Natural Parks
Xcaret is designated a “must-see” attraction in Mexico. The largest of the Riviera Maya eco-parks, Xcaret is located where the ancient Mayan port city Pole, a then-thriving trading and ceremonial center, once stood.
There are a plethora of water activities here such as floating down the underground river, snorkeling in natural ponds carved by nature out of rocks, taking a walk wearing diver´s helmets amongst schools of brightly colored fish and swimming in the coves that feed into the Caribbean. Xcaret also features a zoo and an outdoor aquarium, horseback riding, Mayan dancers, festive shows and an open-air cathedral that sits high upon a hill against the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea.
Xplor, where the jungle landscape and the underground rivers that course through a series of caves have been used to create a soft adventure nature park. The four main activities, all included with the price of admission, as is the Mexican and Mayan food served in the open-air restaurant, are rafting or floating along the cool, blue underground river, ziplining across the jungle canopy and driving amphibious vehicles through the rugged terrain.
Back in the 13th century, Xel-Ha was an important port city and some of its remaining ruins can be found on the grounds of this eco-park, which features land and water activities as well as a taste of Mayan history. Swim with dolphins or manatees, take a jungle train to a river float, snuba or snorkel in a lagoon to explore the caves and caverns created in the limestone underneath the waters, lie in a hammock basking in the sun or take a dip in the cenotes. You can also enjoy the brightly colored macaws and flamingos, and spend time at the beach, an important nesting area for two species in danger of extinction, loggerheads and green sea turtles.
The 330-acre Selvatica offers a myriad of soft adventures like their 12-station zip-line, Segway rides. ATV´s driving a Corona Buggy, snorkeling, horseback riding, and a high-rope course, as well as combination packages like the Zip and Snorkel, which includes flying atop the jungle canopy and then exploring the Great Mayan Reef underwater.
