★ 200+ guests · every one rated 5 stars

The turtle surfaces. Two feet from your face.

Xarou grew up in this bay. Six guests max.

Free cancellation 24h · No resort fees · Ever.
200+ verified 5-star reviews
5.0★ average rating
2010 in these waters since

AVOID ROADSIDE RESELLERS — We are local operators with direct beach access. Your web booking includes equipment and the official CONANP bracelet — no middleman.

👥
Six people. Not one more.
At six, the turtle keeps grazing two feet from your mask. At twenty-five, she dives before you reach her. The cap is the product.
📹
Personal video, sent free
When our crew is in the water, they capture your encounter and send you an edited video via WhatsApp. No charge, no ask.
💳
Confirmed before you close this tab
Pay online and your spot locks the moment payment clears. Instant email, plus Xarou's personal WhatsApp number.
🐢
14 years in this specific bay
Xarou has tracked the turtle feeding routes here since childhood — every day since 2010. That depth shows up on every tour.
The honest truth

Most turtle tours put 20 people in the water. The turtles leave.

Splashing, noise, a crowd. The turtle dives to the bottom before you reach her. You paid for an encounter. You got a green blur. That's not what happens here.

Choose your adventure

Three Akumal Tours. One Local Guide.

Every price on this page is the final price. No resort fees, no add-ons, no surprises at checkout.

← Drag to explore →

⏱ Popular dates fill fast — most weekends book by Thursday

Your memories — included, free

We include underwater photography and digital video service in your tour. To ensure the highest editing quality, your digital files are carefully processed and sent to your email or WhatsApp within 24 to 48 hours maximum.

"The most turquoise water I have ever seen in my life."

— Guest, April 2025
What guests say

200 guests. Every single one rated us 5 stars.

5.0
★★★★★
200+ verified reviews · 5.0 average · No exceptions

Many guests know Xarou by his full name, Ricardo — it's what his family calls him. The bay has always called him Xarou.

Thomas Plush: "We were visiting last week with an idea to see the sea turtles. We were met by an individual by the name of Ricardo that fronted the money for parking and beach access until our big group arrived. We were able to enjoy everything as we waited for the rest of the family to arrive without any worries. This company was patient and catered to our 13 person group. We went out during the rain with 2 guides that showed us several sea turtles, sting rays and several different species."
Chris Debruycker: "Loved the experience. Ricardo was awesome helping us with every step. Definitely recommend using him for furture tours 💪"
Petra König: "Great experience with the turtles 🐢🌴 Wonderful experience 🥰 next time again with akbay-tours 😍🤿"
Dylan Van Schaik: "We had a verry good time last week, the tour was perfect the people how helped us where very good and we have enjoyd our day and we see a lot of turrtles. Thanks a lot!"
Jessica Pfeffer: "Fantastic snorkeling experience 😍 We saw so many turtles, lots of colorful fish and much more. 🌊🐢👏 After the snorkeling trip we were able to spend the day on the beach. The beach visit is included in the snorkeling price so we didn't have to pay the beach entrance fee again. Just a wonderful day. Thank you Akbays Tours - next time we will book a tour again through Akbay Tours 🥰"
Laura Love: "Ricardo was a prompt and thorough communicator. He was waiting for us to arrive and was with us every step of the way. Raul was our guide for private snorkeling with the turtles and he was amazing, too! We saw so many turtles and he helped us swim right next to them! He also showed us a lobster, stingray, octopus, coral, and a bonefish. 6/5 stars!"
Michael Pfeffer: "Wonderful experience with the turtles 🐢 ❤️ thank akbay-Tours for this great experience 🥰"
Jenna Leigh: "I had an incredible time in Akumal thanks to Ricardo. He's super kind, friendly, helpful, and trustworthy. He really helped to make Akumal one of the highlights of my holiday!"
Joy Böttcher: "Kann ich nur empfehlen!! 😍 Wir hatten Ricardo durch Zufall getroffen. Er hat uns zu einer Schnorcheltour mit Schildkröten überzeugt. Wir hatten bei der Tour einen privaten Guide, dieser hat sich viel Zeit für uns genommen. Wir haben viele Schildkröten gesehen und waren begeistert, es hat außerdem sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Ricardo hat uns gut beraten und war sehr kommunikativ und freundlich. Der Service und das Preis-Leistungs Verhältnis sind sehr gut. Wir würden immer wieder über diesen Touranbieter buchen. Danke für alles. Wir werden definitiv zurückkehren!! 🐢🌴 🇲🇽❤️"
Laura Hankin Lewin: "Wow! We had the most incredible experience snorkeling with turtles and we have Ricardo to thank. I feel so lucky to have met Ricardo from Akbay Tours. My two adult children and I signed up for a snorkeling experience with Ricardo and he helped us every step of the way — from explaining to me how safe it is to being patient when we were running behind, to meeting us and letting us follow him to the snorkeling location. We got to see many huge turtles as well as stingrays and other cool marine animals. And Ricardo put together a very cute and fun video of us with pictures from our trip. Ricardo was friendly, funny, patient, kind, and helpful and we absolutely recommend him and his company Akbay Tours!!"
Katka Kačka Csejteyová: "Snorkeling at Akumal Beach with Akbay Tour was an incredible experience! ✨😍 Under the guidance of a friendly guide, we explored the entire underwater world with detailed explanations. We observed turtles of various sizes, rays, fish, and beautiful coral reefs accompanied by colorful fish. 🐢🐟💧 A huge surprise for us was a snorkeling video created by the kind and helpful beach manager, allowing us to capture this beautiful memory. ❤️ We highly recommend this experience! We will definitely return to this beach someday. 🤝"
Mona Gold: "We had a really nice and fun experience. Ricardo convinced us to do a private snorkel trip with a guide and we didn't regret it. We enjoyed it very much and had a blast :) During the snorkel trip we saw many turtles, a manta ray and other fish. It was just a nice atmosphere. And the beach is beautiful. Many thanks to Ricardo."
Brigusz Bondor: "Highly recommend! They super nice and helpful! I did a small group tour ( 3 ppl ) . See the turtles and stingrays was super fun! Thanks for the wonderful experience !"
Inez Theon: "I highly recommend!!! We had an amazing experience with Akbay Tours! So glad we met Ricardo and that we were able to see the turtles and stingrays 🐢 One hour experience was the perfect amount of time and we got it for a perfect price! Thank you so much for the amazing experience 💙"
Holly Morris: "My two kids and I had a fabulous morning with Ricardo in Akumal. He looked after us as soon as we got off the collectivo and made sure we had the best time ever. He made sure the kids were looked after so well too and made sure they had a buoyancy aid to hold onto when swimming out. We saw so many turtles including a baby, a ray and a puffer fish as well as loads more. I really couldn't recommend him and his tours enough. Five star day! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
Instagram · @akbaytours

