Catamaran Tours in Cancun

The Caribbean Sea is undoubtedly one of the best places to sail, not only for the quality of its waters but also for the diversity of marine species that inhabit it and that can be observed during navigation. Embarking on a catamaran is one of the many activities to do in Cancun and is the ideal way to spend a relaxing day.

If you are looking to party, you can also have fun while cruising on a catamaran because there are options with dancing on board. Catamaran rides usually include other activities such as snorkeling or parasailing. Most of these trips arrive at Isla Mujeres, but each company approaches the trip differently.

One of the most popular activities in Cancun is the excursion to Isla Mujeres. To get there, nothing better than going by catamaran.

In this type of excursion, you will visit Isla Mujeres and if you wish, you can also include Cantoy Island in your tour.

This way, you will have the opportunity to visit the Cantoy Island National Park. If you choose to visit this island, you must select the option at the time of booking.

These two islands have a lot to offer, especially in snorkeling activities. Not surprisingly, the best snorkeling experiences in Cancun are organized in these areas.

After a while of sailing, the catamaran stops for you to snorkel in the coral reef, where you will be able to see and interact with the marine fauna. The colorful fish will surround you (your guide will attract them with fish food) and you will have a unique experience. If you have an underwater camera, don't forget to bring it.

When you finish snorkeling you will continue your trip to Isla Mujeres with enough time to enjoy the beach and the sculpture area of the island.

These excursions can be booked on an All Inclusive basis and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch and open bar during the navigation. Entrance to the Isla Mujeres museum is usually included.

The transfer to and from the hotel is also usually included in the basic price, but you should note that the dock fee is paid separately and has a value of about 12 euros per person.

Details of interest

• Price: from 51 euros per person for the simple option plus the dock fee.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you can also choose to include Cantoy Island.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is only included in the All Inclusive option.

This catamaran tour is ideal for those looking for fun and party on board. The ride takes place on a three-story boat, where you will meet lots of people and sail to the rhythm of Caribbean music.

If you want, you can snorkel in the reefs of Meco and also have fun on the catamaran's own slide and trampoline.

When you have finished snorkeling, the boat usually heads to Isla Mujeres, where you will have an hour and a half to explore the island. Entrance to the Underwater Museum of Art is usually included in the tour price.

Keep in mind that the MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) has a lot to see and part of the exhibition is only accessible by diving, so you will need time to see everything. If you don't have enough time to visit the museum in its entirety, don't worry, you can visit the Underwater Museum of Art on your own on another day.

This type of excursions also have different types of options: the basic one, which includes only the navigation, another one that offers navigation plus snorkeling and an All Inclusive regime.

Prices vary depending on the extras you order. If you opt for the All Inclusive, you will have an open bar, continental breakfast and buffet lunch, as well as golf carts to tour Isla Mujeres in total comfort.

The transfer to and from the hotel is included in the most basic option, but you will have to pay the dock tax separately.

Details of interest

• Price: from 61 euros per person for the basic option plus 12 euros of dock tax approximately.
• Duration: 7 hours and a half.
• Advantages of this option: there is a party on board.
• Disadvantages of this option: snorkeling is not available in the basic option.

If you are looking for tranquility and relaxation during the ride, this is the option for you. This tour is done on smaller catamarans, so there won't be as many people and hustle and bustle. The experience is more focused on sailing, snorkeling and shopping!

With this type of excursion you sail until you reach the reef where you can snorkel with a certified guide. In this case, snorkeling is included in the basic price.

Afterwards, the catamaran heads to Isla Mujeres, where you will be able to tour the island at your own pace and do a shopping tour with your guides. They will take you to the best stores on the island, so you can buy beautiful local handicrafts, and they will give you shopping tips and show you places that only locals know about to make your shopping tour a success.

The time you have left on the island can be spent swimming in what, for me, is one of the best beaches in Cancun. I also leave you this post to take a look at some of the 10 best activities in Cancun.

Although this option does not include transfers to and from the hotel and the entrance to the Underwater Museum of Art in Isla Mujeres, the snorkeling equipment rental and snorkeling activity with a certified guide are included in the price.

Buffet lunch and open bar are also included. As you can see, a catamaran tour to the same destination can be a totally different experience depending on the company you choose, as each one has its own style of living Cancun.

