Xcaret Park Day Trips in Riviera Maya from Cancun

Xcaret is the name given to the largest water theme park in the Riviera Maya.

With over 81 hectares of land and more than 50 attractions available, visitors come to Xcaret to enjoy activities such as swimming among tropical fish, exploring underground rivers and ancient caves, learning about the Mayans, and enjoying the wild vegetation of the tropics.

The best part is that Xcaret Park is located 75 kilometres from the city, making it one of the best activities to do in Cancun during your holiday. All you need to do is plan your itinerary carefully and choose the option that best suits your budget and schedule.

Ranked by tourists and locals as one of the best tours and excursions from Cancun, the excursion to the Xcaret theme park is offered in two main versions: the basic option and the plus option.

Numerous local companies offer this experience to travellers. If you are going to Cancun with children for a family holiday, you simply should not miss it.

Basic excursion

The company organising the experience offers travellers return transport from Cancún to the park. The price includes private transport for a small group and basic admission to Xcaret to enjoy more than 40 attractions in the park and the shows.

Among the activities you can enjoy are the use of hammocks and loungers in the rest area, the use of Xcaret's swimming pools and natural beaches, the use of snorkelling equipment, as Xcaret is considered one of the best snorkelling spots in Cancún, and much more.

• Price: The basic experience at Xcaret Park is available from £155 per traveller.
• Duration of the excursion: Varies slightly depending on the itinerary but can range from 6 to 12 hours.

Excursion with Plus access

XCaret Plus access offers an unlimited pass that allows you to enjoy the park with all the benefits. Included is a buffet-style meal at the restaurant of your choice and admission to exclusive facilities with lockers, changing rooms, and private bathrooms.

This is an option that I highly recommend to fellow travellers whose stay is short, such as 3 days in Cancun, as this type of pass will allow you to enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Xcaret Mexico Spectacular show, considered one of the most complete shows in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, allowing visitors to see some of the most representative Mexican traditions and most traditional customs.

• Price: Available from £210 per traveller; children aged 5 to 11 pay a special reduced rate.
• Duration of the excursion: The duration of the experience is regulated by the organising company, but it is generally recommended to allow around 12 hours for this adventure.

If you are looking for a way to enjoy multiple activities and save not only planning time but also money, check out the combined excursions offered by many tour operators in the city.

Combined excursion: Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor and Chichén Itzá

This is a highly recommended alternative for travellers whose itinerary includes, for example, 7 days in Cancún, as this multi-day pass allows you to book some of the most fun and interesting activities to do in this destination during your holiday.

This special pass includes the following attractions.

• Discover Xcaret Park: This water park is considered one of the best attractions on the Yucatan Peninsula. Its location combines the most interesting natural environments that this area of Mexico has to offer, resulting in truly breathtaking landscapes.
• Discover Xel-Há Park...: Xel-Há Park belongs to the Xcaret family. It is a water theme park where you can enjoy numerous attractions, including trails through cenotes, snorkelling experiences, slides, zip lines and much more. It is located in Quintana Roo in the state of Tulum.
• Discover Xplor Park...: Xplor Theme Park is a theme park located in a stunning natural setting where you can enjoy activities such as jungle safari rides, zip lines and underground cave exploration. It is located in the Riviera Maya, south of Playa del Carmen.
• Discover the Ruins of Chichén Itzá...: Finally, this combined excursion allows you to discover the legendary Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, once the most populated city on the Yucatan Peninsula, where you can admire the remains of the Mayan and Toltec cultures.

-Price: The adult pass for the combined excursion to these attractions is usually available from £240 per traveller. If you add up the individual price of each experience, the savings are significant.
-Duration of the excursion: Completing all the visits to the parks and Chichén Itzá usually requires at least 3 days.

Combined excursion: Xcaret, Chichén Itzá and Isla Mujeres

This alternative is highly recommended for those travelling to Cancún in December and January to enjoy the winter holidays. During these months, the weather is spectacular and you can enjoy long days outdoors without feeling overwhelmed by the heat.

