Xcaret Park

The jewel of the crown of attractions that Riviera Maya has to offer is beyond any doubt Xcaret (pronounced ish-ka-ret) Eco-Park. This famous park is conveniently located just a couple kilometers south of Playa del Carmen. Here you will find a nearly endless list of activities for everyone in the family, in fact it is near-impossible to do it and see it all in one day. In here you will find cultural attractions, high-adrenaline adventures, fun in the water, incredible encounters with nature, and much, much more.

What to Do In Xcaret

Amongst its many fun and fascinating attractions there a few worthy of being highlighted. One of them is Xcaret at Night! Spectacular Show; a live performance show that will take you on a journey through Mexico, admiring its music, folkloric dances, and customs of this diverse country. The show is included with all passes into the park, so there is no excuse to miss it!
Another of the great attractions here is swimming with dolphins. Here you’ll have the opportunity not just of being in the water with these gracious animals, but depending on the package you chose you will also get to interact with them: rub their bellies, hear them sing, let them give you a kiss, admire their jumping skills, and if you dare, the footpush where the dolphins will push you helping you fly over the water like Superman. It is an unforgettable experience, book it now or you may miss it!

Xcaret EcoPark has many other activities included with admission:

• Three Underground Rivers
• Multiple beaches, coves and natural pools
• Kids World
• Coral Reef Aquarium
• Sea turtles, crocodiles, and manatees
• Deer, monkeys, cougars, a tapir, and jaguars and more local fauna
• Bee farm
• Aviary
• A stunning butterfly garden
• Mushroom Farms
• Bromelia and Orchid greenhouses
• Jungle trails
• Gum-making camp
• Mayan Ruins
• Museum of Popular Mexican Art
• Paradise River
• Mayan Village
• Chapel of Guadalupe
• Chapel of San Francisco de Asís
• El Rincón Mexicano
• The Main Plaza
• Scenic Tower Wine cellar
• An Hacienda
• Mexican Cemetery “Puente al Paraíso”
• Ball game
• Equine shows
• Papantla Flyers
• Xcaret at Night! Spectacular Show
• Guided tours of the park

Optional Activities (extra cost)

• Speedboat tour
• Parachute
• Adventure Kids (snorkeling tour for kids)
• Dinner at Xcaret at Night! Spectacular Show
• Wine tastings
• Temazcal
• Spa Xcaret
• Swimming with dolphins
• Swimming with nurse sharks
• Swimming with rays
• Snorkel tours
• Snuba
• Sea Trek
• Many souvenir shops
• 8 restaurants
• Cafeterias
• Bars

Recommendations:

Here at Cancun Adventure Tours we recommend that you take a tour for your visit to Xcaret. Why? Because it is the easiest, most comfortable way of seeing the park. If you’re excited about any of the optional activities we suggest you book them when you book your tickets; it is very likely that these activities sell out, especially swimming with dolphins, and we don’t want you to be disappointed when you come here. Also, the day before your visit, spend some time looking at Xcaret’s map and make a list of what you want to see: the better you plan, the more you’ll be able to accomplish.

Private tours could be a great idea if you need a most flexible way of visiting Xcaret. You’ll save time no having to pick up guests from other hotels, and you have total control over your arrival and departure times.
About the different types of admissions we say: find the one that suits your needs the best. The basic admission does not include any meal, and the buffet meals are at least $30 usd each, but there area cheaper and faster cafeterias and small-menu restaurants if you do not want the buffet. If you want your day to include a delicious buffet meal, and access to personal lockers to drop off your things, free snorkel gear rental, and some other perks, then Xcaret Plus is the way to go for you. You can take a look and read some of the Xcaret reviews from our visitors

If you’re considering swimming with dolphins, we have the Xcaret Dolphin Tour Plus pass, that includes everything that Xcaret Plus offers, plus swimming with dolphins for a great price. We also have a special pass: Xcaret & Chichén Itzá: this package includes two separate tours to two of the biggest attractions in Cancun and Riviera Maya.

If you’re here for many day and you want to fill as many of them as possible with exciting adventures and unique experiences, we have something for you: the make your own Xcaret package. Choose at least two of Xcaret Group’s 8 parks, plus our Xel-Ha & Tulum and Xel-Ha & Cobá tours and save. The more tours you book, the bigger the discount and the bigger the fun. This package gives you a 15 day window of time for your tours, and you can change dates within that timeframe for no additional cost.

Some other recommendations we bring for you:

Do not miss the Xcaret at Night! Spectacular show. It is the parks main attraction and it’s included with every pass.
If you want to do many optional activities and can’t decide on which, ditch diving, snuba, and snorkel. You’ll be able to find these offered everywhere else in the Riviera Maya and Cozumel.
Saturdays and Sundays is when there is less people in the park, even during holidays.
Xcaret is fun for the whole family, from the youngest to the oldest. If you have young children and you can’t decide which parks you want to visit, come to Xcaret, you won’t regret it.
 

How to Get to Xcaret

The best way of getting there is on a tour. Public tour are cheaper than private tours, but since you’ll have to pick up guests from other resorts, your car ride can be up to a couple hours longer. Private tours on the other hand give you absolute flexibility and most efficient time, but they can be pricier, especially for small groups.
If the idea of going with a tour is definitely not for you, fret not, there are other options; the best of them is driving yourself on a rental car. Finding Xcaret on the highway is really easy, and there is plenty of onsite parking, so you’ll have no problem getting here. You can also take a cab or a bus. The bus will drop you off at the stop in the highway, where you’ll have to wait for the Xcaret shuttles to get you; they come every 10 minutes or less. However, keep in mind that the last bus is at 7:00 pm, so if you’re coming by bus you may need to take a cab back.
Important: in an effort to protect the environment, Xcaret does not allow you to bring sunblock and insect repellent that are not biodegradable; they will be confiscated at the entrance. They sell biodegradable sunblock and insect repellent on site, or you can bring your own.

Related page: Must do activities at Xcaret