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Cancún Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Cancún Nature & adventure

Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour

1. Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour

Travel back in time as you explore the Mayan  archeological ruins of Chichén Itzá on a guided tour. Connect with nature as you swim in the azure waters of the cenote of Saamal. Eat a mouth-watering buffet lunch and take a guided walking tour of Valladolid. Benefit from pick-up at your hotel, or a nearby meeting point, and then journey to one of the most important monuments on the Yucatán Peninsula.   Upon arrival at Chichén Itzá, look at the step pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo), known for the play of light from the equinox that casts shadows on each step to create an image of a serpent descending.   Go to the ancient cenote of Saamal and experience one of the sinkholes that form part of a network of underground rivers sacred to the Maya people. Enjoy a delicious buffet meal and take a stroll around the colonial city of Valladolid to complete your experience.

Cancún/Riviera Maya: Chichén Itzá, Cenote, Valladolid & Meal

2. Cancún/Riviera Maya: Chichén Itzá, Cenote, Valladolid & Meal

Dive into Mayan culture on a guided day trip with optional hotel transfers from Cancún or Riviera Maya to Chichén Itzá, named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World for being one of the world's best-preserved ancient cities. Enjoy a Mexican buffet and tequila tasting, and stop at Valladolid and a cenote. Your first stop will be at a Mayan community restaurant for breakfast with coffee and bread. Take this time to wake up and then go to stock up on souvenirs. Then, at Chichén Itzá, follow the guide while learning all about the most important buildings. From the awe-inspiring Pyramid of Kukulcan to the ruins that once housed tens of thousands of Mayans, the Pyramid of El Castillo or El Caracol, this visit is filled with rarely heard stories, incredible details, and stunning photo opportunities. Discover why the huge city played such an important role from the Late Classic period (600 AD) into the early part of the Post Classic period (1200 AD), and why it remained a huge center of pilgrimage. At this point, the fun is just getting started as no visit to the area would be complete without a stop by a cenote, a refreshing, enchanting underground sinkhole, sacred to the Mayan people. Then, enjoy a Mexican buffet lunch and a tequila-tasting experience. Before returning to your starting point, stop by the charming town of Valladolid, famed for the ornate, 16th-century Convent of San Bernardino of Siena and the baroque San Gervasio Cathedral. Enjoy a quick panoramic visit to this magical place.

Playa del Carmen: Chichen Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid Tour

3. Playa del Carmen: Chichen Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid Tour

Discover the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá on a guided tour from Playa del Carmen. Immerse yourself in the jungle at an eco-park, with some time for swimming in a cenote and a hearty buffet lunch. Start with pickup from Playa del Carmen and first travel to the jungle eco-park. Marvel at the sacred cenote as you refresh yourself with a purifying swim in crystalline waters. Dig into a delicious buffet lunch at the restaurant at the eco-park, and be ready for a flavor sensation. Try some of the famed Mexican cuisine with regional dishes from Yucatán. After your buffet, head to the world-famous Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá. Take a guided tour of the ceremonial site and listen to fascinating tales of the ancient Maya civilization. Learn more with your expert guides and hear entertaining stories of life at Chichen Itzá. Discover a culture that was way ahead of its time. Then, enjoy some free time to explore by yourself and walk in the footsteps of the Mayan people. Your final stop is in the colonial center of Valladolid for a quick visit to this charming “Magic Town” of Mexico. The imposing church and architecture of the town surrounding the “zocalo'' or town square are perfect photo ops and a chance to relax and enjoy the laid-back vibes of Yucatán, before heading back to Playa del Carmen.

Cancun & Riviera Maya: ATV, Zipline, & Cenote Combo Tour

4. Cancun & Riviera Maya: ATV, Zipline, & Cenote Combo Tour

Embark on an exciting adventure deep in the Mayan jungle with this combo tour with pickup from Cancun or Riviera Maya. Your adventurous circuit includes 5 ziplines and 3 interactive bridges, an exhilarating ATV ride through the jungle, and free time for your own sinkhole exploration and ziplining. Get picked up from your hotel in Cancun or Riviera Maya and taken to the “Ruta de los Cenotes." Upon arriving at the base in the heart of the jungle, your tour guides will give you a safety briefing and ATV/zipline instructions. Get your adrenaline pumping while zipping through the trees. Challenge your balance on the zipline circuit of 5 ziplines and 3 interactive bridges. Back on the ground, hop on your ATV, a Honda cc220, for 50 minutes while your guide leads deep into the jungle. Take in the lush fauna of the region along the way. The "Ruta de los Cenotes" is full of cenotes, open sinkholes found only in the Yucatan peninsula. Each one is unique. After zipping and ATV-ing, cool off in the waters of a 100% natural Mayan cenote. Zip or cliff jump, or just take the stairs down into these refreshing natural wonders. After the activities, dive into some authentic Yucatan-style pork tacos. While you enjoy lunch, take the opportunity to view your pictures taken on your half-day adventure. Then board your minivan to finish your outing with dropoff back at your hotel.

