Sail the shimmering sea on a glass-bottom boat and snorkel at specular reefs off the coast of Cozumel on this half-day guided tour of the National Marine Park. At El Cielo, named after heaven itself, marvel at the sea stars that decorate the sandy ocean floor. Float beside sea turtles at Columbia Reef then plunge into the crystal clear waters of Palancar Reef to discover fascinating fish, nurse sharks, and colorful coral reefs. Between sublime snorkeling stops, refresh with complimentary beverages as the warm sun soothes your skin on this unforgettable ocean odyssey.

Snorkel at three locations off the island of Cozumel
Gaze at groups of sea stars in the shallow waters of El Cielo
Discover the abundant marine life teeming around Columbia and Palancar Reefs, including turtles, rays, and colorful fish
Refresh yourself with unlimited drinks on board, including beer, juices, and bottled water
Choose between a morning and an afternoon departure

What's Included

Professional bilingual guide
Snorkel gear
Snorkeling at Colombia and Palacar Reefs and visit to El Cielo
Unlimited drinks (bottled water, sodas and beer)
Snacks

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
National Marine Park & Marina Access Fee of $ 10.00 U.S. p/p

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Marina FONATUR Cozumel
Carr. Costera Sur Km 6.5, Zona Hotelera Sur, 77675 Cozumel, Q.R., Mexico
Please take a taxi and ask to be taken to the Marina Fonatur. At your arrival kindly proceed to the boats ramp right next to the drug store and look for Chac Choc Tours

Start time

01:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Depart from the pier and dive headfirst into your ocean adventure. Embark your stylish glass-bottom boat and follow your skipper and guide as they offer a tour of the onboard amenities and explain important safety information. Then, set sail to the first of three incredible snorkeling locations.

Sink into your cushioned seat and soak up the sunshine as the boat propels you towards your first destination of El Cielo, a place so beautiful it directly translates as ‘heaven’ in Spanish. Don your snorkeling gear and sink into the inviting water, investigating the sea star colony that inhabits the ocean bed.

Next, journey to Colombia Reef, a sublime snorkeling spot hailed as one of the Marine National Park’s finest. With excellent visibility and a diverse variety of marine life, Colombia Reef is a perfect place to spot sea turtles, coral communities, barracudas, eagle rays and schools of shimmering fish.

Cruise to Palancar Reef to discover a submerged showcase of underwater wonders; gaze upon nurse sharks, lobsters, moray ells and kaleidoscopic tableaus of tropical fish. Return to the boat to enjoy a complimentary onboard bar of chilled beer, refreshing margaritas, zesty juice, and purified water as you revel in the soothing Mexican sunshine.

Return to the pier after the tour.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Minimum age to snorkel is 5 years
Minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years
Passengers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult

Maximum weight is 127 kg (280 lbs)
Please bring cash to pay the marine fee
Not available for pregnant women or people with back/neck problems, recent surgeries (6 months), heart/lung problems or other serious medical conditions
It is recommended that you wear a swimsuit and bring sunglasses and a towel. Sunscreen can be applied only 30 minutes before boarding the boat due to our reef preservation policy (wear long sleeve clothing and hat).
Note: Time spent at each of the reefs is approximate and depends on weather conditions and group size.
Ocassionally strong winds causing rough seas may affect the area of El Cielo, forcing the tour to be conducted at an alternative area
There's a possibility that a few stops are made along the way to pick up other participants at the pier of their hotel, however, this does not affect the tour duration
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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

Featured review

Helene_L

Great experience on Cozumel reef. The staff was excellent and looked after us very well. Highly recommend.

Reviews

4.0

144 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 144 reviews

Fun snorkeling!

Dustin_D, Apr 2024

Beautiful water, amazing snorkeling. Boat was a little old and slow but the crew was knowledgeable and friendly.

Snorkling ar el cielo

Carmine_C, Mar 2024

Highley recommend this tour , was exactly as advertised, also our tour guids jain, papparazzi, and there captain were great!!!!

Fantastic tour

Anna_Z, Mar 2024

We saw lots of fishes ,sea turtle and even small shark. Mexican beer on the sandbar with stingrays swimming nearby was unforgettable. Thank you great staff!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Anna, Thank you very much for taking the time to rate us with five points and share your experience with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a great time and we look very much forward to seeing you again in the future! Sincerely yours,

A special day in one of the best places of the mexican carribean

Massimiliano_R, Mar 2024

It has been a special occasion for a friend's birthday. The boat people were friendly and professional. There are to little downsides to this still beautiful experience; probably they should stop a little longer at the snorkeling spots and a little less at el cielito (although it's lovely), and the boarding dock is very far from San Miguel.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Massimo, Thank you very much for taking the time for rating us with four points and share your experience with us! While we understand that you'd have preferred to spend more time snorkeling, the tour times at each location, have been carefully designed to fulfill the expectations from the majority of our Visitors. In regards to the boarding location, kindly have in mind that the Marina may look far from you, but that is entirely relative, as you're coming from the downtown ferry pier and on the other end, it saves time spent on the boat sailing towards de snorkeling locations. We look forward to seeing you again in the future! Sincerely yours,

Memorable day

Helene_L, Mar 2024

Great experience on Cozumel reef. The staff was excellent and looked after us very well. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Helene, Thank you very much for taking the time to rate us with five points and share your experience with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a great time and we look very much forward to seeing you again in the future! Sincerely yours,

The best snorkeling tour company in Q-Roo!

