Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
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Cancun Airport - Holbox: Private transfer with ferry & hotel dropYou’ll be met at Cancun Airport by a local driver who’ll take you straight to Chiquila port in an air-conditioned van. Ferry tickets are included for your crossing to Holbox Island, where someone will meet you at the dock and drive you by golf cart taxi right to your hotel door—a smooth journey that lets you actually notice when vacation mode starts kicking in.
Isla Mujeres Snorkeling & Fishing Half-Day Tour: Free fish cleaning includedSnorkeling and fishing combined in Isla Mujeres on a half-day activity with a licensed guide, professional equipment and bottled water included. You fish the best Caribbean spots near the island for two hours, then switch to snorkeling gear and explore the reefs for 90 minutes, spotting angelfish, parrotfish, sergeant major fish, blue tang and snappers. Choose a morning or afternoon departure when you book; the guide speaks English or Spanish.Is it for me?Book the morning departure if you want the calmer water and better light for spotting fish underwater; the afternoon slot works if you prefer to start later and still finish by early evening. Either way, you're in the water doing the activity rather than watching from a boat, and the guide handles the technical side—where to fish, how to gear up, what you're looking at below.
Uxmal and Kabah Ruins Tour from Merida with Chocolate TastingA guided tour from Merida to the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Kabah with a three-course meal and chocolate tasting at Choco Story, including round transportation. The day splits between guided commentary and free time at each ruin so you can explore at your own pace; at Choco Story, you'll watch the chocolate-making process and take part in a Mayan ceremony before tasting the finished product. Entrance fees to both ruins are paid in cash pesos on arrival.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language suits you. The mix of guided time and free exploration at each ruin means you're not locked to the group's pace—linger where you want, move ahead when you're ready.
Tulum Ziplining, ATV & Cenote: Five Activities in OneTulum ziplining combined with ATV riding, rappelling, cenote swimming and a Mayan ceremony demonstration—all in one five-hour activity from Tulum, with certified guides, hotel pickup available, and Mexican lunch included. Children from age 4 are welcome; a mandatory jungle conservation fee of $48 USD per person applies.Is it for me?Choose the single ATV option if you want to ride independently through the jungle; pick the shared ATV if you'd rather split the ride and the cost with another person. Both routes hit all five activities and the same cenote and ceremony, so the choice is about how you move through the jungle, not what you experience.
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.
Cancun Airport - Puerto Morelos: Private transfer with driverStep off your flight in Cancun and meet your private driver for an easy ride straight to your hotel in Puerto Morelos. Enjoy exclusive use of the vehicle, helpful local tips along the way, and a smooth drop-off at your door. It’s a simple start that sets the tone for your trip—you might even find yourself relaxing before you unpack.
Diving MUSA and Manchones Reef in Isla Mujeres: 2 tanksA 4-hour dive at MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) and Manchones reef off Isla Mujeres for certified Open Water divers and above. The underwater museum holds over 500 sculptures fixed to the seabed in shallow water (25–33 feet), designed to promote coral growth and marine habitat while functioning as a working reef. You make two tank dives with a divemaster, tanks and weights supplied, plus bottled water and fresh fruit; the National Marine Park fee is included. Meet at Squalo Adventures dive shop on Hidalgo Street at 8:30 am.Is it for me?The divemaster speaks English or Spanish, so you choose the language that works for you. Book this dive if you're a certified diver with at least moderate fitness and want to explore the sculptures and reef life with someone who knows the site, rather than navigating it on your own.
Cozumel Snorkeling: Starfish, Rays & Turtle SanctuaryA guided catamaran snorkeling trip in Cozumel takes you to three reef stops—Columbia, El Cielo Beach and Turtle Bay—where you enter water shallow enough to stand in, surrounded by starfish and baby rays. The boat includes snorkel gear, fins and a vest; a certified captain and crew manage the catamaran while a live guide in English or Spanish leads the water time. Ceviche and chips come with the trip, plus margaritas, beer, soft drinks and water. The whole outing runs four hours and suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The shallow reefs and the option to stay aboard make this trip work for mixed groups—strong snorkelers get the starfish and rays up close, while anyone who wants to float, watch or skip the water altogether stays comfortable on deck with food and drinks. Book this if your group has different comfort levels in the water.
Snorkeling in Costa Maya: Meso-American Barrier ReefSnorkel the Meso-American Barrier Reef in Costa Maya with a live guide, full equipment and water included; the 90-minute activity departs from Yaya Beach Club, a short cab ride from the cruise port. Children from age 10 can enter the water; younger kids can ride the boat. Guides speak English, Spanish and Italian. Minimum two participants required.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving by cruise ship without a car—it starts at Yaya Beach Club, a 10-minute cab ride from port, so you can snorkel and return to your ship on a predictable timeline. Choose it for hands-on guidance throughout if you're new to snorkeling or want to understand what you're seeing underwater.
