Xcaret Park Cancun
Are you planning to visit Xcaret Park in Cancun Mexico with your family? If so, you’re in for a treat! This park is ideal for adults and children alike and has won numerous awards internationally. However, planning your trip can be intimidating, so we’ve put together some insider tips to help you make the most of your experience.
It’s essential to note that Xcaret Park is enormous, spanning over 200 acres. With so much ground to cover, it’s almost impossible to discover everything the park has to offer in just one day.
To maximize your visit, we recommend that you map out your activities beforehand and group them by location or activity type. For example, you could plan to do all the land-based activities in the morning and evening hours, leaving the midday for water sports.
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If you’re traveling with small kids, we suggest that you bring a stroller or rent one upon arrival. The terrain in the park is quite flat, and there are pathways designed for strollers leading up to all of our attractions, making travel more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.
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Accessing Xcaret Park is effortless. If you purchase a package, transportation to the park entrance is usually included. Otherwise, you can take advantage of our private transfer service, which will pick you up from your hotel or resort and escort you directly to the park’s gate.
By far, the most convenient resort for Xcaret is Hotel Xcaret, which is connected to the park. The price per stay includes admission to both Xcaret parks and tours, allowing you to access all of its amenities without breaking your budget.
Xcaret Park is very family-friendly, with exciting experiences for children of all ages. Children under four can access the park without having to pay for admission, and for those aged five to twelve, a special discounted rate is available. The park offers a range of activities, from viewing jaguars and enormous turtles to admiring the diverse marine life in the coral reef aquarium. Children’s World is particularly captivating, with a range of enthralling activities, from water slides and hanging bridges to a parakeet habitat and playground on site.
Unlike traditional entertainment parks, Xcaret celebrates the vibrant Mayan culture with a range of educational attractions rooted in ecology, history, and archaeology on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. The park is an incredible combination of a theme park, eco-park, and water park that offers something for everyone in your family to enjoy.
During the holiday season, be prepared to mingle with a variety of people from all over the world including Mexicans and Americans. We discovered this during our visit before Christmas when it felt like we were surrounded by tourists! It’s immensely popular among those who come here for leisure especially families with young children in tow.
If you are accompanied by kids, remember to brief them on staying close together as they can often get carried away or wander off. And if your child is an adventurous one – have some strategies pre-planned just in case!
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To make the most of your visit, we recommend starting in the white zone, which will lead you to a Mayan Village filled with amazing creatures like birds, butterflies, and jaguars. We suggest starting your journey at the aviary for an extraordinary experience that only gets better from there. Don’t forget to check out the cultural attractions in this section after you’ve seen all the animals!
Next, head towards the blue line to explore the aquatic life and then make your way through the green line (Playa) until you finally reach the food vendors. Keep in mind that there’s so much to see and do at Xcaret Park that you can’t possibly fit it all into one day! In fact, there’s so much to do that two days might not even be enough.
We’re definitely planning on returning soon because we missed out on some activities like the cacao workshop and Children’s World. Luckily, with a wide array of activities available at Xcaret Park, there’s always something new to discover and enjoy.
One activity that you absolutely can’t miss is swimming and snorkeling through the park’s network of underground rivers and caves. These unique and sacred rivers and caves are one of the highlights of the Riviera Maya.
However, be prepared for the length and darkness of the caves. Although you can exit at several stops along the way if you find it too long, it’s important to note that some sections may be too much for young children or elderly individuals.
To make your experience more enjoyable, be sure to get a pair of fins. They’ll make swimming through the caves much easier. If you purchased the Xcaret Plus package, you’ll want to find the dedicated Area Plus facilities to store your belongings. However, if you purchased basic admission, you’ll need to find day lockers to rent.
Keep in mind that last-minute items like shoes, hats, towels, and wallets can be stored in a locked bag and transported to a station at the end of the river. You’ll keep the key with you and pick up your belongings at the designated station. This is a great service, but it can be a little confusing at first.
