Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
Sort
Cancun to Isla Mujeres: Catamaran All-Inclusive Day TripYou’ll sail by catamaran from Cancun to Isla Mujeres with an easygoing crew and premium open bar, stop for snorkeling in clear Caribbean water, then enjoy lunch onboard before 2.5 hours of free time at IXI Beach. Expect laughter, salt on your lips, and moments you’ll want to replay later.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Private Buggy Tour with LunchA private buggy tour of Cozumel where you and your party ride in an open-top vehicle and choose which stops to visit from a list of recommendations—San Gervasio, Punta Sur Eco Park, Chankanaab, the East side beaches, or the island's center. The tour includes a guide, lunch at a beach club, snorkeling gear and instruction, and five hours to explore. Your guide adjusts the itinerary on the day based on what you want to do.Is it for me?You drive the buggy yourself and pick the stops from your guide's suggestions, so the day moves at your pace and you see what interests your group—ideal if you want control over the route and don't want to follow a fixed itinerary with other travelers. If you prefer someone else to handle the driving and plan every stop, a guided group tour would suit you better.
Chichén Itzá, Cenote Ik Kil & Cobá: Full-Day Ruins TourYou visit three major Mayan ruins and swim in a natural cenote, all in one full day with a guide who knows the history and the logistics. Hotel pickup, lunch, cenote entry and life jacket are included; you pay entrance fees ($45 adult, $15 child) at pickup. Groups cap at 15 people, so the pace stays manageable and the experience doesn't feel like a factory tour.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see three major Mayan sites in one day without arranging transport, tickets and timing yourself — the small group size (max 15) and fixed itinerary mean you move at a pace that lets you actually absorb each place instead of rushing through.
Playa del Carmen: Cenote & Sea Turtles Snorkel Half-DayYou swim in a jungle cenote cavern with an aquatic guide, then snorkel with wild sea turtles in Akumal bay — both in one half-day from Playa del Carmen. Transport, snorkel gear, water and snacks are included; guides handle the logistics so you just show up with a towel and moderate fitness.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Riviera Maya's two signature natural swims in one morning without arranging transport or equipment — the fixed itinerary and included guides mean you show up ready to swim, not to plan.
Progreso tour: Cenotes, salt flats, Mayan ruins & beach houseSergio's 5 in 1 tour combines Progreso's natural and cultural highlights in a single five-hour outing: cenotes (fresh water springs), salt flats, a Mayan ruin site focused on salt culture, and several hours at an exclusive family beach house with pool and beach access. The tour includes a buffet lunch with unlimited drinks, bottled water, a live guide in English or Spanish, and port or hotel pickup. Cruise passengers must provide ship details at booking; the single daily departure time is confirmed by text message after you reserve.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving by cruise or staying locally and want one fixed departure time with port pickup included, plus several hours to swim and eat at the beach house without rushing between stops.
Valladolid: Mayan Bee Tour, Dry Cenote & Honey TastingYou’ll step into Valladolid’s Mayan bee world: descend into a dry cenote with stingless bees, walk jungle paths learning about native plants, open hives at the meliponario, taste rare honey varieties, then share breakfast or lunch with your hosts. It’s gentle but surprising—the kind of day you’ll remember when you taste honey again back home.
Mexican Cooking Class in Cozumel: Learn to Cook at a Local HomeA cooking class in Cozumel where you start at the local market with a guide who walks you through the stalls, explains the ingredients, and helps you pick what you'll cook. Back in a family home, you prepare guacamole, salsas, quesadillas with handmade tortillas, and a Pibil-style main dish—chicken, pork or fish—then sit down to eat what you made, with traditional drinks included. The class runs four hours and takes place in a cozy local home with personalized attention; vegetarian options are available.Is it for me?The class starts at the local market in Cozumel, and your guide walks you through the shopping and cooking, then arranges your taxi home afterward—so you don't need a car or advance knowledge of where to go. If you're staying at a cruise ship or hotel without transportation, this settles the logistics and leaves you free to focus on cooking and eating.
Cancun: Kayak Tour Laguna Nichupté Mangroves & WildlifeYou’ll paddle Laguna Nichupté by kayak with local guides who know every twist of the mangroves. Spot native birds at the “bird tree,” glide through hidden tunnels, learn about reef life, and snack on fruit mid-tour. There’s time for questions or just drifting in silence — you might end up thinking about this place long after you’re back on land.
Cancun Airport to Tulum: Private Luxury TransferYou get picked up at your terminal immediately after clearing arrivals, ride in a private luxury vehicle with WiFi and bottled water, and arrive in Tulum with no surprises on the bill. The fixed price and flight tracking mean you're not coordinating with a stranger or haggling at the curb—the driver is already waiting when you walk out.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Cancun and want to reach Tulum without arranging a taxi, sharing a van, or negotiating a price at the curb—the fixed cost and flight tracking remove the logistics, which is what makes the drive feel like part of the vacation instead of a transaction.
Bacalar: Private Catamaran & Seven Colors Lagoon SwimmingYou board a private catamaran at Casa China and sail through Bacalar's seven-color lagoon, swimming at the Pirate Canal and three cenotes while learning about stromatolites and local myths from a bilingual crew. Tropical fruit, fresh juices and guacamole are served throughout, with a final stop at Isla de los Pájaros before returning to the pier. The route can be customized, and a premium food plan is available for an additional charge.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Bacalar's lagoon without renting a boat yourself or navigating the cenotes alone — the crew handles the sailing and knows which stops matter, which is what turns a boat ride into a half-day that stays with you.
