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
Sort
Ziplining in Tulum: ATV, Cenote & Maya CeremonyThis five-hour activity in Tulum combines ATV riding through jungle trails, five ziplines (including a 3,280-foot line), a 16-foot rappel, and a cenote swim, with a traditional Maya ceremony and lunch included. Round-trip transport from Tulum or Riviera Maya hotels is part of the package, and you choose your group size at checkout—from a single rider to a shared ATV for up to ten people.Is it for me?Pick the private ATV option if you want to set your own pace through the jungle without waiting for others to catch up. Choose a shared ATV if you're traveling with a friend or family and want to split the cost—groups of two, four, six, eight or ten all ride the same ziplines and swim the same cenote, so the only difference is who's on the machine with you.
Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil & Valladolid: Small Group TourA guided small group tour visiting Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil and Valladolid, departing from Riviera Maya hotels with pickup included. The tour spends more than 3 hours at Chichen Itza with a professional guide covering the Kukulcan Pyramid, the Observatory, the Ball Court and other major structures; then moves to the cenote for a swim at 60 meters depth, followed by a buffet lunch and a walking tour of Valladolid's colonial landmarks. Groups stay under 15 people, and entry to Chichen Itza bypasses the ticket line.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so book this tour if you're comfortable following commentary in one of those languages. Small groups under 15 people mean the guide stays accessible and the pace stays steady without the noise and crowding of a larger bus tour.
Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: Private Van & Flight TrackingYou get picked up at the terminal with your name on a sign, tracked flight arrival, a bilingual driver in an air-conditioned van, and a fixed price with no hidden fees. The 45-minute drive to Playa del Carmen is yours alone — no shared stops, no meter anxiety. Infant seats are available if you need them, and you can message the driver directly via WhatsApp before you even land.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the airport taxi scramble and arrive at your hotel without negotiating a price — the flat rate and name-sign greeting mean you know exactly what to expect before you land.
Cancun: Akumal Turtle Snorkeling & Cenote Zipline AdventureYou swim with sea turtles in Akumal Bay's coral reef, then move inland to zipline through jungle canopy and rappel into a cenote for underground snorkeling. Lunch with local tacos and all equipment—snorkel gear, harnesses, ropes—are included, along with round-trip pickup from your hotel. The day combines two completely different ecosystems without the hassle of arranging transport or timing between sites yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Riviera Maya's two signature experiences—reef snorkeling and cenote adventure—in one day without arranging separate transport, timing, or equipment rentals. The fixed itinerary is what makes both stops fit into a single outing.
Playa del Carmen: Small Group Horseback Ride with DrinksYou’ll ride gentle rescue horses through Playa del Carmen’s jungle trails in a small group (max 6), guided by locals who know every twist in the path. Expect snacks before you saddle up (if you go in the morning), water during your ride, and drinks waiting at the ranch when you return — plus plenty of time to connect with both animals and people along the way.
Ziplining in Tulum: ATV, cenotes & Mayan ruinsThis 7-hour activity in Tulum combines ziplining, ATV riding and rappelling through jungle and cenote caves, with stops at the Tulum Ruins overlooking the Caribbean. The day includes a guide in English or Spanish, roundtrip hotel pickup, lunch, water and all equipment; children can join from age 4, though ziplining and rappelling have separate age and weight minimums. You cannot climb the pyramids, but you'll see them from the ground and from the canopy above.Is it for me?Hotel pickup means you skip arranging transport from Tulum or the Riviera Maya—the guide handles the timing and the return. The 7-hour day fits a full morning and afternoon without eating into an early flight or a late dinner.
Vegan Mexican Food Tour in Playa del Carmen: Authentic FlavorsA vegan Mexican food tour in downtown Playa del Carmen where you walk to five stops tasting authentic local dishes—all plant-based. The guide meets you at 5pm at the corner of Juárez and 10th Avenue, leads you through the city market and lesser-known streets, and the three-hour experience includes dinner, fresh fruit juices, and beverages. Live guides speak English or Spanish.Is it for me?If you speak English or Spanish fluently, the guide's commentary lands clearly and you follow the stories behind each dish without missing the details. If you're walking with someone who doesn't speak either language, or if you want to move at your own pace without a guide's narration, this tour isn't the fit—look for a self-guided vegan restaurant list instead.
