Service and arrange a customized itinerary to suit your needs.

Of course! On most of our tours, professional photographer will do their best to make your day with Ocean Excursions as memorable as possible. They carry top-quality (underwater) cameras and take high-resolution photos of both participants and their surroundings. You can view the pictures after your excursion and decide if you want to purchase them. The images are sold as a package, where you receive access to all the photos taken by your guide and our "Best Ocean Tours Excursions" collection folder, all of which will be made available to you via a link . The price for the photo package depends on the group size of your booking. For 2 persons the package is $66 USD and for 6 persons the package is $106 USD. Private Tours have different pricing depending on your group size  and tour. 

You are free to take your own photos or video on tour with us, but we ask, while snorkeling, that your equipment is attached to your body in one way or another, for example with a wrist band. We do however not advise that you take your phone in a waterproof case, because it is generally not possible to operate it whilst doing the activities. At all archeological sites non-professional cameras are permitted at no cost. Video cameras GoPro tablets and selfie sticks have a charge which is paid directly at the box office upon entry. The use of professional photography equipment is strictly prohibited - including tripods. 

We do not take any responsibility of lost or damage photography gear that may happen on tour with us.

Yes. For your protection and security, we will request a copy of your identification and a copy of the credit card with which you made the payment. You can send this by email to info@oceantoursmexico.com or we will ask for it when you board our tour.

Usually, if confirmation does not arrive, first: Look first in your UNWANTED email folder (SPAM), if you do not find our confirmation in that folder, you probably have misplaced/misspelled your email. In this case, contact us and we will help you solve it.  

Sometimes, it happens that our tours are sold out. Especially during high seasons and holidays. Just because a tour is sold out doesn’t mean you are out of options for taking the trip of your dreams. If we can make it happen, we will. Please call our Customer Service at +52 984 206 1444. They will try to accommodate your request or let you know about newly added departure dates that might work with your schedule.

We understand that plans change. That’s why, when you book with us, you have the flexibility to change your travels and re-book when it suits you. Change or cancel your travel plans up to 24 hours before departure, with no fees.  Cancellation requests made within 24 hours of the departure date/time may not receive a refund.

We advise you to book our tours now as we have many requests! The number of participants in each excursion is limited. Discounts will only be available for early bookings.

All of our tours have their own limits when it comes to the number of people they can accommodate. If your group is larger than the allowed number on our website for a specific tour, please contact our customer service team to find a suitable option for your group. They will be able to help you arrange the perfect trip for your group, regardless of size.

You can always phone us on any of the numbers given on our website to make a reservation; however, to guarantee your seats, you should pay 20% of the total cost of the reservation.

We have various payment options:

You can pay for the service completely by Credit or debit card or

PayPal (This is very simple and only takes a minute).

You can also pay us only a 20% deposit to confirm your reservation. The balance due can be paid directly to our guide in cash (USD, MXN, EURO) or with a credit card. 

None of these forms of payment will increase the total price, excepting possible charges by your own bank.

We have been in the business for more than 16 years. Thousands of people have now taken our excursions.

You can read the thousands of verified traveler reviews on our website, and on other 3rd party sites, like TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook. You can also just call us anytime and speak to one of our friendly members of staff!

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