Cenotes are natural wonders found in the Yucatan Peninsula, essentially limestone caves filled with crystal-clear water. What makes them truly remarkable is their unique geological formation and the lush environment that surrounds them. In the Riviera Maya, snorkeling inside cenotes is a highly sought-after aquatic activity due to the unparalleled experience they offer.

When visiting a cenote, it is important to follow the safety instructions provided by your tour guide or the cenote's staff. This include wearing a life jacket if you are not a strong swimmer, using provided safety equipment such as flashlights and watershoes, and not touching or disturbing any of the natural features or wildlife in the cenote.

Our exclusive cenotes, nestled in the heart of the Riviera Maya, are known as Ix Balam and Yum Balam. When we first discovered these cenotes, we were captivated by the presence of both large and small jaguar footprints in the area. This remarkable sighting inspired us to name this pristine cenote region after this magnificent jaguar family.

The average water temperature of cenotes varies depending on the location and time of year. Most of the time, the water in cenotes is typically cool and refreshing, with temperatures ranging from around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius). In some cases, the water may be warmer or colder, depending on factors such as the depth of the cenote and the surrounding air temperature.

The use of a life vest, provided by us free of charge, is mandatory during any snorkel activity.

Akumal is famous for the sea turtles. Sea turtles have in common that they all enjoy warm and calm beaches, with plentiful seagrass and protected by a reef: this is just what Akumal Bay offers!  On our tour, we take you in a small boat just 0.2 mile/300 meters (5 minutes) offshore. Snorkeling above the seagrass beds gives you the best chance to see the sea turtles and stingrays. If currents and visibility allow us, we will take you also to the reef to observe sea fans and several species of hard and leafy coral. Snorkeling along the reef, you will come across shoals of grunts, blue tang, parrotfish, or butterflyfish.

The sex of a sea turtle is determined by the temperature at which the turtle's eggs are incubated. In general, warmer temperatures tend to produce females, while cooler temperatures tend to produce males. This phenomenon is known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). The exact temperature thresholds that determine the sex of a sea turtle can vary depending on the species, but in general, temperatures within the range of 29 to 31 degrees Celsius (84 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) are most likely to produce females, while temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) are most likely to produce males.

Whether it is for migration reasons, for mating, or feeding, Sea Turtles
can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers before reaching their
destination.

There are seven species of sea turtles, which are marine reptiles that need to breathe air to survive. Six of the seven species are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Sea. The flatback turtle is only found in the Western Indo-Pacific. Out of the 7 species of sea turtles that remain, 6 of them nest in Mexico.

Four of these species can be found in Quintana Roo – the leatherback turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the hawksbill turtle and the white turtle.

Unfortunately, all 7 species of Sea Turtles are endangered. This is due to illegal poaching and pollution. 

In Mexico, turtles are protected since 1990. Fishing, hunting, or poaching turtles is now a federal offense.

The name "Akumal" comes from the Mayan, meaning "place of turtles." Each year hundreds of turtles arrive to lay their eggs in the sand and feed on the seagrasses. Adding to the allure is that it's home to three species of sea turtles: Green, Loggerhead & Hawksbill.

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.