Ziplining, ATV & Cenote from Playa del CarmenThis half-day activity in Playa del Carmen combines ziplining, ATV riding and cenote swimming with a private Mayan ceremony and lunch. You drive your own ATV through jungle trails, fly across a 1-kilometer zipline 45 meters above the treetops, and finish in a sacred cenote after a 10-minute ritual led by a local shaman. Roundtrip transfer, bilingual guide, all equipment and a regional lunch are included; you choose between shared or solo ATV options at checkout.Is it for me?Choose a shared ATV if you want to split the cost and the ride with another traveler; book a solo option if you want the machine and the trail to yourself. The half-day length means you're back by early afternoon, leaving time for the beach or another activity the same day.
Ek Balam Mayan Ruins & Cenote Swim: Guide, Meal & Cultural StopA 10-hour guided tour of Ek Balam, a Mayan city over 1000 years old, combines exploration of the ruins with a swim in a cenote, a traditional meal, and a visit to Valladolid's colonial center. The tour includes a bilingual guide certified by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, transportation with air conditioning, a life jacket, bottled water, and a buffet-style regional meal. A cultural stop lets you watch Maya artisans at work, taste handmade tortillas and Xtabentún, and receive a blessing from a shaman.Is it for me?Book this if you have a full day free and want to move between three distinct stops—the ruins, a village for crafts and food, and a cenote swim—as one guided journey rather than piecing them together yourself.
Coco Bongo Playa del Carmen: NYE 2027 Party & Open BarYou arrive at 10pm, get your special edition shirt, and step into a 1,500-person venue with live acrobats, multiple bands, world-class DJs and unlimited drinks until 4am. The countdown happens here, surrounded by production value and strangers who all made the same choice you did. No cover charges after entry, no drink minimums, no negotiating the night — just six hours of Coco Bongo's standard chaos, but with the whole year ending while you're inside.Is it for me?Book this if you want the New Year's Eve countdown to happen in a place where the production, the crowd and the drinks are all already arranged — you show up, and the night takes care of itself until sunrise.
Snorkeling with turtles in Akumal: Cenote swimming includedSnorkel with sea turtles and stingrays at Akumal, then swim and snorkel in a cenote with rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. The activity runs 6 to 7 hours and includes a live guide in English, Spanish or French; hotel pickup; lunch and drinks; and all entrance fees. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.Is it for me?You do the snorkeling yourself with your own mask and fins, so this suits anyone comfortable in the water who wants to move at their own pace between the turtles and the cenote. The guide stays with the group but doesn't choreograph the experience — you choose where to look and how long to linger, which is what makes the wildlife encounters feel unhurried instead of rushed.
Isla Contoy & Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: Reef, Lunch, Open BarThis full-day tour from Playa del Carmen takes you by boat to Isla Contoy National Marine Park for snorkeling in the Mesoamerican Reef, then to Isla Mujeres for beach time and exploring the town. The tour includes round-trip hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, buffet lunch with barbecue, and an open bar on board. The national park limits daily visitors, so the reef stays uncrowded.Is it for me?Book this if you're snorkeling for the first time or want to see coral and fish clearly—the daily visitor cap at Isla Contoy keeps the reef uncrowded, unlike busier sites.
Tulum Cenotes Casa Tortuga: Guided Swim & Pickup, Food OptionYou’ll swim through four distinct cenotes at Casa Tortuga Tulum with a local guide who shares stories as you go. Expect cool cave air, sunlit water, and small moments with locals along the way. Includes pickup from your hotel and an option to add lunch — it’s an easygoing day you’ll remember long after the trip.
