Day trips and adventures
Turtles in Akumal, cenotes, Tulum, a snorkel park and boat days. Times and prices are what the operators publish, and they change.
Xel-Há is my pick. The trips below it are well-reviewed favorites.
Isaac, owner of PH 315
The owner's picks
Xel-Há Park all-inclusive snorkel day
I love Xel-Há. That is me in the water with a dolphin.
A natural inlet and lagoon turned into a water park, with snorkeling, river floating, a lighthouse slide, zip lines and an all-inclusive food and drink plan. Plan a full day.
- Admission includes unlimited snorkeling in the inlet and floating down the river.
- A lighthouse about 130 feet tall has a slide, and the park also has zip lines.
- Food and drinks are part of the admission.
- The park is about 30 miles and 40 minutes from Playa, with free parking and an ADO return bus.
Isaac at Xel-Há
Also well reviewed
Not the owner's recommendations. Ratings are the figures we read on the date shown, and they change.
Akumal sea turtles and cenote
A calm bay between Playa del Carmen and Tulum where green sea turtles feed on sea grass close to shore. This private, guided half day pairs the turtle snorkel with a cenote swim and lunch.
- Green sea turtles come into Akumal Bay to feed, and the bay was declared a marine refuge in March 2016.
- The tour is private and guided, and it adds a cenote swim and lunch to the turtle snorkel.
- The price includes the Akumal Bay cooperative fee, the CONAP fee, snorkel gear, lunch and hotel transport.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 4.99 (138)as of Oct 2026
Isaac rappelling into a cenote near Akumal 
Tulum ruins and cenote
A walled Maya port city on a cliff above the Caribbean. The private tour adds a guide, a cenote swim with snorkel gear, and lunch.
- Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, built on cliffs about 40 feet high that face the sunrise.
- The private tour pre-buys the ruins and cenote tickets and includes snorkel gear and lunch.
- The itinerary lists about 60 minutes at the cenote and 40 minutes for lunch.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 5.0 (360)as of Oct 2026
Coba ruins and cenote
A large Maya city inland in the jungle, explored by bicycle or pedicab. The tour takes in the tall Nohoch Mul pyramid, then a cenote swim and lunch.
- Nohoch Mul is about 138 feet tall, and climbing it reopened in late 2025 with a new wooden staircase.
- The site spreads over a large area, so the tour includes a bicycle for each person.
- The tour lists a pedicab for every two people as included, but the booking page is unclear on whether it costs extra, so confirm when you book.
- The itinerary lists about 105 minutes at the ruins, 60 minutes at the cenote and 40 minutes for lunch.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 4.99 (105)as of Oct 2026
Chichen Itza and cenote
The Maya city with the El Castillo pyramid, in central Yucatan. This long private day trip adds a cenote swim and lunch in Valladolid.
- It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and is Mexico's second most visited archaeological site, dominated by the Temple of Kukulcan.
- The private tour covers the ruins entry, a cenote swim at Oxman, Xkeken or Samula, and lunch.
- The day also includes free time in Valladolid.
- It is the longest day trip on this list.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 5.0 (328)as of Oct 2026
Dos Ojos cenote snorkel tour
A private guided snorkel through the Dos Ojos cave and cenote system, with clear water and two linked sinkholes. Entry, gear and lunch are included.
- The system links two cenotes by an underwater passage about 1,400 feet long.
- It has a semi-open section with light effects and clear water.
- You visit with a private guide, and the tour is built around snorkeling.
- The private tour includes entry, snorkel gear with a flashlight, and lunch.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 5.0 (141)as of Oct 2026
Private cenote tour, you pick two
A private half day where you choose two cenotes on the day from a list of eight. Entry fees, snorkel gear and lunch are included.
- You pick two cenotes on the day from eight options.
- The list includes Jardin del Eden, Dos Ojos, Nicte Ha, Jaguar, Taak bi Ha, Yal Ku Lagoon and Casa Cenote.
- Eden Garden is one of the options and is close to Playa.
- The price includes entry fees, snorkel gear and lunch.
- Plan about 135 minutes in the water and 40 minutes for lunch.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 5.0 (235)as of Oct 2026
Rio Secreto underground river tour
A guided walk and swim through a lit cave system with an underground river and stalactites. It sits in a nature reserve south of Playa del Carmen.
- The tour mixes walking and swimming through an underground river.
