10 Best Snorkel Tours in Cozumel
Cozumel has some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. While there are many places you can snorkel right from shore, some of the best places can only be reached by boat.
I lived in Cozumel for nearly two years, and I’ve rounded up the very best snorkeling tours so you can have the best experience possible.
My Top 3 Picks: Best Snorkel Tours in Cozumel
#1 TOP PICK
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Snorkel Tour
✔️ Visit the best spots
✔️ Lunch and drinks included
#2 PICK
#3 PICK
Best Cozumel Snorkeling Tours
There are so many different snorkeling tours you can take, plus seemingly endless combinations.
Snorkeling and Jeep tours. Snorkeling and beach break. Snorkeling and E-bikes. And then there are multiple options for each. It can get overwhelming.
I’ve taken the work out of it for you. Just decide what kind of tour you want, and I’ll show you which is the best option for you.
10 Best Snorkeling Tours in Cozumel
1. Best Overall Snorkeling Tour
🐠 The Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Snorkel Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | 🗸 Book it!
The Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Snorkel Tour is my top choice for snorkeling in Cozumel. You get to see sea turtles, rays, coral, and so many fish. I took this tour and absolutely loved it!
You’ll visit three snorkeling spots: Colombia Reef, El Cielo, and El Cielito. These are three of the best places to snorkel in Cozumel, and you won’t be disappointed.
Your onboard chef will prepare fresh ceviche, guacamole, pico de gallo, and seasonal fruit. You also get beer, bottled water, and soda.
The guides will take photos that you can purchase if you’d like.
Book This Tour!
An absolutely amazing afternoon!!! I cannot say enough about Alex the organizer and the crew of the Marlin. They were absolutely amazing, kind and helpful from start to finish. -sealstara
See more reviews.
The Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Snorkel Tour Highlights:
2. Best Private Snorkeling Tour
🐠 El Cielo Snorkel by Private Boat
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | 🗸 Book it!
When you don’t want to deal with other people, the El Cielo Snorkel by Private Boat is perfect. The private tour means your group gets all the attention and you call all the shots.
The captain takes you to one or more of the most beautiful reefs in Cozumel, where a guide will ensure your safety while snorkeling.
You’ll see an assortment of tropical fish, turtles, stingrays, and more as you swim in the clear, warm Caribbean Sea.
Fresh fish ceviche and margaritas are included, making this a great deal.
Five Stars
Carlos, Omar and Fatima were excellent tour guides and new all the great spots to snorkel. Saw 6 sea turtles, a nurse shark, eel, star fish and many more amazing fish. Very accommodating and would recommend this trip to everyone! -Dave_S
See more reviews.
El Cielo Snorkel by Private Boat Highlights:
3. Best Snorkeling and Beach Party Combo Tour
🐠 El Cielo, Palancar Snorkel & Beach Party
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | 🗸 Book it!
If you’re looking for a fun-filled day of snorkeling, eating, drinking, and dancing, then the El Cielo, Palancar Snorkel & Beach Party is for you!
You’ll visit two of the best snorkeling spots in Cozumel and see a variety of sea life, including starfish, turtles, stingrays, and so many fish.
Afterward, you’ll head back to land for a fun island beach party, which includes beer, margaritas, and cheeseburgers. You can also play beach volleyball and other water sports.
If you’re looking for a fun day of snorkeling and partying, this is it.
Highly recommend
Excellent trip, great staff. Had a fantastic time!!! Highly recommend this excursion. Food was amazing, snorkeling was beautiful. -Andrea_G
See more reviews.
El Cielo, Palancar Snorkel & Beach Party Highlights:
4. Best Snorkel and Jeep Tour Combo
🐠 Private Jeep Tour with Snorkeling Experience and Lunch
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | 🗸 Book it!
If you’re just in Cozumel for a day, this is a great way to see and do the most. The Private Jeep Tour With Snorkeling and Lunch takes you all over the island.
You’ll stop for some beach and snorkeling time followed by a delicious lunch.
