Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
Sort
Tulum ruins and swim with turtles in Akumal: 10-hour tourA 10-hour tour from Tulum that combines the archeological site overlooking the Caribbean with snorkeling and swimming in Akumal bay, where you'll encounter sea turtles in their natural habitat, plus a cenote swim. The tour includes a bilingual guide, entrance fees to Tulum, air-conditioned transport, and lunch; pickup is arranged before the day starts.Is it for me?Pick this if you want roughly equal time exploring Tulum's clifftop ruins and snorkeling in Akumal's bay—you're swimming and walking in equal measure, not just viewing from a distance.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Private Jeep, Mayan Ruins & Beach ClubA private off-road tour of Cozumel combines a Polaris RZR ride through dense jungle with a guided walk through San Gervasio Mayan Ruins, a chocolate and tequila tasting, snorkeling in clear water at a beach club, and a Mexican meal. The tour runs five hours with a live guide in English or Spanish, hotel pickup included, and all equipment and entrance fees covered.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to drive off-road and explore ruins in one outing rather than choose between them. The private format means your group sets the pace and the guide speaks your language (English or Spanish), and the Polaris RZR reaches jungle roads that regular vehicles cannot access.
Sunset Sailing Cancun: Dinner & Live Sax aboard GalleonA sunset sailing activity in Cancun's Nichupte Lagoon aboard a Spanish galleon, with a three-course dinner, open bar and live saxophone music. The boat departs nightly at 7pm from Marina Aquatours pier in the Hotel Zone; you choose steak, lobster or vegetarian for your main course. Pickup is available from Cancun hotels or nearby areas, or you can meet at the dock. Adult-only activity; minimum age 14.Is it for me?Book this if you want a structured evening where the meal, music and timing are all arranged—no decisions to make once you are aboard, just the sunset and each other. The adult-only setting and fixed 7pm departure mean you know exactly when the night starts and ends, which works well if you have other plans or an early morning ahead.
Cancun Airport to Hotel: Shared Shuttle & Free Shopping TourYou’ll step off your flight into Cancun’s warmth and spot your shuttle rep waiting with a sign — no guesswork needed. Ride with fellow travelers in a clean van while your local driver shares tips and stories. Later, enjoy a free shopping tour in Cancun or Playa del Carmen as part of your booking. It’s simple comfort that lets you actually breathe after landing.
Suytun Cenote Valladolid: Swim & Breakfast with Kaapeh AccessYou get entry to two cenotes in one ticket, swim in Suytun's crystal water and walk to Kaapeh without paying twice, eat a full breakfast on-site with eggs or chilaquiles, and have access to the pool. The whole day is self-paced — no guide, no group, no schedule — so you stay as long as you want and leave when you're ready.Is it for me?Right for anyone staying in or near Valladolid who wants to swim in cenotes without arranging separate tickets or transport — the two-cenote package and breakfast mean you arrive, pay once, and spend the day in the water on your own schedule.
Ek Balam, Valladolid & Cenote Private Tour from MeridaThis private tour from Merida combines the ancient Mayan ruins of Ek Balam, the colonial city of Valladolid, and a cenote swim with traditional Yucatan lunch. A bilingual guide picks you up at your hotel, handles transportation, and leads the route over 8 to 10 hours at your own pace. The tour includes lunch, drinks on board, and entry to all three stops.Is it for me?This is a private tour, so the route and pace are yours alone—no group schedule, no waiting for others to finish. It suits travelers who want to explore Ek Balam and Valladolid without the structure of a fixed itinerary, and who value the flexibility to linger at the Acropolis or spend extra time in the colonial streets if something catches their eye.
Scuba Diving in Cozumel: Dive the Reefs with an InstructorScuba dive Cozumel's reefs with a certified instructor guiding you through your first dive to 40 feet, where you'll see turtles, eagle rays, sharks and hundreds of fish species. The experience includes five hours total: 45 minutes of instruction and gear setup at the marina, then one or two dives depending on your option, with water and snacks between dives and lunch included. Children from age 10 are welcome; the guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and two other languages.Is it for me?Book the one-tank option if you want to try diving without committing a full day, or the two-tank option if you want two chances in the water and the confidence that comes from a second dive. Either way, the instructor stays with you the entire time, so your only job is to breathe and look around.
