Explore the waters off the coast of Cozumel in just a couple of hours on this stress-free snorkeling excursion, a great choice for first-time visitors with limited time. Board a glass bottom boat and enjoy easy transportation to shallow underwater reefs, stopping to snorkel and see colorful tropical fish and maybe sea turtles or stingrays. Plus, snorkeling equipment and chilled beers, soft drinks, and water are provided.

Cruise along Cozumel’s coastline aboard a glass bottom boat
Ideal for a shore excursion or for first-time visitors with limited time
Snorkel at underwater reefs with a guide; snorkeling equipment included
Choose from multiple departure times to easily fit this tour into your schedule

What's Included

Beer (available after the snorkeling activity)
Soft drinks and Bottled purified water (available during the entire trip)
Bilingual guide
Snorkel tube (free to take as souvenir)
Use of snorkel equipment (fins, mask and life vest)

Gratuities
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Marine and Pier fees ($8.00 USD cash per passenger)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

El Cid La Ceiba Beach Hotel
Km 4.5, Av. Rafael E. Melgar, 77675 Cozumel, Q.R., Mexico
Safe Tours Cozumel's booth is located at the entrance of the hotel.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Villa Blanca Wall

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Paradise (Paraiso) Reef

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required
Arrive 30 minutes before the departure time
Recommended items: shoes which can get wet, biodegradable sunscreen, bathing suit under clothes, extra t-shirt to protect yourself while swimming, towel and dry changing clothes
Near public transportation

Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Infants must sit on laps
$8 USD per passenger need to be paid in cash for the Marine and Pier fees
Most travelers can participate
For mainland passengers: Remember this activity starts at Cozumel. We recommend you arrive at the ferry pier in Playa del Carmen an hour before your ferry departs so that you can make it on time. If you fail to show up on time and miss the ferry, we won't be able to help you and can't provide a refund.
For cruise ship passengers: This activity follows Cozumel Time which is not always the same as your cruise ship's time. Please be mindful of this.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 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.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Karla_G

Excellent service from start to finish! Enjoyed the conversation we're had with owner and they explained everything we would be doing, even making sure we got on boat currently. Julian was our snorkle guide and I can guarantee you he loves his "job". Very informative and put us at ease with our excursion. I can say this was the most amazing day we've ever had!! We will for sure book with them again.

Reviews

5.0

436 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 436 reviews

Peek the Beautiful Cozumel Reefs

Julia_T, Apr 2024

This is a great tour if you’re a first-time snorkeler or just a little short on time. We got to explore the reefs in the nature reserve and saw gorgeous tropical fish and coral formations. Good option if you want a taste of Cozumel without committing to a full-day tour. Julian, our guide, was hilarious and fun to hang out with!

Highly recommend!

Connie_R, Apr 2024

Highly recommend! They were all attentive and kind and FUN‼️🐟 We are novice snorkelers, Miguel stayed in the water and helped us every step of the way. Great experience!

COZUMEL SNORKELING IN GLASS BOTTOM BOAT

Glynis_T, Apr 2024

EXCELLENT. Caring crew that provided assistance and safety precautions throughout the tour. The photographer that came with them provided photo ops. Lots of fish and coral. Well worth the price. Highly recommend for first time snorkeling. You can see the bottom at all times and into the distance and the crew will guide you. We brought our own mask/snorkeks as we love snorkeling. They even provided my son their own fins so he could go deeper as he loves free diving (45 feet down). They only did so after accessing his skills. Informative of the reef and eco-concious. Highly recommend. Put your reef safe sunscreen on before you go, or better still wear spf rated swim shirts.

good for beginners

Heath_L, Apr 2024

The staff was helpful and friendly. They had fish food that lured the fish over to our location. With out the fish food, I think it would have been disappointing. I have snorkeled before and this place lacked the variety of fish we are used to seeing. We had kids with us who had never snorkeled before and this was a good beginner place to snorkel. The location is right next to royal caribbean port so walking to is easy which is one of the reasons we chose this company. They provide a basic snorkel tube (you keep as a souvenir) , vest and flippers. There is a guide in the water through the entire experience making sure everyone is safe. They had plenty of water, soda and beer that they offered after each location. All reef locations are close to the port. The kids enjoyed it and it was a great price. They had a small group so there was no crowding.