Since the tour is just for your group, you get to decide exactly where to go and how long to stay.
This tour is consistently rated very highly for customer satisfaction so I know you’ll love it.
Great Tour!
My two sisters and I thoroughly enjoyed our stop in Cozumel with this experience. Definitely book this tour – you will not be disappointed!! -Cynthia_L
See more reviews.
Private Jeep Tour Highlights:
5. Best Power Snorkel with Sea Scooters Tour
🐠 Sunken Ship by Sea Scooters
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 4.5 hours | 🗸 Book it!
I can’t decide what’s the best part about the Sunken Ship by Sea Scooters tour – the incredible fun of snorkeling with a sea scooter, the super cool shipwreck, or the amazing Mexican lunch.
Not many snorkeling tours go see the shipwreck, so this is a somewhat unique opportunity.
The tour starts at a restaurant near downtown. After a briefing on how to use the sea scooters, you’ll set out for the sunken ship.
After making your way back to shore, you’ll get a short cooking lesson on how to prepare a delicious Mexican snack. Next is some tequila tasting with a tequila expert.
Finally, it’s time for lunch. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal at a local restaurant before returning to the origination point.
One thing’s for sure, it all adds up to an amazing day.
Wonderful Experience
This was the perfect excursion option. The views were amazing and there were lots of sea life to view. I would recommend this tour to anyone thinking about it. -Tyler_R
See more reviews.
Sunken Ship by Sea Scooters Highlights:
6. Best Snorkeling and ATV Combo Tour
🐠 ATV Mud Kicking and Snorkeling
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 5.5 hours | 🗸 Book it!
See two of the best parts of Cozumel in this unique combo. The ATV Mud Kicking and Snorkeling tour first takes you to Jade Cenote where you can cool off after the exciting ride through the jungle.
You’ll then ride your ATV to a beach club for snorkeling, lunch, and an open bar. There are other water activities available for you to take part in at the beach club if you want a change.
All in all it’s a great way to spend the day in Cozumel.
Highly recommend
Our guides made these experiences so wonderful. ATVs into the jungle. I jumped in a cenote from 25ft above. We saw wildlife. Our snorkel tour was awesome. I even got to see a barracuda. –Thomas_J
See more reviews.
ATV Mud Kicking and Snorkeling Highlights:
7. Best Night Snorkel Tour
🐠 Night Snorkeling to See Octopus and More
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | 🗸 Book it!
Snorkeling at night is an experience you’ll never forget! See octopus, squid, and other nocturnal creatures.
You’ll be given flashlights and snorkel in shallow water where the octopus is known to hang out. Working as a team you’ll search for this master of camouflage.
The guides will be taking photographs and videos that you’ll receive after the tour. This is a unique tour you’ll always remember.
Our night snorkeling experience was one of our favorite experiences in Cozumel! We saw king crabs, sting rays, octopus, squid, moray eels, a starfish, and many other types of fish. It was an amazing experience. -Natalie_S
See more reviews.
Night Snorkeling Tour Highlights:
8. Best Snorkel and E-Bike Tour
🐠 E-bike West Coast Snorkeling Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | 🗸 Book it!
E-Bike West Coast Snorkeling Tour is a fun change from the usual island tours. Each person rides their own e-bike out of town. You get to see parts of the island some locals never see!
After a ride along the coast and exploring a cenote, you’ll stop at a beautiful beach club for snorkeling, lunch, and relaxing on the beach.
You can choose to ride back with the group or stay at the beach club on your own for some more swimming, snorkeling, eating – whatever you choose. It’s a fun twist to the regular island tour you’re sure to love.
This bike tour for our family of six adults was a highlight of our vacation on Cozumel with its high entertainment value and our excellent tour guide, Carlos! We will absolutely do this tour again! -Jody_D
See more reviews.
E-Bike West Coast Snorkeling Tour Highlights:
9. Best Exclusive Snorkel Tour
🐠 Luxury Sailing & Snorkeling Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 6 hours | 🗸 Book it!