Cozumel Diving: Two-Tank Reef Dive with Palancar Coral WallsA two-tank scuba dive in Cozumel with certified guide, boat transport and lunch included. The morning dive takes you through the Palancar reef area's famous coral tunnels at 60–80 feet; after a surface break with food, the second dive explores a brighter, shallower reef where sea turtles, nurse sharks and tropical fish are common. Groups stay under six divers. The trip runs 4–5 hours total, with 30–45 minutes travel time to the reef. Children from age 10 are welcome; guides speak English and Spanish.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can follow the dive briefing and underwater signals in whichever language is clearer for you. Groups stay under six divers, which means you're not fighting for space on the boat or at the reef — a real difference on a crowded island.
Xcaret All Inclusive Tour from Playa del Carmen: 50+ AttractionsXcaret All Inclusive is a full-day eco-archaeological park tour from Playa del Carmen with roundtrip transportation, entry to over 50 attractions, a buffet lunch, and the México Espectacular show. You swim through underground rivers, walk jungle trails past Mayan sites and a butterfly pavilion, then watch Pre-Hispanic dances and a 300-artist evening performance that traces Mexico's history. The tour runs 11 to 12 hours and includes life jackets, snorkeling gear, and access to Plus Area facilities like private lockers and bathrooms.Is it for me?This is a shared tour with a fixed itinerary and a large evening show, so it suits travelers who want a full day of attractions, cultural performances, and swimming all arranged in one booking — you move through the park on your own schedule, but the evening show and return transport run on set times. If you prefer a smaller group, a private guide, or flexibility to skip the evening performance, a different Xcaret option may fit better.
Chichen Itza Tour: Pyramids, Cenote & ValladolidA full-day tour from your hotel visits Chichen Itza, one of the New7Wonders of the World, with a guide and entrance ticket; descend 48 meters into Cenote Ik Kil to swim in its freshwater pool; eat a buffet lunch at the cenote; then stroll the colonial streets and market of Valladolid. The tour runs 10 to 14 hours and skips souvenir shops and restaurant stops unless you request them, so the day stays focused on sightseeing. You choose between a small-group departure or a private tour, both with hotel pickup included.Is it for me?Choose the small-group option if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want a fixed departure time; pick the private tour if your schedule is flexible or you want to adjust the route and pace without waiting for a group. Either way, the tour handles all transport and entrance fees, so you arrive at your hotel and leave the rest to the guide.
Cozumel Mayan ruins tour by buggy: San Gervasio & tequilaThis four-hour guided tour of Cozumel puts you behind the wheel of your own buggy to reach San Gervasio, the island's most significant Mayan ruins, set in rainforest and dedicated to Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. The day also includes the Corn Village, an interactive cultural park where you experience Mayan traditions firsthand, and a tequila tour with tasting and fresh tacos. A local guide in English or Spanish leads the stops; bottled water is included throughout.Is it for me?You drive the buggy yourself, which means you control the pace and the route rather than sitting in a shared vehicle—suited to travelers who want hands-on involvement and the freedom to linger at sites that catch their attention. If you prefer to sit back and have someone else handle the navigation, a standard group tour would be a better fit.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Catamaran to Palancar & Columbia ReefsA shared catamaran snorkeling tour in Cozumel departs downtown at 2 PM and visits Palancar Reef, Columbia Reef, El Cielo, and El Cielito, with snorkeling equipment, a certified marine guide, and unlimited drinks included. The day runs seven hours from check-in through return, with a beach club stop before boarding and a fish ceviche and hot dog served at the final marine stop. A local ecotax and service fee of 500 MXN per traveler applies at checkout.Is it for me?Book this if you want to snorkel two major reefs in one afternoon without managing your own logistics—the shared catamaran includes downtown pickup and beach club time before heading out at 2:00 PM.
Scuba Diving in Cozumel: First Dive with InstructorA beginner scuba lesson at Chankanaab Park in Cozumel where you take a 20-minute class on the surface, then dive for about an hour with a certified PADI or SSI instructor to a maximum depth of 8 meters. You start in shallow water where you can stand, use full scuba equipment, and see coral formations, fish, underwater statues and a cave system with its own light phenomenon. Park entrance, all diving gear, snorkeling equipment and lockers are included; children from age 9 are welcome.Is it for me?If you're staying in San Miguel or elsewhere on Cozumel without a rental car, a taxi to Chankanaab Park is straightforward and inexpensive, so the dive doesn't depend on arranging transport yourself. The shallow depth and instructor-led format mean you can do this on your first day in the water without certification or prior experience.