Great & Reliable

Melissa_M, Apr 2024

We booked this company for our excursion in Cozumel. Our port (Norwegian cruise ship) was about 4 miles from the excursion meeting point (El Cid La Ceiba Beach Hotel). We took a taxi there & was greeted by a gal with a podium outside of the hotel. The snorkeling experience was awesome. The tour staff were friendly & humorous. We boat took us to 3 different locations to snorkel. Overall, we would definitely go with this company again. Also, don't forget to bring $8/person for Marine & Pier when you're there at the meeting point.

Small Fun Group, Relaxing, No Pressure

Hannah_B, Apr 2024

There were 7 people total in our group and we went to three different spots. Our guides were all so nice and we absolutely loved that it was a small group instead of one of the other groups that we saw with a ton of people (30-50). My spouse and I and our 2 friends booked this to do upon arriving to port on our Carnival Cruise. The meeting spot was easy to find and only a 5-10 minute walk from the port. Be sure to apply sunscreen 30 minutes BEFORE checking in with the place because it is harmful for marine life to do it any sooner and they won’t let you apply it once you get there. We didn’t feel any pressure to buy photos and the crew was so kind! One crew member who dove with us pointed out various fish we might not have seen otherwise. The snorkeling itself was nice. We saw lots of fish and the water was a great temperature!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Hannah_B, It was a pleasure to read your fantastic review and recommendation of our VIP snorkelling tour . Our departure pier is only 5 min walk from international pier, and Puerta Maya cruise ship ports. We love the comments about our crew. They really do go the extra mile for everybody. Yes, it's important to remember to apply reef safe sunscreen at least 30 mins before your tour. Sunscreens also effects the seal on snorkelling masks. Please be aware when applying to the face. You can request that an underwater photo session is available for an additional cost. Thank you for choosing us, we look forward to seeing you again. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Fun time!

Zachary_F, Apr 2024

Pros: -Friendly staff - Short ride to snorkeling area, good for kids (ours are 9 & 11) Cons: - Finding the meeting point (all 3 families had problems). It’s actually outside the entrance to La Cieba hotel (next to port) not in the city like Viator states. Luckily the taxi driver knew this but I still had to pay the fare (we were in the taxi when he realized).

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Zachary_F, Thanks so much for bringing to our attention the issues on the A.I. at the Viator platform. We are here to help. We would like to suggest better than trusting the A.I., contact us if you have any enquiries and require more information about your tour. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. It's always important to check for yourself online, well before time, the exact location. This as we can see is a glitch at the A.I. technology on the Google Map link. On the first page of the tour on the Viators site, the meeting point before booking a tour. It's stating the meeting point is at the 'El Cid La Ceiba beach Hotel' as the address Km 4.5, Av. Rafael E. Melgar, 77675 Cozumel, Q.R., Mexico that information is written also at your final documents, the problem is when you click at the “Open in Google Maps” the location can take you randomly to any place in the island, please don’t trust on that button. Copy and paste the name in your cell phone or contact us and we’ll help you. Thank you so much for recommending our 2-hour snorkeling boat trip that is perfect for kids and the whole family. We would love to see you and the kids again here in Cozumel. Best Regards Arturo Díaz

Relaxed and uncrowded...

Juliet_P, Mar 2024

Relaxed and uncrowded snorkelling experience. Plenty of time in the water at three different locations. Thoroughly recommend.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi Juliet_P, Thank you for your kind words and positive review! We are happy to hear you enjoyed your time with us enough to recommend us, and we hope to see you again in the future. Best wishes, Bee Díaz

Great little trip for a short port of call time

Kelly_E, Mar 2024

Lots of time in the water. Easy to walk to from our ship and great price. Would highly recommend this trip.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Kelly_O, It's fantastic to hear how amazing your snorkelling tour was. Our departure is next door to the International cruise ship piers, making it easy to walk if you are here on a shore excursion. We endeavour to keep our tour affordable at a time when costs are going up worldwide. Thank you so much for recommending our snorkelling tour. We look forward to seeing you in the future. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Relaxing and fun snorkel experience