The Luxury Sailing & Snorkeling Tour is the most exclusive tour in Cozumel. You’ll set sail in your private yacht with the crew ready to make your day absolutely perfect.
You and the captain will decide where to go snorkeling and which beaches to stop at. You can snorkel, swim, or soak up the sun. It’s all up to you.
The crew will prepare lunch and drinks for you while you live like a rock star.
Absolutely fantastic. The boat was beautiful and the crew was first class. The drinks were fantastic and plentiful. They set us up a lunch of ceveche, tuna, and fresh guacamole on a secluded beach. I will be back next year for sure. -Ruth W
See more reviews.
Luxury Sailing & Snorkeling Tour Highlights:
10. Best Tour For People Who Don’t Want to Get Wet
🐠 Invisible Boat Snorkeling Adventure
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏱️ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | 🗸 Book it!
Invisible Boat Snorkeling Adventure is the perfect solution for groups of people where some people want to swim and some don’t.
You have the option to snorkel or stay dry in the boat while seeing all the fish, turtles, coral, and more.
It takes the glass-bottom boat concept to a new extreme. The boat is completely translucent, so you’ll feel like you’re flying over the water.
Whether you get in the water or stay in the boat, you’ll see all the fish and sea life and have an amazing day.
Beyond perfect for our family. I thought the boat would be a little hokey. It was seriously very cool. If you’re nervous about getting in the water…. Perfect solution. And you can still get in the water. -Mary_G
See more reviews.
Invisible Boat Snorkeling Adventure Highlights:
Tips For Snorkeling In Cozumel
Frequently Asked Questions: Cozumel Mexico Snorkeling
Do you need a tour to snorkel in Cozumel?
You don’t need a tour to snorkel in Cozumel. However, some of the best sports are only accessible by boat.
Can you snorkel on your own in Cozumel?
Yes, you can snorkel on your own in Cozumel. Many beach clubs have great snorkeling right off shore.
Can you swim with turtles in Cozumel?
You’ll find sea turtles at many of the snorkel sites, especially farther offshore.
Which side of Cozumel has better beaches?
The west side of Cozumel has the best beaches for swimming and snorkeling. The east side (or “wild side”) has strong rip currents.
What part of Cozumel has the best snorkeling?
The clearest water for snorkeling can be found at El Cielo (Spanish for “the sky” or “heaven”). This snorkeling spot can only be reached by boat. The sandy bottom is full of starfish.
What is the best reef to snorkel in Cozumel?
Many people consider Palancar Reef to be the best in Cozumel. It is known for its coral formations, crystal-clear waters, and diverse marine life.
Can you snorkel without a guide in Cozumel?
Is snorkeling good in Cozumel?
Yes! Snorkeling in Cozumel is amazing! The water is warm and clear and there’s a ton of sea life you can see.
Is it safe to snorkel in Cozumel?
Snorkeling in Cozumel is very safe. The water is usually calm. Just be careful of the current as you may end up farther downshore than you want.
Wrap-Up: Best Snorkel Tours in Cozumel
Cozumel’s underwater world is an absolute paradise. Snorkeling in the warm Caribbean Sea is an experience that never gets old. Trust me on this… I lived here, and I would have snorkeled every single day if I could.
By taking a snorkeling tour you’ll make sure you see the best snorkel sites. The guides are also great at finding amazing sea life.
For the best snorkeling experience, I recommend The Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Snorkel Tour. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a day in Cozumel’s water.
Related Posts
- Best Time to Visit Cozumel: Month-by-Month Guide
- How to Get to Cozumel From Cancun – and Back Again
- Is Cozumel Safe?
- Cancun or Cozumel: Which is Better for Your Vacation?
- Day Trip to Cozumel From Playa del Carmen
- Guide to Getting Through Cancun Customs Quickly and Easily
- Best Beach Bars in Cozumel
- Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Cozumel for Families
- Best Places to Snorkel in Cozumel
- Best Tequila Tours in Cozumel
- Cozumel Pronunciation – How to Sound Like a Local
