Maroma Beach Catamaran and Reef Snorkel: the Full Guide
Maroma Beach sits about 20 km north of Playa del Carmen, a 20 to 30 minute drive up Highway 307, and it has no public access point from the road. The easiest way onto the sand, and onto the reef in front of it, is the Maroma Beach catamaran reef snorkel, a 3.5 hour sail with two reef stops and beach time afterwards. This guide covers the beach itself, how the trip runs, and the cash fee that the ticket price does not include. It is one of the trips compared on PlayadelCarmenBoatTours.com.
Quick answer
The Maroma Beach catamaran reef snorkel costs $85 per person plus a $15 marina fee paid in cash on arrival, and it runs 3.5 hours with departure slots at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. You snorkel two reef spots for about 45 minutes each, ride the spinnaker if the wind allows, and get free access to Maroma Beach when the sail ends. Minimum age is 6, and the boat can carry up to 100 guests. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.
Key takeaways
- Book the Maroma Beach catamaran reef snorkel for two reef stops and beach access in one morning or afternoon
- Compare other snorkel boats from Playa del Carmen before deciding
- Prefer a small private boat? See the Puerto Morelos snorkeling tours
- Check the sargassum forecast before your beach day
- Bring cash for the $15 marina fee, which is not part of the ticket price
The Trip at a Glance
Three and a half hours from the marina back to the beach, with departure slots at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.
Two reef stops of about 45 minutes each, with gear and a guided snorkel adventure included.
A catamaran cruise along the coast between Playa del Carmen and Cancún, with a spinnaker ride when weather conditions allow.
Free access to Maroma Beach once the activity ends, which is how most visitors get onto the sand.
Roundtrip transportation from most centrally located Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya hotels is listed as included, though you should confirm your pickup with the operator.
A marina fee of $15 per person is paid in cash on arrival and is not part of the $85 ticket price.
When the wind allows, the crew flies the spinnaker on the way back to the beach.
Where Maroma Beach Is and How You Get On It
The location, and the real distance from Playa del Carmen
Punta Maroma is a beach in the Solidaridad municipality, the same municipality as Playa del Carmen, on the Caribbean side of Highway 307. You will see a lot of pages claim it is about 10 km from Playa del Carmen, but that figure understates it. The straight-line distance to central Playa del Carmen is about 16.5 km and the road distance is about 20 km, which works out to a 20 to 30 minute drive.
From Cancún it is about 50 km, or 45 to 50 minutes by car, and from Puerto Morelos it is 18 km, around 20 to 25 minutes.
Is Maroma Beach public?
Legally, yes. Beaches and the federal maritime-terrestrial zone are public national property under the Ley General de Bienes Nacionales, and article 8 of that law bans obstructing or conditioning access to them. A Quintana Roo reform passed in 2025 restates that access to beaches is free and permanent and cannot be conditioned on consumption at a club or hotel.
So nobody can lawfully tell you the beach itself is private.
The catch: there is no public access point
In practice, getting onto Maroma Beach is the hard part. There is no public beach-access point near the highway, and public transport stops at the highway, so from a colectivo or bus you would need a taxi for the last stretch. No resorts are built on the beach strip itself, but resorts and beach clubs using the Maroma name sit along it, and everyday access runs through them.
That is why the catamaran tour works so well here: you arrive by sea, and the ticket includes free access to Maroma Beach when the activity ends. If you would rather approach by land, the Maroma Adventures operation at the beach sells day passes and other activities, and guests can book transfers through Maroma Transfers. The Secrets Maroma entrance on the highway is at Km 306.5 of Highway 307.
How the Catamaran Morning or Afternoon Works
Two departure slots, two reef stops
The trip runs as a 3.5 hour excursion with two departure slots, one at 9:30 am and one at 1:30 pm, and there is also a Deluxe option with pickup included. Either way you sail a catamaran out of Maroma with live commentary in English and Spanish, then stop at two reef spots for about 45 minutes of guided snorkeling each. On the way back, the crew flies the spinnaker if weather conditions allow.
After the sail you keep your spot, because free access to Maroma Beach is included once the activity ends. Times can shift with local traffic, and your pickup time depends on which hotel you stay at, so confirm the exact pickup time with the operator the day before. If bad weather forces a cancellation you get your money back, and you can cancel yourself up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
What is included and what you pay extra
The $85 ticket covers the boat, the guided snorkeling with gear, the drinks and the beach access. Beer is served only after the snorkeling is done, which is a rule worth knowing if you were picturing a drink in the water. What is not covered is the marina fee of $15 per person, paid in cash when you arrive, along with food beyond the program, gratuities, souvenir photos and lockers.
Bring swimwear, a towel and enough cash. The table below compares what comes with the ticket against what costs extra.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ticket price | $85 per person |
| Marina fee | $15 per person, paid in cash on arrival |
| Duration | 3.5 hours |
| Departure slots | 9:30 am and 1:30 pm |
| Reef stops | Two, about 45 minutes each |
| Included | Roundtrip transport from most central hotels, snorkel gear, guided snorkeling, water, soft drinks, beer after snorkeling, beach access, English and Spanish commentary |
| Not included | Marina fee, other food and drinks, gratuities, souvenir photos, lockers |
| Cancellation | Full refund up to 24 hours before departure |
| Minimum age | 6 years, minors pay a child rate |
See the Reef Before You Go
The Reef off Maroma
The next reef south of the Puerto Morelos park
The shallow barrier reef along this coast is continuous in front of Puerto Morelos, then it disappears entirely south of that town and does not reappear until Punta Maroma, 16 km further south. That comes straight from the official national park management program, so Maroma is quite literally the next reef south of the protected Puerto Morelos park. Maroma itself sits south of the park boundary, so it is outside the protected area.
