Eco-Adventures on the Riviera Maya

Perfect for families, this huge wonderland of cenotes, mangroves and lagoons is a great value big day out. Included in the admission price of around $80 USD is snorkel equipment, life jackets, inner tubes, towels and unlimited food and drink (yes, even alcohol).

Spend hours snorkeling the magical mangrove-lined lagoons, exploring underground caves and waterways or strolling the jungle while keeping an eye out for the abundant wildlife, or opt for a more organized adventure by swimming with dolphins or manatees. (These activities involve an extra fee and need to be booked ahead.) As in all water parks on the Riviera Maya, be sure to wear only biodegradable sunblock to ensure the waterways remain pristine.

An unforgettable full-day adventure that takes visitors off the beaten track and deep into the Mayan underworld. Swim in underground rivers, caverns and caves, zip-line through dense jungle and enjoy a traditional Yucatecan lunch prepared by local Maya women. Read more about Alltournative Maya Jungle Discovery.

This adventure park, set within a rugged Mayan land reserve, provides an exciting family-friendly experience utilizing the vast network of underground rivers, caves and cenotes that lie beneath the surface of the Yucatan Peninsula. There’s a strong emphasis on preservation of the natural environment: no paved roads, no gimmicks, no commercialized sprawl. Visitors can customize their day with activities including jungle zip-lining, rappeling, “sky cycling” – a wheel-powered bicycle-like cable ride in the jungle canopy – cenote snorkeling or diving (a dive license is required) and the world’s first “rollercoaster zip-line,” which you can read all about here: Hidden World's Rollercoaster Zip-Line.

Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

A boutique tour company with a focus on sustainable development, Alltournative offers two top-notch excursions on the Riviera Maya. Small group sizes and highly trained guides with a real passion for the region’s flora, fauna and indigenous culture make for an intimate, up-close experience that really set this company apart. The Coba Maya Encounter involves a trek through the rainforest to the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan, Nohoch Muul, kayaking on a tranquil lagoon, rappeling into a cenote and zip-lining through the jungle, as well as visiting a traditional Maya village.

The endangered sea turtle is the subject of one of Mexico’s most encouraging conservation efforts. Visitors can interact with these amazing gentle creatures at several locations along the Riviera Maya. At Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm, turtle eggs are protected with wire enclosures and hatchlings housed in large pools for the first year of their lives before being released into the wild. The rocky lagoon of Yal-Ku in Akumal (which means Place of the Turtles) is a great place to spot turtles in their natural habitat, while the beaches along the Tulum Hotel Zone are ideal for witnessing the turtles laying their eggs in the sand. At Hotel La Nueva Vida de Ramiro, conservationists monitor the laying and have established protected areas for the eggs.

Unlike underground rivers at other adventure parks, the one at Rio Secreto doesn’t require all that much swimming. Instead, small guided groups are led through the elaborate underground system on foot, splashing through waist-deep cool, crystal-clear water and marveling at the incredibly ornate stalactites and stalagmites that fill the softly lit caves. In parts, the stalactite-studded roof is so low that participants have to make like crocodiles, faces half in and half out of the water.  It’s both spooky and exhilarating.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site near Tulum is remarkable for its biodiversity and unspoiled beauty. The 1.3 million acre reserve of tropical jungle, mangroves and islands is home to an array of species, including crocodiles, manatees, monkeys, jaguars and birds galore (thought to be around 350 species).  The reserve also includes many archeological sites and a barrier reef that attracts hundreds of species of fish, from shad to shark. A boat tour is the best way to get a feel for the diversity of plants, animals and aquatic life. Read about the Sian Ka'an Forest and Float tour.