From Cancún: Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas Day Trip & Lunch

5. From Cancún: Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas Day Trip & Lunch

Rio Lagartos is a small fishing village in a Nature Reserve; one of the natural treasures of the Yucatan Peninsula. Here we can enjoy a boat tour through its water canals surrounded by mangroves, where you can observe a variety of species of birds such as pink flamingos, herons, eagles, seagulls, pelicans, and cormorants. During the tour, we pass under the bridge of Las Coloradas to get to the salt deposits where we see different bodies of water involved in this process, some of which an eye-catching pink. Following, we will rejoice in the Mayan Bath, covering the body in nutrient-rich clay. Next, we’ll be heading to an unspoiled beach to remove the clay in the crystal water, where we will enjoy ourselves with the tasty local fish-and-shellfish-based food.

Cancun/Playa del Carmen: Tickets to Rio Secreto and Lunch

6. Cancun/Playa del Carmen: Tickets to Rio Secreto and Lunch

Immerse yourself in an ancient world of stalactites and stalagmites with a visit to Rio Secret in Playa del Carmen. Roam the labyrinths of dramatic rock formations and tranquil waters in this hidden underground network of rivers and caves. Upon arriving at Rio Secreto, meet your guide and receive a wetsuit, wet shoes, a lamp, and a helmet to get ready for the adventure. Then enter the caves, where you have 1968 feet (600 meters) free to walk, swim, and enjoy the enchanting beauty of your surroundings.  After approximately 1.5 hours, you will be taken back to ground level and treated to a light lunch of delicious local food. Choose the green salsa if your taste buds like it hot. This is a chance for you to relax in the serene jungle habitat and reflect upon your experience in the caves. Next, you may wash and change before heading back to your hotel.

Cancun: Jungle Tour Adventure with Speedboat and Snorkeling

7. Cancun: Jungle Tour Adventure with Speedboat and Snorkeling

Explore the colorful marine life and clear blue waters of the Cancun jungle on this guided water adventure. Get your adrenaline pumping on a speedboat ride around Nichupte Lagoon, and slow the pace down with peaceful snorkeling over the underwater statues at the Punta Nizuc coral reef. Get fitted with a lifejacket and snorkeling equipment at the marina before learning how to operate the speedboat safely. Board your two-seater speedboat to explore the Nichupté Lagoon, which is rich in mangrove vegetation. Navigate through the mangrove jungle as your guide points out the most interesting fauna and flora to ensure that you discover all this unique area has to offer. After around 35 minutes, arrive at the Mayan Coral Reef at Punta Nizuc. See some of the Musa statues that form an underwater museum, where you will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel. After 30 minutes, return your speedboat to the marina.

Cancun: Paradise Snorkel at Reef and Underwater Museum

8. Cancun: Paradise Snorkel at Reef and Underwater Museum

Board a motorboat and enjoy a ride out to Punta Nizuc reef where a floating platform is waiting for you. From here, plunge into the crystal-clear waters and discover a reef full of corals to admire the stunning underwater world. The shallow waters provide a calm sheltered snorkel site so beginners can learn the basics of snorkeling. Enjoy hopping in and out of the water at your own pace. The platform makes it easy for kids and adults to access the water. Refresh yourself with a cold drink or beer available on the platform before diving back in to explore the MUSA, Cancun Underwater Art Museum. If the weather allows it, you can see 16 statues under the water including the ‘The Garden of Hope’, ‘Timebomb’, and ‘The Last Supper'.