Part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world
What you snorkel off Maroma is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which the park decree describes as the second largest barrier reef in the world, the Great Atlantic Reef Belt. The reef here is shallow, which is why it suits short 45 minute snorkel stops with a guide. Guided stops on this shallow stretch of the Mesoamerican reef show coral formations and reef fish within easy reach of the surface.
Conditions are weather-dependent: the trip is cancelled and refunded in bad weather, and the spinnaker flight only happens when conditions allow it.
Who It Suits
Ages, fitness and the fine print
The minimum age is 6, and minors aged 6 to 11 pay the child rate as the listing states, with children accompanied by an adult. The minimum drinking age on board is 18. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, so you do not need to be a strong swimmer to join the guided snorkel stops.
It is not recommended for pregnant travelers, people with spinal injuries or people with poor cardiovascular health, so take those warnings seriously before booking.
A big, sociable boat
This is a large-group outing, with a maximum group size of 100 on the listing. If you like a party atmosphere with music, commentary and plenty of people, that is exactly the appeal. If you want quiet water and a small boat, this is not your trip, and a private option such as the Puerto Morelos private snorkeling tour will suit you better.
Note that transport is listed as included from most centrally located Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya hotels, but the standard options and the Deluxe option differ on pickup, so confirm with the operator which one applies to your booking.
Other Snorkel Boats from Playa
If a 100-person catamaran is not your style, these are the other snorkel trips we compare out of Playa del Carmen.
from $85
Reef Snorkel Catamaran
Maroma Beach: Catamaran Reef Snorkel & Beach Club
A catamaran sail out of Maroma, between Playa del Carmen and Cancún, with two reef snorkel stops of about 45 minutes each and Maroma Beach to yourself afterwards…
- Two reef snorkel stops, about 45 minutes each
- Spinnaker ride when the wind allows
- Maroma Beach access after the sail
- Pickup from Playa del Carmen hotels
from $130
Private Charter
Puerto Morelos: Private Snorkeling Tour with Hotel Pickup
A private boat snorkeling trip on the Puerto Morelos reef, part of the world's second-largest barrier reef system. Hotel pickup, a guide, and equipment are included for your…
- Private boat for your group only
- Snorkel the Puerto Morelos national reef park
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Guide and snorkeling gear provided
from $74
All-Inclusive Catamaran
Cozumel: VIP Catamaran with El Cielo, Reef & Open Bar
A five-hour day on a 72-foot catamaran out of Cozumel, with snorkeling at a protected reef and stops at the El Cielo and Cielito sandbars. Open bar, lunch…
- Anchor at the El Cielo and Cielito sandbars
- Snorkel a protected Cozumel reef
- Open bar and lunch on board
- 72-foot catamaran, five hours from Cozumel
Maroma on the Map
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Maroma Catamaran: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maroma Beach?
Punta Maroma sits in the Solidaridad municipality, the same one as Playa del Carmen, on the Caribbean side of Highway 307. It lies between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, about 16 km south of the Puerto Morelos lighthouse and about 20 km north of central Playa del Carmen by road.
Is Maroma Beach public?
Yes. Mexican law treats beaches and the federal maritime-terrestrial zone as public national property, and the law bans blocking or conditioning access to them. A Quintana Roo reform also makes beach access free and permanent. The complication is practical rather than legal, because there is no public access point near the highway and everyday entry runs through the resorts and clubs along the strip.
How do you get to Maroma Beach from Playa del Carmen?
By car it is about 20 km north up Highway 307, a 20 to 30 minute drive. Public transport only reaches the highway, so you would need a taxi for the final stretch, and there is no public beach-access point. The simplest route is the catamaran reef snorkel, which includes roundtrip transport from most central Playa del Carmen hotels and free beach access when the sail ends.
Is there good snorkeling at Maroma Beach?
The reef off Maroma is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world, and it is the first shallow reef south of the Puerto Morelos national park. The reef disappears south of Puerto Morelos and only reappears at Punta Maroma, so the snorkeling happens offshore rather than straight off the sand. The catamaran takes you out to two reef spots with gear and a guide included.
How long is the Maroma catamaran tour?
Three and a half hours from the marina, with departure slots at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. That covers the sail, two reef stops of about 45 minutes each, the spinnaker ride when conditions allow, and your beach time on Maroma afterwards. Pickup times vary by hotel and can shift with traffic, so confirm your exact pickup with the operator.
Why do I need to bring cash if I paid online?
The $85 ticket does not include the marina fee, which is $15 per person and is paid in cash when you arrive at the marina. Gratuities, souvenir photos and lockers are also extra, so carry more cash than just the fee if you plan to use any of those.
What is the dress code on the Maroma catamaran?
The listing gives the dress code as smart casual, which on a catamaran means swimwear under light clothes, a cover-up for the ride and sandals you can take off on deck. Bring a towel and a change of clothes for the beach afterwards. The Maroma reef catamaran supplies snorkel gear, so you only need your own mask if you prefer it.
Can children join the catamaran?
Yes, from age 6. Minors aged 6 to 11 pay a child rate, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum drinking age on board is 18. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, but it is not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
The trip is cancelled in bad weather and you get your money back, and you can also cancel yourself up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Conditions also govern the extras, since the spinnaker flight only happens when the wind and weather allow it.