Things to do in Riviera Maya & the Yucatan
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Snorkeling in Cozumel: Private Jeep with Jade CavernsA private jeep snorkeling tour in Cozumel where you take the wheel through off-road paths to Jade Caverns, cenotes, and El Mirador, then snorkel Paraiso Reef with gear included. The tour runs 4.5 hours and covers entrance fees, a Mexican lunch at Coco's Beach Club, a chocolate-tortilla-tequila seminar at Sabores de Cozumel, and pickup from any cruise port or hotel across the island. A valid driver's license is required to drive; all participants can ride as passengers.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to drive the island yourself and control the pace—the private jeep and guide mean no group schedule to follow, and the snorkeling, cenote, and seminar all fit inside one morning without anyone else's itinerary in the way.
Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen: Small Van & Expert GuideYou travel in a smaller group from Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza with a bilingual guide who talks through the Mayan history on the drive and at the ruins. Transport, lunch, water, and snacks are included. The journey takes up to three hours each way, but you're back early enough to enjoy your evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Playa del Carmen or Cancun who want to see Chichen Itza without arranging their own transport or dealing with a large tour bus. Plan for a full day out — the drive is long, but that's what makes the smaller van and included lunch worth it.
Bacalar Lagoon Kayak or SUP Tour: Pirate's Channel & 3 LagoonsKayak or paddleboard across Bacalar Lagoon at sunrise through Pirate's Channel, Mariscal lagoon and Mangrove's Sanctuary on a 3-hour guided tour in English or Spanish. The route stays off the main tourist paths and reaches quiet spots locals know; breakfast, photos and a guided meditation are included, and children from age 6 are welcome. A beginner-friendly briefing covers paddleboard basics before you start.Is it for me?If you're staying in Bacalar without a car, the guide picks you up and handles the whole morning—breakfast, route, timing and photos—so you don't arrange anything yourself. The route reaches quiet spots other tours cannot access, which is what makes the silence real.
Cozumel Food Tour: 5 Local Hotspots, 3 HoursA 3-hour food tour in Cozumel takes you to five carefully selected local restaurants and food stalls by minivan, where you taste handmade empanadas, shrimp tacos, Mexican pastries and other island dishes, with aguas frescas and local beer included. The tour departs at 11:15am from Office Max inside MEGA in downtown Cozumel and stays under 12 guests. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and leads the stops; gluten-free options are available if you request them at booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste five neighborhood spots in one morning rather than island-hopping solo—the 11:15am start beats the lunch crowd, and your guide navigates the route while you focus on the food.
Snorkeling in Playa del Carmen: Sailing Catamaran with LunchA four-hour snorkeling cruise from Playa del Carmen aboard a sailing catamaran takes you to one of the region's most spectacular reefs in the Riviera Maya. You snorkel in shallow, living marine environments, paddleboard or float on water mats between dives, and return to the boat for a full lunch and open bar as the crew sails you back along the coast. Round-trip hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English and Spanish.Is it for me?Book the Family Friendly option if you're traveling with children ages 4 and up who want to experience the reef and the boat together; choose Adults Only if you prefer a cruise without children aboard. Either way, the four-hour format fits a single day without eating into a full itinerary, and the included pickup and lunch mean you're not coordinating transport or a separate meal stop.
Cozumel: Private Catamaran Charter to El Cielo with Open BarYou’ll board a private catamaran in Cozumel with your own captain and crew, set your pace toward El Cielo’s turquoise shallows, snorkel among rays, laugh over lunch and top-shelf drinks, try paddle boarding or just stretch out in the sun. Expect easygoing moments — salty air, warm tortillas, good company — that linger long after you step ashore.
Private Cozumel tour: Customize your day, pick your group sizeA private tour of Cozumel where you and your guide design the day together, choosing from the East side beaches, downtown, the Municipal Market, San Gervasio Mayan Ruins, the Mayan Bee Sanctuary, Chankanaab Beach Park or quieter spots off the main tourist track. The tour runs five hours in an air-conditioned van, minivan or jeep with a guide who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese; bottled water is included, and you decide what matters most.Is it for me?Choose the jeep if your group is small and you want to change direction on a whim; pick the minivan for a balance of flexibility and cost; go with the van if you're traveling with a larger family or group and want to share the expense. The guide works with whatever you choose, but the smaller the vehicle, the more the day bends to what you discover along the way.
Bacalar: Sunrise SUP Tour, Black Cenote & Pirates CanalYou’ll start your day with fresh coffee on Bacalar’s dock before learning SUP basics from your local guide. Paddle across quiet lagoon waters at sunrise, snack on fruit by Black Cenote, and float through Pirates Canal’s history—all before most folks are even up. You’ll leave with new skills, photos, and maybe a little more peace than you came with.
Tulum Mexican Cooking Class: Make Tortillas & TacosA three-hour cooking class in a Mexican-style house in Tulum where you prepare a full traditional menu from scratch, including tortillas, tacos al pastor, guacamole and dessert. The class opens with a mezcal tasting and introduction to essential Mexican ingredients and techniques, then moves into hands-on cooking in the kitchen. At the end, you sit down together to share the meal you made, with beer, wine and mezcal included.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon in Tulum and want to spend it making something with your hands instead of watching a demonstration. The three-hour window fits between other plans, and you leave with both the skill and the memory of eating together at the end.
