Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
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Cancun Airport Transfer: Private Van for Groups up to 10You’ll step out of Cancun airport into warm air and spot your driver waiting with your name. With private transfer for up to 10 people, cold drinks, and help with bags, you skip lines and head straight to your hotel. It’s calm, easy—and honestly feels like vacation starts right there.
Cancun Speed Boat Tour: Drive Your Own 45-Minute Jungle AdventureA 45-minute speed boat activity in Cancun where you captain your own boat through the Nichupté Lagoon, passing the Nichupté Bridge and replica pirate galleons while navigating mangrove channels. Groups of 2 to 4 people share one boat, with a bilingual guide on hand; the experience includes boat use and lagoon access. Choose between a private boat (Speedboat Single) or a shared departure (Express Shared) at checkout.Is it for me?Book the Speedboat Single if your group wants the boat to yourselves and full control over the pace; choose Express Shared if you're open to meeting other travelers and prefer a lower price point. Either way, you're steering the whole time — this is not a passenger tour.
Cancun: Small Group Cooking Class at Chef’s HomeYou’ll join Chef Alberto in his Cancun home for a relaxed cooking class where you’ll shape tortillas by hand, grind fresh salsas, and share stories over a homemade feast. Taste cochinita pibil or mole straight from the pot, laugh with new friends at the table, and leave with flavors—and memories—that stick around long after you go.
Holbox: Night Kayak Bioluminescence Tour & Punta MosquitoYou’ll kayak beneath Holbox’s starry sky with a local guide, paddle out to Punta Mosquito’s sandbanks, and watch bioluminescent waters shimmer around your hands—or even swim among them if you want. Expect warmth in the air, laughter from your group, and a kind of hush you don’t find often. It lingers with you.
Isla Mujeres: Private Sunset Boat Trip & SnorkelingYou’ll set sail from Cancún with a small group and your own crew, gliding toward Isla Mujeres as the sun sets over quiet waters. Swim or snorkel with provided gear, snack on local treats, and relax on spacious decks with your favorite music playing softly in the background. The evening ends with a peaceful pause at North Beach — you might find yourself wishing it lasted longer.
Tulum Airport to Hotel: Private SUV Transfer with Wi-Fi & BeersYou’ll step off your flight at Tulum Airport to find a local driver waiting with your name on a tablet—no stress if you’re delayed. Settle into a private SUV with cold beers, bottled water, facial wipes, and working Wi-Fi as you head straight to your hotel zone. It’s those small comforts—and not having to think—that make arrival feel easy.
Bacalar Lagoon 7 Colors tour from Costa Maya: Swim & cenotesA 5-hour boat tour of Bacalar Lagoon departing from Costa Maya cruise port, with a certified bilingual guide, pontoon ride through Pirates Channel and two cenotes, lunch, and guaranteed return to your ship. The tour includes round-trip transport from the port, life vests, drinks, tequila tasting, and 30 minutes of free swimming time in the lagoon's shallow turquoise water.Is it for me?The tour runs 5 hours total with a pontoon boat ride and 30 minutes of active swimming, so it suits cruise passengers who want water time and sightseeing without a full day away from the port. If you're traveling with infants or prefer minimal walking, the pram-friendly stops and calm lagoon water make this workable for families of any age.
Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: Private Transfer, English DriverYou’ll step off your flight in Cancun and find your private driver waiting with a cold bottle of water and a smile. Relax with wifi onboard as you ride straight to Playa del Carmen—no stress over language barriers or finding transport. Along the way, you might pick up a local tip or two (and maybe even practice your Spanish). It’s simple comfort from airport to hotel.
Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport: Private Limo Transfer & BarYou’ll get picked up right at your hotel in Playa del Carmen and settle into a private stretch limo with cold beers, water, WiFi, and plenty of space. The scented towels are oddly refreshing and your local driver handles everything so you can actually relax on the way to Cancun airport—maybe even laugh a little before your flight.
Cancun & Playa del Carmen: Whale Shark Snorkel Tour with PickupYou’ll swim alongside whale sharks off Isla Contoy with a local guide who keeps things relaxed (and bilingual). After snorkeling, unwind on Playa Norte at Isla Mujeres with fresh ceviche for lunch before heading back—expect laughter, sea air, and that wild feeling of being part of something huge.