Travis_O, Mar 2024

The guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The glass bottom boat was not large or easy to see through and so that part of the experience was not as nice as hoped. But the snorkeling in the water was fun and relaxing with great guides.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Travis_O, We appreciate you taking the time to recommend our tour in your review. Thank you for your kind words about our crew. They are amazing. The glass bottom boat has a glass bottom viewing area, which is larger than most at 1 meter x 0.5 (1/4 of our surface that is 2 meter x 1 meter) . It's not a transparent, clear boat. Transparent boats are not ideal for snorkelling due to the slippery surface that the boat is made from. We are so happy you had a fun time with us, and we look forward to seeing you soon in Cozumel. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Awesome snorkeling trip

Mike_B, Mar 2024

This two hour snorkeling trip for our family was absolutely perfect. We took the ferry to Cozumel from Playa Del Carmen in the morning at 9:00am. Arrived at Cozumel at 9:45. So it gave us plenty of time to grab a quick cab ride to the meeting point and also enjoy lunch before the 12:30pm start time. As for the snorkeling, the entire crew of Juan, Julian, and Santiago were very friendly and funny and really made us feel safe and comfortable. They gave us a lot of instruction since we have never snorkeled before. The amount of time we were in the water enjoying ourselves was more than ample. Anything more and it would have made for too long of an experience. We saw many different types of fish and Juan took pictures of us underwater with the fish right in front of us. Since it was only 2 hours long we arrived back at the meeting point at 2:30pm and had sufficient time to do some shopping in Cozumel before getting on the return ferry at 6:00pm. For our situation with traveling from the main land and wanting to also shop I would highly recommend this 2 hour trip. Great job guys! Thank you.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Mike_B, Thank you for your outstanding recommendation of our tour in your review. Our tour is a perfect length of time for guests just visiting Cozumel for the day. We really strive to give families a spectacular snorkeling experience regardless of age or skill level in a safety conscious environment. I totally agree that the entire crew is superb. They really want to assist you in learning a new skill and are helpful and knowledgeable about our marine reserve. Our professional underwater photographer is available for photo sessions with the fish for an extra charge. Perfect for capturing you and the family living your dream vacation. We really appreciate your kind words and look forward to seeing the family again in the future. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Fun tour!

Emily_X, Mar 2024

We had a great tour! Meeting point was a 5 minute walk from the cruise terminal. Guides were friendly. The second and third snorkeling locations were much better than the first in our opinion. Tour was the perfect length for our parents and not too strenuous.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Emily_X, Yes, fantastic. I love hearing about the fun time you had in Cozumel on board 'Cubana'. It's so convenient for cruise ship passengers to walk to where we depart for this tour. The first reef is an important part of the Cozumel Coral reef restoration program, 10,000+ damaged corals have been restored in this coral garden that serves as a nursery. It's awesome that as a family, you were able to enjoy and experience this snorkeling adventure together. Thank you so much for taking the time to write an incredible review of your time with us. We look forward to seeing the family in Cozumel again soon. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Amazing experience. Attentive guides. Don’t hesitate to book!

Cathy_D, Mar 2024

We had an excellent time with Arturo, Santiago, Julian and the rest of the team. Our cruise ship unexpectedly arrived in the downtown terminal meaning we were 15 minutes away from the meeting point and late for our tour. We called Arturo and he assured us not to stress and worry, he was tracking our ship and already made plans to move us to the next tour group. We were relieved by the reassurance that everything was under control. The water was crystal clear at all of the snorkeling spots. Paradise reef was especially beautiful and lush. We saw plenty of fish, sea fan corals and even a sea turtle. The staff were most attentive both on the boat and in the water. Please don’t hesitate to book this tour!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Cathy_D, Thank you so much for highly recommending our snorkeling the coral reef by glass bottom boat. It's always fantastic to hear when guests have had an amazing experience with us. Our crew are attentive and knowledgeable about our marine reserve and are here to help. It was an honour to assist you when your ship didn't dock according to plan. Taking the pressure off and coordinating to ensure you could participate with ease was my pleasure. It was fantastic to have you on board our boat 'Cubana', the crew and I look forward to seeing you in Cozumel again soon. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Ok for novice snorkeling

Richard_H, Mar 2024

Close to the ship so not a long trip out. Smaller group than some others. Crew was friendly. No more to say.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Richard_H, Yes, exactly Richard, we are perfect for beginners, as well as experienced swimmers, so families can enjoy their snorkeling adventure together. We depart right next door to the International and Puerta Maya cruise ship piers. It's ideal for those visiting the island and are short on time. The Mesoamerica reef nearly surrounds the west side of the island, giving us reefs that do not require extra travel time to reach. Thank you for taking the time to write an honest review. I am grateful for your feedback. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Excursion was super close...

