Rio Secreto Underground River Tour: Wade Through Crystal Caves

One kilometer through turquoise water, ancient stone formations overhead, lunch in the jungle after.

Rio Secreto is an underground river tour near Playa del Carmen where you wade through a cenote past stalactites and stalagmites in groups of ten or fewer, with a professional guide explaining the geology and local wildlife. The tour runs 3.5 to 8 hours depending on your option. Some packages include hotel pickup, and you can add visits to Tulum Ruins, Cobá Mayan Ruins, or Puerto Morelos snorkeling at checkout. Lunch featuring Mayan cuisine is served at the reserve restaurant after the swim.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Tulum RuinsEntry included1h 15m
2. Coba Mayan RuinsEntry included1h 30m

Explore Rio Secreto and enjoy lunch

• Swim in underground river
• Enjoy regional buffet lunch

The experience

The cenote sits near Playa del Carmen, a natural history carved over millions of years into limestone. You wade about one kilometer through clear turquoise water while an expert guide points out the geological secrets: how the stalactites and stalagmites formed, what the rock tells you about the region's past. The water stays shallow enough to walk, and you wear a wet suit, hard hat, water shoes and life vest. All equipment is provided. Groups stay under ten people, so the cave does not feel crowded as you move through it.

After the swim, you head back to the Rio Secreto restaurant in the jungle for a buffet lunch with Mayan cuisine. The meal is included, though alcoholic drinks are not. From here, the day branches depending on which option you chose at checkout. The admission-only ticket ends after lunch. If you booked transportation, your driver handles the pickup and drop-off from major Cancun hotels or downtown meeting points. If you added Tulum Ruins, a guide walks you through the clifftop fortress (a former trading hub walled on three sides, open to the Caribbean), and explains the main buildings and astronomical findings. If you chose Cobá instead, the guide shows you the main structures and the history of that site. A snorkel option at Puerto Morelos lets you see the second-largest coral reef formation in the world, with sea turtles and tropical fish.

The full day with Tulum or Cobá runs about eight hours. The cenote and lunch alone take roughly three and a half. Lockers and towels are available at the reserve. Children from age four are welcome on the standard Rio Secreto tour. The Plus option with rappelling and zip-lines requires a minimum age of seven. You need at least moderate fitness and must weigh under 250 pounds.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• wet suit, hard hat, water shoes and life vest.
• lockers and towels.
• buffet lunch with Mayan cuisine.
• hotel pickup and drop-off (with transportation options only).

Options for this experience

6 options

Entrance to Rio Secreto onlyGuide in English or Spanish · 6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00Rio Secreto admission, covering entry to Rio Secreto but not transportation. Pickup is included.

Rio Secreto with transportationGuide in English or Spanish · 11:00The tour covers admission to Rio Secreto and transportation to and from selected hotels in Cancun and Playa Mujeres. Pickup is included.

Rio Secreto Plus Access with TransportationGuide in English or Spanish · 11:00Duration: 7 hours. Plus option with transportation: add three more activities: a bike ride, a walk in a dry cave, and rappelling. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Tulum and Rio SecretoGuide in English or Spanish · 07:30Tulum ruins: Enhance your experience by visiting the beautiful Mayan city of Tulum with the guidance of our experts in archaeological zones. Duration: 8 hours. Pickup is included.

Puerto Morelos plus Rio SecretoGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Rio Secreto + Puerto Morelos: Reef and Cavern Explorer. Discover the vibrant underwater world of the Puerto Morelos reef, combined with the Río Secreto tour. Duration: 8 hours. Pickup is included.

Coba and Rio SecretoGuide in English or Spanish · 07:30+ Coba Ruins: Visit the Nohoch Mul Pyramid, which rises 42 meters and is the tallest pyramid on the Yucatán Peninsula. Duration: 8 hours. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 3h–8h, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 89 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: 07:30, 08:30, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Cancun Vacation Experts

Is this one for you?Wade through turquoise waters past ancient stalactites while your guide reveals the cenote's geological secrets, then enjoy Mayan cuisine in the jungle: transport and all gear included, with small groups that move freely through the caves.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How deep do you go into the underground river at Rio Secreto?

You wade about one kilometer through the cenote, moving through the cave system past stalactites and stalagmites. The water stays shallow enough to walk, and a guide leads the way explaining the geology and pointing out local wildlife.

What's included in the Rio Secreto tour?

All necessary equipment (wet suit, hard hat, water shoes, life vest), a professional guide, lockers and towels, and a buffet lunch with Mayan cuisine at the reserve restaurant are included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included only if you select a transportation option at checkout.

Can I add other activities to the Rio Secreto tour?

Yes. At checkout you can combine Rio Secreto with a guided tour of Tulum Ruins, Cobá Mayan Ruins, or snorkeling at Puerto Morelos. You can also upgrade to the Rio Secreto Plus option, which adds rappelling and zip-lines before or after the cenote swim.

How long does the full day take?

The cenote swim and lunch alone run approximately three and a half hours. With hotel pickup and drop-off, expect about six hours total. Adding Tulum Ruins or Cobá extends the day to approximately eight hours.