Things to do in Playa del Carmen
Snorkel in Playa del Carmen36 optionsBoat Tour Playa del Carmen21 optionsWhale Shark Diving Playa del Carmen6 optionsCatamaran Playa del Carmen7 optionsCenote Tour Playa del Carmen77 optionsZiplining Playa del Carmen14 optionsATV Playa del Carmen15 optionsFood Tour Playa del Carmen10 optionsPlaya del Carmen Airport Transfer16 optionsArchaeology Tours55 optionsSailing Playa del Carmen5 optionsTurtles and Cenotes Playa del Carmen32 options
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Tulum Ruins: Private Early Tour & Crowd-Free MorningYou’ll start early with a private guide at Tulum’s ancient ruins, skipping crowds and midday heat. Expect quiet moments among old stones, local stories from your guide, time to explore on your own, plus snacks and bottled water included—leaving you free to just take it all in.
Snorkeling with turtles near Tulum: Three cenotesSnorkel with sea turtles in the reef facing Tulum's Mayan ruins, then visit three cenotes—two for snorkeling and one for walking through the underground chamber. The half-day trip includes a certified guide, all equipment, boat transport, snacks and hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Tulum. Marine biologists lead the experience to prioritize wildlife safety.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a marine biologist leading your cenote and turtle snorkel—the expert focus means learning about the ecosystem rather than hitting multiple stops quickly.
Full Adrenaline Day in Tulum: ATVs, Zipline, Cenote & RappelA full-day activity in Tulum combining ATV riding, zip-lining, rappelling and cenote swimming with a certified guide, lunch and round-trip transport. The day runs 5.5 hours and suits all fitness levels; children are welcome from age 6. You choose between a shared ATV or a single ATV at checkout.Is it for me?Choose the shared ATV option if you're traveling with a partner and want to keep costs down; pick the single ATV if you prefer to ride independently through the jungle or if your group has an uneven number of people. Either way, the guide and all the activity stations—zip lines, rappelling, cenote—stay the same.
Tulum Ruins & Cenote Private Tour from Tulum or Riviera MayaYou’ll walk through Tulum’s ancient ruins in morning calm with a local guide, then slip into a secluded jungle cenote for swimming and exploring limestone caves. Private transport and entry fees are included—and there’s something about that first quiet moment above the sea that’ll stick with you long after you leave.
Cancun Airport to Hotel Zone: Private Round-Trip TransferYou get picked up at Cancun Airport by a bilingual driver in a private vehicle (no shared rides), driven to your Riviera Maya hotel in roughly two hours, and returned to the airport on departure day. The price is fixed, water and insurance are included, and the vehicle is yours alone for the whole transfer.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Cancun Airport with luggage and want to reach your hotel without arranging a taxi or negotiating a fare — the fixed price and private vehicle mean you step out of the airport and into a seat that's already yours.
Snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal: Private guide & cenoteA private snorkeling trip in Akumal where you swim with sea turtles from the beach, then pick one of three cenotes—Jaguar, Nicte Ha, or Taak bi Ha—for a second swim before lunch at a local restaurant. The guide is certified, the snorkeling gear is provided, and hotel pickup is included; the ocean here is calm and entry is from the shore, so no boat is needed. Children from age 3 can join, and all skill levels work.Is it for me?Shore-based snorkeling with turtles in protected water, then your choice of three cenotes—pick this if you want to control the pace with a private guide and decide which cenote suits you.
Paddleboard Playa del Carmen: Morning Group Session, All LevelsA guided paddleboard session in Playa del Carmen's Caribbean waters, mixed-ability groups meeting in the morning with instruction, equipment and a guide who speaks English, Spanish or Dutch. The two-hour outing includes board, paddle, leash and snorkel gear when conditions permit; showers and storage are on-site, and you get photos from the water plus a 15% discount at either of two beach bars afterward.Is it for me?The guide speaks your language—English, Spanish or Dutch—so instruction and safety cues land clearly whether you're paddling for the first time or refining your technique. The group stays mixed-ability, which means you're not racing or waiting around; the pace holds steady for everyone learning together.
Snorkeling with Whale Sharks from Cancun: 10-meter giantsSnorkeling with whale sharks near Isla Mujeres is a 6.5-hour activity from Cancun and Riviera Maya where you swim alongside 10-meter creatures in their natural habitat during migration season. The experience includes round-trip hotel pickup, professional bilingual guides, full snorkeling gear, life jacket, lunch at a beachfront restaurant on Isla Mujeres, and bottled water and soda on board. Whale shark season runs June 1 through mid-September. Participants must be ages 8–60, able to swim, in good cardiovascular health, and weigh no more than 113 kg (250 lbs).Is it for me?At 6.5 hours, this activity claims most of your day, which is what makes the full snorkeling encounter and the Isla Mujeres lunch possible without rushing either one. If you're booking a single day around the whale sharks, this schedule holds the whole experience together.
Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid: Private VW Beetle Day TripYou’ll ride in a vintage VW Beetle from Cancun or Playa del Carmen, explore Chichen Itza with a private guide who’s also your photographer, swim in a cenote you help choose, eat local food (your way), and stroll through Valladolid’s lively streets before heading home with memories—and free photos—that actually feel personal.
