12 Photography Sessions in Playa del Carmen Worth the Money

1.Swim with Turtles in Akumal + GoPro Photo Session

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 253 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $53Our pick

Snorkel Akumal’s protected bay with a private guide, using provided gear on the official CONANP circuit. Look for green turtles, rays, and tropical fish while your guide takes GoPro photos. The private, roughly one-hour outing includes park access, restrooms, showers, and lockers. Guides such as Fernando, Alejandro, and Rodrigo have helped first-time snorkelers feel at ease.

“Our guide was Fernando and it was excellent with him. He not only looked after us very well, but also showed us many marine animals. On turtles we saw 9 this morning, as well as colorful fish, lobsters, a globally rare species of ray, the spotted eagle ray, and another species of ray and fan coral.Auto-translated”

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2.“Private snorkeling with turtles in Akumal + Photos included”

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Meet your guide at Playa Akumal for a short introduction, snorkeling equipment and a private swim among sea turtles, reef fish and rays. Guides including Alex, Raymundo and Isaac have helped visitors of different skill levels feel at ease. Park entry, lockers, showers and water photography are included; the tour lasts about an hour.

“Smooth experience all together we were running late and they were very accommodating to that as well. The guide was friendly and ensured we had a great experience we saw many turtles and we got amazing videos. Highly recommend this if you are looking for a hastle free snorkeling experience in akumal”

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3.Small group tour in Tulum Ruins – Cenote Cave and GoPro pictures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

This 4.5-hour Tulum outing combines a guided walk among the seaside Maya ruins with snorkeling in the cave cenote Taak Bi Ha. Expect separate guides at the two stops, an air-conditioned ride, snorkel gear, waterproof lights, and cenote photos. Beto, Ricardo, Fabian, and Cesar are among the guides named by past participants; assignments can vary.

“This tour was amazing and the highlight of our week. Beto, our guide for the ruins was knowledgeable and such a great time while we were walking around. Our guide for the cenote gave us the best snorkeling experience. What you see in the pictures is truly the tip of the iceberg. During both experiences our guides also gave us some privacy to do our own exploring which was awesome for us a couple.”

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4.Akumal Turtles Snorkeling and GoPro pictures

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Snorkel Akumal Bay’s protected marine circuits with a guide, watching for green turtles, fish, coral and, if luck allows, manta rays. The group is capped at 12, gear is provided, and GoPro photos are complimentary, though delivery may take a few days. Guides including Fabian, Fernando and Carlos have led outings.

“I did this tour with my fiancé and friends and we all had a blast!! Sea turtles are my favorite aquatic animal and this tour did not disappoint because we saw so many during our time. They got so close and were breathtaking. We absolutely would do it again. Our guide Fabian was awesome!! He was super friendly and got great pictures of the whole group. He also made us very comfortable going out in the area where the turtles were. Ask for him when you arrive!”

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5.Akumal turtles sanctuary and go pro photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $40Best value

Meet a local guide at Akumal Beach, test your snorkel gear, then swim from shore to the seagrass beds where turtles feed. The guided outing lasts about 75 minutes, with up to 70 minutes in the water. GoPro photos and videos are included when sea conditions allow, and you can stay at the beach afterward.

“Really fab , so well organised , great communication from the day b4 all the way through until the end of experience, great value for money tour guys where patient and professional definitely recommend”

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6.Tulum photo tour experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $450

Photographer and guide Santiago Arenas takes you by private, air-conditioned vehicle to five Tulum photo spots, with examples including the Ven a la Luz statue, Selina and the Tulum sign. Choose a morning, noon or afternoon session, change outfits along the way, and receive 70 edited images in a private gallery. Pickup is offered in Tulum and Playa del Carmen.

“Santiago was great! Very nice to talk to, prepared, and considerate - plus our photos came out amazing! The only downsides (which were completely out of his control) were that we couldn’t take beach picks because of the massive mounds of seaweed on the beach during the time of year we went (late April) and that we had to cut the photo shoot short due to heat. Overall, we had a great experience and we highly recommend Santiago!!! :)”

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7.Akumal : Snorkeling with Green Turtles + Photos with GoPro

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $41

Meet your private guide in Akumal for an hour of snorkeling in the protected turtle circuit. Your guide provides a life jacket, mask and snorkel, points out green turtles and other sea life, and takes GoPro photos. Sergio and Alex have guided past outings, though your guide may differ. Park services include bathrooms, showers and lockers.

“Great local firm and we had our own guide for the 3 of us. He was calm throughout and helped us to find and watch several turtles plus coral reef, lobsters, squid and even a pufferfish.”

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8.Family Photography Session in Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $80

Meet a local guide and photographer in Playa del Carmen for a private, one-hour family photo session. You may pose on the beach, among greenery, or on local streets, with the photographer directing the shots. Photographer Josh is praised for being friendly and accommodating. The session includes 10 edited photos and ends back at the meeting point.

“We had such a fun time during our Photoshoot with Josh. He was so friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Highly recommend!!”

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9.Luxurious Flying Dress Photoshoot in Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Choose a flying dress and meet photographers JP and Nat at Playa Punta Esmeralda in Playa del Carmen. A wardrobe assistant helps during your private beach shoot, which may run 1 to 2 hours. You’ll receive an online gallery to choose images for editing, plus a short edited video. Transportation is not included.

“Nat and her crew were fabulous! They were friendly, responsive, fun and most of all professional! Each step they communicated well, were fair & upfront in what they charged and the photos were amazing! We celebrated two milestone birthdays (50 & 60). I highly recommend This incredible memory making experience with Flying Dresses Playa!”

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10.Photographer, Professional Photo Shoot – Tulum

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $209

Choose a one- to four-hour private photo shoot in Tulum, with locations and style tailored to your group. Photographers including Nico Rossi and Cristina have been praised for friendly, flexible sessions and location advice. You get a private gallery and 20 to 50 final photos, depending on session length. Transportation is not included.

“Nico is a brilliant photographer, he is very professional and friendly, he did a wedding photoshoot for us and he was fantastic with the kids. I would definitely recommend him”

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11.Cenote; Snorkeling and Photos with Colorful Fish

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Meet local guides Martín and/or Melqui in Akumal for a 90-minute snorkel at Yal-Ku Lagoon, where cenote freshwater meets the sea. Look for tropical fish, and possibly turtles, with equipment, lagoon entry, facilities, parking, and unlimited GoPro photos included.

“Martin was a wonderful guide. He points out specific fish when he sees them and we saw lots of colorful fish. Was a relaxed tour and not stressful at all. We dId not have to stay "in a line" and "follow the leader". We were able to explore in the general vicinity before moving on. He also takes GoPro photos which is included in the price. Would definitely recommend.”

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12.Hire Photographer, Professional Photo Shoot – Playa Del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $178

Spend one to four hours with a professional photographer in Playa del Carmen, choosing a shoot length and locations to suit your group. Packages range from 20 to 50 final images, with a private viewing gallery and edited photos due within two weeks. Elizabeth and Nicco are names associated with the company, but confirm who is available before booking.

“Elizabeth was extremely sweet, professional and made the shoot an amazing experience for my family. Thank you!”

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