Full Day From Riviera Maya

A full day on the water with FisherNatours, departing Playa del Carmen with round-trip transfer from Riviera Maya hotels. Ten hours, from $229 per person, rated 4.9 from 180 reviews. Certified guide in your language, snacks and bottled water, a meal, plus taxes and dock use.

Overview

This is a full day out on the water inside Sian Ka'an, run by FisherNatours and built around a single long excursion that packs several environments into one trip. Travellers board the boat at kilometre 3.5 of the reserve, and from there the route covers the inner lagoon and its mangrove forest, open sea, and the village of Punta Allen. That combination is unusual, and one Italian reviewer, after extensive searching, called this tour one of very few that manages all three in a single day.

The day runs about 10 hours door to door, with round-trip hotel transfer included from the Riviera Maya as detailed at booking. A certified guide who speaks your language travels with the group, and a meal, snacks, bottled water and white wine are all covered. The boat carries a maximum of 12 travellers.

Wildlife is the main draw. One reviewer reported dolphins, a turtle, baby crocodiles, frigate birds and ospreys, plus a nesting site and good snorkelling. That reviewer also had a practical tip: pick the variant with less driving and more boat time, since their group drove under 20 minutes from the biosphere entrance. The listing states that most travellers can participate, subject to a few health restrictions.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupRound-trip transfer from your Riviera Maya hotel is included, with pickup details confirmed at booking.
2. Drive to the reserveThe transfer continues to the Sian Ka'an biosphere entrance. One reviewer reported a short drive of under 20 minutes from there to the boat, though driving time varies by variant.
3. Board at km 3.5The group boards the boat at kilometre 3.5 of the reserve, which one reviewer described as very comfortable.
4. Lagoon and mangrovesThe boat explores the inner lagoon through the mangrove forest, one of the three environments this tour covers in a single day.
5. Open sea and Punta AllenThe route continues into open sea, with chances for dolphins, turtles and snorkelling, before reaching the village of Punta Allen.
6. Meal and returnA meal is served during the day, with white wine included. Round-trip transfer back is covered, wrapping up the roughly 10-hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this long day on the water.

• What is covered. Round transfer, a certified guide in your language, a meal, snacks, bottled water, white wine, taxes and dock use are all included. Alcoholic drinks beyond the wine, gratuities and lobster are not, so budget for those separately.
• Pickup logistics. Hotel pickup is included and the exact details are given at booking. Confirm your pickup point and time when the confirmation arrives.
• Group feel. The tour runs with a maximum of 12 travellers. One reviewer praised the guide, driver and boat captains, and also mentioned good snorkelling and a good lunch.
• Wildlife viewing. One reviewer reported dolphins, a turtle, baby crocodiles, frigate birds, ospreys and a nest, and another highlighted the wide variety of birds in the mangroves and the dolphins above all. Sightings are of course never promised, but the mix of lagoon, sea and Punta Allen gives several habitats in one day.
• Weather dependency. The experience requires good weather, per the listing. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.
• Health and mobility. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems or pregnant travellers. The listing also bars those with heart problems or other serious medical conditions, while noting that most travellers can participate.

Common issues. The honest limits: this is not wheelchair accessible, and the listing advises against it for anyone with back problems, heart conditions, or during pregnancy. The full refund window is tight, since cancellations less than 24 hours before the start time get nothing back, and changes inside that window are not accepted. Weather can cancel the day, though a reschedule or full refund is offered in that case. Alcohol beyond the white wine, lobster and gratuities cost extra. One reviewer also flagged that variants differ, and recommended choosing the option with less driving and more boat time.

Common Questions