Clear Boat Cozumel Review: Is it worth it? (2023)

What is the Clear Boat Cozumel?

The Clear Boat Excursion in Cozumel, Mexico offers a totally unique and different experience for travelers who want to explore the island’s stunning marine life.

This excursion offers a one-of-a-kind ride aboard a Clear Boat, also known as the Invisible Boat. The boat is made entirely of plexiglass, making it completely transparent on all sides.

This allows passengers to enjoy uninterrupted 360-degree views of the crystal-clear waters and the vibrant marine ecosystem that Cozumel is famous for.

Where is the Clear Boat in Cozumel?

The Clear Boat experience in Cozumel departs from a private dock, which is located next to Carlota Beach Club.

This location is about 10 minutes south of the Cozumel ferry and downtown San Miguel de Cozumel.

You’ll check in at the tour desk which is just across the street from the beach club entrance.

If you’re visiting on a day trip from Playa del Carmen, taxis can be easily hailed from the ferry terminal to get to the meeting point, and costs around $100 pesos (~$5 USD) each way.

For those staying at resorts in Cozumel, taxis can be arranged from your resort and taxi drivers are familiar with the Carlota Beach Club location.

Why book the Clear Boat Excursion in Cozumel?

The Clear Boat Excursion is one of the top things to do in Cozumel, and a one-of-a-kind experience that offers stunning views of the island’s marine life.

The transparent plexiglass design of the boat provides uninterrupted 360-degree views, making it an unforgettable way to see the crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine ecosystem.

Compared to traditional glass-bottom boats, the clear boat offers a more immersive experience due to its fully transparent design.

Whether you’re a family looking for a fun and unique activity or a first-time snorkeler wanting to get a feel for Cozumel’s underwater world, the Clear Boat Excursion is one of the best Cozumel tours.

Additionally, this activity is perfect for those that might be short on time since it takes less than 2 hours to complete the tour.

Clear Boat Cozumel Pros & Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of the invisible boat experience that I’ll discuss further in this post:

Pros of the Cozumel Clear Boat

• Totally unique excursion
• Small group experience (maximum 16 pax)
• Reasonably priced
• Suitable for all ages

Cons of the Cozumel Clear Boat

• Short excursion
• Snorkeling could be better
• More low-key activity
• Photo package is expensive

Clear Boat Cozumel: Practical Info

Here is some of the practical info to know when booking your Clear Boat tour in Cozumel:

Cozumel Clear Boat: Tour Times & Availability

Cozumel Clear Boat: Duration

The Clear Boat Cozumel excursion lasts for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, giving you plenty of time to take in the spectacular sights of Cozumel’s clear waters.

The tour starts on the clear boat where you will get a guided tour from the captain and guide, learning about the local marine life and underwater sights.

After that, you will make a stop at a nearby reef where you can snorkel and explore the clear waters up close.

Cozumel Clear Boat: Age Restrictions

The Clear Boat Cozumel excursion is suitable for all ages. Kids over 4 years of age are considered adults and kids 3 and under are free.

This makes it a great family-friendly option for those visiting Cozumel with kids, or multi-generational groups with grandparents.

Cozumel Clear Boat: Prices

What’s Included in the Clear Boat Cozumel Excursion

How to Book the Clear Boat Cozumel Excursion

Who is the Invisible Boat Cozumel best suited for?

The Cozumel Clear Boat excursion is an ideal activity for a wide range of travelers, including families, first-time snorkelers, and those looking for a quick, unique, and low-key activity in Cozumel.

Families with children will love the clear boat’s unique design, which allows them to see the marine life up close and personal without getting wet.

First-time snorkelers can get a feel for Cozumel’s underwater world from the comfort of the boat, giving them the confidence they need to explore further.

And for those looking for a more relaxed activity, the Clear Boat Excursion provides a comfortable and enjoyable ride that requires little physical effort.

Overall, the Clear Boat Excursion is a great way to experience the wonders of Cozumel’s marine life in a fun and accessible way.

Who is the Invisible Boat Cozumel NOT suited for?

While the Cozumel Clear Boat excursion is a great activity for many types of travelers, it may not be suited for those seeking more adventurous activities.

The Clear Boat Excursion is a more low-key and relaxing activity, perfect for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Cozumel’s marine life without getting in the water or exerting too much effort.

If you’re looking for a more adrenaline-fueled experience, like zip-lining or parasailing, then the Clear Boat excursion may not be the best fit for you.

Additionally, if you’re an avid scuba diver, you may find that the coral reefs and marine life on the Clear Boat tour Cozumel are not as diverse or plentiful as those found on deeper dives.

However, for those looking for a unique and relaxing way to explore the island’s marine world, the Clear Boat Excursion is a great option.

Clear Boat Cozumel Experience

Here’s what to expect on the Clear Boat Cozumel adventure:

Arrival and Boarding

When you first arrive at the meeting point, you’ll be directed to the check-in counter to register.

It’s recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time to check-in and get settled.

Once you have checked-in and received your wristband, you’ll cross the road to get suited up with your life jacket.

The tour guide will then lead the group to the invisible boat where the crew will assist with getting everyone on board.

