20 Unforgettable Experiences in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

A cenote is a limestone sinkhole, created where a cave ceiling collapses and exposes groundwater underneath. In ancient Mayan times, cenotes were known to the Mayans as a “water well”, because the cenotes were the only source of drinking water.  They were believed to be sacred portals to the underworld by the ancient Mayans, who sank treasure and performed human sacrifices in them. The entire Yucatan Peninsula has over 6000 cenotes which are waiting to be explored.  You can dive into the cool, still water and snorkel.   Other cenotes, known as “Open Cenotes”, look more like a pond.  You can swim or simply enjoy peace and quiet at an open cenote.

My travel tip: there are so many tours to the cenotes, that most of the cenotes are full of visitors daily.  For complete peace and quiet in an open cenote, visit Cenote Azul or Cenote Cristalina, both located near Playa del Carmen.  Those are less-known, and usually not a stop on tours.  You can take a taxi to those cenotes.

Getting there: there are so many cenotes, that there is no standard way of getting there.  The best would be to book an excursion from your hotel or hostel.  Some excursions that take you to more cenotes in one day, and others that combine a visit to a cenote with an archaeological site or other tourist attraction.

Discover the secrets of a real underground river, and journey into a world of extraordinary beauty.  These rivers are born in the heart of the earth, and flow into the sea next to the mangrovers. The longest and most spectacular one is the Rio Secreto.  Located near Playa del Carmen, Rio Secreto is made up of a series of cenotes that are all connected by a spectacular underground river.

Getting there: You can get to Rio Secreto on a tour, bookable from your hotel or hostel.  Some tours combine Rio Secreto with another attraction, or you can spend an entire day at Rio Secreto. If you want to spend the entire day there, book at www.riosecreto.com

A majestic eco-archaeological park by the sea that highlights the natural and cultural treasures of Mexico, Xcaret means “little inlet”.  Travelers can swim in underground rivers, experience a butterfly pavilion and turtle farm, and also experience the local life of the Mayans in Pueblo Maya (translated as Mayan Town).  There are also music performances during the day, and every day there are different events which will keep you busy all day, and maybe make you want to come back the next day!  Around 5:00 p.m., have dinner while watching the horse show which combines horse riding and the colors of its folklore.  And feel the soul of Mexico at the Xcaret Mexico Espectacular show, which takes place daily at 7:00 pm.  Families will love the photogenic flamingos and parrots that live around the park and enjoy posing for photos.  Kids who love animals can even attract the friendly parrots to stand on their hands.  Families will also enjoy the most amazing water activities such as snorkeling, swimming with the dolphins, Snuba and Sea Trek.

An alternative way to experience the local culture is to head to the small residential town of Puerto Aventuras.  The town has food trucks serving tacos, as well as small restaurants serving local food.  This is a great way to experience how the locals eat and mingle in a small town where everyone knows each other.  The locals are more than welcoming if they see a tourist on those streets, because the #1 industry essential to Mexico’s economy is tourism.  And when you will see Tuk Tuks on the streets, you will feel like you’re in Thailand!

Another hidden sight is the local Mayan villages.  First, you will see how the locals make their tortillas and visit a local Mayan house.  Then, the locals will do a local Mayan cemetery, where you will feel like you are being baptized at church.  The real adventure starts when you enter the Temazcal, known as a “sweat lodge” where it will feel like 60 degrees Celsius!  You will be confined in a completely dark space for about 25 minutes, during which time you will listen to a Yucatec Mayan meditation session, hosted by local shamans.  It’s actually a superbly energizing and skin-softening experience.  In Mayan culture, this session is a spiritual practice in which traditional healing methods are used to promote well-being and healing.  At the end, you will swim in a cenote and enjoy an authentic Mayan meal.

The Mayan Empire was one of the richest ancient cultures in the world.  Riviera Maya is known for its breathtaking Mayan ruins and easy access to some of the island’s most famous archaeological sites, which were once home to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The most popular Mayan ruins you can visit on a day excursion are the ones at Tulum or Chichen Iza.

This is a perfect activity for families!  Swim, learn, play and plunge into a world of exciting adventure where dolphins lead the way.  You will learn about their gentle ways and skills and experience an amazing superman foot push. Some of the places will even have a second activity to swim with sea lions.

Head to Akumal Beach, about 30 km north of Tulum, and snorkel with wild sea turtles at this popular beach in the Mayan Riviera!  Don’t miss this activity because Akumal is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with turtles!  