Julie_P, Mar 2024

Excursion was super close to the cruise port didn’t have to take a cab or anything. All the crew was very nice.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Julie_P, Thank you so much for choosing us for your snorkelling boat tour. We are grateful for your recommendation and highlighting the ease of walking from the International and Puerta Maya cruise ships piers to board our boat 'Cubana'. It was a pleasure to have you on board, and the crew looks forward to seeing you again soon. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Easy to find and good value

Paige_H, Mar 2024

Good value for the price. In this tour you spend more time in the water than on the boat, which is great! I was disappointed in the first reef. It seemed too close to shore and not very scenic. There was hurricane damage so that may have been the reason. We did this tour at the end of February and the water was tolerable, but too cold for my taste. Overall, very satisfied.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Paige_H, We really appreciate you taking the time to write a brilliant and informative detailed review. We endeavour to provide a high-quality service, with safety in mind. We aim to supply an incredible snorkelling trip for families, which is affordable. The first reef is an important part of the Cozumel Coral reef restoration program. Here, they grow and restore damaged corals and plant them in the villablanca reef. This is an important part of educating and empowering everyone to help protect our reefs. February has indeed been cooler than normal, many north winds blowing. Thank you so much for your 5 star recommendation, we look forward to seeing you in the future. Best Regards, Arturo Díaz

Very friendly staff,...

stephane_c, Mar 2024

Very friendly staff, attentive to their customers. Well maintained boat ans equipment. Coral reef is in need of help.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hi stephane_, Thank you for your kind words and 5-star review! We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed both our staff and boat. We share your concern for our stunning coral reefs, which is why we constantly encourage people to do whatever is in their hands and to follow safety guidelines. We're committed to sustainable practices and appreciate your support. We hope to welcome you back for more positive experiences in the future! Best wishes, Bee Díaz

Not glass bottom boat

Catherine_S, Feb 2024

I thought it was a glass bottom boat and it was a boat with a 6x3 window on the bottom covered with a box they take the lid off. The first reef was just sand and rocks with a few grey fish. I have been on better.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Catherine_, Thank you for sharing your feedback. Our boat features one of the largest glass bottoms on the island, and it is indeed a viewing window of 6x3 feet, enclosed for safety reasons (The lids are taken off when passengers board). We've never advertised our boat to be crystal-clear; this is shown on our inclusions list (A bathroom would not be a possible commodity on such a boat; everything would be visible), and we also provide pictures to represent it accurately and so have plenty of our past clients. We're sorry if there was any confusion. We are sorry to hear that the first reef did not meet your expectations. We strive to offer diverse and vibrant marine environments and appreciate your input; we'll make sure to use it to enhance our offerings. Thanks again for your honest review; hopefully, this clears up the air. Best wishes, Bee Díaz

Great Value, Friendly Crew

Mark_H, Feb 2024

Friendly crew, three stops, drinks included. Variety of fish was good, not amazing, but this was an affordable option near the cruise ships. Great value.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hi Mark_H, Thank you for leaving such a kind review! We're happy to hear that you found our crew friendly, enjoyed the reefs, and liked the drinks. It's important for us to maintain our staring point near the cruise ports for a convenient experience for our passengers. We hope to welcome you back for more enjoyable experiences in the future! Best wishes, Bee Díaz

Great snorkeling!

Liz_A, Feb 2024

This was a great trip, with kind and knowledgeable guides. We saw tons of fish and appreciated the variety of sites.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Liz_A, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted that you had a great trip with our guides. It's fantastic to hear that you enjoyed the variety of sites and all of the beautiful marine life. We are beyond thankful for your positive feedback and hope to welcome you back for more memorable experiences! Best wishes, Bee Díaz

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