What you need to know before you visit Xcaret

Located in Mexico’s popular Riviera Maya, Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park with over 50 attractions. Visitors come to Xcaret to snorkel with fish, explore underground rivers and caves, learn about Mayan culture, see wildlife and enjoy its tropical surroundings.

It has a lot of similarities to nearby Xel-Ha Park.

This family friendly adventure park is situated 60 km south of Cancun International Airport, 6 km from Playa del Carmen and 57 km north of Tulum. It takes about an hour to drive to Xcaret from Cancun, Mexico.

We have visited the Riviera Maya several times before, but this was the first time we visited its amusement parks. After researching each one, and reading the recommended ages (our youngest is 4 years old), we decided to visit Xel-Ha and Xcaret on our most recent trip to Mexico.

Visit Xcaret Park and Save 15% by booking here.

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This post was originally published in 2018 and updated September 2024. This is why our boys look younger in the photos. 

Should you visit Xcaret? Is it worth it?

In our opinion, the answer is yes. However, you’ll want to be prepared before you go.

We learned a lot during our first visit to the park. The big realization was that we were not fully prepared for our visit. The purpose of this post is to share our firsthand experience with you so you don’t make some of the mistakes/assumptions that we did.

Below are a few things we learned while visiting Xcaret.

Xcaret park is really big

Xcaret is over 200 acres (81 hectares)! You’re unlikely to explore the entire park in one visit, especially with young children. It’s just too big to do it properly in one day.

We suggest you take a look at the map and plan your activities in order of location.

A good way to organize your day would be to group your activities by sections, like South, North, East and West. Or, by water activities versus land activities. For example, you would do land activities in the morning and evening, and water activities mid-day so you avoid changing clothes multiple times a day.

If you’re traveling with young kids, we suggest you bring a stroller or rent one at the park.

They have single (299 pesos) and double strollers (399 pesos) available to rent. It’s a big park, so this is money well spent. Our boys were 6 and 4 years old during our visit and they complained that we were walking too much.

Keep in mind, it’s quite hot during the day. Bring hats and reef safe sunscreen.

Xcaret is very family friendly

If you’re traveling with kids 4 years old or under, admission to the park is free. Children between the ages 5 to 12 years old will get a discounted rate on admission.

It’s a good idea to bring or rent a stroller if you have younger children. Most of the park is flat and there are stroller friendly paths to most exhibits.

Kid friendly activities include: viewing jaguars, turtles of all sizes, sharks, manatees and coral reef aquarium. Children’s World, one of the newest attractions at Xcaret, has water slides, hanging bridges, cenotes, a parakeet habitat and a playground. There’s also a butterfly pavilion and wild bird aviary inside Xcaret.

Information about Xcaret activities can be found here.

Xcaret is NOT all-inclusive

Xcaret is NOT all-inclusive. If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya, this may feel like a surprise. Some of the other adventure parks in the area are all inclusive, so this can be confusing.

You will need to bring cash and a credit card with you. There are extra charges for day lockers, strollers, snorkel equipment, towels, food and beverages. 

Related – Everything you need to know about Xel-Ha Park

Should you watch Xcaret Mexico Espectacular?

We made the mistake of not properly planning our time inside the park. We arrived early, around 9:30 AM. On the surface, this seemed like the right idea. However, if you want to attend the evening shows, we learned that an early arrival time is not ideal.

Our boys were pretty tired and cranky by 6:00 PM. There was no way they would survive the Xcaret México Espectacular evening show.

Because of this, we did not get to see the big show. This was unfortunate because we’ve heard it’s the highlight of Xcaret. We did see some of the actors in costume before the show began. It looks like quite the spectacle. 

Travel tip – Plan your visit to include the evening show. If you have young kids, it might be wise to arrive at the park late morning or mid-day.

We did watch the evening horse show.

This Mexican cowboy show is quite entertaining and worth watching. If you haven’t had dinner yet, consider eating at La Cocina (located near the park entrance) because it’s right beside the horse show. The restaurant has some of the best seats to watch the show.

The horse show finishes before the Xcaret Mexico Espectacular evening show.

Should you spend time at Xcaret Beach?

If your hotel or resort does not have a nice beach, you may want to save some beach time for Xcaret. It’s beautiful stretch of beach with safe and calm water, which is ideal for young children who cannot swim. The water is warm and crystal clear (see photo above), and the sand is silky smooth. And there are plenty of chairs and loungers available.

To keep the cove water clear, and the fish safe, you’ll want to bring special sunscreen with you. Xcaret asks that guests only use biodegradable sunscreen, because normal sunscreens contain oils that pollute the water and cause illnesses to the marine life. The park strives to protect the environment and they ask visitors to do the same.

If you don’t have biodegradable sunscreen with you, you can purchase a bottle inside the park.

Otherwise, it’s a good idea to purchase before you leave home. You can order it on Amazon here.

Related – Review of our stay at the Grand at Moon Palace Cancun

Should you buy the Xcaret Plus Package?

Because Xcaret is NOT all-inclusive, you may find that the expenses start to add up. If you plan to eat while inside Xcaret, we suggest you purchase the Xcaret Plus package. Full details here.

