Activities in Yucatán Peninsula
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FEATURED
Sian Ka'an Multisports Eco Adventure
11 hours (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
Take a small group multisports adventure through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of Mexico's largest parks. Accompanied by an expert guide, you'll go kaya…Not LP reviewed
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Xcaret
Xcaret is 10km south of Playa del Carmen. It has Disney-esque activities, high price tags and questionable environmental records that include allegedly importing the beach and using explosives to clear debris when creating Xcaret.
reviewed
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Chichen Itza Day Trip from Cancun
12 hours (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
Spectacular Chichen Itza holds both mystery and magic. Explore the most important archaeological zone and ancient capital of the Mayan Empire on a full day guid…
Not LP reviewed
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Diego Núñez Martínez
A licensed guide with formal training as naturalist, he speaks English, Spanish and Italian and is up to date on the area's fauna and flora, including the staggering number of bird species. Diego offers catch-and-release fly-fishing trips for tarpon and snook, and can help with lodgings reservations.
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Restaurante-Bar Isla Contoy
The best tours are given by the licensed guides operating from Restaurante-Bar Isla Contoy at the waterfront. They offer extensive day tours as well as night excursions. Crocodiles are a common nocturnal sight, and from May through September sea turtles are easily spotted.
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Walking Tours
The city tourist office offers free daily guided Walking Tours of the historic center (sometimes in English), focusing on Plaza Grande. Tours depart at 09:30 from in front of the Palacio Municipal.
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Ismael Navarro
A licensed guide and naturalist worth seeking out for a tour of the local flora and fauna. Besides the flamingo expeditions, Ismael takes four-hour shorebird tours along the mudflats in winter.
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Boca del Puma
For chilling cenote action, check out the ‘ecopark’ Boca del Puma, 16km west of Puerto Morelos, near the village of Vallarta.
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Siete Bocas
For chilling cenote action, check out the Siete Bocas, 13km west of Puerto Morelos.
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Flamingo Tours
The brilliant orange-red flamingos can turn the horizon fiery when they take wing. Depending on your luck, you'll see either hundreds or thousands of them. The best months for viewing them are June to August. The four primary haunts, in increasing distance from town, are Punta Garza, Yoluk, Necopal and Nahochín (all flamingo feeding spots named for nearby mangrove patches).
To see the flamingos, you'll need to rent a boat and driver. You'll see more bird life if you head out at sunrise or around 16:00. Prices vary by boat, group size (maximum six) and destination. Plan on packing something to eat the night before, as most restaurants open long after you'll be on the wate…
reviewed
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Arrecife Palancar
The reefs are where it's at for prime scuba diving off this island. One of the best is the kilometres-long Arrecife Palancar (Palancar Reef), where stunning coral formations and a 'horseshoe' of coral heads offer some of the world's finest down-under - all at an amazing 70m (230ft) visibility. Underwater photographers should come ready to shoot like mad. The water around the reef is about 24m (80ft) deep, providing pros opportunities for fantastic deep-water diving.
The north end of the reef, called Palancar Gardens, is shallower but just as gorgeous. There are caverns and plenty of brightly coloured sea creatures.
The Palancar Reef areas are popular, so their much-lauded…
reviewed
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Rancho Punta Venado
This delightful spot for horseback riding is about 5km south of Xcaret and 2km further east of the highway. The ranch sits on some 8 sq km of land, much of it virgin jungle, and has a cenote and a 3km-long stretch of isolated beach. In addition to guided horse tours (M$780 per person, maximum group size 20 people) you can also make arrangements to snorkel, kayak or (if you must) ATV. In the course of a ride you’re likely to see monkeys, deer, coatis and various other mammals, as well as crocodiles, snakes and lots of birds, including the occasional toucan. The horses are well cared for and the owners are very hospitable.
