Playa del Carmen: Things To Do

ATV Tours Jump on a Yamaha ATV for an adrenaline-filled two hours bumping along narrow dirt paths through the dense Mexican jungle. Along the way, you’ll stop to observe spider monkeys, swim in crystal clear rivers and cenotes, and explore caves and minimally excavated Mayan ruins. Jump on a Yamaha ATV for an adrenaline-filled two hours bumping along narrow dirt paths through the dense Mexican jungle. Playacar; Highway 307 (between Playacar and Xcaret); 011-52-984-873-1626; www.atvexplorer.com
tour | wildlife | outdoors | adventure

Diving and Snorkeling Snorkeling and diving on the beautiful barrier reef just off Playa’s shore is one of the top choices for tourists. The more adventurous divers can swim through the cenote underwater caverns, swim with whale sharks, or even get PADI certified (courses last between 1-4 days). Cyan-Ha Dive Center’s two-tank dive ($70) allows you to be under water for 50 minutes – twice the time of a one-tank dive. North of Downtown; Calle 38 at the Shangri-la Caribe Resort; 011-52-984-803-2517; www.cyanha.com
diving | snorkeling | smart splurge

Horseback Riding Sign up with Punta Venado to go horseback riding on the white sandy beaches of the Riviera Maya, near Xcaret – an outstanding ecological theme park. The experience is truly unforgettable – the ocean views are inspiring and the horses are well taken care of. Even young children will enjoy the ride atop the gentle beasts. Playacar; Carretera Mérida Km. 145; 011-52-1-984-876-2554; www.puntavenado.com
smart splurge | outdoors | views

Jungle Place Sometimes called the monkey sanctuary, or kuxi k'aax in Maya, the jungle place is a 20-acre private monkey reserve where you can interact with your fellow primates. All of the dozen or so animals have been rescued from neglectful owners or were orphans, and fees go toward feeding them. It’s a thirty minute drive from Playa del Carmen, just north of the city on Highway 307. North of Downtown; In the town of Cheymuil (between the towns of Akumal and Tulum); 011-52-1-984-116-9777; www.thejungleplace.com
family | wildlife | outdoors

Xcaret The world renowned Xcaret is like an ancient Mayan ecological theme park. At times, the 200-acre region feels more like a Mexican version of Disneyland, but there’s no denying its appeal. Here, you can swim in an underground river, take a dip with a dolphin, snorkel in a lagoon, watch a Mayan dance, or kick back with a spa treatment. The site even encompasses Mayan archaeological ruins. 4 miles south of Playa del Carmen; 011-52-984-857-1200; www.xcaret.com
spa | wildlife | smart splurge | historic | outdoors | theme park | water sports

Xel-Ha Xel-Ha is the world’s largest natural aquarium. It’s a huge turquoise lagoon filled with tropical fish, caves, floating bridges, islands, and lazy rivers. The water activities seem endless – you can snorkel, scuba, kayak, swim with dolphins, or cliff dive, to name a few. The park is a bit like Xcaret, but with less of a focus on ancient Maya themes and more attention paid to ecol Playacar; Federal Highway Chetumal-Pto., Juárez Km 240; 011-52-998-884-7165; www.xelha.com
spa | trendy | theme park | water sports