Clear Boat Excursion

Once on board, the clear boat will set sail along Cozumel’s coastline. Along the way, you’ll get to experience Cozumel’s clear waters, colorful reefs, and lush marine life up close.

You’ll pass over a few different coral reefs where you’ll see a variety of marine life in clear detail under the boat.

On our tour, we saw tropical fish, large starfish, coral reefs, and even an eagle ray!

But the real highlight is probably passing over two small sunken ships, which were sunk as artificial coral reefs. These shipwreck sites are very cool to see and the clear boat gives you a unique view of them from above.

And during the entire transparent boat ride, the tour guide and captain will give informative commentary (in both Spanish and English) so you can learn more about Cozumel’s marine life and underwater sights.

Photo Session

During the excursion, you’ll also have the opportunity for a short photo shoot, where the tour guide will take professional photos of each person with a GoPro camera at the front of the boat.

The clear boat provides a great photo op and the guide knows all the best poses so you can be sure you’re getting a great shot!

I was actually pleasantly surprised with the quality of the photos – you can see some of them throughout this post!

Snorkeling

After the initial boat ride on the invisible ship, the captain will make a stop at a coral reef closer to shore to allow passengers to go snorkeling. This is an optional activity so you can stay on the boat if you’re not up for it.

All necessary snorkeling equipment is provided included snorkel masks and life jackets. You’ll even get to use a full-face snorkel mask.

Of all the Riviera Maya tours I’ve done, this is the only one that has provided full-face snorkel masks so that was a treat to try it out for the first time!

To be honest, the snorkeling on this tour was okay, but it wasn’t anything special. There were plenty of fish and some coral reef formations but nothing spectacular.

But at the same time, we had a first-time snorkeler on our boat and she had a great time so it was perfect for her.

Travelista Tip: For more impressive snorkeling, consider a Cozumel snorkel tour to El Cielo, where you can snorkel with giant starfish.

Return Boat Ride

After the snorkeling part of the tour, you’ll make your way back to the clear boat and enjoy one last ride along Cozumel’s coastline.

During this time, the guide will pass out beers, waters, or soft drinks to all the passengers. It’s a quick ride back so you’ll need to down your drinks quickly!

Once you reach the dock, you’ll disembark and can get changed in the restrooms at the tour office if needed.

You’ll also be able to review your professional photos and purchase the photo package if desired.

What to Wear on the Invisible Boat Excursion Cozumel

• Coverup or shorts: Wear a light swimsuit coverup or shorts that can easily be removed when you’re ready to snorkel.

• Sandals or flip flops: Wear sandals or flip flops that can easily be removed as you’ll be required to remove them before boarding the boat. Be prepared to be barefoot while onboard.

What to Bring on the Invisible Boat Excursion Cozumel

• Biodegradable sunscreen: Regular sunscreen is prohibited so be sure to bring reef-safe biodegradable sunscreen to protect yourself and the environment.

• GoPro or waterproof camera: If you want to capture photos or videos of your clear boat snorkeling adventure, be sure to bring a GoPro (or the less expensive Akaso Brave) along with a floating handgrip.

• Sunglasses: Bring sunglasses along for the boat ride as it will likely be very sunny! Although the boat is covered, you will still get some sun.

• Cash for tips: Don’t forget to bring some cash (pesos or USD) to tip the tour guides. Tipping is not required but it’s customary to leave a tip for the guides at the end of the excursion. They were excellent!

• Change of clothes: Bring along a change of dry clothes to change into after the reef snorkeling as you won’t have much time to dry off before the end of the tour. There are restrooms at the tour location where you can change your clothes.

Tips for the Cozumel Invisible Boat Excursion

• Take advantage of the photo session: The tour guide is a great photographer and knows all the best poses for the clear boat excursion. So be sure to take advantage of the photo session and get some great shots!

• Put your phone on the floor of the boat to take photos and videos: For the best photos and videos, set your phone directly on the floor of the boat. It’s clear enough that you’ll be able to capture some great photos and videos!

• Stay close to the tour guide during snorkeling: The tour guide has fish food so all of the fish will be swimming close to him! Stay close to the guide to see the most fish!

Cozumel Clear Boat: FAQs

Final Thoughts: Is the Clear Boat Cozumel worth it?

So, is the Clear Boat Cozumel worth it? Absolutely!

This Cozumel Invisible Boat tour offers an unforgettable experience that you won’t find anywhere else. In fact, it’s the only clear boat in the Caribbean.

I really enjoyed my experience and found the boat to be so unique and it was honestly so clear!

Plus, the tour guides are super friendly and knowledgeable. And everything was on-time and very well-organized.

But it’s important to know that it’s more of a low-key activity so if you’re looking for something more active or adrenaline-pumping, this may not be the best fit.

And if you’re looking for an amazing snorkeling tour, this probably isn’t the best option. The clear boat excursion is more of a leisurely experience with some snorkeling thrown in.

But overall the Clear Boat is the real highlight and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by getting to see marine life underneath your feet!

And at less than 2 hours, it’s a quick excursion so it’s perfect for those that are short on time or want to pack multiple Cozumel activities into one day.