Private Sailboat in Bacalar Lagoon: Captain for a DayA private sailing tour of Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico's Riviera Maya, where you choose the route—past the Pirate Canal, Cenote Negro, Bird Island and stromatolites, or to quieter anchorages—with a certified bilingual captain, optional sailing instruction, swimming, and kayak rental. Three hours includes three beers per adult, fruit beverages and snacks; service animals are welcome.Is it for me?Book the 8:00 a.m. departure if you want the morning light and the quietest water, or choose the sunset cruise to sail into the evening. The private boat means no strangers on board and no fixed stops—you swim when you want, linger where the view holds you, and learn to sail if the idea appeals to you.
Riviera Maya: Xpu-Ha Private Yacht Tour & Open BarYou’ll board a private yacht in Riviera Maya with an open bar waiting, cruise toward Xpu-Ha’s blue water, try paddle boarding or just relax on deck. Lunch is real Mexican cooking — fire-grilled chicken, guacamole, salsa — served up by your friendly local crew. Expect laughter (maybe karaoke), salty air, and moments you’ll want to replay in your head later.
Cozumel Snorkeling: Glass Bottom Boat & 3 ReefsYou board a glass-bottom boat in downtown Cozumel, snorkel three shallow reefs with a bilingual guide, and get all gear plus drinks included. The whole trip is two hours, with enough time at each reef to actually see the coral and fish instead of just passing through. Bring cash for the marine fee and arrive early if you're taking the ferry from the mainland.Is it for me?Right for snorkelers who want to see three reefs without the time pressure of a longer tour, and for anyone nervous about deep water since the glass bottom lets you watch from above. The two-hour window is tight enough to stay comfortable in the sun but long enough to actually explore each reef.
Xoximilco Cancun Boat Party Trajinera Fiesta with TequilaA five-hour Mexican fiesta on a trajinera (traditional floating boat) at Xoximilco Cancun in the Riviera Maya, with hotel pickup, unlimited tequila and beer, live music from mariachi to marimba ensembles, traditional food tastings, and carnival games. The boat is wheelchair accessible and a live guide in English or Spanish stays with your group the whole evening.Is it for me?The five-hour evening means you can spend your afternoon at the beach and still make the fiesta—pickup from your hotel removes the transport puzzle, and the open bar plus food included means no surprises at the end of the night.
Chichen Itza & Coba Day Trip with Cenote Swim & PickupYou’ll start early with hotel pickup and beat the crowds at Coba’s quiet ruins, then explore Chichen Itza with a guide before wandering on your own. Cool off swimming in a cenote where sunlight cuts through stone, then share lunch over local flavors. End your day in Valladolid’s plaza—still thinking about all those moments long after you’re home.
Snorkeling in Riviera Maya: Catamaran & Two ReefsSnorkel two reefs in the Riviera Maya aboard a catamaran departing from Maroma Beach, with 45 minutes at each site to explore tropical fish and coral formations. Hotel pickup is included from centrally located Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya properties; the tour runs three hours total and is led in English and Spanish. Three departure times are available, and you choose the one that fits your schedule.Is it for me?Book the 9:30am departure if you want the morning light on the reef and the rest of your day free; the 1:30pm option suits a slower morning or a late arrival. The Deluxe option offers the same snorkeling and reefs but with a different schedule—check the departure times at checkout to find the one that matches your hotel's location and your day.
Cozumel: Punta Sur Jeep Tour, Snorkeling & Beach LunchYou’ll drive your own Jeep along Cozumel’s wild coast with a local guide beside you—snorkeling clear reefs, climbing Punta Sur lighthouse for sweeping island views, tasting chocolate and tequila at Sabores de Cozumel Park, then recharging over tacos on the beach before heading back salty-haired and sun-tired.
Punta Laguna Excursion & Cobá Ruins: Jungle, Pyramid & CanoeYou bike through Coba's pyramid complex with an archaeological guide, paddle a lagoon in the Punta Laguna jungle reserve, and have the option to zipline over the canopy. Lunch, snacks, water, hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The tour runs full-day with small groups of up to six people, so you move through the sites without crowds and have time to actually absorb what you're seeing.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main inland ruins and jungle experiences near Tulum in one day without arranging your own transport, timing the sites, or figuring out which attractions to prioritize—the fixed itinerary and small group size handle all of that, leaving you to move through each stop at a real pace.
Tulum: 3 Cenotes Snorkel & Underground Cave TourYou start before dawn, visit three cenotes in one morning, and snorkel in both open pools and underground caves without arranging transport or buying tickets separately. The fixed pickup time and small-group format mean you're moving while most tours are still loading their vans, and the private underground cenote is the part other day trips don't reach.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the cenote system beyond a single pool and don't want to arrange transport, buy tickets at each stop, or figure out timing yourself — the early start and small-group format are what make three cenotes fit into one morning.
Cancun Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer & Direct RouteYou're picked up at Cancun airport with a nameplate, driven directly to your hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle, and given water and snacks for the ride. The price is fixed before you land, the driver tracks your flight, and you skip the taxi queue entirely. Book it if you want to start your vacation without negotiating transport at the curb.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Cancun with luggage and want to reach your hotel without arranging a taxi, negotiating a price at the curb, or waiting in a shuttle queue — the fixed price and flight tracking mean the transfer adapts to you, not the other way around.
Puerto Morelos: Mesoamerican Reef Snorkeling & Skip-the-Line EntryYou get two full snorkels on a world-class reef with a certified guide, all equipment and wetsuits provided, and skip-the-line entry to the marine park—no lotions, no sunscreen hassle, no large groups. The two-hour window is tight enough to fit into a travel day but long enough to actually see the reef.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Cancun or the Riviera Maya without a rental car who want to snorkel a real barrier reef in a protected park. The two-hour format fits a half-day schedule, and the small group size means you're not competing for the guide's attention or space on the reef.