Playa del Carmen Nightclub Tour: Skip Line, Unlimited DrinksA VIP nightclub tour in Playa del Carmen takes you through three of the hottest bars and clubs in a single night, with skip-the-line entry, unlimited domestic drinks at each stop, and a local guide steering the route. The tour runs five hours across the venues; club schedules shift nightly, so the exact stops change. Dress code is enforced — no beach wear, flip-flops, sleeveless shirts or tank tops for men — and a photo ID is required at the door.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you speak English or Spanish comfortably and want to move through Playa del Carmen's nightlife without arranging transport or negotiating entry yourself — the guide handles both, and the five-hour pace keeps you moving through three venues in a single night.
ATV & Snorkel Adventure Riviera Maya: Jungle Ride & Cenote SwimThis 6-hour activity in the Riviera Maya combines ATV riding through Mayan jungle with snorkeling in an underground cenote and a Caribbean lagoon, plus a zip-line flight over the canopy. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a buffet lunch, professional guide, helmet and air-conditioned transport are included. You choose between a single-rider or double-rider ATV at checkout.Is it for me?Choose the single-rider ATV if you want to control the bike yourself and test your own handling through the jungle; pick the double-rider if you're bringing children aged 8 to 15, since they ride as passengers and the vehicle is built for that pairing. The 6-hour duration means you're back at your hotel by early afternoon, which works if you have evening plans or want to rest before dinner.
ATV & Watercraft Combo: Caribbean Coast from CancunThis activity combines ATV riding through Riviera Maya jungle with your choice of wave runner or speedboat on the Caribbean coast, departing from Cancun or Riviera Maya hotels. A driver picks you up, takes you to the trailhead, and returns you to your hotel after the full day. The package includes round-trip transport, Mexican brunch buffet, and a national open bar at the beach club.Is it for me?Pick the ATV-only option to spend more time navigating jungle trails at your own pace, or combine both activities if you want to experience dense forest riding followed by open-water speed on the same morning.
Cenote and Turtle Snorkeling Tour in Akumal: Private, GuidedA private snorkeling tour in Akumal pairs an underground cenote in Parque Dos Ojos with guided turtle spotting at Akumal Bay, where you search for three of the world's seven sea turtle species along the second-largest barrier reef. Private transport from your hotel, snorkeling equipment, bottled water and a licensed guide in English, Spanish or French are included; the itinerary is customizable, and you can add a lunch stop at a local restaurant.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to snorkel with sea turtles and explore a cenote without organizing transport or gear yourself, and if a private guide and flexible itinerary matter more to you than a set schedule or group departure.
Chichen Itza & Ek Balam: Private Day Trip with Cenote SwimYou’ll wake up early for Chichen Itza before crowds arrive, climb Ek Balam’s pyramid above jungle treetops, taste Yucatecan flavors over lunch in Valladolid, and cool off swimming in a freshwater cenote—all with private transport and a local guide who keeps things real.
Chichen Itza & Valladolid: Early Private Tour with LunchYou’ll walk through Chichen Itza before the crowds arrive, feeling the cool morning air and hearing your guide bring history alive. Afterward, taste real Yucatan dishes in Valladolid and wander its shaded squares at your own pace. This day trip from your hotel includes private transport, entry fees, lunch—and more space to breathe than you’d expect.
Jungle Bike Tour from Playa del Carmen with Cenote SwimA jungle bike tour from Playa del Carmen covers 16 km of forest trails on a mountain bike, with a guide in English or Spanish, and finishes with a swim in a cenote fed by underground water. The tour includes bikes, helmets, an air-conditioned vehicle for transport, and hotel pickup. Children from age 12 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you are staying in Playa del Carmen without a car—the pickup and transport to the jungle trailhead means you do not need to arrange your own way out, and the four-hour loop fits into a morning or afternoon without eating the whole day.
Private Turtle Snorkel with Marine Biologist in Playa del CarmenA private, small-group snorkel in Playa del Carmen with a marine biologist guide combines close encounters with green turtles and instruction in marine ecosystems, built around passive observation and conservation. The guide teaches you to read animal behavior and understand the environmental pressures turtles face; snorkeling equipment, fresh local fruits and an interactive post-snorkel session are included. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the experience runs about three hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want hands-on learning from a marine biologist during snorkeling rather than joining a large group tour, and if you're comfortable in the water.
Riviera Maya: Private Cenotes & Turtle Swim with Ceviche LunchYou’ll swim beside sea turtles in Akumal’s calm bay, then leap into a cool jungle cenote before exploring an underground river cave system with your private guide. Fresh ceviche from local fishermen is waiting for lunch — and if you’re lucky, maybe a story or two you’ll want to retell later.
Chichen Itza & Coba Private Tour with Early Access & CenoteYou’ll wander Chichen Itza before most tourists arrive, swim in a cool cenote cave after lunch, and climb Coba’s ancient pyramid—all with a local guide who shares real stories along the way. Expect quiet moments, flexible timing, and plenty of chances to pause or laugh at yourself if you slip on wet stones.
Scuba Diving in Playa del Carmen: First Breath UnderwaterA PADI Discover Scuba Diving program in Playa del Carmen teaches you to dive in one session: brief theory and pool training on land, then a guided boat dive on the Riviera Maya reefs with full gear and an instructor. Pickup is included; the dive takes 4 hours total. Marine park fees (USD 8 per diver per day) are separate. You must complete a health questionnaire before the dive, and a few medical conditions prevent participation — check the operator's medical policy if you have heart, lung or pregnancy concerns.Is it for me?The 4-hour window fits a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day, which matters if you're splitting time between diving and other activities. The pool training beforehand means you're genuinely ready for the reef dive, not thrown in deep — so it works for people who want to learn properly rather than just get underwater and hope.
