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Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs
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From $60.00
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Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
- 24 hours prior100% refund
- Within 24 hoursNo refund
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.
Learn more about cancellations
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Safety measures
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking?
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking? We know, there’s a lot to keep track of. Be sure to check local guidelines so you’re aware of all travel requirements before you go.
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 1 more
Good for avoiding crowds
Overview
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
Saved to wishlist!
From $60.00
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What's Included
Professional guide
Snorkel gear
Snorkeling at 3 different locations
Unlimited drinks (fruit juices, bottled water and beer)
Alcoholic Beverages
Snacks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
National Marine Park Fee of $ 5.00 U.S. p/p
Departure & Return
Marina Fonatur Cozumel , Marina Fonatur, Carr. Costera Sur km 6, 77688 Q.R., Mexico
This activity will end right where it started.Please take a taxi and ask to be taeken to The Marina Fonatur. At Guests arrival kindly proceed to the boats ramp and look for Chac Choc Tours
1:00 PM
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.
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
- 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, no sunscreen (wear long sleeve clothing and hat) and a towel
- Note: Time spent at each of the reefs is approximate and depends on weather conditions and group size.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- OPERATED BY JS Tours
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.
Learn more about cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs?
A:The policies on sanitization are:
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs?
A:The policy on social distancing is:
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Traveler Photos



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Traveler Tips
- "Beverages were provided throughout the tour, although beer was only available after the snorkeling for safety purposes." See review
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Reviews
4.0
118 Reviews
5 stars
53
4 stars
21
3 stars
19
2 stars
14
1 star
11
Reviews by Viator travelers
We perform checks on reviews
Showing 1-10 of 118 reviews
Adventure /Great Experience
Ernest_S
, Mar 2022
Great family fun.
Richard_B
, Dec 2021
Quick snorkel tour on a day trip in Cozumel
Jacques_M
, Nov 2021
Too much time waiting
AlmaLorena_S
, Nov 2021
The snorkeling part was nice
The peopele that work there were very nice. They treat you very good. The beverages were nice.
But picking up people in 3 hitels was too much, we spent more than rwo. Hours before getting to the snorkeling place
Response from Host , May 2022
Over Priced!
Debbie_P
, Sep 2021
The guides were lovely. However for 3 - 20 minute snorkling experiences it was very expensive ($60 US each). Sadly there is virtually nothing left to see in the reefs. Climate change has taken the color and life away from the 3 areas. The 3rd was only a very few starfish on the bottom. Could have seen that swimming out from a beach.
2 travelers found this review helpful
Amazing
EleniSelene_I
, Aug 2021
Snorkeling was fun…beware of possible scam
Philip_V
, Jul 2021
5 dollar tax not mentioned when we booked this excursion. Photographer worked on commission and had a complete photo shoot with one family and took about 6 pics of us. And tried charging us the same price for way less pics
Response from Host , Jul 2021
Hello Philip,
Thank you very much for your feedback and four points rating.
I apologize for any wrong impression you could have on the photo concession work. We'll take care of those details right away in order to avoid any possible misunderstanding.
In regards the $5.00 US p/p National Marine Park is clearly indicated on the section "What's Included" of the tour description which you may review.
Sincerely yours,
Had a lot of fun! Good deal!
Evan_D
, Jul 2021
Amazing Snorkeling Experience
Jason_P
, Jul 2020
We booked a snorkeling trip last minute with Juan, Rene, and Wilbur and had an incredible experience. We visited three snorkel spots and then got to swim at El Ciel at the end. Rene took incredible pictures of our family snorkeling and I was thrilled to be able to buy them at the end for only $45 for my family of 4. The pictures were in my email in the next few hours. The three crew members on our boat could have not been nicer or more helpful. I highly recommend this trip!
1 traveler found this review helpful
Excellent trip, great value, helpful staff
John_M
, Feb 2020
Our boat was crewed by Juan, Roman & the photographer, all really friendly guys. They took time to explain exactly what we would be doing, what we could expect to see, and looked after us very well. The snorkeling was better than we expected as we saw a turtle, shark, parrot fish, queen ocean trigger fish & many more. Juan kept the group fully informed during the snorkeling, telling us whenever he stopped anything interesting. The photographer took great photos of us and the turtle; we never normally buy 'tourist' photos, but made an exception as the photos were excellent. Really enjoyable trip, thoroughly recommended
2 travelers found this review helpful
Overall, a great tour with helpful guides
PTProfessor
, Jan 2020
I previously wrote a review that mentioned I never received the pictures i paid for at the end of the tour. I contacted the tour operator and photographer, and within two days, received all the pictures I was expecting. Other than that temporary problem, it was a great trip.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Good Snorkel trip
Pascal_E
, May 2019
A very fun snorkeling experience
Matt_C
, Jan 2019
Our crew was very friendly, and the three locations where we stopped to snorkel were beautiful. We had some pictures taken of our group underwater, which all turned out great and we were able to purchase for a very reasonable price. Beverages were provided throughout the tour, although beer was only available after the snorkeling for safety purposes.