- The cave system is lit and has stalactites.
- It is inside a nature reserve south of Playa del Carmen.
- A wetsuit, a helmet with a light and a life jacket are listed as included.
- The river portion of the tour lasts about 90 minutes.
Civitatis 9.2/10 (118)Trip.com 4.6 (211)as of Oct 2026
Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve day trip
A full day in a large UNESCO biosphere reserve south of Tulum, reached by minibus and boat. Expect lagoons, mangroves, reef snorkeling and wildlife.
- The reserve covers about 2,040 square miles and became a World Heritage Site in 1987.
- Wildlife includes jaguars, tapirs, manatees, crocodiles and many birds.
- The day mixes lagoons, mangroves and reef snorkeling.
- Reserve entry is included in the price of the tour.
- You reach the reserve by minibus and boat.
Civitatis 9.5/10 (171)as of Oct 2026
Puerto Morelos reef snorkeling by private boat
A private boat trip over the Mesoamerican reef in Puerto Morelos National Marine Park. A guide leads the snorkel, and snorkel gear is included, with lunch on some options. Puerto Morelos is north of Playa on Highway 307.
- The reef is a national marine park, protected since 1998.
- You may see angelfish and parrotfish, and sometimes eagle rays or nurse sharks.
- The trip includes a guide, and snorkel gear on a private boat, with lunch on some options.
- The marine park fee is included in the price.
Absolute Adventure Mexico 5.0 (32)Civitatis 10.0/10 (4)as of Oct 2026
Xcaret Park
A large eco-archaeological park with underground rivers, snorkeling, wildlife areas and an evening show. It is close to Playa del Carmen.
- The park has underground rivers, snorkeling and wildlife areas.
- It is open daily from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm.
- It is only about 4 miles and 15 minutes from Playa, so it works as a close day trip.
- Plus tickets add a buffet and snorkel gear, and the evening show is part of the day.
Civitatis 8.8/10 (529)GoVisitCancun 4.8 (129)as of Oct 2026
ATV, zipline and cenote adventure
A guided ATV ride through jungle trails, a swim in a cenote and a zipline circuit, with lunch. A half-day version at an eco park in the Riviera Maya jungle adds a tequila tasting.
- The half day covers an ATV ride, a three-zipline circuit with a bridge, a cenote swim, a tequila tasting and lunch.
- A longer circuit has seven ziplines, about 60 to 100 feet high.
- Insurance and the conservation fee are included on the half day.
Viator 4.8 (2,078)HelloTickets 4.8 (909)Civitatis 8.4/10 (150)as of Oct 2026
Cozumel ferry and reef snorkel
A ferry ride across the Cozumel Channel to an island known for diving and reefs. The day includes guided snorkeling stops, lunch and free time.
- Cozumel is considered one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world, with a national marine park on its reefs.
- The snorkel stops cover Palancar reef, Colombia reef and El Cielo.
- The day includes the ferry crossing, guided snorkeling, lunch and free time on the island.
- Hotel pickup in the Playa area is part of the day trip.
Civitatis 7.4/10 (64)Viator 4.6 (1,189)as of Oct 2026
Private sportfishing charter from Playa
A private deep-sea fishing boat for up to four anglers, leaving from the beach in Playa del Carmen. Gear, license, bait and fish cleaning are included.
- The boat is private and takes up to four anglers.
- Gear, license, bait and fish cleaning are included.
- Alondra III offers trips from 4 hours, with a fish and snorkel option.
- Alfonso Tours also departs from Playa and runs half day, three-quarter day and full day trips.
FishingBooker 4.9 (551)FishingBooker 4.9 (633)as of Oct 2026
Maroma catamaran with snorkeling
A shared catamaran sail from Maroma Beach, north of Playa, with two snorkel stops on the reef and time at a beach club.
- The cruise makes two snorkel stops on the Great Mayan Reef.
- Time at a beach club is part of the trip.
- Hotel pickup from Playa del Carmen is included at selected hotels.
- The boat leaves from Maroma Beach in the Riviera Maya.
Viator 4.8 (553)Cancun Trip Insider table 5.0 (493)as of Oct 2026
Stay a short walk away
Penthouse 315 at Aldea Thai sleeps 10, with a private heated rooftop pool and ocean views, a 1-minute walk (about 230 ft) from Mamitas Beach. The penthouse is also for sale.