There are a variety of eco-oriented adventures that your family can enjoy from exploring a cave to taking a tour of a bird and wildlife preserve. Although we actually only had time to visit the Aktun-Chen cave and Xel-ha I have also listed a few other eco activities found in the Cancun area. For links to the attractions site click on the attractions name.
Aktun-Chen is a cave with impressive stalactite, stalagmite, and other natural structures. It is unique because a certain type of tree, growing on the surface above, forces its roots through the cave roof and slowly becomes calcified, turns into stone, from the heavy amounts of limestone in the water. Educated guides provide a historical and geological narrative, which we found very interesting.
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Outside the cave you walk on jungle paths where you will see a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, parrots, spider monkeys, warthogs, snakes (in cages), and other native jungle creatures. You can even hold a baby monkey or get your picture taken with a boa constrictor.
The cave Aktun-Chen is on the way to the ruins of Tulum and takes about an hour to tour. The cost is $23 for adults and $17 for children. A restroom and restaurant are on site. The hours are 9am to 5pm with the last tour at 4:30. Summer hours are until 7pm with the last tour at 6pm
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a 1.3 million acre park set aside to preserve tropical forests, mangroves, reefs, and wildlife in the area. The road is too rough for a rental car. But you can take a tour of the reserve, which leaves from Cabanas Ana y Jose in the Tulum hotel zone at 9:30am. The price is $50 and includes the guide, sodas, and snacks.
The first part of the tour is by bus and the road is quite rough. The guide periodically stops the van to point out native plants and animals.
The second half of the tour is of a lagoon aboard a motorboat. The boat tours the coastline for a look at a variety of birds and if you are lucky larger mammals. Then the boat motors inland where you receive a life jacket and an opportunity to float downstream. The tour ends around 3pm. There are nearby beaches where you can snorkel and swim.
Punta Sur is an ecological reserve located on the southeast end of Cozumel Island. The reserve contains ruins, turtle nesting beaches, reefs, and mangrove estuaries. The reserve is open daily from 8am to 6pm. The cost is $10 per person. You can take the ferry to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen. You might want to take a tour, which would provide transportation when you reached the island. One site listed a tour of the park, lighthouse, and museum for $20.
Tres Rios eco-adventure park is 25 minutes south of Cancun on an 150 acre nature reserve. This park is less commercialized and crowded than other parks. You can pay a basic or all-inclusive fee. The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Basic fee is $22 for adults and $19 for children. It includes the use of canoes, bikes, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment.
All-inclusive fee is $75 for adults and $62 for children and reservations are required. This fee covers the basic activities plus diving, horseback riding, and all food and beverages.
Xcaret is a large theme park with lagoons for snorkeling an underground river to float, and lagoons with sea turtles and manatees. There is also a variety of flora and fauna including a butterfly pavilion, deer island, orchid greenhouse, mushroom farm, jaguar island, and monkey island.
There are also horse-riding shows, a Mayan ball game, and an evening folklore dance show that takes you through the different periods of Mexican history.
For an extra fee you can swim with dolphins, snuba, or take a sea trek.
The basic admission is $59 for adults and $41 for children. Snorkeling equipment, towel, and lockers are extra.
Xel-ha is the eco-theme park that we visited on our trip for more information about this park see my blog.
For more information see my other Cancun blogs
- Cancun – A Family Destination
- Getting around in Mexico
- The Ruins – Tulum and Chichen Itza
- Xel-hà – Eco park
- Eco Adventures
- Action Adventures
- Pirate Dinner Cruise
- Restaurants