The 15 Best Snorkeling Trips in Cozumel

1.ATV 4×4+Snorkeling+Beach Club+ Lunch+Sabores de Cozumel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,468 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $89Our pick

Ride a semi-automatic ATV through Cozumel’s jungle trails, taste chocolate and eight artisanal tequilas at Sabores de Cozumel, then eat lunch and snorkel from Coco’s Beach Club. Guides such as Tony, Edwin, JJ, and Christopher help keep the day moving, though seaweed and rough water can change the beach portion.

“Firstly Ernesto, our guide was absolutely amazing! He was super helpful and knowledgeable and kept us perfectly on schedule. We arrived with enough time for the ship’s departure and as soon as we started the tour he assured me that we’d be perfect on schedule. The tequila tasting was super interesting and fun and the ATVs were great and exciting. We were also welcomed with a complimentary Paloma. The beach resort was a little under whelming but the food was good there.”

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2.Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,462 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Spend about four hours snorkeling Palancar and Columbia reefs, then visit El Cielo’s starfish-filled sandbar. You’ll use provided gear, ride in an insured shaded boat, and have water, sodas, beer and a snack. Groups are limited to 16, with several departure times.

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3.3 Reefs Boat Tour with Drinks and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,080 reviews · 4 hours · from $57

Join an English-speaking guide and captain for a four-hour Cozumel boat trip to Palancar, Columbia, and El Cielo. Expect guided snorkeling, clear shallow water, turtles, rays, starfish, drinks, and a snack, with a small-group feel on many departures.

“Loved this whole experience. We saw sting rays sharks and all sorts of fish. The guides were kind personable and made a great margarita.”

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4.Private Jeep Excursion in Cozumel with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 718 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $74

Build a half-day Cozumel outing around your interests with a private Jeep, local guide, snorkeling gear, lunch, and hotel or port pickup. You may visit Punta Sur, El Mirador, Chankanaab, San Gervasio, El Cedral, and the local market. Guides such as Julio, Carlos, Bibi, and Emily are often praised for personal service.

“It was super personalized and we learned so much about the history of the island. The mayan cultural experience was fantastic!”

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5.Cozumel Coral Reef Snorkeling by Glass Bottom Boat with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 543 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $35Best value

Spend about two hours cruising from El Cid La Ceiba to Villa Blanca Wall and shallow and deep Paraiso Reef. A bilingual guide leads three snorkeling stops, with equipment, water, soft drinks, and a post-swim beer included. Small groups, patient guides, and close-to-shore reefs make it a good first snorkeling trip.

“This was easy to book. I had several emails with details and instructions. I was met with a friendly guide immediately telling us what to do and where to be. The family owned business was well-run, kind, efficient, and we enjoyed the snorkeling. We had ages 10 years old to 76 years old. Everyone enjoyed the excursion. A few people stayed on the boat and were entertained and saw through the glass bottom. The boat was older but did its job well. 10-57 year olds snorkeled with ease, some for the first time. Excellent.”

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6.Jade Caverns Private Jeep Tour with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 525 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Explore Cozumel by private Jeep with a guide such as Marco, Miguel, Johnny, or Paco. Visit El Cedral, Jade Caverns, El Mirador, and Chen Rio, then snorkel and eat lunch at Coco’s Beach Club. Chocolate, tortilla, and tequila tastings are included, though beach time can feel rushed.

“It is exactly what you expect; and fully customizable. Jared was great on asking questions about what we wanted to do/see, and tailored to trip to us specifically. Very accommodating, had a lot of knowledge, and made us very comfortable away from home. Would recommend Jared, specifically, 100%.”

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7.Invisible Boat Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 297 reviews · 1 hour 35 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Board a crystal-clear boat near Villa Blanca Garden Beach Hotel for a short Cozumel cruise over reefs and sunken ships. You can watch fish through the hull or use the included mask, fins, vest, and snorkel. Guides such as Jose, Saidy, Jessica, and Emanuel have earned praise for safety and friendly help.

“Very nice way to see the sunken ships and reefs in Cozumel. The boat is a bit difficult to get in and out . Not disability equipped.”

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8.El Cielo Cozumel Snorkeling trip by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 276 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $95

Cruise from Marina Cozumel to Palancar, Columbia, El Cielo, and nearby reefs. You’ll snorkel with a guide, look for turtles, rays, and starfish, then enjoy ceviche, drinks, and a beach stop. Departures may include crew members such as David, Elias, or Oliver, depending on the boat.

