Xplor Adventure Park Riviera Maya

Xplor adventure park is located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, land of lush jungle, hidden underground rivers and ancient mysteries.  Since opening in 2009, Xplor has thrilled thousands of guests with its adrenaline-fueled activities and all inclusive freedom, and I just couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.

I hardly slept the night before our trip, I was like a kid before Christmas morning!  I sprang out of bed at 6 am, made my way to the Xcaret terminal in the hotel zone of Cancun and boarded the jungle bus to make the 45 minute journey to Xplor just south of Playa del Carmen.  The bus dropped us off and we saw the signs pointing towards the entrance, down a ramp and into a cave!  Hanging vines and plants caressed the walls and ceiling as excited travellers checked in, got set up with their helmets and prepared for a day of adventure.

We weaved our way through a maze of caverns and found ourselves in the heart of Xplor.  Quite literally! There was a giant red heart and the beat of  “bom bom…..bom bom….bom bom” echoing through the cave, the center of all the action in the park.   The heart makes navigating the park easy, it’s the beginning and end of each activity.  We stashed our gear in the lockers, got ourselves an energizing smoothie and made our way to our first activity, the zip lines!

I must admit, I am an adrenaline junkie and this was not my first zip line experience but it was certainly one of the best.  With two circuits, 14 zip lines (including the tallest and longest lines in the region!), hanging bridges, a super water slide and several water landings, Xplor does not disappoint.  The gear and equipment is world-class, internationally recognized for safety standards and the automatic brakes were a dream!  I paused for a moment at the top of each tower to take in the incredible views and breathe in the fresh clean air before flying over the jungle again.

The zip lines tired us out, there was a LOT of climbing, but we were ready for the next part of our adventure.  The Riviera Maya is known for its subterranean rivers and cenotes and Xplor is a great way to discover these natural wonders full of stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago.  We got set up with our life jackets (mandatory!), settled on to our rafts and paddled our way through this underground wonderland.  I shared a two person raft with a friend and we laughed and giggled our way through one of the two routes, steering looked easier than it actually was!

By this time we were running low on energy reserves so we headed to the restaurant.  The food was fantastic, far better than your usual buffet fare.  I refueled with a huge salad, the “zarzamora” (blackberry) dressing was delicious, then went back for some delicious pasta primavera, fish and other healthy offerings.  (There was pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs for those who prefer something not quite so healthy, but trust me, you’ll need the energy of good food!)  We refreshed, chatted excitedly about our morning and were ready to get back to the thrills.

The amphibious vehicles were something I had never done before and I was really looking forward to it.  We drove through thick jungle, over hanging bridges, in and out of caves and through rivers, getting dusty and bounced around and squealing at all the twists and turns.  A total riot!

Hot and sweaty, we were ready for a swim in the underground rivers.  The water is “fresh” (COLD) and absolutely crystal clear and a welcome treat on a hot day.  We splashed our way through the stalactites and stalagmites, emerging through a waterfall before finding ourselves at the flying hammocks.  Flying hammocks you say?  Why yes, flying hammocks, zip lines in comfort, and Xplor is the only place with this special treat!  You’ll just have to try it for yourselves, I can’t give away all the secrets!

Exhausted at the end of the day, we packed up our things and said goodbye to Xplor.  It was a completely satisfying day, adrenaline, nature, the warmth of the sun and the refreshing coolness of the waters, delicious food and drinks among great company.  All the anticipation was worth it, I was not disappointed and I cannot wait to return.   After a little rest of course.

For more pictures of our day , check out our Xplor gallery on Flickr!

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, November 27

By Melissa Bañuelos

Last Friday, November 27^th was the third day for Riviera Maya Jazz Festival at Playa del Carmen. This event has been under the eyes of the world for the last 7 years. Under a silver moon, with the fresh breeze of the Caribbean and over the sand, thousands of people and jazz lovers enjoyed the finest rhythms of Jim Beard, Spyro Gyra and Sergio Mendes.

The evening started at 7pm with the whimsical and electrical style of Jim Beard’s piano. A mix of smooth jazz and fusion jazz, caught the attention and opened the senses of the audience, astonished by the different elements that Jim Beard seemed to blend with so much harmony.

Spyro Gyra continued the concert with its ability and obvious passion in each one of its members. This mythical group from NY, started by giving a small bite of its new album “Down the Wire”, highlighting, once more, its avant garde jazz tendencies. The Cuban guitarist Julio Fernandez shared a song made for his mother, and the drummer Bonny B boosted the audience euphoria with his solo.

The concert ended with the legendary music of Sergio Mendes. Together with his vocalists, drummer and guitarist, he played his major hits like “Scarborough Fair”, “Mais que nada”, and the Brazilian anthems “Aqua de beber”, “Chica de Ipanema” and “Aquarela do Brasil”. Plus, at some point, he mixed his rhythms with the energy of hip hop and an incredible capoeira performance.

