REVIEWS · MEXICO
The 15 best catamaran cruises with lunch and bbq in Mexico you can book right now, each with the per-head price, the hours it runs and how much of that is spent at anchor. Number one is first for a reason.
Sail from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on a lively catamaran with guides such as Ivet, Luis, Juam, and Romando. You get a short reef snorkel, national open bar, Playa Norte time, and optional buffet lunch and hotel transfers. Expect music, crowds, and a separate $20 dock tax.
“We had a blast, the staff was amazing, food was good. I'll definitely bring more family and friends.”
Spend about eight hours sailing from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on a 30 or 50 person catamaran. You’ll snorkel at a protected reef, enjoy a Mexican or international open bar, visit a beach club, and have free time on the island. Hotel pickup and lunch depend on your package.
“Great atmosphere, the tour guides were amazing. The views were nice, the people on board were great to be around.”
Sail from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on a small catamaran with guides such as Mike, Grace, or Omar, depending on the day. Expect drinks, snacks, snorkeling when weather permits, free time downtown, and a buffet lunch at Zama or IXI. A $20 reef tax is paid separately.
“The tour was exceptional! The crew was fun, courteous and helpful. The boat was clean, safe and in great shape. There was plenty of room on the boat, not crowded at all with plenty of drinks and snacks. All the stops were fun and well timed. I took the tour with my spouse and four children (ages 16, 12, 9 & 8) all were able to snorkel and participate in the activities. I highly recommend this tour!”
Sail from Cancun to Isla Mujeres for a short guided snorkel, open-bar catamaran ride, Mexican buffet, beach-club time, and a downtown stop. Guides such as Daphne, Fernando, Pancho, and Alex have earned praise for keeping the day lively. Expect a large group, a late lunch on the 1 p.m. departure, and a separate $45 dock and reef fee.
“It was cancelled and they didn’t tell us and still haven’t communicated or refunded me. Called them and messaged several times with no response”
Spend 8 to 10 hours sailing from Cancun to Isla Mujeres with a lively crew, national open bar, reef snorkeling, beach-club access, and free island time. Guides may include Dany, Paul, or Carlos. Choose carefully: lunch and hotel transport are optional, and the $20 port fee is extra.
“We did upgrade, and it was worth the cost. The buffet was the worst part of the whole experience. The food was not good, and the selection was lacking. Our crew was great and very kind. We enjoyed the day!”
Spend about seven hours on a private catamaran from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. You’ll snorkel at El Meco, swim at Playa Norte, eat a Mexican buffet, enjoy an open bar, and sail back at sunset. The boat holds up to 14 people, but the snorkeling stop may include other boats.
“Arriving, they took our new snorkel tubes to give us used ones. They had no lifeguards for children, when it came to snorkeling they took us with other boats, world of people. The beach club sells it as exclusive, but nothing to see. The beach they take us to is public and dirty. The meeting point inside a jewelry store to force the sale. Drinks in the fatal catamaran. In the end they push to tip.Auto-translated”
Spend about 8.5 hours sailing from Cancun to Isla Mujeres, snorkeling with certified guides, enjoying a Mexican buffet and national open bar, visiting the beach club, and exploring downtown. Pickup is offered from Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels. Guides named in past outings include Monse, Leti, Miguel, and Israel.
“We got placed on a boat called 'Manta'. The tour guide was unprofessional and unorganized. He gave us no useful instructions for the snorkeling prior to getting in the water, other than how to put our masks on. He gave us no plan, no instructions, nothing. He yelled conflicting commands the entire time while we were snorkeling. He would yell at everyone to follow him very quickly, then yell at someone for swimming and not staying still. He would yell at everyone to keep our faces below the water but then we couldn't see him to follow him??? We snorkeled for a total of 10 minutes and most of the…”
Spend about six hours aboard a spacious catamaran from Cozumel, snorkeling at Colombia or Palancar Reef, visiting El Cielo and El Cielito, then relaxing at Playa Mia with regional lunch. Gear, water, sodas, and post-snorkel rum punch and margaritas are included.
“We showed up for our tour on our scheduled time, and no one was there. After calling a few times I got ahold of someone who couldn’t find our reservation, then we were told they canceled for the day due to weather, the tour itself was great the next day, but i was traveling with children and it was a big inconvenience to show up for a tour that was not happening.”
