The Riviera Maya, & Playa del Carmen specifically, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world with its soft sand beaches, turquoise waters, lush tropical forests, magical cenotes & architectural wonders! There is something for everyone here – beaches, marine-life, scuba diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, parasailing & boat tours, jungle tours, natural parks, archeological and ancient ruin sites, shopping, spas, tequila tasting, nightlife & fine dining!
Along with offering private transportation to our properties, one of our driver’s Jaime is a fantastic tour guide who can also offer private tours and excursions. Enjoy a visit to ancient Mayan ruins, swimming/snorkeling in a cenote (unique only to the Yucatan Peninsula & on most people’s bucket list), or swimming/snorkeling with sea turtles in their natural habitat in a seaside town, Akumal (in English means place of the turtle.) So much adventure to be had! Contact Jaime of Soltours at: +52-984-176-6306 (Tell him Sally referred you.)
Below we cover many activities from eco-parks, to water activities, to golf, to visits to Mayan ruins to islands & seaside towns to visit!
ECO ADVENTURE & WATER PARKS (Note: Only buy online do not buy from street solicitors or those selling packages at grocery stores.)
Imagine an amusement park but within a natural environment. Riviera Maya eco parks are located in the jungle near coastal vacation towns. Unlike typical amusement parks, eco parks are host to authentic Mayan ruins, tropical birds and diverse wildlife, & million-year-old caves decorated with stalactite formations. Please note we highly do not recommend you buy entrance park tickets from sellers on the street or in stores. You will not save any money. Simply book online with the park itself; they often have discounts. If you buy in advance you can also save money. Be prepared to show your ID at the entrance.)
Xcaret –Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park with over 50 attractions. caret is over 200 acres (81 hectares)! You’re unlikely to explore the entire park in one visit, especially with young children. It’s just too big to do it properly in one day. Visitors come to Xcaret to snorkel with fish, explore the unlimited underground rivers and caves, learn about Mayan culture with live shows, see wildlife & marinelife and enjoy its tropical surroundings. Gorgeous beaches, lagoon & pools, exhibitions of butterflies, Coral Reef Aquarium, cultural Mayan Nighttime Folklore Show, archeological site & a large variety of animals.
ALL INCLUSIVE FOOD & DRINK XEL HA WATERPARK!
Xel-Ha – Known as the world’s largest natural aquarium with lagoons, cenotes, tropical fish & the longest underground river in the world. Float the lazy river, snorkel, zip line into the water, jump off cliffs, walk the jungle trails or slife down a 131 foot lighthouse! It includes?
- Unlimited snorkeling in the inlet with the use of fins and snorkel mask with integrated tube.
- River floating on inner tubes.
- Scenic Lighthouse with 360° views from a height of 131 ft (40 m) and a fun descent.
- Continental breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Snacks and lunch buffets from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Domestic open bar and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.
- World of Adventure: zip-lines, five-meter-high jumps and different rope games.
- Hikes through jungle paths.
- Cenotes and coves.
- Nursery.
- Special activities for kids at the Children’s Playground.
- Rest areas with lounge chairs and hammocks.
- Life jackets, inner tubes and bicycles.
- Restrooms, changing rooms, showers, lockers and a towel.
- Other services (WiFi, ATMs and shops).
- Free parking.
It’s a very organized & clean park; picture Disney meets Mexico! Entrance fee includes all your food & drinks including alcohol. (Amazing value for families!)
Xplor – Experience zip lines with amazing water landings, exciting rides in amphibious land/water vehicles & underground rafting. Beautiful views of stalactites and stalagmites.
Xavage: Discover Xavage, the new adventure park in Cancun where you can enjoy distinct activities, many of them unique in the Mexican Caribbean. Choose your admission between Basic or All-Inclusive and spend a day having thrilling rides in a monster truck or a jet boat. Or go rafting in the only whitewater rapids in Cancun and Riviera Maya, gliding through a Zip-line or climbing different challenging levels at the Ropes Course.
Xenses: Awaken your senses & witness illusions up close where nothing is as it seems! Discover a nonsensical Mexican town that will test your balance. Fly horizontally like Superman style through the jungle. Or speed down a waterslide that splashes into a cave. Immerse yourself in a Natural Spa like floating in a river of clay, floating in a salt river, and purifying your skin with potent streams of water.
Xochimilco Spend the evening on board a traditional trajinera, a lively decorated and picturesque boat, where you will cross a beautiful set of canals. This is an original and fun way to spend an evening with friends or family enjoying traditional Mexican entertainment and dinner under the stars. This is an authentic Mexican party that you will remember for years to come.
