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
Playa del Carmen: Jungle Buggy & Cenote Swim TourYou drive a two-seater buggy through Riviera Maya jungle with a guide who speaks English, French or Spanish, stop to spot local wildlife and flora, then swim and snorkel in a natural cenote cave. The tour includes hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen, snorkeling gear, a snack and fresh water, and runs three hours with small groups. Minimum two people per booking; drivers need a valid license and must be 18 or older.Is it for me?Book this if you want to drive yourself through jungle terrain and swim in a cenote without arranging your own transport or figuring out the route — the small group size and fixed schedule mean you show up and go, rather than coordinating logistics.
Cancun & Riviera Maya: Horseback, ATV, Cenote, Ziplines & LunchYou’ll start with ziplining above jungle trees near Cancun before tearing down muddy trails on an ATV (bring old clothes!). Ride horseback through shady paths, then cool off in a crystal-clear Mayan cenote before sharing a simple lunch with new friends. It’s sweaty, loud fun — and surprisingly peaceful too.
Tulum & Coba: Cenote Cave Swim, Ruins & Lunch Day TripYou’ll wander Tulum’s cliffside ruins with a local guide, climb ancient pyramids at Coba, swim inside a cool Yucatan cenote cave, and share laughs over chocolate and tequila tastings. Between bites of homemade lunch and stories from your guide, you’ll feel the pulse of Mayan history—and maybe get a little lost in it too.
Cancun & Riviera Maya: Whale Shark Swim, Isla Mujeres LunchYou’ll start early from Cancun or Riviera Maya, heading out by boat to swim alongside gentle whale sharks in open water with an expert guide. After snorkeling, unwind at Isla Mujeres’ Playa Norte with fresh ceviche lunch before wading into turquoise shallows or just soaking up the sun — memories that stick long after salt dries on your skin.
Chichen Itza Private Tour, Cenote Swim & Valladolid LunchYou’ll walk among Chichen Itza’s ancient stones with a private guide who brings Maya history alive, then cool off swimming in a sacred cenote’s clear water before tasting Yucatecan lunch in colorful Valladolid. With hotel pickup, drinks on board, and no lines or rush, it’s one of those days that lingers long after you’re home.
Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour Cancun: Small-Group SwimA small-group snorkeling tour from Cancun that takes you into the Gulf of Mexico to swim with whale sharks, the world's largest fish, along with dolphins, manta rays and turtles. The tour runs 8 hours with a bilingual naturalist guide, lunch onboard near Isla Mujeres, all snorkeling gear, and hotel pickup from Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya—or you can arrange your own transport. Minimum age is 5; the operator guarantees to maximize your chances of a sighting but cannot promise one.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to swim with whale sharks without organizing the boat, the guide, the gear or the logistics yourself—the small-group format keeps things manageable, and the fixed itinerary means the whole day holds together while you focus on being in the water.
Chichen Itza & Coba tour: Early arrival, small groups, no linesA small-group guided tour of Chichen Itza and Coba ruins with early arrival, hotel pickup and pre-purchased entry tickets that skip the line at the gate. The tour includes a swim at cenote Ik Kil, buffet lunch with one drink, and a professional guide in English or Spanish. Climbing the Coba pyramid is not guaranteed. The full day runs 11 hours.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying outside the archaeological zone or without a car—hotel pickup settles the logistics, and early arrival means you see the temples before the afternoon heat and the crowds. Small groups also mean the guide can move at a pace that works for everyone, not a mass-tour schedule.
Tulum Ruins & Cenote Swim Day Trip with Pickup OptionYou’ll walk ancient stone paths at Tulum’s Mayan ruins with a local guide sharing stories along the way, then cool off swimming in a cenote surrounded by jungle sounds. Includes hotel pickup from Cancun or Riviera Maya and priority entry so you skip lines. Expect salty breezes, sun-warmed stones, and moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Tulum: Cenote & Yal-Ku Lagoon Snorkel with Hotel PickupYou float through an underground Mayan cenote on a guided tour, spotting ancient rock formations and cave systems, then move to Yal-Ku Lagoon for snorkeling where freshwater and saltwater meet. The lagoon is home to tropical fish like blue tangs and triggerfish. Round-trip hotel pickup from Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels, snorkel gear, life jacket, snack and water are all included; the whole experience takes a few hours depending on your hotel location.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to experience both a cenote and snorkeling in one outing without arranging your own transport — the hotel pickup removes that piece, and the two stops fit into a single morning or afternoon depending on where you're staying.
Chichén Itzá guided tour with cenote swim and Valladolid buffetThis guided tour departs Cancun early morning and covers three stops: Chichén Itzá archaeological site with a certified bilingual guide for roughly 2 hours of walking and free time; Santuario Tsukán cenote near Valladolid for swimming in fresh water; and La Casona de Valladolid restaurant for a regional Yucatán buffet with unlimited beverages. Pickup is included from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya hotels. Light breakfast, water bottle, entry tickets, and refreshing towel are provided. The fixed schedule means all three stops fit into one day without you arranging transport between them.Is it for me?Small groups work well here since the certified guide keeps everyone together at the pyramids, and the fixed schedule means you don't coordinate transport between the three stops yourself—pickup, timing and meals are all arranged so the day holds together without gaps.
