Eco-Water Sports Guide — Cenote SUP & Kayak

Responsibilities

• Lead stand-up paddleboard and kayak tours on accessible cenotes and mangrove lagoon systems in the Riviera Maya: the visual experience of paddling on cenote water — the clarity, the color, the reflected jungle — is unlike any open-ocean paddling
• Apply SEMARNAT ecological standards for all cenote access: no sunscreen in the water (reef-safe or biodegradable alternatives provided), no feeding wildlife, maintain distance from cenote walls, zero litter policy throughout the tour
• Guide mangrove canal kayak experiences: Riviera Maya's mangrove estuaries harbor bird life, saltwater crocodiles, and juvenile marine life that provide naturalist content for the guide throughout the tour
• Conduct paddleboard yoga classes on cenote flat water: cenote SUP yoga combines the stable surface of freshwater cenote with the visual environment of a natural cathedral — morning sessions with small groups (maximum 6) are the primary format
• Provide marine and botanical naturalist context throughout tours: the guide who can identify the species of mangrove (red, black, white), the bird species nesting above the canal, and the freshwater fish visible below the SUP board enriches the experience at every moment
• Coordinate SEMARNAT cenote access compliance documentation for the operator

Requirements

• SUP and kayak instructor certification; eco-guide training preferred
• SEMARNAT cenote ecological compliance knowledge
• Naturalist knowledge of Riviera Maya mangrove and cenote ecosystems
• English fluency for international eco-tourism market; Spanish native; European language preferred
• SUP yoga teaching qualification or strong personal practice with teaching aptitude

Benefits

• IMSS, aguinaldo, paid vacation + premium
• Fixed monthly + eco-tour tip income
• Daily cenote and mangrove access for personal practice
• Naturalist training and ecological knowledge development support
• Career development in the Riviera Maya's premium eco-tourism sector

Work environment

Eco-water sports guide in Riviera Maya cenote and mangrove environments. Values-aligned outdoor eco-tourism guiding in one of the most biodiverse coastal ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere.

About the role

The cenote SUP guide who paddles the first kilometer of a mangrove canal in complete silence — letting the 18 species of birds visible from the waterway speak for themselves before offering the first naturalist comment — is understanding something that most guided tour formats get wrong: the environment is not a backdrop for the guide's presentation. The guide is a translator between the guests and a world they can feel but can't yet name.