With this combined package, you can enjoy the following activities in Cancún.

• Discover Xcaret Park: Without a doubt the most fun and interesting water park in Cancun and the surrounding area. On a visit to Xcaret, you can enjoy traditional water activities such as slides, snorkelling and fun on the beach, all enhanced by the most incredible landscapes you can imagine.
• Discover Chichén Itzá...: Visiting Chichén Itzá from Cancún is an activity that every traveller should do during their holiday in the city. In this ancient Mayan city, you will find everything from the impressive ancient architecture of the first American inhabitants to vestiges of Mexican culture and tradition.
• Discover Isla Mujeres: Visit Isla Mujeres from Cancún to discover a beautiful, small and picturesque tropical island located just 20 km from the coast. This adventure is considered one of the best boat trips in Cancún, as tour operators offer travellers a full day of fun in the sun, including the boat trip, snorkelling excursions and much more.

-Price: The price for the entire experience is usually around £180 per traveller. This is a great discount when you compare how much you would pay for each activity individually.
-Duration of the excursion: You will need approximately 3 days to complete the experience, dedicating 1 day of the itinerary to each of the adventures.

XCaret Park is the largest theme park in the area. With around 50 attractions available and an impressive 80-hectare site, it can be difficult to decide which are the best attractions.

However, if you are only visiting XCaret for one day during your holiday in Cancun, it is essential to prioritise the most impressive attractions. Below is a list of some of the favourites of hundreds of travellers.

Spectacular Mexico.

Approximately 300 actors, singers and dancers take to the stage to present an impressive show described as one of the best artistic representations of Mexican culture in this part of the country.

Spectacular Mexico is a beautiful journey through Mexican history and culture that will make you love this country and its warm people even more.

Discover the aviary

The aviary was opened to the public in 2015 and quickly became one of the favourite attractions for locals and foreigners alike. It has habitats created with an amazing level of detail and dedication, and is home to some 1,500 different birds. Impressive!

Marvel at the underground rivers.

The blue waters of the underground rivers in this area of Yucatán are worth the price of admission to XCaret alone. You'll need to wear a life jacket for the tour, and you'll have the opportunity to swim among the mangroves.

Don't miss the reef aquarium.

If you have the opportunity to go diving in Cancún, you can see some of the impressive reefs of the Mexican Caribbean.

However, if you don't dive or are visiting the city with children, XCaret offers a majestic representation of the reef, composed of more than 5,000 marine organisms and 500 coral structures. Your eyes and senses will be completely amazed.

Visit the Mexican cemetery and the Chapel of Guadalupe.

One of the most beautiful and intriguing aspects of Mexican culture is its relationship with death and its deep-rooted religious devotion.

This important aspect can be enjoyed and admired by visiting the section of the park dedicated to the Chapel of Guadalupe and a beautiful cemetery where you will find beautifully decorated tombs designed around the values and beliefs of the Mexican people.

For all those travellers looking to get the most out of their trip to XCaret, I recommend taking the following tips into account.

About food

Food inside the park is expensive, and it is usually cheaper to buy a ticket that includes lunch than to buy it on your own inside the park.

Arrive as early as possible

One day is usually not enough time to see the entire park, but it is enough to enjoy the best attractions. However, it is important to arrive early in order to make the most of every second available.

Get to know the park before you visit

I recommend planning your day of adventure as much as possible and making a list of the attractions you want to see. It's also very useful to familiarise yourself with the XCaret map a few days before your visit to determine where to go and plan your route better.

XCaret Mexico Park is open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The best way to enjoy everything Xcaret has to offer is to arrive at the park as early as possible.

In addition to being open on weekends, the park is usually open on national holidays. For example, if you travel to Cancun for Christmas holidays, you can enjoy the facilities at XCaret.

As a general rule, children aged 5 to 11 get discounted prices for admission to the park when accompanied by an adult. Children under 4 enjoy free admission, but must be accompanied by an adult.