RIVIERA MAYA: Caribbean island Cozumel, Manta Rays and Mythical Cenotes Escape
Mexican Caribbean offers ideal conditions for diving on the world's second-largest coral reef surrounding the island Cozumel, encounters with giant manta rays near Cancún, and breathtaking dives in natural deep-water wells called cenotes.
Location
Duration
Price
Riviera Maya
10 days
3100 $
Available dates
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3.10. - 12.10.2022. SOLD OUT
3.10. - 12.10.2023
17.10. - 26.10.2023
About this Trip
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Guests: max 6 people
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Duration: 10 days
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Boat: day trips on small boats
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Number of dives: 13 (days in the water: 6)
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Food: breakfast, lunch, and snacks included
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Conditions: outside temperature: 30°C, water temperature: 25°C
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Skill requirement: min. 40-50 dives, nitrox certified
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Pick up location: Cancun airport
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Accommodation: Hotels Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Rooms for two. Private room on request.
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Beautiful expedition full of interactions with marine life in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Ocean.
Our journey will begin on the Caribbean island of Cozumel, along which stretches the Great Mesoamerican Reef Barrier, the second largest coral reef in the world. We will have two days with a total of five dives, where we will be able to observe countless species of tropical fish, large eagle rays, sea turtles, and nurse sharks. We will spend the third day in Punta Sur National Park which is surrounded by white sand beach and in its lagoons live crocodiles and flamingos.
We will spend the second part of the expedition in the mainland part of the Riviera Maya, which is famous for its water reservoirs called cenotes that are filled with groundwater and rainwater. We will enjoy four dives in these magical natural deep-water wells.
For the last part of our adventure, we will head to the mythical place of Manta Valley. Our goal will be to encounter the giant manta rays that come to the cleaning stations in this area. You will be able to look very closely at tens of these graceful creatures hovering quietly on the cleaning station and flying silently right before your eyes.
Our mission is to protect the underwater world, educate people of all generations and explore the treasures the ocean hides in its depths. Our conservation activities are our top priority and we fund them through expeditions like this, and if you join us, you will help us move our vision one step further.
Wildlife Highlights
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Eagle rays, sea turtles, groupers, moray eels, barracudas, nurse sharks, and colorful tropical reef fish on Cozumel island
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Vibrant sponges and corals of the Mesoamerican Reef Barrier
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Octopuses, crabs, and sepias during the night dive on Cozumel
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Flamingos and crocodiles in the Punta Sur National Park
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Life in between the mangrove roots in Casa Cenote
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Magical clouds and light beams in the cenote Angelita and the Pit
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Giant oceanic manta rays encounters near Cancun
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Birds like pelicans, frigates, herons, flamingos, and toucans in Isla Blanca
ITINERARY:
Day 1
Arrival in Cancun, transfer to Cozumel Island
We will pick you up at the airport in Cancun, we will drive to Playa del Carmen and take a ferry to the Caribbean island of Cozumel.
• Accommodation: hotel, island Cozumel
Day 2
Cozumel - diving
Cozumel Island is surrounded by a beautiful coral reef. We will enjoy two dives full of countless species of fish, colorful corals, and encounters with sea turtles and nurse sharks. The water here is crystal clear and the visibility is consistently excellent.
• Accommodation: hotel, island Cozumel
Day 3
Cozumel – diving
Cozumel is a place with one of the most beautiful underwater worlds on our planet and we will explore it even more during today’s two more dives. Drift diving with swim-throughs full of tropical fish. January is also the peak season for eagle rays, which grow to a width of up to 3 meters. In the evening we will have the opportunity for a night dive, where we will observe octopuses, squids, and vibrant underwater nightlife.
• Accommodation: hotel, island Cozumel
Day 4
Punta Sur National Park / Diving Cozumel
Punta Sur National Park is located on the southern tip of the island and its lagoons are home to countless species of rare birds and other animals, including crocodiles and flamingos. The park is surrounded by a white sand beach from which we can snorkel. In the evening we will move to the accommodation on the mainland of the Mayan Riviera.
• Accommodation: hotel, Playa del Carmen
Day 5
Cenotes Dos Ojos and The Pit
We will pick you up in the morning and we will head to the cenotes. The first location, cenotes Dos Ojos, are two connected wells with crystal clear water. Visibility here is so perfect that you might feel like you are flying in between the stalactites in a weightless state. In the second location, cenote The Pit, we will be able to observe a beautiful cloud formed by hydrogen sulfide and sunbeams penetrating the depths of the cenote.
• Accommodation: hotel, Playa del Carmen
Day 6
Cenotes Angelita and Casa Cenote
Our second day of exploring the cenotes. At first glance, Cenote Angelita looks like a lake in the middle of the jungle. But at a depth of 30m, it hides a dreamy cloud of hydrogen sulfide, which gives the place a magical atmosphere of a gate to another dimension. Casa Cenote is a natural reservoir surrounded by mangroves, where we will observe hundreds of small fish and we might also encounter a crocodile.
• Accommodation: hotel, Playa del Carmen
Day 7
Manta Valley
Early morning, we will jump on a speedboat and head to the secret dive spot called Manta Valley. Here you will have a chance to spend two dives in the company of manta rays that come to the cleaning stations in this area. There is still a lot to find out about the behavior of these incredible organisms, their numbers, migrations and habits, and even information about the exact species that inhabit or transit these waters. What we know is that manta rays are exceptionally intelligent. They have the largest brain-to-size ratio of any cold-blooded fish. They are communicative, playful, and emotionally sensitive. As behavior tests have shown, manta rays even show signs of self-awareness and they recognize themselves in the mirror. Encounters with these gentle giants are simply unforgettable.
• Accommodation: hotel, Playa del Carmen
Day 8
Manta Valley
Our second day with Manta rays. Encounters with giant Manta rays are very special and rare. And to be able to see tens of them in one place is just spectacular. Watch the manta rays quietly hovering over the cleaning stations or swimming around them in all their glory. Diving with manta rays is a true bucket-list item and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Accommodation: hotel, Playa del Carmen
Day 9
Riviera Maya – White sand beach
We will spend the last day of our expedition relaxing on a white sand beach.
• Accommodation: hotel, Playa del Carmen
Day 10
End of the expedition, transfer to the airport or your accommodation in Riviera Maya.
