Xplor Adventure Park Riviera Maya
September 13, 2010 by Kelly McLaughlin
Filed under Reviews, cancun tours, riviera maya, tours
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!
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