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Isla Contoy Day Trip: Snorkeling at Ixlache Reef and Eco-Paradise Tour
Cancun, Mexico
- 8 hours
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Travel to Isla Contoy and Ixlache Reef aboard a comfortable boat on this full-day trip from Cancun. Snorkel on the reef amongst tropical fish, vibrant coral and sea turtles. Stop at Isla Contoy, a wildlife refuge and national park that protects 150 species of birds and several types of sea turtles. Take a tour of the island with a certified guide, then visit a nesting site and lounge on the pristine island's beach. Enjoy breakfast and an open bar aboard the boat, as well as a lunch buffet on the island.
- Begin your day with a continental breakfast on the boat ride to Ixlache Reef
- Enjoy a domestic open bar on the boat, which includes rum, tequila, vodka, beer, juice and water
- Feast on a buffet lunch with beer and soft drinks on the island
- Snorkeling gear and safety briefing included
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Domestic open bar
- Gratuities
- Dock fee / park admission (US$20 per person)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time
09:00 AM
Pickup details
We do pick up from most of the hotels in Cancun and Riviera, if your hotel is not listed you can verify with our support team about meeting points near from your hotel.
What To Expect
Arrive at the Scuba Cancun Marina on Kukulcan Avenue at 8:30am to catch your 9am boat. Enjoy breakfast onboard while being transported to Ixlache Reef. During this 90-minute ride, munch a pastry or sip some coffee while the tropical breeze and sun warm your skin.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world, is blessed with clear, shallow water (about 9 feet or 3 meters deep) and abundant wildlife. After a safety briefing from your guide, don the provided snorkel equipment and jump in. Be sure to apply your biodegradable sunscreen, which protects the reefs and your skin. Most hotels in the area sell this type of sunscreen. Look for sea turtles, schools of tropical fish, vibrant living coral and conchs scuttling along the ocean floor.
After an hour of snorkeling time, climb back on the boat and head for Isla Contoy (Contoy Island.) Only 5 miles (8 kilometers) long, this tiny island is boasts 150 species of birds like the majestic frigate, the double-crested cormorant and the brown pelican. Green turtles, hawksbill turtles and loggerhead turtles use the beaches on the island as nesting grounds to hatch their young. Because the island is protected, it only allows a certain number of visitors per day, and only from specific tour companies.
Take a 45-minute tour of the island with a certified guide, learning about conservation efforts and the island's unique biodiversity. After the tour, visit the island's lighthouse, the nature museum or the nesting lagoon. Relax on the beach before a buffet lunch is served, including beer and soft drinks.
Finish your full-day island adventure when you arrive back at Scuba Cancun Marina around 5pm.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world, is blessed with clear, shallow water (about 9 feet or 3 meters deep) and abundant wildlife. After a safety briefing from your guide, don the provided snorkel equipment and jump in. Be sure to apply your biodegradable sunscreen, which protects the reefs and your skin. Most hotels in the area sell this type of sunscreen. Look for sea turtles, schools of tropical fish, vibrant living coral and conchs scuttling along the ocean floor.
After an hour of snorkeling time, climb back on the boat and head for Isla Contoy (Contoy Island.) Only 5 miles (8 kilometers) long, this tiny island is boasts 150 species of birds like the majestic frigate, the double-crested cormorant and the brown pelican. Green turtles, hawksbill turtles and loggerhead turtles use the beaches on the island as nesting grounds to hatch their young. Because the island is protected, it only allows a certain number of visitors per day, and only from specific tour companies.
Take a 45-minute tour of the island with a certified guide, learning about conservation efforts and the island's unique biodiversity. After the tour, visit the island's lighthouse, the nature museum or the nesting lagoon. Relax on the beach before a buffet lunch is served, including beer and soft drinks.
Finish your full-day island adventure when you arrive back at Scuba Cancun Marina around 5pm.
La Amada Residences
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Centro de Isla Mujeres
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
55 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please bring biodegradable sunscreen. You can purchase it at your hotel shop, the Marina or the shop at Isla Cotoy
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Reviews
4.0
77 reviews
Tracy_R, Jul 2023
We were disatisfied with the dded Las Mujer es stop to shop. The description said snorkling and sightseeing on the island of Contoy but instead tthere was long beach time, restricted to the beach and a 20 minute walk that wasnt full of seeing the over 150 wildlife species. Were didnt even explore beyone the look out over the island. The snorkly was was supervised for our fun and safety. It was a 10 hour day. The description said nothing of return transportation but we appreciated being brought back to our hotel.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us, when we refer to the Isla Mujeres stop to make shopping is not necessary to shop since the Isla Mujeres has several things to do and does not always make shopping, we understand the experience was not as your expectations and are taking note of the details in order to enhance the tour for your enjoyment.
