Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
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Cozumel Chankanaab Scuba Diving: Certified Instructor & Park AccessYou get a guided scuba dive with a certified instructor, one air tank, entry to Chankanaab marine park, and the rest of the day to explore the beach and facilities at your own pace. The dive covers the underwater sculptures, coral formations, and an ancient cave. Park admission, a free locker, and beach loungers with umbrellas are all included, so you're not paying extra once you arrive.Is it for me?Book this if you want to try scuba in Cozumel without arranging your own certification or transport — the instructor handles the dive, park admission is already paid, and you get the afternoon to explore the beach without rushing back.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Palancar Reef & Sea Turtle SanctuarySnorkeling in Cozumel takes you to Palancar Reef, Arrecife Colombia and a sea turtle sanctuary in a 4-hour activity with a certified guide, small group of up to 14 people, and all snorkeling equipment provided. The boat stops at each site so you enter the water and navigate the reef yourself; a guide is in the water with you. Fish ceviche, guacamole, fruit, two beers per person and bottled water are included. Children from age 4 are welcome; the guide speaks English and Spanish.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to snorkel actively in the water with a guide beside you rather than observe from the boat, and prefer a smaller group setting for a more personal experience.
Cancun: Jetpack Water Flight Adventure & Instructor SupportYou’ll step into Cancun’s clear water and strap on a jetpack as your local guide talks you through every move—no experience needed. Feel that wild lift-off, hear instructions through your helmet as you hover high above the sea, and finish with a laugh (and maybe a wobbly landing). It’s an adventure that sticks with you long after you towel off.
Chichen Itza & Cenote Ik Kil: LDS Tour with Buffet LunchYou’ll explore Chichen Itza’s ruins through fresh eyes with an LDS guide linking ancient Maya sites to Book of Mormon stories. Cool off swimming in Cenote Ik Kil’s deep blue water, then share a Yucatan buffet lunch (cochinita pibil is a must). This day feels honest — part study, part wonder — and leaves you thinking long after you dry off.
Cancun: Private Yacht 48ft Rental with Crew & Isla MujeresYou’ll board a private 48ft yacht in Cancun with a friendly local crew who’ll help set up your music and keep drinks cold while you cruise turquoise waters toward Isla Mujeres or Playa Norte. Snorkeling gear is included if you want to jump in—and there’s plenty of space for snacks or your own playlist. Expect laughter, salty breezes, and moments that stick with you long after docking.
Cancun Airport to Hotel Zone: Private Transfer with AC & InsuranceYou get picked up at baggage claim with a nameplate, driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle to your Hotel Zone hotel, and skip the timeshare sales pitch that catches most arrivals. The driver handles your luggage, the price is fixed, and you avoid the confusion of competing offers in the terminal.Is it for me?Right choice if you land tired and want to skip the airport sales pitches and negotiation at the curb. The fixed price and private vehicle mean you go straight to your hotel without surprises or detours.
Chichen Itza, Cenote & Izamal: Early Access Day TripYou’ll arrive early at Chichen Itza from Valladolid, skipping lines and crowds for a quieter start among ancient stones. Cool off swimming in a peaceful cenote before tasting homemade Mayan food prepared by local women. Wander through Izamal’s golden streets and meet artisans crafting unique pieces—a day full of small moments you’ll remember long after heading home.
Private Coba Ruins Tour: Bike Through Pyramid & Cenote SwimYou climb Coba's 120-step pyramid and explore the ruins by bike or motorized cart, then cool off swimming and diving in pristine cenotes. Lunch with drinks and all entry fees are included, and your guide handles the route and timing so you don't have to piece together transport or worry about missing the best hours. A full day that covers both history and water in one trip from Playa del Carmen.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in Playa del Carmen who want both archaeology and water in one day without arranging separate transport or timing the cenote stops themselves. The full day out — early start, lunch break, late return — is what makes fitting the pyramid, ruins, and cenotes into a single trip possible.
Ferry Playa del Carmen to Cozumel: Hourly departuresYou board a new ferry with your open ticket, choosing from hourly departures between Playa del Carmen (8:30am–9:30pm) and Cozumel (7:30am–8:30pm). The crossing includes air conditioning, outdoor deck access, luggage storage, WiFi, and travel insurance. Your ticket is valid for six months, and round-trip passengers get free access to Cancun's Scenic Tower.Is it for me?Right for travelers who need flexibility between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel without a fixed schedule—your open ticket lets you pick from 28 hourly departures over six months. The ferry is built for families, pet owners, and anyone with luggage or mobility needs, since storage, pet areas, and wheelchair access are all standard.
Cozumel: ATV Jungle, Jade Cavern & Snorkel with Open BarYou ride an ATV through jungle mud and reach a natural sinkhole where you can cliff jump or swim, then snorkel a reef right from the beach, eat lunch with an open bar for two hours, and taste tequila before heading back. The day is self-contained—transport, gear, food and drinks all included—so you show up and go.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day mix of adrenaline, water and food without arranging five separate activities—the itinerary stacks them so you move from jungle to reef to lunch without gaps or decisions.
Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: Learn 4-Course MealA hands-on Mexican cooking class in Cancun where you prepare a 4-course meal (5 dishes and 2 drinks) under the guidance of a local English-speaking chef using traditional tools like a molcajete, comal and clay pots. The class runs 3.5 hours in a private kitchen at an iconic Mexican restaurant. You learn grandmother's cooking secrets—how to choose avocados, when to add peppers, what local markets know—so you can recreate these dishes at home without struggling.Is it for me?Book this class if you're cooking alone or with a partner and want to actually make something, not watch someone else do it—the private kitchen and step-by-step instruction mean you leave knowing how to recreate these meals at home, not just having tasted them once.
