The Best Snorkeling Spots in Mexico, According to Someone Who Lives There

The island of Cozumel is one of the best places for snorkeling on the planet, particularly in Cozumel National Marine Park, which lies just south of its shores. Vibrant reefs like Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo teem with marine life. All feature impressive coral formations—Palancar is renowned for its diverse array of sea creatures, Columbia for its abundance of sea turtles and brightly colored fish, and El Cielo for its pristine white sand bottom and plentiful starfish. You might also spot green moray eels and the elusive toadfish in this area.

Local Tip: Many tour operators offer boat excursions to these more remote snorkeling spots, with transportation, gear and a guide included. You can also snorkel from shore, with Playa Corona—located at the southern end of the Chankanaab Marine Reserve—being the best beach for the experience.

Isla Mujeres is just a 20- to 30-minute ferry ride from Cancun and is renowned for the reefs and underwater museum off its coast. MUSA, the Underwater Museum of Art, is a spectacular attraction with multiple galleries and hundreds of artificial habitats. Snorkelers can view nearly two dozen works by English artist Jason de Caires Taylor, including The Last Supper, Time Bomb and Reclamation. Sculptures by Cuban artist Elier Amado Gil, such as Threshold and Understanding, can also be explored.

Local Tip: There are numerous fish species to look for, including blue tang, yellowhead wrasse, blue striped grunt and damselfish. Nurse sharks, whale sharks, various rays, sea turtles and dolphins are often spotted here as well. Another excellent snorkeling spot on Isla Mujeres is Garrafon Reef Park, known for its vibrant marine life just off the shore.

Tulum may be best known for its cenotes and ancient Mayan ruins, but it also offers snorkeling just a short distance from shore along the Tulum Reef. The reef is teeming with all sorts of fish species, including parrotfish, damselfish, groupers, angelfish, clownfish and butterflyfish, along with sea turtles and the occasional spotted eagle ray. Coral formations add to the scenery, creating a stunning backdrop as you glide through the crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Local Tip: While the sea may be less clear in summer due to tropical storms, the months between June and September are prime time for spotting whale sharks—the gentle giants of the sea and the world’s largest fish—drawn to the plankton-rich waters. During the season, boat tours are available to take you out for a chance to swim alongside them.

About 18 miles north of Tulum is the picturesque little town of Akumal, one of the best places to snorkel alongside massive green sea turtles in Akumal Bay, thanks to the seagrass that grows in the area. A sandy, gently sloping beach makes it easy for snorkelers to enter the water—ideal for beginners, including children. The protected reef helps keep the water calm, making it easier to explore the diverse marine life beyond turtles, including rainbow parrotfish and rays.

Local Tip: Yal-Ku Lagoon is another top spot, where freshwater from the peninsula’s underground rivers merges with saltwater from the Caribbean Sea. This brackish environment is ideal for spotting everything from schools of blue tangs to sergeant majors. Half Moon Bay is also worth a visit, with rock formations above and below the shallow waters that provide hiding spots for moray eels.

Puerto Morelos is a unique snorkeling spot, with the reef located closer to shore than anywhere else along the Riviera Maya. Nestled between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, it offers incredible visibility, averaging between 80 and 115 feet. As part of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, reef protection is taken seriously here, resulting in an especially thriving ecosystem where nearly every corner is covered in coral.

Local Tip: Keep an eye out for everything from angelfish and parrotfish to seahorses, manta rays, barracuda and sea turtles. While you can see plenty just snorkeling off the beach, a boat tour will take you right into the heart of the action. Visibility is best between November and April, but from May through October, it’s also possible to swim with whale sharks.

One of the most famous beaches in Mexico is also one of the best snorkeling spots—especially for couples. Lovers Beach, located at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula in Cabo San Lucas, borders the waves of the Pacific on one side and the calm waters of the Sea of Cortez on the other. It’s known for its pristine sands and dramatic rock formations, including the iconic Arch, and can be accessed by water taxi from the marina or Medano Beach.

