Mexico Snorkeling

Mexico offers some of the best environments for snorkeling in the world, making it one of the most popular recreational activities for visitors to try. Snorkeling requires little or no special training, except the ability to swim and breathe properly, providing the perfect opportunity to observe underwater life in its natural setting. Some of the most popular areas to snorkel in Mexico include Cozumel and the Riviera Maya's Playa del Carmen and Tulum in the Mexican Caribbean, as well as Cabo and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.

On Mexico's Caribbean coast the stunning coral barrier reefs and rocky shoreline around Cozumel make it a favorite snorkeling destination, while the region's famed Riviera Maya offers access to the second largest barrier reef in the world, known as the Mayan Coral Reef. In addition, travelers in the region can opt to snorkel in the open ocean or in a freshwater cenote, which is a natural sinkhole that results from the collapse of limestone bedrock. Many companies offer guided tours and boat rides out to the best reefs, where you can swim among countless tropical fish in the warm waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Other popular sites for snorkeling in the region include the Xel-Ha and X-Caret nature parks, which both offer a wide variety of other amazing outdoor activities for travelers to enjoy.

Travelers planning to Mexico's Pacific coast will also not be disappointed by the snorkeling opportunities that are available, with Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas serving as two of the most popular destinations in the region. In fact, Banderas Bay offers some of the top snorkeling in all of Mexico, providing access to an impressive array of marine life, such as manta rays, sailfish and whale sharks, depending on the season. In addition, the bay around Cabo is home to quiet waters that attract a fabulous array of brightly colored marine life, making it a favorite place for snorkeling and other aquatic activities.