The difference in price, from the basic admission, is an increase of $35.00 CAD per adult ($17.00 CAD for kids). The Xcaret Plus package gives you the following:

• Access to Area Plus facilities including restrooms, dressing rooms and showers
• Use of snorkeling equipment, life jackets and inner tubes
• Safety bag service during the river journey
• 1 Buffet lunch including 1 beer and unlimited beverages (soft drinks, flavored waters and coffee). There are 5 restaurants to choose from. The buffet costs $29 USD per adult, so if you plan to eat at the buffet, the price of the Plus Package will cover this cost.

Xcaret has optional activities for additional cost. Here’s the list

Build your own package and choose 2, 3 or 4 of the best Tours in Cancun and Riviera Maya.

Book online and save up to 25% at Xcaret

Swimming in Xcaret’s underground caves

There are lots of things to do at Xcaret. Too many, actually (see the list of activities here). So, you have decisions to make.

One activity you can’t miss is swimming and snorkeling through the park’s network of underground rivers and caves. These sacred rivers and caves are unique to the Riviera Maya.

We underestimated the length and darkness of the caves, but you can exit at several stops along the way if you find it too long. Our 4 year old was a little scared of the darkness, and my father and mother (the kids grandparents, age 70 and 75 years old) found some sections to be too long.

Make sure you get a pair of fins. They make swimming through the caves so much easier.

If you purchase the Xcaret Plus package, you’ll want to find the dedicated Area Plus facilities to store your belongings. If you purchased basic admission, you’ll want to find day lockers to rent.

Last minute personal items, like shoes, hats, towels and wallets, are stored in a locked bag and transported to a station at the end of the river. You keep the key with you and pick up your belongings at the designated station. This is a nice service but it can be a little confusing.

When in doubt, ask questions.

What to pack for a day trip to Xcaret?

Here’s what we recommend you bring with you:

• Bottled water
• Biodegradable Sunscreen
• Snorkel gear
• Waterproof Camera (we use this one)
• Stroller (if you have kids)
• Towel
• Wrap for over your bathing suit
• Extra change of clothes
• Hat
• Sweater (it gets chilly in the evening)
• Small snacks for kids
• Comfy shoes AND a pair of flip flops (you will do a lot of walking)
• Cash and credit card

Travel tip – write your name and phone number on your kid’s wrist band (guests receive a wrist band upon entrance). That way, if your child gets lost, they can show an employee the phone number to call.

Also, it’s wise to explain to your kids what to do should they get lost. Create a plan and communicate it to them. Have them repeat the plan back to you. 

Related – Should you bring a car seat when you travel with kids?

Above – a baby manatee swims with its mom at the manatee exhibit.

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Bring snacks and water with you

The park does not allow outside food, however, it’s a good idea to bring some bars and snacks for your kids. Our boys are always hungry, so they’re constantly snacking.

Our youngest boy is allergic to dairy and eggs, so we don’t know what food will be available for him. The park says it’s okay to bring baby food and milk/formula if you’re traveling with an infant.

Xcaret Park Hours of Operation

Xcaret Park is open 365 days a year from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Regardless of when you plan to visit the Riviera Maya, you’ll be able to visit Xcaret.

According to the park website, the best days to visit are Saturday and Sunday because most hotel packages arrive and depart on those days.

If you’re traveling with young kids, and you want to watch the evening shows (it ends at 9:30 PM), we suggest you arrive a little later in the day.

Have breakfast at your resort first. Then plan to arrive around noon and stay for the evening shows.

Xcaret Prices and How to get Xcaret Tickets

You can save 15% by booking online. There are different packages that include transportation, all inclusive food and options for additional activities like the Stingray Encounter and Swim with Dolphins.

The Xcaret Basic admission is approx. $120 USD, while Xcaret Plus is approx. $150 USD. 

You can purchase Xcaret tickets at most of the resorts in the Riviera Maya. If you stay at the Xcaret Hotel admission is included.

Expect long lines to get your tickets at the Xcaret entrance. Because there are so many vendors, tour operators and hotels selling tickets to guests, it can be a long process.

Get up to a 25% discount on activities and tours in Cancun and Riviera Maya.

How do you get to Xcaret Park?

Getting to Xcaret is easy. If you purchase a package, transportation is often included.

Or, you can get a private transfer from your hotel or resort (that’s what we did).

The private transfer will pick you up at your hotel and drive you directly to the park entrance. It will also bring you back to your hotel at a time of your choosing.

We used Cheap Transfer Cancun. The vans are new and they offer the proper car seat for our 4 year old. We would recommend them. Prices vary depending on distance and number of people. More info here.

We actually used this company multiple times on our vacation to the Riviera Maya.

We stayed at the Iberostar Del Mar and the trip to Xcaret was about 45 minutes. 

Staying at Hotel Xcaret

Another option is to stay at the all-inclusive Hotel Xcaret, which is connected to the park.

This is by far the most convenient resort for Xcaret. The benefit to staying here is that admission to Xcaret parks and/or tours is included in the hotel price. 

Read this hotel review to learn more about Hotel Xcaret. Hotel Xcaret is a 5 star property so you’ll want to compare prices to find the best deal.

Compare prices for Hotel Xcaret Here.

Read more posts about travel to Mexico:

• Una Vez Más! Our Vow Renewal in Mexico
• Should you add Sayulita to your travel short list?
• Then and Now. Our return to the Riviera Maya
• Coati Invasion in the Riviera Maya

Have you been to Xcaret Mexico?

What did you think of the park? Like or Dislike?

Share your experience and travel tips in the comments section below.