Puerto Morelos or Cozumel for Snorkeling - Day Trip

[yalie98]

Coming with my family - a group of 7 - staying at NVR in Tulum but want to find some good snorkeling for my family (of course we are doing Akumal area already) and torn between going out to Cozumel for a day trip or just driving up to Puerto Morelos as I have read the reef there is nearly as impressive as Cozumel...not sure if that is true but it is certainly easier than boating and renting car for the 7 of us etc on Cozumel but happy to go to to Cozumel if there is no comparison....any help/thoughts are appreciated.

[letele]

Why not head down to Punta Allen and snorkel from there? Susan and her family did that and had a wonderful time! Much more interesting drive, too.

[yalie98]

Thanks for the suggestion - how does the snorkeling compare to PM or Cozumel? it is about 1.5 hours from Tulum?

[susan]

You can check out my march o8 trip report for PA snorkeling. I haven't snorkeled either PM or Cozumal so I can't compare but PA was fabulous.

[minniemex]

You have so many choices to choose from!!

Punta Allen ~ have been there but have not snorkeled there. As Susan said, it was terrific! Here you also have to take a boat out to snorkel.

Puerto Morales ~ have not snorkeled there yet either. I have read as you have that it is great and pretty pristine compared to other sites. I have read that you will see the best if you take a boat which adds to the expense.

Cozumel ~ I have snorkeled there on more than one occasion and I can say it was pretty good. This would probably be the most expensive trip of the three. Would you be taking a car over on the car ferry? Or traveling the people ferry out of Playa?? You can easily snorkel from shore in Cozumel at Dzul Ha. We have frequently entered the water there and drifted down to Fiesta Americana and walked back to Dzul Ha. Traveling to the east side of Cozumel is a wonderful trip in itself too.

Such a hard decision, as all three sound just perfect to me!

You have already said you were taking in Akumal. You will love the turtles there. Also, stingrays and the fish ball.

[james]

You'll probably have the best vis and life in Coz. You need to get to Playa, ferry over, then go South on the island. You can jump in anywhere it looks craggy. North of the parks is a good place. The drag is that transportation on Coz can be a bit pricey (read: limited options) and you have to ferry over. But, for some, that's a fun time. I've always enjoyed it.

I've enjoyed snorkeling out front in Tulum, also. You need clear water and flat seas (not so common there) and no fear, as you'll need to kick out a bit. Not really newbie stuff.

[stlgail]

I've snorkeled in Puerto Morelos, Cozumel and Punta Allen. Cozumel is really great. That said, I loved snorkeling in Puerto Morelos. The reef is gorgeous. Punta Allen was really good too. So you can't go wrong with any of them. But, if I had to pick.. I'd say go to Cozumel. Fun ferry ride (in calm seas) and the snorkeling is sure to please.

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:My recommendation to people when they are on vacation is to stick close to Tulum! There is excellent snorkeling there, so why spend so much time traveling to other places? My professional experience is that most come home from those kinds of excursions tired, cranky and wasted for the next day too!

:boat:

[evZENy]

What about Soliman Bay? Even more so - Yal-Ku?
Some of the other bays in the area? I know access might be issue, but seem to be suggested for close to the shore snorkeling (even in this forum)

[evZENy]

Checked Soliman, Tink-Ha and Yal-Ku.
The last is indeed impressive fro snorkeling - almost like Xel-Ha.
With the exception that the crowds overcome the place.
Most of the people don't care about the nature they (I hope) enjoy and destroy it by stepping and touching on the stones, corals etc.
After the number of the people got closer to the number of the fish in the water, everything got cloudy and less enjoyable.
For the two bays... Prefer not to say...If you've seen "The Beach" you'll get what I mean :-)

This year we had few days without winds and waves in Tulum (felt very strange). And it turned out, that even the rocks in front of Hemingway offer amazing and easily accessible snorkeling spots. Had no idea...

[FrankRN]

You can rent a boat and a guide for the day out of Punta Allen for $50 USD. You have a choice between doing the lagoon side or the ocean side ... we have done both.

The lagoon side is more brackish and filled with mangroves. But the wildlife is UNBELIEVABLE ... we even saw a nesting eagle and her chicks. Make sure they take you all the way up to the "Black Lagoon" and that you get out and walk the area a bit. Ask to meet Cocoa the crocodile. They actually call him and he comes. I know ... I couldn't believe it either. I am sure they feed him to get him to do that.

On the ocean side you will see dolphins and sea turtles. The reefs are pretty far out and the seas can be rough. Too rough for a beginner or small children to snorkel in my opinion. The boat will take you to some very secluded inlets to relax and swim. We have loved seeing both sides.

If you don't want to go that far, I agree with others that suggest Yal Ku and Akumal Bay. You can easily do one or both in a day and it is CHEAP!. Yal Ku can be crowded so we go either early in the morning or, more likely, on a Sunday. Last March we got there at 8 AM on a Sunday morning. There were no cars in the lot and we were the only ones there for the first couple of hours. We have been going to Yal Ku for many years.

Last year we went to Akumal Bay for the first time and LOVED it. It was the first time we ever snorkeled up close and personal with sea turtles ... of all sizes. They are beautiful, inquisitive, and placid animals ... at least the ones we met. They appear to be very used to humans because they did not shy away from us. On the reef, we saw some great fish ... including very scary looking baraccuda.

And don't forget to bring your snorkel gear to the local cenote (or two). The only place I've ever snorkeled with Blue Crabs.

[minniemex]

Just thought I would link some snorkeling pictures I took at Akumal Bay. Everything you see was Akumal Bay. You might want to just stick to that and forget the time it would take to visit Cozumel or Punta Allen.

http://s86.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Akumal%20April%202007/1177643314.pbw&os=1&t=1178073605

[beachwolverine]

Frank,

How/where did you hook up with the Punta Allen boat and guide?

Thanks,
bw