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Tulum and Xel-Ha All Inclusive Day Trip from Cancun
9 hours (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
Discover the mysterious beauty of Tulum and the stunning, natural Xel-Ha aquarium. This relaxing, all inclusive excursion from Cancun or Playa del Carmen will g…
Not LP reviewed
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4-in-1 Tulum Adventure: Zipline, Cavern Rappel, Cave Snorkel and Skycycle
5 hours (Departs Cancun or Riviera Maya, Mexico)
by Viator
The 4-in-1 Tulum Adventure offers you the ultimate Yucatan experience. You'll zipline, repel into a cenote, snorkel, ride a Skycycle and more on this adventure …Not LP reviewed
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Xcaret Day Trip from Cancun
9 - 14 hours (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
Visit an incredible eco-archaeological park, where you can spend a day in paradise relaxing and enjoying nature, snorkeling, activities, shows and more! For mor…
Not LP reviewed
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XTC Dive Center
XTC Dive Center, about 300m north of town on the coast road, offers dive and snorkel trips (from M$390) to the wondrous barrier reef just offshore, and to Banco Chinchorro (three-tank dive M$2470). It also rents diving equipment and offers PADI open-water certificates for M$5655 and NAUI instruction, as well as fishing and birding tours. To visit Chinchorro, you can get your M$50 biosphere reserve wristband here or at the park office in town.
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Cenote Dos Ojos
About 4km south of Xcacel-Xcacelito – and 1km south of Xel-Há – is the turnoff for Cenote Dos Ojos, which provides access to the enormous Dos Ojos cave system. You can take guided snorkel (M$300) and dive tours (M$780 to M$1170) of some amazing underwater caverns, floating past illuminated stalactites and stalagmites in an eerie wonderland. With an aggregate length of nearly 57km, it’s the third-largest underwater cave system in the world.
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Chichen Itza: Light and Sound
13 hours (Departs Cancun or Puerto Morelos, Mexico)
by Viator
Visit the most important archaeological zone of the Mayan world, the ancient capital of the Mayan Empire on a full day guided tour. Witness the remnants of the …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$78.99 -
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Tranvía de la Ciudad
Three different tours by motorized tranvía depart from Calle 10 beside the Plaza Principal daily; all last about 45 minutes. On the same schedule, the trolley called ‘El Guapo’ goes to the Fuerte de San Miguel or its twin on the north side of town, the Fuerte de San José. (Note that the fort tours do not leave time to visit the museums within them.) Buy tram tickets and check schedules at the booth just inside the plaza from the trolley stop.
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Chichen Itza from Riviera Maya
10 hours (Departs Riviera Maya, Mexico)
by Viator
Unlock the mysteries of the ancient Mayan culture on this fascinating full day sightseeing tour from Riviera Maya. Chichen Itza is a famous archaeological site …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$108.99 -
Manglares de Dzinitún
About 1km inland from the beach on Calle 11, there are signs to this new ‘ecotour’ operation where you can kayak, canoe or mountain bike all in one day. A canoe tour runs M$200 per person for two hours, and takes you through a mangrove tunnel and good birding spots, made all the better by the lack of engine noise. You can camp here for M$800 a night (everything included), and there are also very basic cabins for an exorbitant M$600.
reviewed
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Small-Group Day Tour of Chichen Itza from Cancun
8 hours (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
Explore mysterious Chichen Itza, one of the most important archaeological zones and ancient capitals of the Mayan Empire, on an exclusive small-group guided day…Not LP reviewed
from USD$99.99 -
Jungle Speed Boat Tour from Cancun
2 hours 30 minutes (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
On a wave runner or speedboat for two, set off from Cancun on a breathtaking tour across the Nichupte lagoon. Ride through the dense mangroves, the Nizuk River …Not LP reviewed
from USD$65.99 -
Captain Hook Cruise in Cancun
by Viator
Become a pirate of the Caribbean on this fun-filled voyage where you'll go back in time and experience a pirate's attack while sailing through the beautiful wat…
Not LP reviewed
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Sian Ka'an Multisports Eco Adventure
11 hours (Departs Cancun, Mexico)
by Viator
Take a small group multisports adventure through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of Mexico's largest parks. Accompanied by an expert guide, you'll go kaya…Not LP reviewed
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Tulum and Xel-Ha from Riviera Maya
12 hours (Departs Riviera Maya, Mexico)
by Viator
Venture to the mysterious ruins of Tulum on a full day trip from Riviera Maya and enjoy the view as you explore this abandoned walled city towering above the de…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$128.99