🎬 Our daily life at the beach

📷 See more on Instagram
Before you book

No guesswork. Just answers.

No. Life jackets are provided in all sizes and your guide stays beside every member of the group at all times. Our youngest snorkelers have been 4 years old. Many guests have been first-time snorkelers or non-swimmers. Akumal Bay is calm, warm, and shallow — no currents, no swell, no deep water. If you can float, you can do this tour.
Yes — booking online secures your specific spot. Pay with card or PayPal; we never ask for cash at the meeting point. Your spot locks the moment your payment clears, and a confirmation email arrives within seconds. No waiting, no 'we'll get back to you.'
Cancel at least 24 hours before your tour and you get every dollar back — no questions asked, no fees, no drama. Just message Xarou on WhatsApp. Plans change in Mexico. That's why we built the booking this way.
Akumal Bay has one of the world's few year-round resident populations of green sea turtles — they live here and follow the same feeding routes season after season. Xarou has been tracking those routes daily since 2010. Wildlife can't be guaranteed, but 200 five-star reviews from guests who came looking for turtles — and left talking about turtles — is the best answer we have.
Maximum 6, always. Not 6 and a squeeze — 6. At six people, you approach a turtle slowly and hover in silence. She keeps grazing, completely unbothered, two feet from your mask. At twenty-five, the first fin kick sends her forty feet down before anyone gets close. Six is not a selling point. It is what makes the encounter real.
Reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, and water. Snorkel mask, fins, and life jacket are all included — you bring nothing else. No underwater camera required: on days when our filming crew is in the water, you'll receive a personal edited video sent free via WhatsApp.
At the 7-Eleven Akumal, Calle 16, Akumal, Quintana Roo — the most recognizable landmark in town. Easy to reach from Cancún or Tulum by colectivo or car. Xarou will be there when you arrive.
Yes. Our youngest guests have been 4 years old. Life jackets are provided in all sizes and Xarou stays beside every member of the group, children included. Akumal Bay is calm, protected water — no currents, no swell. Families with young kids are some of our most regular guests. Several have come back for a second tour before their vacation ended.
Akumal Bay has resident turtles year-round — they live here, they don't migrate. Best visibility is before 11am when the water is calm and the turtles are actively feeding on the sea grass. All our morning slots have the highest turtle encounter rate.
The six-person cap isn't a marketing line — it's the reason you see turtles up close. With 20 people splashing, the turtle dives before you reach her. With six, she keeps grazing two feet from your mask. Xarou has spent 14 years learning the exact feeding routes. That combination is the product.
Yes — if spots are available, your booking confirms in seconds online. For same-day tours, text Xarou directly on WhatsApp. He will get back to you as soon as possible and tell you honestly if there's space.
If the Maritime Authority (Capitanía) closes the sea due to bad weather, we reschedule at no cost or give you a 100% refund. Your safety always comes first.
Prices on this site are shown in USD. Snorkel tour: $45 per adult, $38 per child (ages 3–5). Yalku combo tour: $35 per person. Pay securely online by card or PayPal.
Meeting point

Meet Xarou here — he'll be waiting

📍 Meeting point...

📍 7-Eleven Akumal, Calle 16, Akumal, Quintana Roo 77776, Mexico

"The turtle stopped right in front of my mask. I completely forgot to breathe."

— Laura M., December 2024

"Xarou knew every turtle by shell pattern. This is not a tour — it is a field study."

— Marcus B., October 2024
Before the last spot goes

Six spots. One morning window.
Free cancellation — no questions asked.

Instant confirmation · No hidden fees · Xarou replies personally · Certified operator since 2010