Holbox: 3 Island Private Boat Tour with Yalahau SwimYou’ll step onto a private boat in Holbox and glide across crystal waters to Punta Mosquito’s wild sandbanks, swim in Yalahau’s cool spring where pirates once stopped for water, and watch flamingos feed on Passion Island—all with a local guide who knows every bend of the coast. Expect laughter, salt spray, and maybe a moment that stays with you long after you’ve dried off.
Tulum Ruins & Cenote Taak-bi-ha Private Tour from Playa del CarmenYou're picked up from your hotel and driven to Tulum's archaeological site for a guided walk and free exploration time, then to Cenote Taak-bi-ha for snorkeling in an underground cavern with provided equipment. Lunch at a local restaurant rounds out the half-day before your return. Hotel pickup and private transport mean no group waits or public schedules to coordinate around.Is it for me?Book this if you want Tulum and a cenote in one half-day without arranging separate transport, tickets, or timing — the private pickup and fixed itinerary mean you skip the logistics and spend your time actually at the sites.
Ek Balam & Cenote: Mayan Ruins, Valladolid & Lunch from Playa del CarmenYou climb the tallest temple at Ek Balam, swim in a jungle cenote, eat regional lunch, and explore the pastel-colored colonial streets of Valladolid — all in one day with hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, and drinks included. The fixed schedule means you don't arrange transport, tickets, or timing yourself; you just show up at your hotel at pickup time.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Ek Balam's main temple and swim in a jungle cenote without arranging your own transport, entrance fees, or timing — the fixed Thursday and Sunday schedule is what fits all three stops into one day from your hotel.
Paddle at Dawn in Bacalar: Cenotes and IslandsA 3-hour paddle boarding or kayaking activity in Bacalar that starts before sunrise at Cenote Esmeralda, the largest cenote in the area. You swim at a natural pool while watching the first light paint the sky, then paddle to a bird sanctuary for a floating picnic with healthy snacks and fruit drinks. A bilingual guide leads the whole morning, and all safety equipment is provided; children are welcome from age 8.Is it for me?Most sunrise paddles in Bacalar stop at one cenote or one island; this one strings together Cenote Esmeralda, a swimming point timed to the sunrise, and a bird sanctuary with a floating picnic, so the morning builds instead of repeating the same view.
Isla Mujeres: Snorkel El Meco & North Beach with Open BarYou board at Playa Tortugas, snorkel El Meco's underwater sculptures and coral with a guide, spend time on North Beach, eat a regional buffet lunch with open bar, and return to Cancun with drinks and a party vibe. The noon departure lets you watch the sunset from the boat. Total time is around 8 hours, and snorkel gear is included.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day on the water with snorkeling, a meal, and drinks all handled — no need to arrange gear, food, or figure out how to get back to Cancun with a hangover. The open bar on the return is what makes the afternoon feel less like a tour and more like a day with people who know how to run a boat.
Playa del Carmen: ATV Jungle & Cenote Swim with Cave ExploreYou ride an ATV through 17.5 miles of jungle terrain, walk through an underground cave system with a subterranean river, and swim in a cenote surrounded by ancient rock formations. The tour includes all gear, a guide, entry fees, transport from Playa del Carmen, and a bottle of water. You're back by early afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to move through the Riviera Maya jungle and underground caves in one morning without arranging your own transport or gear — the tour handles all of it, which is what makes a full ATV, cave, and cenote day possible in a half-day window.
Cancun Whale Shark Swim: Private Tour & Isla Mujeres LunchYou’ll start early in Cancun with breakfast at the marina before heading out by boat to swim alongside whale sharks with your guide—just two guests at a time in the water. After snorkeling rounds, enjoy sandwiches and sparkling wine as you cruise toward Isla Mujeres for ceviche lunch and beach time at Playa Norte. If you’re lucky, dolphins or turtles might show up along the way.
RZR Off-Road to Jade Cavern & Beach Club in CozumelThis five-hour activity in Cozumel puts you in the driver's seat of a Polaris RZR for a 70-minute off-road run through jungle trails, muddy terrain and sandy paths to Jade Cavern—a freshwater sinkhole where you can swim, photograph limestone walls or attempt a cliff jump. After the ride, you spend three hours at Chula's Beach Club with snorkel gear, kayaks, paddle boards, a pool and lounge chairs included; food and drinks are à la carte. Pickup is available from any cruise port; the guide speaks English and Spanish; children from age five can ride along, though drivers must be 18 with a valid license.Is it for me?You drive the vehicle yourself and share it with three other guests, which means you're steering through the jungle but not alone—good for people who want the thrill of off-road driving without the solo pressure, and for groups that want to split the cost. The three-hour beach club portion is unstructured, so you choose between snorkeling, paddling, lounging or jumping in the pool, which suits anyone who wants to move at their own pace after the adrenaline wears off.
Merida: Santa Barbara Cenotes Bike Tour & Yucatecan LunchYou’ll wander Acanceh’s living ruins with a local guide before biking (or riding) between four Santa Barbara cenotes near Merida—swimming in cool blue water and sharing homemade Yucatecan lunch with handmade tortillas. Expect laughter, splashes, real stories—and maybe even try saying “Acanceh” yourself.
