Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
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Swim with Whale Sharks in Isla Mujeres: Snorkel the CaribbeanSwim with whale sharks in their natural habitat off Isla Mujeres on a six-hour snorkeling adventure that includes boat transport, a certified English or Spanish-speaking guide, snorkeling gear, lunch and drinks. The whale sharks are wild and free—not trained or caged—so sightings depend on conditions and their own movement, though the crew has a high success rate. You enter the water in pairs, each accompanied by a guide, and may get two chances to swim depending on sea state and shark activity.Is it for me?You're timing your trip for peak whale shark season and committing a full day to encounter them in their natural habitat, unpredictable and entirely on their terms.
ATV riding in Cozumel: Jade Caverns and Mayan VillageRide your own single or double ATV through Cozumel jungle to Jade Caverns, a 60-million-year-old cenote connected to an underground river where you can swim or jump from a natural 20-foot platform. The route also passes through El Cedral, a Mayan settlement with a 900-year-old temple and one of the island's oldest Catholic churches, followed by a tequila tasting. Pickup and drop-off from your cruise port, resort or accommodation are included; the minimum driving age is 13, and ATVs are automatic so no license is required.Is it for me?Book this if you're comfortable on an ATV and want to move through the island under your own power rather than watch from a passenger seat—the jungle trails and cenote jump are yours to experience, not observe. Small groups work well here since the guide leads but doesn't slow the pace, and the mix of riding, swimming and walking keeps the afternoon varied without feeling rushed.
Bacalar Lagoon: Boat Tour, 5 Cenotes & Open BarYou board at either 10 AM or 3 PM and spend four hours moving between five cenotes—Pirate's Channel, Black Cenote, Emerald Cenote, Cocalitos, and Bird Island—swimming in each one while a bilingual guide explains what you're looking at. The boat includes an open bar, a picnic with fresh fruit, and all safety gear. If you choose the afternoon departure, you finish with the sunset at Bird Island. You don't arrange transport, tickets, or food; the guide handles the timing and the stops.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see multiple cenotes and swim in them without renting a car or figuring out which ones are worth the drive—the boat stops at five in one morning or afternoon, and the guide knows which ones matter and why.
Chichen Itza Private Tour, Cenote Swim & Valladolid LunchYou’ll walk among Chichen Itza’s ancient stones with a private guide who brings Maya history alive, then cool off swimming in a sacred cenote’s clear water before tasting Yucatecan lunch in colorful Valladolid. With hotel pickup, drinks on board, and no lines or rush, it’s one of those days that lingers long after you’re home.
Cancun: Snorkel Reef, Shipwreck & Cenote with Turtles & TransportYou get picked up from your Cancun hotel, driven to the marina, and outfitted with snorkeling gear for five stops: a coral reef, two underwater art installations, a turtle zone, a shipwreck, and a cenote dive. The actual water time is about two hours across 3.5 hours total, groups stay small at ten people, and a professional guide leads the whole thing. Hotel transport is included, so you only have to show up ready to snorkel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to snorkel multiple sites in one half-day without arranging your own transport or gear — the pickup from your hotel and the fixed schedule are what make five stops possible between breakfast and lunch.
Bacalar Lagoon Private Tour: 7 Colors, Cenotes & Sunset KayakA private boat tour of Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico's Riviera Maya, with a bilingual guide steering you through the 7-color water to three cenotes, stromatolites and the island of birds, plus swimming in low crystalline water and a sunset kayak paddle. The boat is covered, carries safety gear, and includes fresh fruit, snacks and drinks aboard. You choose between a morning departure, an 8 a.m. start or an extended sunset option.Is it for me?Book the 8:00 A.M. Special if you want the clearest water and the best light for photos before the midday sun gets high; choose the Extended Sunset Tour if you want to stay on the water as the lagoon changes color in the evening and end the day paddling by kayak instead of motoring back to shore.
Cozumel Snorkeling: Turtle Sanctuary, Starfish & SunsetYou arrive at the pier, board a catamaran with under twenty other snorkelers, and spend four hours moving between three reef stops: a green turtle sanctuary, El Cielo's starfish beds, and a shallow sandbank for rest and food. Snorkel gear, two drinks, fresh ceviche and fruit, and the sunset cruise back are all included. Show up thirty minutes early or you forfeit your spot.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Cozumel reef snorkel sites — turtles, starfish, and clear water — without the chaos of a forty-person boat; the small group size and early departure are what make the reef feel like yours instead of shared.
Tulum: Selva Maya Ziplining, Cenote Swim & Hanging Bridges TourYou’ll feel your heart race on nine ziplines above Tulum’s jungle canopy, wobble across hanging bridges, rappel beside a cenote, then swim or snorkel in cool blue water. Local guides keep things safe (and fun), plus lunch is included — so you end the day full and happy.
Xel-Há Park Cancun: Snorkeling & All-Inclusive Day PassYou get full-day access to Xel-Há's lagoons, cenotes, and caves with snorkeling equipment, lifejackets, and guided tours included. Choose between Light (soft drinks only) or All-Inclusive (meals and open bar). Fifty-plus activities spread across the park mean you're never locked into one thing, and everything from bicycles to hammocks to changing rooms is already there when you arrive.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full day of water and nature activities without arranging transport, entry, or meals separately — the all-inclusive option means you show up and everything is already paid for and waiting.
Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour Cancun: Small-Group SwimA small-group snorkeling tour from Cancun that takes you into the Gulf of Mexico to swim with whale sharks, the world's largest fish, along with dolphins, manta rays and turtles. The tour runs 8 hours with a bilingual naturalist guide, lunch onboard near Isla Mujeres, all snorkeling gear, and hotel pickup from Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya—or you can arrange your own transport. Minimum age is 5; the operator guarantees to maximize your chances of a sighting but cannot promise one.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to swim with whale sharks without organizing the boat, the guide, the gear or the logistics yourself—the small-group format keeps things manageable, and the fixed itinerary means the whole day holds together while you focus on being in the water.
Ziplining in Cancun: ATV, Cenote & Horseback RidingThis activity combines ziplining, ATV riding, cenote swimming, horseback riding and tequila tasting in Cancun's Mayan Jungle Rush, starting with hotel pickup and ending with lunch. The day runs five hours and includes roundtrip transport, a live guide in English or Spanish, insurance, and a light meal. Children from age 4 are welcome; moderate fitness is required, and closed shoes are recommended for the ziplines.Is it for me?Choose the shared group if you're based in Cancun or Puerto Morelos and want one pickup time that works with your schedule; pick private if you prefer to start and finish on your own timeline.
Chichen Itza & Coba tour: Early arrival, small groups, no linesA small-group guided tour of Chichen Itza and Coba ruins with early arrival, hotel pickup and pre-purchased entry tickets that skip the line at the gate. The tour includes a swim at cenote Ik Kil, buffet lunch with one drink, and a professional guide in English or Spanish. Climbing the Coba pyramid is not guaranteed. The full day runs 11 hours.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying outside the archaeological zone or without a car—hotel pickup settles the logistics, and early arrival means you see the temples before the afternoon heat and the crowds. Small groups also mean the guide can move at a pace that works for everyone, not a mass-tour schedule.
Tulum & Coba: Mayan Ceremony, Cenote Swim & Lunch TourYou’ll meet local guides in Tulum & Coba, climb ancient pyramids tucked into jungle, taste honey straight from Mayan bees, share lunch under palm roofs, join a quiet shaman ceremony, and cool off swimming in a hidden cenote. It’s not just sightseeing — you’ll feel every moment linger long after you leave.
Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: Private Transfer, 50 MinutesYou get a bilingual driver waiting at arrivals with a sign bearing your name, a private vehicle reserved only for your party, and a direct route to your Playa del Carmen hotel in around 50 minutes. Taxes, insurance, and airport charges are included in the fixed price, so you know the cost before you arrive. Book this if you want to skip the taxi line and start your vacation the moment you land.Is it for me?Worth booking if you land with luggage and want to avoid the taxi queue and fixed-price haggling — the driver waits at arrivals, the cost is set before you arrive, and you're at your hotel in under an hour without arranging anything else.
Tulum Ruins & Cenote Swim Day Trip with Pickup OptionYou’ll walk ancient stone paths at Tulum’s Mayan ruins with a local guide sharing stories along the way, then cool off swimming in a cenote surrounded by jungle sounds. Includes hotel pickup from Cancun or Riviera Maya and priority entry so you skip lines. Expect salty breezes, sun-warmed stones, and moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Cozumel: El Cielo Catamaran Snorkel & Money Bar Beach StopYou’ll sail from Cozumel out to Colombia & Palancar reefs for guided snorkeling with colorful marine life before drifting over El Cielo’s bright sandbar dotted with starfish. Enjoy open bar drinks, fresh ceviche, fruit snacks, plus time relaxing at The Money Bar beach club. Expect laughter, salty hair, and those rare moments when everything feels lighter.
Tulum: Cenote & Yal-Ku Lagoon Snorkel with Hotel PickupYou float through an underground Mayan cenote on a guided tour, spotting ancient rock formations and cave systems, then move to Yal-Ku Lagoon for snorkeling where freshwater and saltwater meet. The lagoon is home to tropical fish like blue tangs and triggerfish. Round-trip hotel pickup from Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels, snorkel gear, life jacket, snack and water are all included; the whole experience takes a few hours depending on your hotel location.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to experience both a cenote and snorkeling in one outing without arranging your own transport — the hotel pickup removes that piece, and the two stops fit into a single morning or afternoon depending on where you're staying.
Chichén Itzá guided tour with cenote swim and Valladolid buffetThis guided tour departs Cancun early morning and covers three stops: Chichén Itzá archaeological site with a certified bilingual guide for roughly 2 hours of walking and free time; Santuario Tsukán cenote near Valladolid for swimming in fresh water; and La Casona de Valladolid restaurant for a regional Yucatán buffet with unlimited beverages. Pickup is included from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya hotels. Light breakfast, water bottle, entry tickets, and refreshing towel are provided. The fixed schedule means all three stops fit into one day without you arranging transport between them.Is it for me?Small groups work well here since the certified guide keeps everyone together at the pyramids, and the fixed schedule means you don't coordinate transport between the three stops yourself—pickup, timing and meals are all arranged so the day holds together without gaps.
Puerto Morelos Cenote Tour: ATV ride & open-air swimYou ride a 4x4 ATV through jungle trails outside Cancun, swim in a cenote, and spend free time in the coastal town of Puerto Morelos. The day includes hotel pickup, a professional guide, safety equipment, water, snacks and tacos. You need to be at least eighteen with a valid driver's license to drive, and the whole experience runs four to five hours depending on your hotel location.Is it for me?Book this if you want the adrenaline of an ATV ride and a cenote swim without arranging transport or equipment yourself—the pickup and safety gear mean you just show up ready to ride.
Cancun: Taco Tour, Local Beer & Night Market with PickupYou’ll taste five kinds of tacos across Cancun’s best local spots—no lines or waiting—paired with Mexican beers and stories from your guide. From smoky cochinita pibil to churros at a buzzing night market, expect laughter, new friends, and flavors you’ll remember long after you’re home.