Haoyi_S, Oct 2021
The Isla Contoy is amazing and the crew made the whole ship a party, impressive atmosphere and truly memorable experience
Response from Host, Nov 2021
Thank you for sharing your amazing experience, we hope to serv you again in near future.
MIchael_K, Jul 2021
Very relaxing...lots of beach time on Isla Contoy on a secluded beach. Also enjoyed leisurely snorkeling on the reef, and some down time on Isla Mujeres. Crew was very friendly and accommodating.
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote.
Kevin S, Mar 2018
The trip to Isla Contoy was great. The crew gave very informative presentations on the geographic, historic and ecological features on Isla Contoy and on the trip to and from the island. Isla Contoy was amazingly clean and beautiful, and the crew cooked a wonderful lunch on the boat and carted away all the waste there is no littering or fresh sweet water on the island. The snorkeling stop was quite brief, but the hour or so on Isla Mujeres was just enough for two tasty mojitos at an ocean side bar. Overall an amazing way to spend the day.
john m, Mar 2018
it was 5 star loved all the crew they were amazing I unfortunately got sea sick I forgot that I got sea sick 2 years ago. The lunch was great fresh fish again could not eat sea sick the birds were in their glory no humans to bother them because everyone has to leave the island by 4 pm this island is a sanctuary for the birds .. loved loved it
Lavon B, Mar 2018
Disappointing. Up early to sit at dock 1.5 hr. Isla Contoy beautiful, lots of birds. I specifically chose and paid more for this tour as said bar had rum tequila and beer. Only Corona Light, bleah. Isla Mujeres waste of time. 1 hr in crowded mega tourist area. Can't comment on reef, too windy to snorkel
Stacey_C, Mar 2018
The trip was good, the crew awesome. What I did not like is that I was told last minute- as I was going to splash in the ocean- that I could not go snorkel because I was pregnant. I am 20 weeks and active but they would not let me snorkel. Also the whole reason why we went on this excursion was to snorkel on the 2nd world's largest reef in the world and because of the water, we were taken to some off the shore small reef. Felt like a waste since it was my husband's birthday gift, he didn't get to snorkel where I told him and this was also not mentioned to us on the boat as well, we found when we were heading back to Cancun.
Robert C, Feb 2018
The trip and the visit to Contoy was good/fun. However, the snorkeling was poor as we actually snorkeled for only 25 minutes and not in the Ixlache Reef as promised in the promotional material. Following the snorkeling, we motored for almost one hour to the island of Women which was an absolute waste of time given that this island has now been overtaken by small scale sellers. These sellers are everywhere and the commercialization of this island is not a model to follow. To echo one person who was with us, this is one of the worst beaches he has ever been to in the world because it has become so commercialized. It would have been best to spend more time at Contoy and/or snorkel rather then rush to the Island of Women which is clearly designed to fill time, an hour motoring there and one hour on the beach or shopping takes two hour out of the day. On the bright side, the crew on board was great. Might be a good idea to have a microphone when providing briefings so everyone can hear properly when the briefings are conducted on the boat. Motors are roaring, music is blaring so it can be hard to hear the guide if he or she is standing in the front of the boat and one is sitting at the back. Also, when walking on Contoy, with the guide, one has to make sure he or she is close by the guide so to hear comments and explanations. Finally, the food for lunch was good but, the continental breakfast was not great. Best is to have breakfast before leaving where ever one is staying.
Teresa F, Feb 2018
Snorkeling was great - lots of fish to see! Lunch on the island was really good too. The only part I didn't enjoy was the tour to the other side of the island - flies/mosquitoes were TERRIBLE!! Biting us constantly - I was itching for 4 days!! Definitely bring bug repellent.
Matthew_S, Feb 2018
Great day! Super friendly staff and the most exotic and private little island getaway. We saw turtles from the boat, we say rays, a flamingo flying over and a tiny reef shark. Just a tip - no sunscreen allowed on the island so bring a hat and cover up as much as possible.
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