Cancun Airport to Tulum: Private Transfer & Flight TrackingYou provide your flight details at booking, and the driver monitors your arrival and meets you at the terminal with a sign. The transfer is private — no shared stops, no waiting for other passengers — and the price is fixed before you land. You get picked up at Cancun Airport and dropped at your Tulum hotel or any other Riviera Maya destination, with all taxes and fees included upfront.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Cancun and want to skip the shared shuttle desk and the negotiation with a taxi driver — the fixed price and flight tracking mean you know exactly what you're paying and when your ride will be ready, which is what makes a long transfer feel effortless instead of stressful.
Walking Tour Merida Historic Center: Local Guide & Colonial SitesA guided walking tour of Merida's historic center led by a certified local guide in English or Spanish, covering two hours across colonial plazas, churches, and landmark buildings. The route moves at a pace that lets you absorb each stop instead of rushing through a checklist, and the guide shares local recommendations for food and hidden spots beyond the main squares. Children from age 10 are welcome; the terrain is accessible for all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to understand Merida's layered history—from Maya foundations through Spanish conquest to 20th-century modernism—without the pace of a bus or the work of building your own route. The two-hour walk is long enough to see the major colonial sites and short enough to fit into a morning or afternoon without fatigue.
Isla Mujeres Catamaran & Snorkel from Cancun with LunchYou board a catamaran at Playa Tortugas, snorkel at El Meco reef with full equipment provided, then spend the afternoon on Isla Mujeres exploring the town and relaxing at a private beach club with lunch and unlimited drinks included. Hotel pickup is available, and the whole experience runs about eight hours before returning to Cancun.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Isla Mujeres highlights — snorkel, island time, and beach relaxation — without arranging transport, equipment rental, or lunch separately; the all-inclusive format and fixed schedule handle all three in one day.
Cozumel: Private Jeep Tour, Tequila Tasting & Snorkeling LunchYou’ll drive your own Jeep around Cozumel with a local guide leading the way—taste tequila at a family ranch, walk barefoot on wild beaches where turtles nest, shop handmade crafts at El Mirador lookout, then snorkel bright reefs before relaxing over Mexican lunch by the sea. It’s as much about small moments as big ones—those stick with you.
Cancun: Zip-Line, ATV & Cenote Adventure with Tequila TastingYou ride an ATV through jungle trails, zipline across three circuits with hanging bridges, and swim in a natural cenote, all in one half-day outing. The package includes a regional snack, cultural storytelling, tequila tasting at a hacienda, and hotel pickup from Cancun or the Riviera Maya. Small groups and bilingual guides keep the pace manageable, and safety gear is provided and checked before every activity.Is it for me?Book this if you want three distinct jungle activities in one morning without arranging transport or worrying about timing between stops — the small-group format and included pickup mean you show up and the day unfolds in sequence, which is what makes fitting all three into a half-day possible.
Speedboat to Isla Pasión from Cozumel: Adrenaline and beachA speedboat activity from Cozumel to Isla Pasión combines a thrilling ride across the Caribbean with a full beach day on white sand. The package includes lunch, open bar, kayaks and hammocks; you're back in four hours, making it work for cruise passengers and afternoon arrivals. Children from age 7 are welcome, and guides speak English and Spanish.Is it for me?The four-hour commitment means you can fit this into a cruise port call or a half-day window, but it rules out a full-day island stay. Book this if you want the boat's adrenaline and a proper beach break in the same trip, not a long, leisurely day on sand.
Tulum ruins, Mayan village & cenote tour with pickupA guided tour of Tulum's archaeological ruins, a traditional Mayan village in the jungle, and a cenote swim, with hotel pickup and a certified guide in multiple languages. The route moves from the coast inland and back, covering three distinct sites in a single morning. A guide leads the group through each stop; bottled water and snacks are provided throughout.Is it for me?Book this if you want three distinct stops—ruins, village, cenote—completed by early afternoon, leaving your day flexible; the guide leads in German, French, Italian, Spanish or English.
ATV, Zipline & Cenote from Cancun: Four jungle activities in oneA four-hour activity from Cancun combining ATV riding, ziplines, hanging bridges and cenote swimming in the Mayan jungle near Puerto Morelos. Hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English and Spanish. Children from age 4 are welcome, and you choose between a shared group or private booking, with or without 30 minutes of horseback riding added on.Is it for me?Book the private option if your group wants to move through the activities without waiting for other travelers; choose the shared option to split the cost and meet other visitors on the same schedule. Add horseback riding if you want a fifth activity woven into the morning, or skip it to keep the day focused on the four main events.
Cancun & Puerto Morelos: ATV, Ziplines, Cenote & Reef Snorkel ComboYou’ll start your day snorkeling the colorful Puerto Morelos reef before recharging with fresh fish tacos by the sea. Then trade sand for jungle mud as you ride ATVs and fly along ziplines deep in the Mayan forest — finishing with a cool swim in a hidden cenote. It’s wild, messy fun that leaves you grinning long after.
Holbox Bioluminescence Kayak Tour: Punta Mosquito Night SwimYou get picked up from your hotel, paddle a kayak out to Punta Mosquito under the stars, walk the sandbanks in darkness, and swim in glowing plankton. The guides handle navigation and timing; you just show up with a moderate fitness level and the willingness to get wet. It's three to four hours, and it doesn't happen on full moon nights.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the bioluminescence without arranging your own boat, timing the moon phase, or figuring out how to get to Mosquito Beach — the pickup and guide handle all three, which is what makes a night swim in glowing water actually happen.
