The 14 Best Kayak & Paddle Trips in Mexico

1.Los Cabos Arch and Playa del Amor Tour by Glass Bottom Kayak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,317 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Paddle from the beach to El Arco, Playa del Amor, and Pelican Rock in a glass-bottom kayak. You’ll receive instruction, snorkel with tropical fish and sea lions, and get hotel or marina transport. Guides such as Luis, Hugo, Marco, and Pedro are praised for clear help and local insight. Morning trips usually have calmer water and less boat traffic.

“From pickup to drop off at our hotel, Luis provided top notch service and hospitality! The tour started the minute we were in the van with facts and info about all of Cabo. He did all the heavy lifting, all we did was hop on and off the kayak- and paddle of course. Kayaked right up to the arch and he took our picture- no obstructed views full of other boats or tourists (we went in the morning before it got too busy). Went ashore Lovers beach and walked around and took pictures. Went ashore again near Pelican Rock and snorkeled for about 45min. Visibility was great! Saw tons of…”

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2.Kayak Expedition to the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, Lovers Beach & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 976 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Start at Empacadora Beach and paddle a stable Hobie kayak past Neptune’s Finger to Cabo’s Arch. Josue, Roberto, Luis, or another True Baja guide leads the way, shares local stories, watches the sea conditions, and helps you spot fish, octopus, rays, and sea lions at Pelican Rock. Early departures offer sunrise views and quieter beaches.

“Wonderful! Josue and Roberto were knowledgeable and fun. I would do this again and again. The snorkeling! So many fish and 4 octupi!”

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3.Los Cabos Power snorkel Adventure, Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 872 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Cruise from Cabo San Lucas marina to Chileno Bay aboard a high-speed inflatable boat, then choose snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or a sea scooter. Guides such as Mike, Paco, Chaka, and Adrian have earned praise for clear instruction and close attention in the water. Quesadillas and salsa are included.

“Erik was the best photographer, Chaka was the best guide, and Julio (the captain, I think that's his name) was the best driver. All of them spotted a school of sting rays - which I don't think is very common for them to see because they had their phones out recording, so seeing the sting rays leap and swim was a huge plus!!! The experience overall was extraordinary. Plenty of time to snorkel around, kayak, paddle board, and use the sea scooters in the area was good. Waters a bit rough, no encounters with jelly fish. Food at the end with quesadillas, beans, and chili paste / salsa was really…”

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4.4 Private Cenotes, Zip-Lines, Canoes & Mayan Village with Delicious Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 757 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $275

Spend four to six hours in the Tankah area with a private guide such as Alberto, Marianna, Hugo, or Yair. Zip-line, snorkel in open cenotes, canoe, swim, try cliff jumping, and share a Mayan lunch. Private pickup is available throughout the Riviera Maya, with flexible pacing for your group.

“Danny our tour guide was amazing. Super knowledgeable and very flexible with us. He helped us to get in all the things we wanted to see and do within our time restraint and truly customized our tour to us. One of the best tour guides I’ve ever had!”

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5.Cabo San Lucas Glass Bottom Kayak Tour and Snorkel at Two Bays

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 628 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $100

Start from the beach, not a boat, and paddle a tandem glass-bottom kayak between Santa Maria and Chileno Bays with a bilingual guide. Expect about an hour of kayaking, an hour of snorkeling, and time for transport. Guides such as Marco, Carlos, Maury, and Michael are praised for careful instruction and personal attention.

“Paco and Miguel were great! They answered a lot of questions and were friendly and personable. It was too rough to kayak at playa Santa maria so we kayaked to los arcos and they snorkled at pelícanos. There wasnt much of a beach there sadly, but the kayaking was good. I was really looking forward to playa sta Maria and chilenos, but I'm glad I got to see a bit of los Cabos and los Arcos.”

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6.Pirate’s Channel & 3 Lagoons Kayak or SUP/Paddle Tour +Meditation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 564 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Start at 5:00 am with a bilingual guide such as Jorge for a beginner-friendly kayak or SUP trip across Bacalar’s Seven Colors Lagoon. Paddle through Pirate’s Channel, Mariscal Lagoon, and the Mangrove Sanctuary, stop for fruit, coffee, and Nutella toast, then rest on your board for meditation. GoPro photos are included.

“Amazing experience Jorge was very helpful provided lots of tips and tricks, and even giving you space to manage at your own pace it was a great first time trying SUP and now I love it!”

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7.Sunrise Paddle Quest: Embrace the Dawn on Bacalar’s Waters

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 542 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $38

Meet David, Vicky, or another What SUP Bacalar guide at The Yak Lake House at 6:20 a.m. Learn SUP basics over coffee, then paddle to the Black Cenote and Pirates Canal. The three-hour outing suits beginners, includes fruit, photos, boards, lifejackets, and hands-on instruction for groups of up to 16.

“A must in Bacalar. Although we couldn’t see the sunrise due to the cloudy sky, it was still a wonderful experience. The tour was well-balanced between the required physical strength during the paddling and the moment of tranquility when relaxing in the beautiful and peaceful lagoon. Our guides are friendly, knowledgeable and patient. Vicky was amazing, and she paid attention to everyone of us and provided instructions and tips on how to better manage the motion of navigating the SUPs. Highly recommend.”