Cancun/Riviera Maya: Tulum Ruins, Sea Turtle Swim & Cenotes

9. Cancun/Riviera Maya: Tulum Ruins, Sea Turtle Swim & Cenotes

After pickup from your hotel in Cancun or Riviera Maya, visit the Ruins of Tulum. Embark on a 45-minute tour with a professional archeologist guide and learn about Mayan history. Explore the site at your own pace.  Next, board your coach and travel to the Xtun Cenote. The drive includes off-roading since the cenote is located in the jungle. Once arriving, enjoy a Mexican buffet-style lunch including Cochinita Pibil ´the pulled pork of Mexico,´ chicken, rice, beans, tortillas, and tortilla chips. Vegetarian options are available upon advance notice. Visit two types of cenotes, stage 1 and stage 2. First, wander through the dry stage 2 cenote and admire the beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. Following a swim in the wet stage 1 cenote, snorkel, and explore the colorful sea life. After your cenote adventure, enjoy a Mexican-style coffee called Café Olla. Next, head to Akumal Bay, a perfect place for swimming with sea turtles that feed on the seagrass in the bay near you. Put on your provided snorkeling gear — or your own, if you prefer — and enjoy a snorkeling tour of these amazing creatures. Your instructor will guide you through each step of the process to ensure a unique and fun-filled swim experience. A professional photographer will accompany you throughout the day and capture your beautiful moments. Look over the photos at the end and purchase your USB with the guide. Finally, return to the van for transportation back to your hotel.

Cancun: Scuba Diving for Beginners, 2 Dives

10. Cancun: Scuba Diving for Beginners, 2 Dives

Take a scuba dive lesson for one day and have the opportunity to dive in popular spots in the crystal waters of Cancun without need for a scuba certification. Learn the basic of scuba diving in a pool, then explore the underwater world with two tank dives in the ocean. After filling out a short medical form, you will take theory lessons and pool practice to learn the basics of scuba diving, then you will do two tank ocean dives. The first dive tales place at MUSA Underwater Museum and the second dive at Manchones reef.

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Frequently asked questions about Cancún

What are the best day trips and excursions from Cancún?

The best day trips and excursions from Cancún are:

Tulum

Other Sightseeing Options in Cancún

Want to discover all there is to do in Cancún? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Cancún

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 1,373 reviews

A great day out! We initially just booked the catamaran & dolphin experience but glad we changed to this one! The catamaran is big & you can sit in the sun whilst on it. Snorkelling equipment is included in the price (only a short swim in the ocean, not a huge amount to see but still an experience). Drinks were also included on the boat - Both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. We then went to Isla Mujeres where you get 2 hours to explore. You can rent a buggy or get a taxi tour to drive round the island & take photos at tourist spots (both options are around $50) we jumped in with another couple so it only cost us $25 to do. They then take you straight to Dolphin Discovery … such an AMAZING experience!! The buffet food here was delicious, couldn’t fault it. Having done the Royal Swim and Swim Adventure in the past, I’d happily recommend the middle package (Adventure) over the Royal Swim, but definitely pay for the photos! We finally headed back to Cancun whilst watching the sunset.

This trip definitely needs to be on your list of things to do! We were picked up & dropped off at our hotel & were contacted prior to the trip to advise where pick up would be from. Xcaret itself is an amazing place to go to with so many activities! We opted for the standard package which in my opinion for 2 of us was the best option - the only difference in the 2 packages was that we didn’t get a free locker (but could rent one for cheap) & didn’t have the buffet included (but the buffet is around $40 per person) we payed for 2 meals for lunch and dinner and spent less than $80. The evening show doesn’t start till 8pm which makes it a very long day but well worth staying and watching if you can last that long! Extra cost to factor in: 1) They have lots of activities you can pay extra for - we did the undersea trek 2) Photos: you can buy the photo package and scan your wristband at all photo stations where it collates your photos, worth the money if you take lots of photos!

A great experience. The drive to Ek Balam is about 2 hrs but our guide Jesus told us about the mayan histories how to pronounce the words and was very knowledgeable so the drive didn't feel like 2hrs. Ek Balam is unbelievable. With the restoration that's been happening you can really see the architecture in its full beauty it is a huge area with little shade and being in the jungle it's very humid even early in the day. The cenote is about half hour away buffet lunch and drinks was very good and then Jesus took us through the mayan village and you can try mayan chocolate and chewing gum. The drive to Valladolid is again about half hour, you spend about 45mins there which is enough time to see everything locally. I really would recommend this experience it is a long day alot of walking but being able to get up close and personal, climb the temple and with Jesus' knowledge it really is a must do

I was solo and mr apolina was pretty cool chill tour was an experience i recommend it just wear sun lotion lolol just a little the sun was out Def an experience of a like time all the explaining about civilization and everything was pretty cool something they will never show you in school or anywhere else def an awesome tour guide experience

Amazing, we loved everything from the ceremony to the speed boat journey. Really recommend.