“That was terrible excursion and I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. The guys on a catamaran were good, but the places to snorkel were we stopped were not interesting, there were just few fishes and stars, no corals, no other interesting things. Then, I've noticed that something happened to the motor on catamaran and I asked twice if we will be able to get back. The captain and another worker told me that everything will be fine, don't worry, we will be back on time. At the end, they dropped us off almost 1 hour from the place where they suppose to and they said that we can take…”

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9.ATV Mud Kicking and Snorkeling by Boat in Cozumel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 247 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Spend about five and a half hours with Tortugas Cozumel combining guided ATV riding near El Cedral, a cenote stop, boat snorkeling, Mexican lunch, and beach-club time. Guides such as Francisco, Arturo, Claudio, Luis, and Barney add local stories and humor, but the day’s order can change.

“I am not the best person to rate this ATV experience because we vacationed many summers in Colorado and would travel by ATV in the mountains. So this was not that, but, it was a nice quick ATV ride on a (ours was a dirt road) to a cave. And around the small community in the forest area. We had a chance to shop a few outdoor market shops and then took the jeep over to where we snorkeled and ate lunch. The snorkeling was by far my favorite part of this excursion. I have never seen so many different kinds of fish. The lunch was right after the snorkeling,…”

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10.VIP Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling 3 Reefs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 210 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Meet a white-shirted host outside El Cid La Ceiba, near Cozumel’s cruise piers, for a two-hour glass-bottom boat trip to three reef areas. Guides such as Arturo, Miguel, Juan, and Julius have helped swimmers and beginners alike, while non-swimmers can watch from the boat.

“Highly recommend!! We only had a few hours to enjoy Cozumel so we booked this tour, for the price it is I can’t believe the experience we received! The guys were amazing super friendly and knowledgeable. We went snorkelling in 3 different spots and its was amazing. Perfect amount of time in the water and a great experience”

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11.Cozumel Buggy Tour: Snorkeling , Otoch Mayan Experience & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 182 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $69

Drive a manual buggy around Cozumel with a bilingual guide, visit El Cedral and Otoch Mayan Experience, stop at San Martin Beach, snorkel at SkyReef, and eat fajitas. Guides such as Reyes, José, Ruy, and Alex have earned strong praise, but vehicle condition and timing can vary.

“Our tour guide was the best! We had a great time and learned alot. The whole tour was an awesome experience and we will for sure be returning again.”

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12.Private Buggy Tour with Lunch & Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 172 reviews · 5 hours · from $89

Drive a private open-top buggy around Cozumel with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Visit a tequila ranch, San Martin and Chen Rio beaches, El Mirador, and Tortugas Beach Club for Mexican lunch and snorkeling. Guides such as Fernando, Tomas, Tania, and Ricardo tailor the day to your pace.

“Our guide was amazing. Knew a lot about the island and took us to great places.”

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13.Cozumel Private Jeep Tour with Snorkeling Experience and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $80

Spend 5 to 6 hours touring Cozumel in a private Jeep with a local guide such as Ricardo, Sergio, or Tomas. Visit Rancho Alejandra, Chen Rio, San Martin, and El Mirador, then finish with lunch and optional snorkeling at Money Bar.

“Our guide Francisco (Pancho) was very nice and helpful, he went out of his way to help us with an item needed at the farmacia. The visit to the tequila tasting at Rancho Alejandra was fun and informative. The beach at Playa Chen Rio on the south side of the island is a good place to get sun and is very pretty. Pancho provided drinks and water which helped us survive the hot day in more comfort. The only downside was the lunch provided at the Tortuga Beach in which the beef and chicken fajitas were very dry. We told this to the waiter but no apology or replacement was…”

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14.Cozumel Snorkeling Tour at Palancar & Colombia Reefs and El Cielo

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 149 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Join JS Tours in Cozumel for a four-hour glass-bottom boat trip to Colombia Reef, Palancar Reef, and El Cielo. Your bilingual crew provides snorkel gear, fruit, sandwiches, water, soft drinks, and beer. Guides such as Tony, Roberto, René, and Juan are known for attentive group care.

“We had a wonderful time on this snorkel trip with Chac Choc Tours. The guys were super friendly and took special care of our diverse group. We had kids, uncle, parents, and grandparents - so they had their hands full watching over 8 people. Would highly recommend this trip/tour.”

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15.El Cielo Cozumel Snorkeling tour by Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 136 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Take a four-hour private boat from Marina Cozumel to El Cielo and nearby reefs. A certified crew such as Ricky, Christina, Carlos, or Jose guides your group toward turtles, rays, nurse sharks, starfish, and colorful fish. Gear, shade, drinks, and fresh ceviche are included. Marine fees cost extra.

“We had a terrific snorkeling experience! Jose, the captain and photographer were so nice and very professional. One of my friends was scared to snorkel, and they were so helpful and encouraging. They took us to 4 locations, each of which was unique and beautiful. We saw a big variety of marine life...it definitely exceeded our expectations. At the last stop they prepared fresh ceviche. It was delicious! They anchored a raft with juice, water, and beer so we could snack and enjoy a drink in the water. It was delightful. It was a highlight of our trip!”

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