What can I expect to see while snorkeling at the Tulum Reef?

While snorkeling at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, you can expect to see a wide variety of colorful and fascinating marine life. The reef is home to over 500 species of fish.  Some of the most seen species include parrotfish, angelfish, and pufferfish, as well as a variety of colorful corals and sponges. If you are lucky, you might spot rays and turtles too. Nevertheless, if you want to be sure to swim with green sea turtles, book one of our tours to Akumal, where turtle encounters are guaranteed. Snorkeling at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is a truly magical experience and is a must-do for anyone visiting the region

Is it necessary to wear a life vest during the snorkeling?

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

What’s the Mesoamerican barrier reef?

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is a coral reef system located off the coast of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. It is the second-largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and is home to a diverse array of marine life. The reef stretches for more than 1,000 miles along the eastern coast of Central America, and is a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is also an important economic resource for the region, providing livelihoods for local communities through tourism and fishing.

Are life vests available?

Yes, the life vest is part of the snorkeling equipment included and is mandatory.

What is the sea water temperature?

The swimming season in Cancun lasts from January to December, twelve months per year! 

Cancun water temperatures are always bathtub warm, varying from 75°F/ 23°C, 82°F / 28°C  in the winter months to 85°F /29°C in the summer months. Underwater visibility can reach up to an amazing 200 feet.

What if it’s raining?

Weather conditions can change. Rain can quickly come and go throughout the day. Always be prepared for rain! We monitor the weather conditions closely. We still go if it is raining, in fact this can add to the experience in many cases. Our guides are trained to make you the most comfortable.

Which rays can I see and are they dangerous?

We have 4 types of rays in the Caribbean Sea: stingrays, eagle rays, mobula rays and manta rays. The most seen is the stingray, followed by the eagle ray.

Rays in the Caribbean aren’t dangerous and only attack in self-defense, injecting a very painful, but not deadly, venom. So far, there are no known cases of humans being attacked by rays in this region.

Can I wear glasses during the snorkeling?

You cannot wear prescription glasses under goggles or masks. You can use contact lenses; we offer snorkel masks with pulge valves which makes you able to eliminate water without having to remove your mask.
We also offer prescription masks with no extra cost (available from-1 to -6). Please make reservations for this service at your booking or at least 24 hours before the service starts.

Do i need previous experience to snorkel?

No, you don’t need any previous experience to snorkel, but it is important that you can swim independently and that you are comfortable in the water. If you don’t feel safe enough, you can also use our safety buoy to float, our guides take them on all our snorkeling excursions.

What is snorkeling?

Snorkeling is swimming with fins, a mask, and a tube called a snorkel that allows you to have your face down in the water and still breathe.

What to wear to Tulum ruins?

There is not any protection from sun or rain while walking around. It is usually hot walking around, so comfortable clothes, shoes, sunscreen, hat, glasses, and water are all good things to keep in mind. We offer, free of charge, umbrellas to protect you from the sun and rain in case of. 

How long does it take to see Tulum ruins?

The Tulum ruins are not that big. We take you on a 45-minute guided excursion to go through the Tulum ruins. After that you can use 15-20 minutes to go your own and take your pictures.

What happened to the Mayans in Tulum?

Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. By the end of the 16th century, the site was abandoned. Tulum was abandoned as European diseases and epidemics decimated the population. Archaeologists have evidence that the population was killed off by the Spaniards when they introduced Old World diseases into the area as a way to destroy the native population.

How did Tulum get its name?

The original name of Tulum was Zamá, which in the ancient Mayan language means "dawn”. Tulum was an important walled city that in ancient times was used as a port for an extensive commercial network since the terrestrial and maritime routes of the ancient Mayan people converged here.

Do you pick me up from my Airbnb or Private residence?

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.

Can I be dropped off at another hotel or location?

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.

How safe are my belongings whilst on the trip?

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.

I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?

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.

Which language does my guide speak?

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.

Can I skip the transportation and take my own car?

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.

How many people can sign up for an excursion?

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.

May I tip the driver and guide? Is it obligatory?

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.

Can people with disabilities participate in the excursion?

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.

Do you offer photos from the snorkeling excursion?

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. 

Can I take my (underwater) camera to the excursion?

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.

Can I pay for a reservation in someone else’s name?

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.

I think I made the payment, but I do not receive your confirmation. What should I do?

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.  

What if the trip I have my heart set on is sold out?

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 can try to accommodate your request or let you know about newly added departure dates that might work with your schedule.

What is your cancellation policy?

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.

Why should I book now?

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.

Can I take a tour with a larger group than the website allows me to book at once?

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.

Can I make a telephone reservation?

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.

How can I pay?

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.

How do I know you are a legitimate company?

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!

We also invite you to have a look at and engage with our Social Media pages: