Open Vacations Catamaran, 10 Hours

The boat itself is assigned at the marina: it may be a double-decker or a single-floor sailing catamaran, and travelers do not get to choose.

Overview

This full-day catamaran trip from Open Vacations packs Isla Contoy and a short stop at Isla Mujeres into one ten-hour outing, with round transportation from Cancun and the Riviera Maya rolled into the booking. A certified guide leads the day.

On Isla Contoy, travelers get four hours on the island, plus a regional buffet meal. Once the meal is served, the unlimited national open bar kicks in. The tour also includes 35 minutes of snorkeling at Ixlache reef, weather permitting, with equipment provided. Free time on the island runs without a guide. The day closes with one hour at Isla Mujeres before the sail back to the marina in Cancun.

The trip is capped at 50 travelers. It is not a fit for pregnant travelers, anyone with serious back or heart problems, or wheelchair users, and non-swimmers and children under a certain age cannot join the snorkel. A dock tax of US$20 per person is paid at the marina and is not in the ticket price.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupRound transportation from Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels is included, with pickup details set out at booking. Miss the pickup time and the booking is treated as a no show with no refund.
2. Marina check-inDeparture is from a marina in Cancun, where the catamaran, either double-decker or single floor, is assigned. The dock tax of US$20 per person is paid here.
3. Snorkel at Ixlache reefAbout 35 minutes of snorkeling with equipment provided, subject to weather and sea conditions. Life vests are mandatory, and the stop can be cancelled if the sea is rough.
4. Isla Contoy, 4 hoursA regional buffet is served on the island, and the national open bar opens after the meal. Free time here is without a guide.
5. Isla Mujeres, 1 hourA one-hour stop before the return leg. One reviewer found the hour sufficient, though it is a short visit by design.
6. Return to marinaThe catamaran sails back to Cancun and transportation returns travelers to their pickup points, closing out the ten-hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day actually goes, from the long crossing to the weather-dependent snorkel.

• Plan for the crossing. The listing notes that snorkeling may be cancelled due to weather or rough seas, so conditions on the water can be a real factor on this tour. One reviewer described the boat rides between Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Contoy as extremely long and uninterrupted, at roughly 90 minutes each. Travelers prone to seasickness should bring remedies.
• What to wear. The listing tells travelers to bring a swimsuit, towels and extra clothes. You will be in and out of water, sun and salt all day. Dry clothes for the ride home are a sensible addition.
• Snorkel rules. Snorkeling is not available to non-swimmers, people over 59 or children under 10, and kids can only snorkel with a parent or guardian. Life vests are mandatory for everyone who does go in. The stop can be cancelled outright for weather or rough seas, and the listing states that this carries no partial or full refund.
• Group feel. The tour runs with a maximum of 50 travelers. Reviews on the guides are warm, mentioning entertaining hosting and clear directions. One reviewer also described snorkeling at the reef with no other boats around.
• Food and drink. A regional buffet is served on Isla Contoy and the national open bar opens only after the meal. Reviews split on the food, with one calling the buffet delicious and another calling the island food and drinks low quality. Bring cash for the dock tax.
• Weather calls the shots. The whole experience requires good weather, and both the snorkel and the tour itself can be affected by rain, storms or rough seas. If the operator cancels for poor weather, travelers are offered a different date or a full refund. One reviewer reported a pickup failure during a thunderstorm in Cancun and a disputed refund, a reminder to keep booking details accurate and arrive early at the meeting point.

Common issues. The main friction points are weather and logistics. The snorkel stop can be cancelled for rough seas with no refund, and one reviewer described a missed pickup during a storm in Cancun followed by a refused refund, so travelers should be at the meeting point on time and keep their booking details, including hotel name and passenger counts, accurate. The long, uninterrupted boat crossings are hard on passengers who get seasick, and one reviewer felt the crew showed little sympathy for this. The island buffet and drinks drew criticism for quality from one traveler. Beyond the reviews, the listing rules out the tour for pregnant travelers, wheelchair users and people with serious back or heart problems, and a 20 US dollar per person dock tax is collected at the marina on top of the ticket price.

Common Questions