Mahahual Birdwatching Tour: Mangroves, Jungle & PhotographyA guided birdwatching tour in Costa Maya's mangroves, jungle and grassland, led by a naturalist guide in English or Spanish, with park fees, lunch and transportation included. The tour runs five hours and departs from Mahahual. Victor Rosales, the owner, spent seven years working in tourism before opening Mahahual Ecotours in 2013, and brings local expertise to finding the birds most visitors miss. Pickup is included; the route is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?The five-hour pace means you're moving through three different habitats—mangroves, jungle and grassland—rather than staying in one spot, so you see the range of species the peninsula holds. If you want to cover ground and maximize what you encounter, this structure works; if you prefer a slower, deeper look at one ecosystem, ask the operator about options when you book.
Hotel Transfer Cancun to Playa del Carmen: Meet at arrivalsYou’ll step off your flight at Cancun Airport and spot your name on a sign — no searching for taxis or stressing over directions. With private transfer service to Playa del Carmen hotels, cool air-conditioning, reliable WiFi, and friendly drivers who actually track your flight times, you’ll feel looked after from start to finish.
Isla Contoy & Isla Mujeres: Snorkeling & Beach Day from CancunYou board a catamaran at the Cancun marina with hotel pickup already handled, snorkel at Ixlache Reef with a guide and included gear, eat a Mayan-grilled lunch on Isla Contoy's beach, spend an hour exploring Isla Mujeres, and return on an open-bar boat with music and dancing. The whole day — transport, meals, drinks, equipment — is included, so you show up and the rest is arranged.Is it for me?Book this if you want two islands, snorkeling, and a full meal in one day without arranging transport, equipment, or timing yourself — the catamaran schedule and included pickups mean you just show up at your hotel in the morning.
Cenote Paddleboarding and Snorkeling in TulumA guided paddleboarding and snorkeling activity at Casa Cenote in Tulum where you paddle around the cenote, practice board exercises, snorkel through mangrove channels, and eat local tacos for lunch. All equipment is provided, no experience needed, and groups stay small at 2 to 5 people. The tour adapts to your preferences and runs 4 hours.Is it for me?The 4-hour commitment means you can paddleboard and snorkel the cenote and still have the rest of your day free — it's a morning or afternoon slot, not a full-day commitment. Groups cap at 5 people, so you're not in a crowd, and the guide tailors the pace to your group's comfort rather than sticking to a fixed schedule.
Cancun: Jungle Speedboat, Reef Snorkel & Underwater Museum TourYou’ll feel the wind driving your own speedboat through Cancun’s Nichupté Lagoon before snorkeling among coral reefs alive with tropical fish—and maybe spot a sea turtle or two. Drift past haunting sculptures at MUSA underwater museum with a local guide who knows every twist in the mangroves. It’s loud, colorful, sometimes clumsy—and totally unforgettable.
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.
Chichen Itza Private Tour: Skip-the-Line EntryA private guided tour of Chichen Itza with skip-the-line tickets, early hotel pickup, and a certified guide who covers the Kukulkan pyramid, Great Ball Court, sacred cenote, and observatory. The 8-hour tour includes round-trip transportation, entrance fees, water, and free time to shop at the site.Is it for me?Choose this for a private guide and direct hotel-to-site transport that gets you through Chichen Itza's main structures before midday crowds arrive.
Isla Mujeres transparent boat tour: 360° reef viewsA 45-minute transparent boat tour from Bartolomé marina in Isla Mujeres circles three named reefs—La Cadenita, El Farito, and La Carbonera—where you watch colorful fish and marine life from a 100% see-through hull. The tour includes dock tax; a live guide speaks English and Spanish.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see the reefs and fish without getting wet or needing snorkel gear—the transparent hull gives you the full underwater view from a dry seat. Infants sit on an adult's lap; the 45-minute ride suits all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.
Cancun: Private Yacht Tour with Crew & Snorkel GearYou’ll trade city noise for open water on this private Cancun yacht tour through Nichupté Bay. Swim or snorkel with gear provided by the friendly crew, play your own music onboard, and relax with drinks and snacks—either brought from home or arranged ahead of time. Those little moments—like laughing with your captain or just drifting under blue sky—are what you’ll remember.
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.