Private Transfer: Cancun Airport to Playa del CarmenYou’ll get picked up right outside Cancun Airport by a local driver who tracks your flight and waits for you—even if you’re delayed. Enjoy cold drinks, AC, WiFi, and zero surprise stops as you head straight to Playa del Carmen in comfort.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Floating brunch at El CieloA 5-hour snorkeling boat tour in Cozumel that sails from your choice of dock to Colombia reef for 30 minutes of snorkeling, then drifts to El Cielo sandbank where brunch arrives in a floating basket. The Sea Ray 280 carries the group, snorkeling gear and water inflatables are included, and a guide speaks English or Spanish.Is it for me?The 5-hour commitment means you can snorkel and eat without rushing, then have the afternoon free for the rest of Cozumel—the timing leaves room for a beach or a second activity without the day feeling packed.
San Gervasio Ruins & Cozumel Beaches Buggy Tour with TequilaA guided tour of San Gervasio Mayan Ruins and Cozumel's undeveloped east coast beaches by air-conditioned buggy, with a live guide in English or Spanish. You visit the archaeological site sacred to the goddess Ixchel, swim at Chen Rio's natural warm-water pools and El Mirador's rocky tide pools, taste tequila, eat tacos, and use snorkeling equipment at a private beach club. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours and includes hotel pickup.Is it for me?The buggy handles the driving between stops and the guide explains what you are standing in front of, so you move through the ruins and the coast without building the day yourself. Book this one if you want the archaeology and the wild beaches in one trip without renting a car or navigating the island on your own.
Certified Diving in Vidin: Two-Tank Dives, Reef ChoiceCertified scuba diving in Vidin with two tanks — a deep dive to 20–30 metres and a shallow dive to 13–20 metres — where you select the reef based on what you want to see, and certified guides lead groups of no more than eight divers. Morning dives depart daily at 8:30 a.m. from Palancar Pier; evening dives run with a minimum of three divers. Marine park entry is separate, and equipment rental (BCD, regulator, wetsuit) costs extra.Is it for me?You pick the reef and the guide leads the dives, so this suits certified divers who know what they want to see and trust a local operator to get them there safely. If you haven't dived in years or you're not sure which sites to choose, the Dive Master's recommendations and the refresh course option keep the day straightforward.
Snorkeling in Cozumel: Jungle, Caves & CenoteThis six-hour snorkeling tour on Cozumel combines an off-road jungle drive through Rancho Buenavista with stops at hidden Mayan caves and ruins, a cenote swim, and a private beach club snorkel site. The route includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, snorkeling gear, a homemade lunch of carne asada tacos, ceviche and fresh fruit, and drinks. English and Spanish guides lead small groups; children from age one are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move through three different landscapes — jungle, Mayan ruins and water — in one day without renting a car or planning stops. The small-group format and local guide mean you see wildlife and history at a pace that lets you ask questions and take photos, not just pass through.
Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: Private Transfer & PickupYou get picked up at Cancun airport with a personalized sign and driven directly to your Playa del Carmen hotel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle; the driver waits up to an hour if your flight is delayed, and the price is fixed before departure. For the return trip, the driver meets you at your hotel lobby at your confirmed time. No shared passengers, no negotiating fares, no arranging transport yourself — just a straightforward ride that fits around your actual arrival and checkout times.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing with luggage and want to skip the taxi negotiation and shared-shuttle wait — the fixed price and private vehicle mean you go straight from the airport to your hotel without arranging anything else or splitting the ride with strangers.
Snorkeling in Costa Maya: Private reef lagoon, 2 stopsPrivate snorkeling in Costa Maya on a 21-foot boat takes you to two different reef areas beyond Mahahual, with a guide who points out marine life and handles the camera. The boat holds a maximum of six people, so you control the pace and the stops. Snorkel gear, water, fruit, sodas and snacks are included; the guide speaks English or Spanish and carries a safety hoop for anyone who needs to rest between dives.Is it for me?Book this if you want to snorkel without crowds and control your own pace—your group stays together on less-visited reefs while larger boats queue at popular spots.
