Can you swim with sea turtles in Playa del Carmen?

Embark on a half-day guided trip exploring ancient cenotes and enjoy the rare opportunity to swim with turtles at Akumal Beach. Enjoy round-trip hotel or meeting point transfers from Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya and Tulum. Arrive at Akumal Beach and enjoy the opportunity to swim with wild turtles.



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You DO NOT need a tour to swim with turtles. Don't pre-book a turtle tour, as they're a big tourist trap and charge $50 for taking you to the water as you can just walk in and swim on your own. I actually recommend you bringing your own snorkel equipment to avoid paying huge rental prices ($20+).

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Some articles, blogs and reviews herald Akumal as one of the best places in the world to swim with turtles. For this reason, tourists flock from all over the Riviera Maya, from Cancún to Tulum, to Akumal to swim with turtles.

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Additionally, more sargassum is expected in the Quintana Roo region, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and other well-known beach resorts are situated, as the peak of the season typically occurs between June and August.

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The best time of day to view the turtles is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., but just before sunset is a good time to visit, too.

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Each year between June and November, sea turtles land on Mexico's beaches to nest, and hatching usually occurs during the months of August, September, October and early November.

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Yucatan Peninsula: Known for the tourism hotspot of Cancun, this spectacular coast, which also goes by the name of the Mexican Riviera, has a number of important nesting beaches for green turtles and loggerheads. Good spots to see sea turtles are in Akumal Bay, X'Cacel Beach, and Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

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Akumal is located 100km (62 miles) south of Cancun in the heart of the Riviera Maya. In the natural protected area you get the opportunity to snorkel and enjoy the amazing Sea Turtles and the very colorful fish at the second largest reef in the world.

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Akumal attracts people worldwide with its beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and abundant sea life. Snorkeling and diving enthusiasts can swim in the bay with the famous giant turtles and explore the shipwrecks. However, it is forbidden to touch marine animals and corals.

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The beach is public and legally free to enter but it's now very difficult to access without paying for entry through a private establishment. The fee as of April 2022 is 120 pesos or $6 USD (around £5).

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Below, you'll find a list of 13 amazing places in the world to dive and swim with sea turtles in their natural habitats.
  1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. ...
  2. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ...
  3. Ari Atoll, Maldives. ...
  4. Maui Island, Hawaii. ...
  5. Marsa Alam, Egypt. ...
  6. Sipadan, Malaysia. ...
  7. Cook Island Marine Reserve, Australia.


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When you see a turtle coming up the beach, keep your distance, turn off any lights you are using and crouch down low. Do NOT walk closer! Always approach turtles from the side. This gives them a clear view of you and a clear path ahead of them if they want to swim away.

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The largest green turtle nesting population is found at Tortuguero, on the coast of Costa Rica where about 22,500 green turtle females nest annually. Raine Island, on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, has the second largest nesting population of about 18,000 females per season.

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Is it usual (or how rare is it) to see turtles or hatchlings on the beach? Both are usually active at night and most of our volunteers have yet to see a turtle lay a nest or a nest to boil (hatch). So consider yourself very lucky if you happen to encounter sea turtles.

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