PADI Open Water Diver Certification: Isla MujeresThe PADI Open Water Diver course on Isla Mujeres combines eLearning theory (completed online or the day before arrival) with two days of in-water training: confined water practice in the mornings, open water dives in the afternoons at sites including MUSA, the underwater museum of life-size sculptures. You'll have a live guide in English or Spanish, and all scuba equipment and certification fees are included. Children from age 10 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this course if you want to earn your certification in a short window and dive among the sculptures at MUSA as part of your training—the two-day structure and eLearning option compress the process without cutting the in-water practice you need.
Cozumel E-Surf Lesson with Local Guide & All EquipmentYou’ll learn e-surfing basics on land before heading into Cozumel’s calm water with a local guide by your side. Feel the thrill as you stand up for the first time and glide across clear shallows. All equipment is included—just bring your curiosity (and maybe a sense of humor).
Tulum: Sian Kaan Muyil Floating Canals & LagoonsYou get picked up at your hotel, taken to Sian Kaan biosphere reserve, and float through canals the Mayans built centuries ago while a local guide points out the wildlife and history. Park entry, the boat ride, water, and transport back are all included. The whole thing takes a few hours and keeps groups to six people, so it never feels crowded.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see a part of the Riviera Maya that most tourists skip and prefer floating through history to hiking through crowds. The small group size and fixed itinerary mean you don't have to arrange transport, park tickets, or timing—the guide handles all of it.
Chichén Itzá & Two Cenotes Day Trip from CancúnA 12-hour day trip from Cancún to Chichén Itzá with guided tour of the Mayan ruins, swimming at two cenotes (Suytún and Ik-kil with life jackets provided), and time in colonial Valladolid town. Hotel pickup, bilingual guide, box lunch, bottled water and cenote access are included; the cenotes and Mayan ruins tax is an optional add-on at checkout.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're arriving in Cancún with a full day free and want to see Chichén Itzá without renting a car — the guide, transport, lunch and life jackets mean you show up at the hotel and everything else is arranged. The two cenotes make it a swim-and-sightsee day rather than ruins-only, so you're in the water twice before heading home.
Private Deep Sea Fishing Charter Puerto MorelosA private deep sea fishing charter in Puerto Morelos puts you and your group alone on a 25-foot panga with Captain Mauricio, a local fisherman with over 20 years' experience. You'll fish the uncrowded waters off this laid-back town using trolling and bottom-fishing techniques to target mahi-mahi, snapper, sailfish, grouper and kingfish depending on the season. The charter includes rods, reels, bait, tackle, safety gear, water and drinks; if you land something worth eating, the crew will clean it and recommend a nearby restaurant to cook it fresh.Is it for me?The four-hour charter runs at the captain's discretion and according to National Park regulations, which means the pace and the fishing grounds shift with the water and the season—not a fixed route. Book this if you want a real fishing day with someone who knows the local spots and can read the conditions, rather than a scripted tour that moves through the same stops every time.
Cancun: Isla Mujeres Catamaran, Snorkeling & Open BarYou board a catamaran in Cancun, sail to Isla Mujeres with unlimited drinks and snorkeling gear included, spend 1.5 hours exploring the island and eating at the beach club, then sail back as the sun sets. Hotel pickup is optional; certified guides and small groups keep the day feeling personal rather than crowded.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full water day without arranging your own boat, snorkeling spot, or lunch—the catamaran bundles all three, plus the open bar and island time, so you show up and the day unfolds without decisions.
Discover Scuba Diving in Cozumel: Beginner-friendly intro diveDiscover Scuba Diving in Cozumel is a beginner intro dive run by PADI-certified instructors in groups of no more than four divers per guide. You learn essential skills on the surface, then descend to explore the reef with your instructor at your side; the experience takes roughly 2 to 3 hours and requires no prior diving experience or certification. This is a trial dive, not a certification course, though the operator offers a discount toward the Open Water Course if you want to continue.Is it for me?The 2- to 3-hour timeframe and shallow-water start mean this works for first-timers who want to test scuba without a full day commitment or weeks of classroom work. If you're looking for a quick introduction before deciding whether to pursue certification, this trial dive lets you know what you're getting into.
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.
Cancun Airport to Tulum: Private Transfer with Flight TrackingYou get picked up at Cancun airport arrivals with a name sign and real-time flight tracking, then driven directly to your Tulum hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle. On departure, the driver collects you from your hotel lobby and drops you at the departures terminal with luggage help. Round-trip, arrival-only, or departure-only options let you book only what you need.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Cancun and staying in Tulum but don't want to rent a car or wait for a shared shuttle—the fixed price and flight tracking mean you know exactly what you're paying and when your ride will be there, even if your flight runs late.
Cozumel Mayan ruins and cenote tour: Private half-day with guideA private half-day cultural tour of Cozumel visits San Gervasio, the island's largest Mayan ruins, with a local site guide; then moves to the east coast for Caribbean views, lunch at El Mirador, and a final stop at a natural cenote. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, guide in English or Spanish, entry fees, a tequila tasting at San Gervasio, and hotel pickup. It runs five and a half hours and suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The tour moves at a steady pace with moderate walking at the ruins and stops for photos on the coast, so it suits anyone with a free afternoon who wants history and nature without a full-day commitment. If you're traveling with infants or small children, specialized seats are available and the short duration keeps the day manageable for young travelers.