Details of interest

• Price: from 63 euros per person plus dock fee.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Advantages of this option: includes snorkeling in the price. A guided shopping tour around the island is offered.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include transfer to and from the hotel.

These excursions go around the lagoon of Puerto Morelos and stop at a sand bank where you can go paddle boarding. This way, you will be able to get to know the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park.

The sandbar is a perfect place for children to enjoy swimming safely. If you are traveling with them, you will need to entertain them or the trip can turn from a dream to a nightmare in seconds (I say this from my own experience), but fortunately there are many activities to do with kids in Cancun.

These tours include lunch and drinks, but do not include transfers to and from the hotel or the dock fee.

Details of interest

• Price: from 85 euros per person approximately plus dock fee.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Advantages of this option: includes lunch.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include transfers.

The best way to book catamaran tours in Cancun is to do it on online companies that specialize in selling tour packages and experiences.

By selecting this purchase option, you will have the advantage of seeing other options of tours and excursions in Cancun that will help you a lot when putting together your travel itinerary.

Another advantage of booking your excursions online is the payment method: you can pay with credit or debit cards and thus have the budget for your trip better organized, reserving cash for those activities that do not accept electronic means of payment.

The duration of a catamaran tour depends a lot on the type of excursion you choose. They usually last between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the destination and the extra activities included in the tour.

If you are going to stay a few days you should plan the activities you want to do according to the time of your stay. You can follow an itinerary that guides you through the things to see and do in Cancun in three days or this one about what to do in Cancun in five days for example, to make sure you visit the most important places in the region in that time.

Like the duration of the ride, prices also vary depending on the option chosen. You must take into account that there are basic rates starting at 51 euros per person approximately. To this price are added the activities and extra services (snorkeling, meals, drinks, etc.).

Keep in mind that in almost no case is included in the price of the tour the dock fee, which you must pay separately and has a cost of about 12 euros per person.

If you like sailing, I also recommend you to see the different alternatives of boat trips in Cancun, which include other types of boats and activities. In this case, there are also options of different prices to suit different budgets.

Catamaran rides are very popular in coastal areas, as they are a type of recreational boat with a larger space on deck, where tourists usually have a very pleasant time while sailing the local waters. They are intended, therefore, for leisure and water sports and nowadays the offer to enjoy a catamaran tour is very wide in most of the beaches.

These two-hulled boats, generally motorized, usually have a capacity for about 25 people and are very safe and stable, but they are quite fast. That is why it is always advisable to hold on tight and if you move around the deck, do it carefully.

Although its navigation is very smooth you should avoid sudden movements to avoid the typical dizziness on board that can spoil the trip.

Cancun is, of course, a unique destination for this activity. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the beautiful beaches of Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos or any other of this natural paradise.

One of the favorite destinations for catamaran tours in Cancun is Isla Mujeres. Departing from Cancun's hotel zone, near the marina, this type of excursions sail to the paradisiacal island, where you will have the opportunity to swim in its crystal-clear waters, snorkel among coral reefs or relax on the fine sand of its beaches.

You can travel to Isla Mujeres by catamaran, sailing boat, yacht or cruise ship. A multitude of excursions are organized to this idyllic place. But you can also spend free time at Playa Norte, considered one of the best beaches in the world, or go to Isla Contoy, where you can see whale sharks or sea turtles.

Although this activity is highly recommended for all ages or have reduced rates for children, make sure before booking that minors are allowed. Strollers are generally allowed.

However, some of these organized excursions include other activities such as snorkeling, driving golf carts on the beach or even a bar on board with alcoholic beverages included. So perhaps in these cases it is best to avoid them if you are traveling with children.

But you know that the Riviera Maya offers activities for everyone. If your kids like a different kind of adventure, be sure to take a look at this list with post to find out about other plans where kids can have a great time:

• Visit Extreme Adventure Eco Park in Cancun
• Xcaret Park Excursions in Riviera Maya from Cancun
• Visit XPlor Multiadventure Park in Cancun
• Tickets for Xel-Ha Park in Cancun: how to buy and prices

• Bring towel, bathing suit and change of clothes.
• Remember to apply sunscreen regularly.
• Don't forget your hat and sunglasses.
• If you are going to practice snorkeling and you have any illness, inform your guide beforehand.
• Take your camera, if it is submersible much better.
• Wear comfortable and non-skid shoes, there are special nautical shoes for sailing.
• If you do not know how to swim, you must also inform your guides.