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8.Sunrise by Paddle or Kayak with Floating Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 343 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $29Best value

Start at 6:30 a.m. at Casa China Bacalar for a three-hour guided paddleboard or kayak trip. You’ll watch sunrise at Cenote Esmeralda, swim in a clear lagoon setting, visit the bird sanctuary, and eat fruit and healthy snacks from a floating picnic. Guides such as Adrián and Angelo also share local nature tips.

“El tour para ver el amanecer en la laguna mientras ves el sol salir y los reflejos en el agua es una experiencia única e inolvidable que recomiendo a todo el mundo que pueda hacerla. Quiero agradecer personalmente a Ángel nuestro instructor ya que desde el primer momento tuvimos una conexión especial con el. Es una persona muy amable y simpática que hace que el tour merezca más la pena aún si cabe nos explicó en todo momento la historia sobre la laguna y nos llevó a sitios únicos todo ello acompañado de una charla sobre naturaleza y medioambiente increíble. Recomiendo si lo hacéis poder hacerlo con el ya que…”

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9.Bioluminescence by kayak or SUP to Los Arcos Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 343 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $101

Paddle Zone takes you from Puerto Vallarta to Los Arcos Marine Park by kayak, SUP, or family board. Guides such as Felipe, Kevin, Ulysses, and Juliso lead the outing in English, with sunset or dawn scenery, caves, wildlife, bioluminescent water, free photos, snacks, and roundtrip transport. Expect a real ocean workout, not a gentle lagoon paddle.

“Guides are all very friendly. The scenery was great. The bioluminecent waters were great aswell. The ride was a bit long it was my first time kayaking so the distance was a little too much for me but nothing I couldn't manage. Overall great experience dj was nice the vibe was there. I think the pizza could have been better but that's about it.”

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10.Cabo San Lucas Paddleboard and Snorkel at the Arch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 336 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $100

Paddle from Cabo San Lucas Beach to El Arco with a bilingual guide, pause for about 40 minutes of snorkeling at Pelican Rock, and view Lover’s Beach and Divorce Beach from the water. High Tide Los Cabos supplies boards, snorkel gear, snacks, water, and optional hotel transport. Morning trips usually offer calmer conditions.

“The guides Emilio and Luis were so helpful with carrying the paddle boards and showing us the best places. This was the perfect adventure to beautiful spots in Cabo San Lucas and we saw amazing fish and sea lions so close to us. The water was nice even in December in the morning.”

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11.Kayak Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 303 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

Paddle a sea kayak through Caapechen Lagoon in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve with a small group of up to 14 people. Guides such as Antonio share details about birds, mangroves, and the reserve while helping beginners find their stroke. The three-hour outing begins at 3:30 pm and finishes with sunset over the water.

“Wow, what an experience! Rodrigo and Ricardo took us snorkeling in a cenote (they provided gear), fed us supper (tamales, fruit, trail mix, coffee, guac), and led us kayaking through the lagoons. We saw the sunset and tons of birds! We enjoyed going with this group and felt like one of their friends. They take go-pros and professional cameras and share all pictures with you, free of charge. Definitely recommend this to everyone!”

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12.Balandra & Tecolote: hike, kayak and snorkel in paradise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 299 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $136

Start at Balandra with tandem kayaking through calm water and mangroves, then snorkel among fish and rocky reef. Hike 5 kilometers over sand, rock, hills, and tide pools to Tecolote Beach, where a fresh ceviche lunch awaits. Guides such as Alex, Mateo, Alberto, and Daniel add local insight. Small groups reach a maximum of six.

“One of the best experiences ever. The staff was amazingly helpful. Very knowledgeable and educational. The staff took their time and made sure we enjoyed our visit. Balandra is amazingly beautiful. Kayaking snorkeling and hiking was the highlight of our trip. At the end the seafood they served was delicious 😋😋😋. I would definitely recommend this trip to everyone. My fiance and I love it.”

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13.Kayak Huatulco Sunrise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 166 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Start before dawn with guides such as Ferguson, Heriberto, or Jimena, then paddle calm Pacific waters around Huatulco’s bays as the sun rises. You’ll stop for fresh fruit, coffee, juice, and warm bread on the beach, followed by snorkeling near Playa La Entrega. Kayaks, safety gear, snorkel equipment, photos, and dry storage are included.

“Great way to start the day and get a little bit of exercise as well. The guides were great and we had a wonderful experience from start to finish.”

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14.Bioluminescence Tour in Kayak in Holbox Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $50

Paddle a short distance from Mosquito Beach to Punta Mosquito, then wade or swim in shallow water as bioluminescent plankton flashes around you. Guides such as Johnny, Alex, Jony, and Abraham also point out constellations. Hotel pickup and drop-off are offered, but timing can shift late at night with the moon cycle.

“Really enjoyed out trip, it’s a short kayak journey and your eyes do adjust to see in the dark (although you get some lights from the hotels nearby). We went in Jan and still saw quite a lot, so would recommend”

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