If you’re planning on visiting Xcaret, there are a few things you should definitely bring with you to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. First and foremost, make sure to bring bottled water to stay hydrated throughout your travels. It can get hot and humid in the area, so staying hydrated is important. Also, bring biodegradable sunscreen to protect your skin and the environment.
If you plan on snorkeling, bring your own snorkeling gear. And don’t forget your waterproof camera to capture all the amazing underwater sights! If you’re bringing little ones along, make sure to bring a stroller and towel for them, as well as an extra change of clothing in case of any accidents.
It’s a good idea to bring a hat and sweater, as the temperature can drop after sundown. And, since there’s a lot of sightseeing to do, make sure to bring comfortable shoes and flip-flops.
When it comes to money, it’s best to bring a mix of cash and credit cards, just in case. And, if you’re traveling with children, make sure to pack some light snacks for them.
It’s open from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM, so you have plenty of time to enjoy yourself. If you’re traveling with kids and want to see the evening performances, it’s best to arrive around noon on a Saturday or Sunday. This is when most hotel packages come in and out, so there will be plenty of people around.
First off, it’s better to buy your tickets ahead of time online than at the door. Buying tickets at the door will cost you more, and you’ll have to wait in line, which can take 20 minutes or more.
But don’t worry, you can avoid the line and get extra promotions by going to one of the other ticket booths inside. If you book online, you can save up to 15%, and there are different packages available that include transportation, meals, and fun activities like swimming with dolphins or meeting stingrays.
You can also get discounts of 10% if you book 7 to 20 days in advance, and 15% if you book over 21 days before your visit. And if you’re staying at a resort in Riviera Maya, you can buy tickets there too.
Children under the age of 4 can enter for free, and those aged 5 to 11 can get a ticket for half the price of an adult ticket. Just remember, you’ll need a valid ID for both cases.
Xcaret is a theme park in Mexico that combines the area’s vibrant culture with the grandeur of nature for an extraordinary adventure. Located in the Riviera Maya, just south of Playa del Carmen, Xcaret is a top destination for travelers from around the world.
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Located approximately 10km south of the bustling centre of Playa del Carmen, Xcaret Park can be reached by car in roughly 20 minutes. If you’d prefer to take a taxi, it should cost around $10-15 US each way – and believe me when I say that driving your own rental car is straightforward!
The park itself is huge, spanning 200 acres, and offers over 50 attractions that include cultural performances, wildlife viewing opportunities, and aquatic adventures.
It’s the perfect destination for families with kids of all ages. Children over 6 will have an amazing time discovering everything the park has to offer, while younger children can still join in on most activities.
If you’re interested in enjoying the food and drinks available in the park, we recommend purchasing the Xcaret Plus package. This package includes access to all the restaurants and cafes in the park, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own food. It costs $29 USD per adult separately, but it’s already included in the package.
The Xcaret Plus package also offers additional amenities such as luxurious Area Plus facilities like restrooms, dressing rooms, and showers. Additionally, you’ll receive snorkeling equipment, life jackets, and inner tubes for your river journey experience. A safety bag service is also provided, so you can keep your belongings safe while enjoying the river.
Finally, one of the best parts of the Xcaret Plus package is the all-inclusive buffet lunch, which includes one beer and unlimited soft drinks, flavored waters, and coffee. You can enjoy this delicious meal at any of the five restaurants available.
To sum up, if you want to fully enjoy your Xcaret experience, we highly recommend getting the Xcaret Plus package. It includes everything you need to have a comfortable and enjoyable day, and it’s definitely worth the extra cost.
Looking for an unforgettable experience that’s unlike anything else? Look no further than Xcaret Park! This amazing destination has everything you need for a fun-filled day, from an awe-inspiring Mayan village to a variety of interactive crafts and even a chance to see some of the most incredible animals in their natural habitats both on land and in the water.
Take advantage of the incredible prices available at Xcaret Park! Adults can enter for only $120, while kids 5-11 get in for an unbeatable rate: just $60. Even better—children 4 and under are free! Save even more on your visit by purchasing tickets ahead of time right here.
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I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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