Cruise Lover’s Dinner, the most romantic tour!

By Ana Rojas

Wow!…. I could tell you so much about this tour, but it would be so long that nobody would read my review. I want to share with you this awesome tour under the stars floating over Nichupte bay in Cancun. The highlight of this experience is a deep feeling of peace and tranquility that lasts for a couple of hours joined by light words and smiles, a beautiful melody played by “Don Pepe” of Cuba and his sax that made me sing all songs! Besides, the dinner was absolutely delicious.

I will put it this way: the tour is one of those moments that will endure and make you realize that it was worth it to find again that special one inside a magical world!

dTraveller The Tour Experts Recomend

Activities - Tours and attractions - Romantic Tours

My experience with Baby Dolphins

by Martha R.

I just recently lived the amazing experience of swimming with baby dolphins. Wow what an incredible encounter with such tender and loving animals.

The only location of Dolphin Discovery that has this new activity is in the Riviera Maya in Puerto Aventuras. It has just been launched as the newest program and in just twenty days it has been a great success.

After watching a video of the dolphins and a brief description of the birth and what the mom does after the calf is born is really interesting and moving, in fact you feel overwhelmed by this incredible miracle of life. Besides being educational and interactive, is something so new and beyond our hectic lives that we have no or little knowledge of dolphins and their world.

Once in the water with the dolphin and its baby you will be able to pet this charming and cute baby which is almost a year and a half old, and be able to participate with all the new and different behaviors that the trainers are teaching them; which are throwing balls and hoops among others. These babies are so curious that they want to explore and observe everything around them.

This program last an hour and half, that when it ends, you just want to be more time in the water with them. Just observing them how they play, admire and love their mother is an experience that you will never forget. You can’t miss this activity. There are very few places in the world to interact with a dolphin mom and her baby dolphin at the same time, and just to observe these intelligent animals -that have a very close bond with humans- is indeed something that you should plan doing on your next vacation at the Mexican Caribbean, to have the experience of a lifetime!

Reservation Center

1-866-393-5158 (Toll free US)
1-866-793-1905 (Toll Free Canada)
01-800-727-5391 (Toll Free Mexico)
0-800-442-252-2192(Toll Free Japan)
Local: +52 (998) 193-3360

Even the turtles love Cancun

By Johanna Kruse

One night, I was strolling around Cancun with my friends and after having dinner we decided to walk along the beach. It was a cool night and we went directly to Marlin Beach.

As soon as we get there we walked towards the sea, but a girl came to tell us that it was not allowed to get any closer to the sea as there were turtles laying their eggs. It was something we didn’t expected, but we went to a place from which we could see the turtles better.

It was an incredible spectacle to see the effort of the huge turtles getting from the sea to the shore, 4 meters from the water, and later trying for hours to dig a deep hole to leave their eggs protected from cold and water.

We stayed for about 4 hours, watching the astonishing and beautiful animals. That night 4 turtles got to the shore to leave their eggs. That was something I will never forget.

dTraveller The Tour Experts recommend

Xcaret Plus: Xcaret protects the two species of turtles that nest in Quintana Roo`s beaches.

Río Secreto, a journey to the center of the Mayan Earth. PART 2

By Melissa Bañuelos

We descended a few meters up to a chamber that seem to be the door of the center of the earth. We carefully sited on some rocks, as if they were made of crystal to avoid any damage to that place so perfectly designed while million years went by.  From time to time we felt some bats flapping over our heads and we smelled the mixture of dampness and purity, as we listed to the fine process of caves formation.

It was astonishing when we entered to the first of many galleries hidden by the underground. The floor has the color of marble and pearls due to the amount of calcium; it is covered with water so pristine that you couldnt tell where the dry area really began. Paths are not dangerous or deep, you  become part of this crystal world, you get used to your own delicate swim and steps.

The floor and the endless roof of each chamber are filled with speleothems that are still alive and that slowly keep shaping through time. Minerals leakage through rain that runs in the subsoil and the huge roots of trees that penetrate the gaps of the cave fed by the underground water, make of this place, the reflection of the upper world. Seems like some formations were sprinkled by star dust and that the sinkholes’ water was really sacred. Rio Secreto explorer was accurate on his description about that place: “it is a shortcut to the moon, pure jewelry of silver and gold”.

There were all kinds of rocky formations of all sizes, colors and possible textures; suddenly we could visualize also chandeliers, curtains, steps, everything as if it was a perfect palace designed for the Mayan spirits. We were in a place above Earth, or inside of it.  For moments we heard the planet breathing, the sound of the natural leaks, deep echoes that filled our mind with peace.  We saw a ray of light, no very far from the last gallery; we knew we were returning to the surface.