Chichen Itza, Valladolid & Cenote: Mayan Ruins with Food DemoYou’ll walk among Chichen Itza’s ancient stones as stories unfold around you, taste smoky Yucatecan dishes prepared by local cooks, plunge into a deep blue cenote for a real shock of cool water, then wander through colorful streets in Valladolid—all guided by people who know these places by heart.
Tulum Ruins, Akumal Turtles & Cenote: Private TourA private seven-hour tour of the Riviera Maya combines the Tulum Ruins with snorkeling at Akumal and a cenote swim, including round-trip transportation from your hotel, a bilingual guide, Mexican lunch, and snorkel equipment. The group stays under ten people, and the itinerary is fixed so the day holds together without anyone building it.Is it for me?Booking a private tour removes the need to arrange your own transport, guide, park entry and timing across three separate sites—the driver handles the route, the guide explains what you're seeing, and the day stays on schedule so you fit all three stops without rushing or backtracking.
Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres snorkeling tour with lunchThis 8-hour snorkeling tour from your hotel visits Isla Contoy's protected reef and nature reserve, then Isla Mujeres for an hour of free time. The boat includes a light breakfast, a guided snorkel stop (weather permitting), lunch on the beach, drinks, and a certified bilingual guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and four other languages. Round-trip transportation from your accommodation is included.Is it for me?Most island tours here bundle everything into a single schedule, which means you move when the group moves. This one gives you an hour on Isla Mujeres to set your own pace—walk the streets, sit on the beach, or skip ahead to ice cream—while the snorkel stop and Contoy's nature reserve stay guided and timed so the day doesn't sprawl.
Tulum & Coba Ruins, Multun-Ha Cenote & Mayan Museum Day TripYou’ll stand above turquoise waves at Tulum’s ancient walls, pedal through jungle to climb Coba’s pyramid, float in Multun-Ha cenote’s cool blue water, and glimpse real Mayan artifacts at Jaguar Park’s museum—all with lunch and pickup included. Expect laughter with your guide, honest moments of awe, and time to let each place sink in.
Snorkeling in Xel-Há, Cancun: 50+ attractionsXel-Há is a full-day park visit from Cancun with snorkeling gear included—mask, fins and flotation vest—plus access to more than 50 water, land and air activities across lagoons, cenotes, caves and a hidden beach. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; the All-Inclusive option adds breakfast, lunch buffet and an open bar, while the Light option provides unlimited soft drinks and water. The park operates 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Is it for me?Book the Light option if you want to move freely between snorkeling, cenotes and ziplines without meal planning; choose All-Inclusive if you prefer meals and drinks handled so you stay in the park without leaving for lunch. The full day—9 to 10 hours—suits families and groups who want variety in one place rather than a single focused activity.
Xplor Adventure Park Rafting, Ziplining & ATV from CancunXplor Adventure Park is an all-in-one activity near Cancun where you zipline through rainforest and caves, drive an amphibious vehicle over off-road terrain, and paddle a raft through underground chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The day includes round-trip hotel transport, all equipment, an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch, and runs about six hours from hotel to hotel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to drive and paddle yourself rather than watch from a guide's perspective — the amphibious vehicle and raft are yours to operate, and the open schedule means you can repeat activities or linger in the caves. It's built for families with kids old enough to meet the height requirements, and the six-hour window keeps the day manageable without an early start or late return.
Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen: Small Van & Expert GuideYou travel in a smaller group from Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza with a bilingual guide who talks through the Mayan history on the drive and at the ruins. Transport, lunch, water, and snacks are included. The journey takes up to three hours each way, but you're back early enough to enjoy your evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Playa del Carmen or Cancun who want to see Chichen Itza without arranging their own transport or dealing with a large tour bus. Plan for a full day out — the drive is long, but that's what makes the smaller van and included lunch worth it.
Snorkeling in Playa del Carmen: Sailing Catamaran with LunchA four-hour snorkeling cruise from Playa del Carmen aboard a sailing catamaran takes you to one of the region's most spectacular reefs in the Riviera Maya. You snorkel in shallow, living marine environments, paddleboard or float on water mats between dives, and return to the boat for a full lunch and open bar as the crew sails you back along the coast. Round-trip hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English and Spanish.Is it for me?Book the Family Friendly option if you're traveling with children ages 4 and up who want to experience the reef and the boat together; choose Adults Only if you prefer a cruise without children aboard. Either way, the four-hour format fits a single day without eating into a full itinerary, and the included pickup and lunch mean you're not coordinating transport or a separate meal stop.
Riviera Maya: Xpu-Ha Private Yacht Tour & Open BarYou’ll board a private yacht in Riviera Maya with an open bar waiting, cruise toward Xpu-Ha’s blue water, try paddle boarding or just relax on deck. Lunch is real Mexican cooking — fire-grilled chicken, guacamole, salsa — served up by your friendly local crew. Expect laughter (maybe karaoke), salty air, and moments you’ll want to replay in your head later.
Chichen Itza & Coba Day Trip with Cenote Swim & PickupYou’ll start early with hotel pickup and beat the crowds at Coba’s quiet ruins, then explore Chichen Itza with a guide before wandering on your own. Cool off swimming in a cenote where sunlight cuts through stone, then share lunch over local flavors. End your day in Valladolid’s plaza—still thinking about all those moments long after you’re home.