Awesome times!
Lisa M
, Jan 2019
Very disappointed -- falsely advertised
Joseph_D
, Dec 2018
We are a family of three (all adults) and have trusted Viator many times for our world travels and this experience was our first disappointment. The description online is severely misleading. While the description says that each boat will carry between 10 and 20 people out for the snorkeling trip, our boat was crowded with 33 total passengers, plus 3 crew members. There were three unannounced stops to pick up additional passengers before we reached the first reef. It took one full hour to reach the first reef to begin snorkeling. Generally speaking, the crew was not immediately responsive to our questions or concerns. The snorkeling equipment was cheaply made: the straps on the mask were too loose and one of us lost a flipper in the water because the strap was too loose. The ratio of snorkelers to crew members in the water was dangerously out of proportion: with 30 swimmers in the water, we had only ONE guide. There was another crew member in the water, but his responsibility was only to take photos and not assist swimmers. At one point, one of us felt unsafe in the water and immediately made the emergency signal that the boat needed to return to pick us up. The crew member we signaled to was extremely dismissive and did not respond to our need to get out of the water. The boat itself is in no way a glass bottom boat. There is a small glass through-hull port at the bow, visible only if you crawl way up to the front. The bottom itself of the boat is all fiber glass. Note: The location itself where you board is a small marina with no cafes or eateries (so be sure to have lunch before you reach the Marina) and you are responsible for calling your own taxi to return to town as taxis do not regularly pass by this area. We in no way recommend this tour and strongly suggest that you look elsewhere for a better experience.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Fun day on the wayer
Maps585030
, Dec 2018
Awesome tour operators. Crew was always...
Jason H
, Sep 2018
We had an excellent time on this...
Kenny_C
, Jul 2018
We had an excellent time on this trip. We arrived too early as we were still on ship's time but the local fishermen completely looked after us by phoning the company to find out when we should expect them.
The crew of the boat were all great - really looking after myself, husband, son 17 and daughter 15. I was a little scared in the water but the crew looked after us and helped my daughter try a bit of free diving which she was over the moon with. A photographer accompanied the trip and took some great pictures which we bought for 30 on a disk. However, they also said they would email them to us but they never did. Tequila and beer was included on the trip and there was a great sun deck on top of the boat which we took advantage of.
The deck guys and the skipper were...
Joseph_M
, May 2018
The deck guys and the skipper were really nice and customer friendly. Smaller boat with 10-15 people plus crew but totally safe.
Good equipment. Water and soft drinks on the way out - Beer added on the way back.
Best if you know how to snorkle and a decent swimmer. I am not and hadn't snorkeled in years. I panicked and had to be helped back
in on the first stop. They were patient and helpful and gave me a few tips so that I could hang on the the ladder and use my mask and snorkle look down at the reefs from the safety of the ship for the next two stops. Be aware that the boat circles around the group as you snorkle. I didn't realize that they were going to do that and when I first got in and wasn't breathing properly, I panicked further when I looked up and they had moved away slightly. It was my issue and not theirs because I didn't have my technique down. SUMMARY: Great guys -worth the trip- Que Viva Mexico ! Gracias!
I am 64. This trip was a long trip...
pamela g
, Apr 2018
I am 64. This trip was a long trip out to the snorkeling site. Water was drowning everyone on the small boat on the way out. Everyone was miserable. I had my snorkel mask over my eyes to stop the salt water burning my eyes, I had the snorkel in my mouth to keep out the salty water and my finger in my ear to keep the water from pounding my ear. I did enjoy the snorkeling but it was not as fantastic as I had anticipated. My sister and I purchased the photographers disk, it was 35 and we gave him 40. The disk is empty. We are hoping this is a mistake and will be worked out. As this was my sister's first time snorkeling we really wanted the pictures. My advice snorkel from the shore. Others on our cruise did this and saw more sea life than we did.
2 travelers found this review helpful
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