Rio Secreto – Breathtaking underground world & protected nature reserve covering over 7.5 miles where you can observe natural history dating back millions of years, as you hike and swim through a route of about 1 km full of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Go deep inside an underground cave, where you’ll experience true silence among some of the most dramatic mineral formations in the world.
Hidden Worlds Adventure Park – Drive into the jungle in an Indiana Jones-style jungle buggy, rappel over the jungle on a zip line or rappel down inside one of the famous caves! Then ride the exciting splashdown zip line into the water & snorkel through a cenote, admiring the fantastic stalactite and stalagmite formations, both above and below the water. Emerge from the depths and ride Avatar – a thrilling high-speed zip line roller coaster ride invented here at Hidden Worlds.
Tres Rios Nature Park – Tropical jungle & nature park which provides ecotourism adventures and educational experiences with indigenous animals & birds, cenotes, underground caves & pristine white beaches.
Paradise Beach (Cozumel) – This is a great family spot to enjoy. Fun Pass gives you access to the amazing floating water park, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and water hammocks. Massages, wave runners, parasailing, banana boat rides, and henna tattoos are also available for an additional fee!
Don’t miss visiting a ‘cenote’ which is unique only to the Yucatan. These are underground chamber or cave which contains permanent water. In other words, it is a natural sinkhole where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed. You can snorkel, swim or zip line into them. This is THE perfect nature experience on many people’s bucket list. Here’s a list of them on this website.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere – A 1.3 million acre nature reserve just south of Tulum. This protected area is inhabited by countless plant species, birds & animals!
Yaax Che Botanical Gardens – discover 150 acres of botanical gardens which exhibits the peninsula’s plants & flowers. It features a 130 foot suspension bridge, 3 observation towns, tree nursery, orchid garden & a library equipped with reading hammocks! Be prepared to spot spider monkeys typically out in the afternoons. Located in the town of Puerto Morelos near Cancun.
WATER ADVENTURES
The Caribbean turquoise waters are great for scuba divers & snorkelers to experience the Great Maya Reef.
Do you want to enjoy deep sea fishing? Or perhaps a high quality ocean adventure boat tour with open bar & food? Snorkeling the beautiful waters of the Riviera Maya? If so please contact Roberto Chan of Xul Ha Tours. Our guests have used their services & you’ll find them to be dependable, fun & very knowledgeable of the area. Contact Roberto at: +52-984-876-9139 (Tell him Sally referred you.)
Yal Ku Lagoon: Situated in Akumal, a nearby coastal town; amazing snorkeling. Rent a lagoon-side palapa & enjoy this beautiful lagoon where freshwater meets the ocean! Our amazing airport transfer driver Jaime is also a fantastic tour guide and can take you on many fun family excursions! Like swimming/ziplining into cenotes (so cool!) or snorkeling/swimming with sea turtles in their natural habitat (the ocean!) in Akumal as well. Contact Jaime of Soltours at: +52-984-176-6306 (Tell him Sally referred you.)
GOLF
Riviera Maya offers several world-class golf courses with tropical jungles and fabulous Caribbean views, all designed by world-renowned architects. FORE!
Iberostar Playa Parasio – 18 hole, par 72 – P.B. Dye Design
Mayaokoba El Camaleon – 18 hole, par 72 – Greg Norman Design
Playacar Golf – 18 hole, par 72 – Robert Von Hagge Design
Moon Palace Golf – 27 hole, 3 par 36, 9 hole course – Jack Nicklaus Design
Riviera Maya Golf Club – 18 hole, par 72 – Robert Trent Jones II Design
MAYAN RUINS
Take a trip into the past & follow the footsteps of the Mayans! Deep in the Yucatan jungle explore the remains of ancient Mayan cities that will enrich your understanding of this interesting & amazing culture. (Ask our our highly recommended tour guide to take you on this exciting excursion!)
Chichen Itza is one of the most famous Mayan sites in Mexico. Enjoy the Pyramid of Kukulkan, a massive structure built to display the Mayan calendar, and enjoy 360° views of the jungle.
Tulum is mystical stone fortress on a bluff, overlooking the blue expanse of the Caribbean. This ancient seaport was a major trade hub on the route between the Yucatan and Honduras.
Cobá continues to be studied by archeologists today. Covering approximately 26 square miles, its impressive size and imposing ruins are indicative of its status; it was once one of the most important cities in the Mayan civilization.
Uxmal is known for having ornately carved facades representing great ceremonies in Mexico. Much emphasis at Uxmal was put on appeasing the rain god, Chaac, as the site did not have a cenote or river to provide water.
ADVENTURE PARKS | THRILLING!
Selvatic Zipling & Adventures: Zip line over the jungle tops then enjoy swinging into a cenotre. Other options include driving an ATV thru the jungle! Includes a drink and lunch.