At the end of this magical journey, when the sunlight started to warm us again, with all the oxygen in our lungs we started to identify the scent of every living being, we breath at the same compass of our beloved Earth and of all the life in it. Because of all the white and glossy shades, we could perceive the intensity of the thousand greens that surrounded us.

Our Rio Secreto tours.

Río Secreto, a journey to the center of the Mayan Earth. PART 1

By Melissa Bañuelos

Close to Playa del Carmen and Cancun, is located one of the most amazing works of art of nature. Río Secreto (“Secret River” as in Spanish), is an underground cave that seems to have been built by the Mayan gods and that my team and I had the chance to explore a couple of weeks ago.

The day was perfect to begin a new adventure that until then, we didn’t imagine to be the path up to an underground palace of blue rivers, silver formations and a perfect silence. We depart from Cancun and in less than an hour we were at one of the accesses to the Mayan jungle, home of endemic species and where all trees are brothers.

We jumped in an Unimog, better known as all-terrain vehicle. It had to be a special car, as the path didn’t have trails of human work, no paving, no cobble, no asphalt, no nothing. In that same moment we knew that we would forget about our hectic lives to immerse ourselves in nature.

After a 20-minute ride through the jungle, we arrived to a leved area. We were welcomed by a guide and he gave us the necessary equipment to guarantee our safety and comfort. You don’t need much to get to Rio Secreto: helmet with head torch, neoprene suit and water socks. We walked while we curiously watched the strange vegetation and all kinds of insects. Very soon we realize that the jungle was greeting us as if we were part of its endless ecosystem.

We saw a small bottomless hole on the floor. Our guide told us the story of the casual discovery of this speleological treasure “Don Cleo, owner of this parcel, was tiding up his land when he saw an iguana and tried to catch it for that day dinner. He dug trying to find the reptile when he heard some rocks falling into the void. Something was strange in that place”, said with excitement our guide as if he was already part of that cave.

Our Rio Secreto Tour

The experience of women swimming with dolphins!

By Blanca González

The first time that I had the GREAT opportunity to swim and interact with Dolphins, was WONDERFUL. I heard people saying that it was an unforgettable experience and that they didn’t believe that I had never lived it –as I live in a place cherished by all tourists: the paradise of Cancun, where some dolphinariums are located.

Last May I had the chance to swim with 2 dolphins in Isla Mujeres. Besides a great ferry trip sealed by Cancun and Isla Mujeres beautiful views and an awesome Sunset on my way back; I had the chance to swim with Jupiter and Nala and a very peculiar group of 8 women and 1 teenager. Yep! Imagine a group of 9 women and a boy!

Indeed, I confirm that it’s wonderful to receive kisses and hugs from dolphins, but I also realize how sensitive and corny women can be –I’m included- because from the moment we saw the dolphins on TV to the moment we were in the water, they never stop to say things like “Awwww, HOW CUTE, look! A dolphin!

Many of my group shed tears when they saw the dolphins jump. Imagine that experience with a group of 9 EXTREMELY sensitive women. I remember that when a dolphin kissed one of the women, she started to cry and the other laughed at –or with- her.

I don’t know if we were just too sensitive but it was definitely and indescribable experience… Ah, I think that the trainer was also crying from time to time. I think that the only one that didn’t enjoy the experience was that poor pal; he didn’t understand why we were crying. Or…do you even understand?

Our Swim with dolphins tours in Isla Mujeres

Mexico is Spectacular!

By Tatiana Doporto

I’ve been to many different shows but the one I liked the most was definitely at Xcaret. Their night show is amazing!! Well, maybe it isn’t as great as they proclaim it but I did love it. It starts at 7pm and it ends like a 9:30pm. You get to see many “Mayan people” all over the place, although the show was basically in Spanish (which is great so you have a real Mexican show) their performance lets you understand what’s the story about.

The show at night is worth the entire price of admission and if you’re going I would advise reading up on the Maya ball games before you go because it will really give you some background to make it even more enjoyable. It seems like Mexico as a country is made of many different states joined together (just like USA), every region has its own identity and the whole Mexican culture is combined with both Pre Hispanic and Spanish culture.

I found the whole place really charming and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes learning about other cultures. It’s totally worth going to this place only for the night show.

A magic place that embraces our country’s nature

By Lucy Uriostegui

I visited Xcaret Park on my vacations. I was impressed by the beautiful nature of this place and mostly the care towards flora and fauna. Moreover, it is place with the special magic of our ancestors. I could fill my day with incredible activities like snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, visiting the aquarium, watching the sharks, turtles or simply sunbathing on the beach. The restaurants have excellent food for all types of palates.

What I loved most was to swim in the natural underwater river. It is a wonderful experience to swim in this place and see the crystal clear water. The night show make us remember the importance of our roots, it gives me the goose bumps every time I remember it

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