Important: the best time to see the turtles is from December to April.  If you will be traveling from May to November, ask your hotel to call the office at Akumal Beach and ask if the tourists doing the tour have seen many of them.  It would be disappointing to do the tour and only see 1 or 2 turtles.

Getting there: Although not mandatory, this activity is best done on a tour with Blue Caribe Tours. If you do it by yourself, you may not be able to see them.  Alternatively, you can take the Colectivo bus from Playa del Carmen to Akumal, and sign up for an excursion at the office on the beach.

The name Xel-Ha means “where the water is born” in Mayan.  Famous for its 350 species of plants, 99 marine species and more than 100 species of birds, Xel-Ha is a true natural paradise.  Enjoy snorkeling in a series of inlets, lagoons and cenotes, surrounded by myriad brightly colored fish.  Other activities include wall-climbing, cliff jumping, and Zip-Bike (riding a bike on a rope).  In 2007, Xel-Ha was chosen as one of Mexico’s 13 Natural Wonders. 

Xplor is the newest and coolest park, with unique adventures.  Fly through the trees on an amazing circuit of 11 zip lines.  Set sail on rafts along an underground river.  Jump into your amphibious golf cart and journey three miles through Caribbean jungles and caverns.  And finally, swim through an amazing underground cave system and marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites.  This is a day filled with adventure!

Just 15 kilometers south of Tulum, one will find the lesser-known UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sian Ka’An.  Here stands the Archaeological Zone of Muyil, which was one of the earliest ancient Mayan sites as well as the longest inhabited place in the Yucatan Peninsula.  In this area, the majority of the population speaks the local Mayan language rather than Spanish.  The people who built Muyil were part of the same family as those from Chichen Iza, and they built it as a trading center.  A 20-minute walk through the jungle then takes you to the Muyil Lagoon.  A boat ride through the Lagoon will take you through the man-made canals which the Mayans built so they could get to the open seas.

Check my article on how I experienced the Sian Ka’An Biosphere Reserve with a private guide!

Maroma Beach is listed as one of the 7 most beautiful beaches in the world.  If you’re taking a day to relax on the beach, Maroma Beach will take your breath away!  And if you’re the adventurous traveler, you will find jet ski adventures, snorkeling, a speedboat tour where you are the one driving it, horseback riding, ATV and more!  And if you are the luxury traveler, the luxurious El Dorado Maroma Beach Resort has overwater bungalows, making you feel like you are in Bora Bora!

If you enjoy visiting hidden sights and experiencing the culture, you can find it all in Vallandolid.  Located about 100 km from Tulum, this hidden gem includes the 16^th-century Convent of San Bernardino of Siena, and the baroque-style San Gervasio Cathedral.  If you enjoy cenotes, Cenote Zaci can be found here.  Travelers can experience the Mayan history and culture in a different way, which you won’t find in the tourist-popular places.  From the colorful streets to the Mayan culture and traditional food, it’s worth spending at least one night in Vallandolid!

Jungle adventures await you on the Mayan Riviera! Be part of nature as you experience one of the most exciting adventures as you fly through the jungle canopy in the different flight modes! Don’t forget your GoPro!

Go snorkeling in Akumal

Snorkeling can be done almost anywhere in the Mayan Riviera.  But there’s no nicer place to do it than the Yal Ku Lagoon of Akumal.  It is the second biggest reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!  The area is an inlet coming from the ocean, where the water from the majority of the cenotes flows.  The calm and turquoise waters are home to sea turtles, manta rays and lots of fish.  There are even mangroves, where you must ensure to look under the water at how the roots are going down.  Some fish hide there.  When you’re in shallow place, once in a while, you will feel a bit of cold water.  The spot where you feel the cold is the spot where the water flows in from the cenotes! 

Getting there: lots of tour companies offer tours here and include the cost of snorkeling.  If you want to spend the entire day snorkeling with no time limits, you can take the Colectivo from Playa del Carmen, then pay the fee for snorkeling.

A quick, 20-minute boat ride from Cancun, this discreet island packs loads of adventure.  Isla Mujeres is home to an entire city with colorfully painted buildings, warm hospitality and a charming, serene ambiance.  Just off short is the Manchones Reef, a dream destination for scuba divers and snorkelers.  And, at Punta Sur Eco Beach Park, there are beaches, forests, a Mayan Temple and a sanctuary for sea turtles.  Follow the seaside trail to Garrafon National Park to find another well-known spot.  For those looking to stay at a beachfront resort, a growing number of resorts are opening on this island.