Venture Park – in Cancun’s is an amusement park facing the sea. Take a cruise down the relaxing lazy river, dare to ride the thrilling Kamikaze, catch a wave at the wave pool, go go-carting, ziplining, go on the small roller coaster and more! Included in your admission are restaurants & snack bars.
Jungala Park: This place has it all. Slides and pools, a kid’s area, restaurants & bars, & spa! Enjoy rides such as BEACHSIDE BOOMERANGO, TROPICAL WHIZZARD, PARADISE FREE FALL, HOOP HOOP AQUALOOP, KIDS RAIN – FORTRESS, WAVE POOL: or Lazy River; the longest lazy river in Latin America!
Maroma Adventures – Experience an array of exciting adventures here. Ride a camel or an ATV, ride the waves in a high speed boat or a wave-runner, parasail, take an ocean safari, go deep-sea fishing or snorkel with dolphins!
Paradise Beach All Inclusive Water Park (Cozumel) – This is a great family spot to enjoy. Fun Pass gives you access to the amazing floating water park, all you can eat & drink, free Wifi, swimming pool, loungers, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and water hammocks. Massages, wave runners, parasailing, banana boat rides, and henna tattoos are also available for an additional fee!
Circque de Soleil Joya – JOYÀ, the first Cirque du Soleil resident show in Mexico, combines culinary and performing arts in an intimate theater setting to engage the audience’s five senses. Drawing on Mexico’s history and heritage, JOYÀ tells the story of an alchemist and his granddaughter embarking on a quest to uncover the secrets of life.
Coco Bongo Nightclub – Las Vegas meets Mexico! A music pounding nightclub that combines a rock concert, circus and acrobatic show – a type of ‘Cirque du Soleil’ with Madonna, Elvis & Michael Jackson impersonators. 
Aloha Paddle Board & Water Sports – Located right next door to Luna Encantada on the Beach & Calle 6, you will enjoy taking out a paddleboard on your own or with a group. Lessons and instructions/guide provided.
Family Fun: If you’re traveling with kids, you can zipline over the jungleor take an ATV through the jungle. You can take a sightseeing tour via helicopters in the Riviera Maya which is a fun experience.
Don’t miss visiting a ‘cenote’ which is unique only to the Yucatan. These are underground chamber or cave which contains permanent water. In other words, it is a natural sinkhole where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed.You can snorkel, swim or zip line into them. This is THE perfect nature experience on many people’s bucket list.
Tour Playa’s 5th Avenue; a 45 block pedestrian-only promenade filled with galleries, shopping, restaurants & bars, salons, courtyards, and wandering mariachis! You name it, Playa’s got it!
Excursions: Our driver Jaime is an excellent tour guide & can take you on fun private excursions. Ask for details.
Whale Shark Tours: A popular attraction is swimming with whale sharks; the biggest fish in the ocean & called gentle giants. This is a bucket list item for sure!
Parasail or Jet Ski On The Beach: Close to our condos are parasailing & jet ski rentals.
TOWNS & ISLANDS TO VISIT NEARBY
Isla Mujeresis one of our favorite places; you can rent a golf cart to see the island with beautiful beaches, fun beach clubs & wonderful food. Pay a visit Punta Sur lookout. The beach clubs are divine; you can snorkel at many of them & enjoy pools too. Check out Green Demon Beach Club, ZaZa Beach Club, Amazon Beach Club, Guru Beach Club, Coco Beach Bar which all can be found on this site, Taste of Isla. The north beaches are sublime as well!
Tulum is a bohemian type town, with gorgeous beaches & excellent dining. This is where the celebrities go! (Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Sting, Reese Witherspoon etc.) You can enjoy ancient ruins, snorkel, & scuba dive beautiful cenotes. Some exotic beach clubs: Coco Beach Club, Ziggys, Papaya Playa Project, Playa Paraiso Club, La Zebra and Thai Mezzanine cliff -top dining overlooking the beach!
Cozumel Islandis a beautiful island to explore, amazing beaches & things to do. Rent a Jeep to tour the island. A popular beach club is the Buccanos which has a large pool & beautiful beach & great food & drinks. If you have kids, a visit to either Grand Mia Adventure Park or Paradise Beach is a must. Grand Mia offers kayaks, water slides, water bikes. sail boats/pedal boats, floating park, underwater Mayan City, beach & pool service. Paradise Beach is a trampoline water park, with kayaking, paddleboards, and banana boat rides & a large pool. Beach club/restaurant services available.
Chankanaab Parkis located inside Cozumel´s National Reef Marine Park. Enjoy the beautiful beach and snorkel or scuba dive the most beautiful reefs on the island. Eco-archaeological tour, snuba and seatrek tours, swim with dolphins tours, spa, tequila tour, temazcal, and much more.