Local Tip: Bring your snorkeling gear and enjoy the scenic ride—if you take a glass-bottom boat, you can even spot sea creatures along the way. Once there, jump into the calm, clear waters of the Sea of Cortez to admire everything from angelfish, parrotfish and pufferfish to starfish, eels, sea turtles, and, if you’re lucky, manta rays.

Located along the Tourist Corridor, or Hotel Zone, between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Chileno Bay offers the chance to snorkel over vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. Visibility is exceptional, often reaching up to 100 feet, providing clear views of the stunning underwater landscapes. The rocky outcrops to the south of the beach are especially striking, with sand gullies nestled between vertical rock walls, overhangs and massive boulders.

Local Tip: Fish species here are diverse and plentiful, with highlights including boxfish, porcupinefish and pufferfish.

A national marine park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cabo Pulmo is home to the only living coral reef in the Sea of Cortez. Sportfishing and commercial fishing are banned here, allowing the marine life to thrive. Four of the reef’s eight fingers lie close to shore, making this an especially appealing spot for snorkeling. You can spot large schools of fish, sea turtles, mobula rays, sharks and even whales during the winter months.

Local Tip: If you don’t have your own snorkeling gear, you can rent a mask and snorkel in the Cabo area before heading to this remote location. The small village of Cabo Pulmo has just a handful of dive shops, eateries and accommodations—but most who visit come for the incredible underwater world.

Located near the small town of La Ventana—about an hour’s drive southeast of La Paz through the mountains, with the last couple of miles on an unpaved road—is remote Punta Arenas. Marked by a red-and-white striped lighthouse, it features a thin strip of unspoiled white sand, scattered with countless seashells. Reefs flank both sides, and the brilliant turquoise water is home to everything from gobies and parrotfish to moray eels and sharks. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a pod of Bigg’s orcas.

Local Tip: What draws many here are the mobula rays, famous for their acrobatic displays. This is a prime spot from May through July, when the rays often gather in large numbers near the surface to feed and breed.

Located about 18 miles from La Paz—the capital of Baja California Sur and my home—Espíritu Santo is a snorkeler’s paradise. This rocky island is best known for its large sea lion colony, which visitors can snorkel with. The sea lions are often playful, sometimes even tugging at lifejacket straps like curious puppies. You’ll not only get to swim among them, but you’ll also see an incredible array of tropical fish in the clear, aquamarine waters.

Local Tip: Boat tours depart directly from the Malecón, the seaside promenade in La Paz.

Loreto National Marine Park protects 790 square miles of the Sea of Cortez, helping to keep its waters vibrant for generations to come. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are often seen in the bay, and it’s a world-renowned destination for whale watching. Species spotted here include blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, humpback whales—and yes, blue whales, the largest animal ever to exist on Earth. Orcas are occasionally seen as well.

Local Tip: The coral reefs provide a habitat for moray eels, octopi and colorful schools of fish. And if you’re snorkeling between January and March, you might even hear the haunting songs of humpback whales echoing through the water.

There are many outstanding snorkeling spots in Huatulco, located in the state of Oaxaca on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The closest town to Playa La Entrega is Santa Cruz, about 1.5 miles away—or just a 5-minute motorboat ride. This beach, situated at the outer edge of Bahía de Santa Cruz, is one of the few places in the region where you can snorkel right from the shore. Just be sure to arrive early, as it tends to get crowded by mid-morning, especially during peak tourist season (December through April).

Local Tip: You can rent gear from the facility at the northern end of the beach or join a guided snorkeling tour. Either way, keep an eye out for sea turtles, dolphins and a wide variety of colorful fish.

The Marietas Islands are easily reached by catamaran tour from nearby Puerto Vallarta on the mainland. It’s not only a snorkeling hotspot but also a haven for birdwatching, with many seabird species nesting here—including the world-famous blue-footed booby.

Local Tip: Beneath the surface, you’ll find an incredible variety of marine life, including king angelfish, giant damselfish, parrotfish, balloonfish, butterflyfish and several types of sponges and corals. With a bit of luck, you might even spot sea turtles or dolphins. Plus, between December and March, this is one of the best places to watch humpback whales.