Snorkeling in Tulum: Ruins, Cenote & TurtlesA private snorkeling tour in Tulum combines the seaside Mayan ruins with a cenote swim and optional turtle snorkeling, depending on which package you choose at checkout. The guide speaks English or Spanish, transport picks you up from your hotel, and the day runs five to six hours. Bottled water and all fees are included; food and drinks are separate.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Tulum ruins and a cenote swim in one private day—the guide and transport mean you're not coordinating stops or driving yourself, and you pick which second attraction matters most when you choose your package.
ATV, Ziplines & Cenote from Playa del Carmen: Jungle adventureAn ATV and zipline activity in the Yucatán jungle near Playa del Carmen where you ride muddy trails, fly across three ziplines, test your balance on a skyboard, and swim in cenote Verde Lucero. Hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English or Spanish; children from age 4 can join with a paid adult.Is it for me?Choose the solo ATV option if you want to control the ride yourself and have a full license; pick the shared ATV if you want a companion or prefer not to drive, or if you're traveling with a teenager aged 16 or 17. Morning departures fill faster, so book early if you want to avoid the afternoon heat on the trails.
Open Water Diver PADI Certification in Mexico: 3-Day CourseThe Open Water Diver course is a three-day PADI certification program in Mexico combining classroom theory, pool training, and four open water dives in the sea or cenotes. You receive a digital manual in advance, hotel pickup and drop-off, all equipment, a professional multilingual instructor, and an underwater video of your dives. Upon completion, you hold a worldwide certification valid to 18 meters depth.Is it for me?Choose your departure city—Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or Riviera Maya—at checkout, and the pickup will match your hotel location. The three-day structure means you can fit certification into a long weekend or a mid-week break without sacrificing the full training sequence; everything from theory to four ocean dives to your card happens in one continuous course.
Tulum Ruins & 4 Cenotes Tour: Swim Casa TortugaThis 12-hour guided tour from your hotel covers the Tulum Ruins archaeological zone, four cenotes (two open-air and two cave) at Casa Tortuga natural park, the Mother Nature sculpture, and free time on Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen. A local guide leads you through Casa Tortuga's cenotes and explains the site; lunch at a regional restaurant and park entry are included. The tour runs in English or Spanish, and shared transportation picks you up from your hotel.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to visit both open and cave cenotes in a single day with bilingual guidance in English or Spanish, plus a stop in Playa del Carmen's Fifth Avenue.
Surf Lessons Playa del Carmen: Learn to ride wavesYou show up, get fitted with a board and rash guard, learn paddling and pop-up technique on the beach, then practice in small waves with an instructor watching your form. The lesson wraps with a recap and next steps. You leave with shower access, sunscreen, and a discount at the beach bar.Is it for me?Right for anyone wanting to learn surfing without guessing at technique or getting lost in a crowd. You'll need moderate physical fitness and comfort in the ocean, since the lesson moves from land instruction straight into small waves.
Xcaret Park Plus: Cenotes, Beach & Mexico Show from CancunYou spend a full day moving through Xcaret's 50+ attractions — underground rivers, cenotes, beach, coral reef aquarium, butterfly garden — with snorkeling gear, a buffet meal and unlimited drinks included. The Plus area gives you private facilities and lockers so you can move between water and dry activities without managing your belongings. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cancun or Riviera Maya hotels means transport is already arranged, and the evening show is built into your admission.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day of water activities, cultural shows and natural attractions without arranging separate transport or paying for each attraction — the round-trip pickup and 50+ inclusions mean you show up at your hotel and the rest is already planned.
Mayan Backroads Private Bike Tour: Jungle, Cenote & Zip-Line in TulumA full-day private bike tour from Tulum that combines cycling through rural villages and forest trails with a visit to a Mayan family home for traditional lunch, followed by hiking, canoeing and zip-lining in Punta Laguna Nature Reserve. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and one additional language, and hotel pickup within the immediate Tulum area is included. Minimum age is 13, and moderate physical fitness is required.Is it for me?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and one more language, so if your group needs a specific language, confirm it when you book. This is a full-day outing with seven hours of activity — cycling, hiking, canoeing and zip-lining — so it suits travelers with at least moderate fitness; it's not recommended for anyone with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.
