Riviera Maya?

[aamob]

I'm interested to see if anyone that has been can recommend some excursions for our family. DD is 10 so something appropriate for all of us. Also did you book it before you went or while there? We went to Jamaica last summer but never left the resort due to laziness lol.

 

[nunzia]

Tulum Xel-Ha and Xcaret...all booked through the resort excursions.

 

[katie111]

Been to Riviera Maya 4 times & going for our 5th time this April. Xel-ha and Xcaret are both great. My kids love the water so they preferred Xel-ha. My DD11 still says it was "one of the best days of her life". (she was 9 when we went). We just took a taxi from our hotel. Much cheaper than a tour and you get a lot more tim eat the parks. We were literally the last people to leave Xel-ha luckily there was one taxi left in the parking lot when we went out. Organized tours will pick you up on a bus and you will have to go to other hotels to pick up/drop off people so you waste a lot of time doing that. Every hotel we have stayed at has taxis waiting outside or they can easily call you one.

We also did Tulum when the kids were 2, 5 & 6. It was amazing to see and the kids enjoyed it but it gets really hot there so we only lasted a couple hours. One other thing we did on our last trip was ziplining at Selvatica (kids were 5, 9 & 10 at the time). This was awesome & all my kids loved it. They do a wonderful job, so safe & so fun. We booked at the hotel for this as Selvatica will come pick you up in their own van and drive you to their site. This year we are either looking at Hidden Worlds or going back to Xel-ha.

Have a great trip! Where are you staying?

 

[Lewisc]

Taking a taxi to Xel-ha and/or Xcaret, buying discounted tickets on the parks website, is probably going to be cheaper then booking a tour. It also gives you more flexibility.

I've used this place.
http://www.yucatreks.com/

 

[kittycatalina65]

We did a tour to Chichen Itza and the Ik Kil Centote when my son was 5...I would highly recommend for something a little different. I used the cancun-discounts site and had no issues. Our guide Felix spoke English well, was very polite and professional.

If your party is at least 5 people, look into going with a private tour. We had 4 adults and the 5 year old, and it was the same price as the bus tour, only we could decide the time we left the hotel, and how long to stay at each attraction. We left early, spent a few hours at the ruins with hardly anyone else around. When we left the tour buses were all pulling up with masses of people! This was several years ago, but in the $400 range for everything for everybody.

The price included admissions to both sites, lunch at Ik Kil, and we had the driver for 12 hours. He asked if we wanted to stop anywhere and shop, but we were pretty pooped

I have also been to Xcaret and Xel Ha. They are both beautiful, but touristy. Out of the two we enjoyed Xcaret more. Make sure to check out the baby turtles and the underground river if you go!

 

[Lewisc]

Has the OP made resort reservations? Do you know who your booking through? Some of us might be able to give you some ideas.

 

[aamob]

Thanks for great replies, we are booked at the Iberostar Lindo over our Easter break. My DH would like to do a four Wheeler tour I think since he'd is not a great swimmer but my DD and I would enjoy swimming with the turtles and dolphins. Also looking for the best deal since I know DH won't want to break the bank lol.

 

[JandJ]

DH and I went in 2009. We booked a condo through VRBO and it was fabulous! We're pretty adventurous so we rented a Jeep and took day trips on our own, but I'm sure your resort will have trips you can book.

We went to Chichen Itza and got there before the tour buses. It worked out perfect as we were able to hire a private guide. He got extra money guiding us and we were done in time for him to work for the tourists on the buses. I'd recommend visiting Coba. It's an ancient site with a pyramid in the rain forest that you can climb. There were kids as young as 5 climbing to the top. It was really amazing! I would also recommend visiting a cenote and swimming in one if you can. We went to one in the city of Valladolid, but I know there are family adventure parks with cenotes, zip lining, and such. Friends of ours did that and said it was a lot of fun (sorry, I don't know the name of the place they went).

It's a beautiful area and I'd love to go back someday. We went at Christmas and it was still very hot, so be sure to have your sunscreen and hats and to drink plenty of (bottled) water!

 

[Gracomom]

The Iberostar you are staying at has a great many things to do (esp the pool/wavepool etc.), so that should be fun!

+1 for Xel-Ha. My husband and I go every time we're in the Mayan, we love it so much. Especially the river (husband floats down on a tube while I snorkel in the water beside). Last time, we took our 4YO son who was nervous at the thought of swimming in such deep water, but once he was given the goggles, lifejacket and tube, he had a great time.

I would definitely price out when you get to the resort how much a cab to Xel-Ha would be (ask the concierge) plus the tickets to Xel-Ha (current prices are on the Xel-Ha website) and see what the difference in price would be. For the 2 of us, it was cheaper to take the tour because paying for a taxi for 2 wasn't worth it, but with 4 in the car, it might be better to take a taxi then you won't have to sit in the tour bus for possibly 2+ hours each way while it stops at a bunch of other hotels dropping off/picking up other guests.

 

[JillianMarie]

As far as excursions, we did a snorkeling trip that was BREATH TAKING. We went to some cenotes and the turtle sanctuary in Akumal. It was, no kidding, one of the best experiences of my entire life. I'm pretty claustrophobic and thought I'd be really freaked out, but it's too amazing taking to even register that you're breathing under water. I know that was a lot of superlatives but it was really excellent.

I've also visited Tulum which was very nice. It's a great way to see some ruins without having to commit a full day like with Chicen Itza.

 

[runsandjumps]

Has anyone been to xplor?

I was looking at xcaret but I think it looks too crowded.

We are in cancun and will be taking a day trip there on Wednesday. I am just trying to decide which is best for us (only DH and myself).

Ana

 

[nunzia]

Thanks for great replies, we are booked at the Iberostar Lindo over our Easter break. My DH would like to do a four Wheeler tour I think since he'd is not a great swimmer but my DD and I would enjoy swimming with the turtles and dolphins. Also looking for the best deal since I know DH won't want to break the bank lol.

I've stayed at 2 Iberostars..nice chain

 

[Anne34]

Has anyone been to xplor?

I was looking at xcaret but I think it looks too crowded.

We are in cancun and will be taking a day trip there on Wednesday. I am just trying to decide which is best for us (only DH and myself).

Ana

We have been to xplor with our family. We went a few years ago for spring break. We stayed nearby so took a taxi over early, but there were still long lines to get in. We did all the activities and enjoyed them, but wow! The lines were crazy. Don't know if it was oversold during that day or if that is normal. The zip lining was fun but we often waited 20+ minutes at each stop. We've zip lined in puerto Vallarta previously and it was better spaced and not so long of waits.

All in all, the activities were fun and different. Just be prepared for waiting in line if you are there at a busy time of year.

I also have to say we were there when the park was really new. Maybe they weren't trained or as efficient at that time. I see reviews are better now.

 

[HouseMother]

We went on an ATV tour through the jungle and it was awesome. It took several hours and we stopped in several different places to explore caves, underwater pools (even got to go swimming in some!), and there was a wildlife center on the tour where we got to hold snakes, tarantulas, and monkeys. If we ever go back I would like to go to the Mayan ruins.