You’ll cruise from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on a lively catamaran with snorkeling at El Meco Reef, an open bar, buffet lunch, free island time, and a visit to the -18°C Icebar. Guide Erick has earned praise for keeping the boat safe and fun, but confirm pickup details and the 800 MXN docking fee before booking.
“do not book!! we booked one day trip with transfer from hotal. got information shows pickup location is hotel lobby. pickup time set for 11am, we waited at lobby and when at 11:30 transfer asked we walked out the hotel to meet with the driver. we required more information about driver and pickup vehicle information, did nfraud!t reply till 12pm. and at 12pm we been told, driver had left as we did not meet with him!!! we required refund got refused and ask for 350pes to reschedule the trip, but when we ask how to research no one reply after! never heard anything back since that. its fraud! you paid…”
Spend about eight hours sailing from Cancun to Isla Mujeres, snorkeling at Chaacmol coral reef, visiting Playa Norte, and eating at Restaurante Albatros. Expect music, a domestic open bar, buffet lunch, and a group of up to 90 people. Pickup is available in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.
“The snorkelling was excellent with lots of turtles on the way, fish and the coral reef. Guide looked after us all. Rain spoilt the stop at Isla Murgeres. Great 3 hours on the beach and party trip on the way home. Only issue:The sales team do a heavy sale on an upgrade to Platinum but did not deliver on the food and wine package on the island. Total rip off.”
Sail from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, snorkel at Palancar, Colombia, El Cielo, and Cielito, then enjoy lunch and beach-club time at Playa Mia. The day includes snorkeling gear, ferry transport, selected drinks, and time in San Miguel. Verify child rules and the $25 port surcharge before booking.
“Please do not book with this company ever! I’ve had the worst experience with them. Their advertisement never states a child age restriction. They allow you to purchase tickets for children without advising people that children under 6 are not allowed on a catamaran and children under 8 are not allowed to snorkel in Cozumel waters. My daughter is 5 1/2 and after arriving at the meet up point, they told us we were not gonna be allowed to board the boat due to her being under 6. They took my full payment of $498 for 3 people (me my husband and daughter) and never informed us of an age…”
Sail from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on a catamaran with an open national bar, organized snorkeling, spinnaker rides when weather allows, beach-club buffet, and about 90 minutes of island time. Guides including Pancho, Alex, Fernando, and Fabian may lead the day. Transport is optional.
“Super fun, Star 4 was the best we had a blast and it was an ALL DAY memorable experience! FABIAN was a great host and was very attentive I would highly recommend this activity to anybody looking to have a blast while at the same time enjoying the beautiful things this region has to offer.”
Cruise from Playa Mia to Palancar Reef and El Cielo Bay on a six-hour catamaran trip. A PADI-certified guide provides mask, fins, vest, and instruction for drift snorkeling, followed by lunch, drinks, and beach time. Spanish and English instruction is available.
“si vous payez pour flotter en groupe sur l’eau et faire 10 mètres avec des palmes dans la figure vous êtes au bon endroit si vous aimez les clubs de plages cantine industrielle et être parqué comme du bétail vous pouvez payer le prix indiqué honteux et pas du tout conforme a la description”
Sail from Cancun to Isla Mujeres on a lively catamaran with snorkeling, music, open bar, one hour at Playa Norte, and a buffet lunch at a private beach club. Fernando and the crew keep the mood festive, but allow for a $30 reef fee and possible transport delays.
“Our disastrous trip began with being told the wrong pick-up point, so the bus left without us. The company apologised and rebooked us. On our second try, the driver never showed, and we were told to take a taxi, which they agreed to cover. We barely made it to the crowded boat. We only stopped for 25 minutes at the beach, not the advertised hour. Later, we were encouraged to book a golf cart tour. The carts were rusty, and ours barely worked. After a small bump into a tree, we were told to switch carts. The tour itself was pleasant, but back at the dock we were accused of…”
Spend about eight hours sailing from Marina Chac Chi to Isla Mujeres on a catamaran capped at 50 people. Snorkel with provided gear, try the spinnaker when conditions allow, enjoy a buffet lunch and national drinks, then use an exclusive beach club before returning to Cancun.
“I liked the crew, boat and view is awesome. The snorkeling it’s ok I don’t like much person around me in same time, I saw few fish. The restaurant on the beach, food and drinks is ok”
By what the day is for, by what comes with the ticket, or by who else is aboard.