Jackie_S, Feb 2024

Worth every penny. The tour was exactly as stated, we spent all our time in the water which was glorious. The staff were fun and professional and the places they took us were beautiful. Sandwich and beer in the water ay the end was awesome! I did a “snorkeling tour” in Cancun two days later and it was a huge scam where they dropped you off the whole day for shopping and buffet of hotdogs. This tour is the real deal - do it! You will be so happy!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Jackie, Thank you very much for taking the time to rate us with five points and share your experience with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a great time and we look very much forward to seeing you again in the future! Sincerely yours,

Awesome

Alfonso_G, Nov 2023

Worth the Ferry ride to experience the snorkeling around this Island. Very pleasant staff. We had a wonderful excursion. Above our expectations!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Alfonso, Thank you very much for taking the time to rate us with five points and share your experience with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a great time and we look very much forward to seeing you again in the future! Sincerely yours,

Bren_m, Jul 2023

We are coming again in January 2024 but will choose NOT to use your service due to 1) stopping at 2 additional resorts to pick up passengers and 2) running late to get us back

Lost opportunity

Brook_B, Apr 2023

Sadly we were unable to go on this experience. We were on a cruise and did not have internet connection. Viator had sent so many soliciting emails I began ignoring them before departure. When we finally got to port and had internet connection we found out that our tour would not make it back in time. I tried to ask about alternative solutions but they were not helpful. No refund of any kind was given. It was really disappointing.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hello Brook, We are very sorry about you missing the tour, but unfortunately, on the very day that you placed your booking; I personally emailed you asking for the name of your cruise ship, hotel, etc., so I could follow up on your details and you never replied. Hence, there's no way we could know your cruise ship time in port did not work with our tour times. That left us with half of our boat capacity blocked and guaranteed for you, on the busiest season of the seas and those seats were denied to other customers asking to go on the tour. It is worth to mention and suggest you for the future, that you first verify your cruise ship itinerary with the tour you decide to book (departure time, duration, etc). You mention that we were not helpful, but you wanted us to run an earlier departure or a shorter version of the tour, when we had other Guests booked...ruining everybody else day to accommodate you, simply was not an option. Sincerely yours,

Bad snorkeling tour, don’t waste time and money

Sohini_K, Feb 2023

This was a very poorly organized excursion. First, there was no clear instructions on where to go after arriving at the marina. I was staying in PDC so took the ferry over. Then I took a taxi to the marina. At the marina there was no signage or anyone at the doc. I was running around asking around where our tour was. I tried calling the number provided by Viator only for it to not work. Once I finally find our boat we arrive and assume the tour begins at 1pm which is what I paid for. Boy was I wrong. The boat wasn’t very nice so that was a let down and then we made nearly 6 stops at different hotel ferry docks to pick up more passengers. This added an extra hour to our trip so we really started at 2. We were told we would go to three diff snorkeling spots but really it was just two. The staff was very rushed and frazzled. They nearly forgot to give me my fins and then snapped at my 9yr old saying if his fins don’t fit he has to pay for them. They weren’t attentive at all and didn’t help me or my child and expected us to manage our own tour. Even the basics of helping us into the boat was not provided. They provided fruit slices and half a ham sandwich on bread. The fish you see near you on the first excursion is there bc they’re feeding the fish. This did not feel like a properly run excursion, the lack of attentiveness to the customers, y tying to cram in as many passengers into a cheap boat, I really regret taking this excursion. Then to have to make all these extra stops for diff hotel guests (I don’t know why everyone couldn’t just meet at the doc) was terrible. I definitely don’t recommend taking this tour.

Amazing

Derick_P, Feb 2023

We were on a cruise and snorkeling was a priority at our stops. Cozumel was by far our favorite. The crew was amazing and showed us so much. Small group of 5 of us and the spent so much time showing us the beautiful reefs. It was amazing

The Starfish were...

DONNA_G, Feb 2023

The Starfish were beautiful. We also enjoyed the fruit and sandwiches. We weren’t impressed with the guy taking pictures with fish food in his pocket

Do this tour! You will not regret it!

Laura_D, Jan 2023

Did this tour as part of our honeymoon. Staff are amazing, reeds are gorgeous. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to see El Cielo. They also added a bonus stop to see some sea turtles. Highly recommend. A must do whilst in Cozumel.

Great experience at a great price!

Glenn_H, Dec 2022

A little slow at first because we made 3 stops to pick up additional passengers (nature of the business) but once we got in the water we had a blast. Tons of fish, turtles, starfish, conchs, etc. Best part was the last stop (el cielito) where we all stood in the crystal clear, waist deep water as sting rays glided past our feet. Crew was really awesome!

Awesome ocean

marleneuria, Jul 2022

El Cielito beach and el Cielo with the starfish. Weather was perfect and ocean very clear and warm. Great time !!

Overall amazing

Kimball_A, Jul 2022

The crew was awesome! And we had a great time!! They accommodated to us and to the others on board with language and food and drink

Great tour, Would recommend it.

Dorothy_S, Jul 2022

The tour was well run. Despite the failure of the ship to clarify the discrepancy of the ship time and local time, the tour owner accommodated our group of 14 by putting us on a separate boat so that we would make it back to our ship on time. The equipment was great and the staff on the boat were competent and very nice. The beer and the tequila shots at the end were fun.

Adventure /Great Experience

Ernest_S, Mar 2022

The Friendly Staff also very good with communication in whats taking place. The How too's and Why not, Best part was being with my Bestfriend/ Husband . And seeing the beauty of under water life💦🐟💙

Great family fun.

Richard_B, Dec 2021

It was a bit of a slow start - we had to make two pick ups on the way to the reef. Once we were there it was great. Guides were very helpful, polite and kept the group happy! A fair amount of sea-life and I was happy to pay the tax towards conservation.

Quick snorkel tour on a day trip in Cozumel

Jacques_M, Nov 2021

Good time with the crew on the boat. They show you on a quick trip what needs to be seen, sea life at different depths with some drinks and fruits. Good for half a day.

...