7 REASONS YOU SHOULD VISIT XCARET
Xcaret is a theme park with an archaeological site where you’ll experience the Mayan jungle, enjoy a view of the Caribbean Sea, and get a taste of Mexico’s culture and heritage. Xcaret is only a short ride away from Cancun. It has many attractions a lot of entertainment.
I had the most fantastic time at this theme park. It’s the perfect place for people of all ages to visit, and I highly recommend you visit Xcaret when you take a vacation to Cancun.
Here are some reasons you should visit Xcaret.
7 reasons You Should Visit Xcaret
Table of Contents
1. To Experience the Mayan Jungle
Getting lost in the trails of Xcaret means getting lost in paradise. This heavenly habitat has trees, swimming areas, an ocean in front of it, and so much wildlife. My favorite thing to do here was swimming through caves where we saw bats. There is so much captivating nature at Xcaret!
2. To Swing in the Caribbean Sea + Water Activities
Our favorite activity was swimming in the Underground River. You go through a maze of caves and lighted river paths that contain beautiful views of rock formations and natural plants. This freshwater stream is easy to enjoy and a place to relax as you float down the river. You can also lay on the sand or go for a swim in the sea. There are so many water activities that you may not have a chance to go to them all.
3. Performances Full of Culture
Before we went to Mexico, we had some knowledge of the history and culture. But after going to Xcaret, we walked out of there feeling proud of our Mexican roots. We had no idea how rich Mexico’s culture and history were.
Each show depicts a Mexican and Mayan tradition. They have Mexico written all over them. For example, there is the Equestrian show of Adelitas and Charros riding horses. There is the Pre-Hispanic and Voladores de Papantla show too.
My favorite show was the Mexico Espectacular. It’s a late-night show inside a big auditorium. It holds typical Mexican music and dance performances, a performance about Mayan festivities and ceremonies, and a traditional game.
It’s worth staying for it!
4. To See the Awesome Attractions
There is a lot to do inside Xcaret, and you might not get to see all of it. As mentioned above, there are many water activities, and there is a lot of nature. Within the park, you will also find museum-like spots, natural habitat walks, and even a scenic tower to view the Mayan Jungle from above.
Some other spots include
- Hacienda Henequenera
- St. Francis of Assisi Chapel
- Chapel of Guadalupe
- Caves at the Mayan Village
- Mayan ruins (archaeological sites)
- Wine Cellar
- Paradise River
- Mexican Cemetery
I recommend getting a map to cross out the things you do. Also, keep an eye out for the shows. Write down their times and put an alarm so you don’t miss them.
5. To Encounter Animals
Xcaret is full of wildlife! You can see bats, monkeys, sharks, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and even jaguars.
Update: I stopped visiting places where animals aren’t in their natural habitat.
6. To Taste Delicious Food
There is so much to eat at Xcaret, especially if you get the all-inclusive packet to the park. There is traditional Mexican food as well as other flavors you can find. One buffet we enjoyed was at La Cocina Restaurant. There we tried Sopa de Lima (lime soup). It’s a typical dish in the neighboring state of Yucatan.
While you’re eating, Mariachis walk around playing music. It’s a great scene to enjoy while eating.
7. Optional Activities
Besides everything I mentioned above, Xcaret offers even more activities that you can enjoy with the family. Most of them are close interactions with water animals. They also have Adrenalina, a speed boat. In addition, you can go snorkeling or scuba diving. Lastly, you can get a VIP dinner during the Mexico Espectacular show.
Xcaret was a great experience. I know that you’d love it if you visited. It has so much to do and so many things to experience. Although it was expensive, every dollar was worth it. It’s like a Disneyland but with nature.
What to Pack For Xcaret
- Water Bottle: This area of Mexico is hot, near 90 degrees. I recommend taking a water bottle that keeps your water cold.
- Daypack: I always travel with a small daypack to carry for day trips. It’s perfect for having hands-free and carrying your cash, water, clothes, towels, and extra shoes. I also bring my phone, GoPro, phone charger, and sunscreen.
- Sunscreen: It´s good to take care of your skin and eco-friendly.
- GoPro/Camera: You’ll want to take some great waterfall pictures. The GoPro is perfect if you cliff jump or take photos and videos while swimming.
- Towel: A travel towel is perfect because it doesn’t take up much space.
- Dry Pack: If you don’t trust leaving your valuables aside while swimming, a waterproof backpack along with a waterproof cell phone case is always a great option.
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
I can’t wait to visit this water & nature park ?
Fun story !
So much to do there! You’ll love it.
Wow! I didn’t eve realize this was in existence i am definitely putting xcaret on my bucket list
It’s a must! I would go back again in a heartbeat.
Your featured photo is already very convincing!! Nice article, love the turtle shot. It sounds like a wonderful place indeed. Did you also see sharks? Not the dangerous ones I hope 😉
It’s a stunning place. Glad you liked the photos, they were taken with a phone back when I didn’t have my fancier camera. We did see sharks. The park allows people to swim with them, but obviously not the scary dangerous ones. 🙂 Hope you go someday, the place is beautiful!
What a brilliant mixture of activities, covering cultural and just, well fun! Love the idea of swimming through caves in particular, but it all sounds like a really terrific place to visit.
Swimming through caves was one of the best parts. Hope you visit one day!
Wow this place is really nice and exotic. I like it the way that you can get close to animals and at the same time have fun with different activities!
It’s pretty amazing! You would love it.
Despite being such a fun place, the natural habitat is clearly the star attraction. All the reasons that you mention for visiting Xcaret appeal to me.
Being immersed in nature with all these attractions was quite fun. If you haven’t already visited, I’m sure you’ll love it when you do.
Looks like I now have another place to add to my bucket list!
You should! It’s bucketlist worthy!
Wow, this sounds like a fantastic place to visit and the photos look awesome! I love visiting places where you can immerse yourself in the culture and learn more about the history of that particular country. You mentioned there’s a lot of attractions here that can’t be covered in one day – how many days would you recommend for Xcaret?
It’s pretty amazing! You can do it in one day, but it will feel a bit rushed or you’ll have to pick and choose. It’s so beautiful and has so much to do that two days can give you a chance to better explore it and to sit and relax by the beach for a bit.
That seems like a fun excursion. We were in Tulum past November but we opted to stick around the area to explore the secluded beaches and ruins. Maybe next time!
That sounds like fun! We ended up not having time for the ruins in Tulum and were bummed but the park is definitely amazing. Hope you get to go back one day.
I went to Xcaret a few years ago for the Mexico Espectacular show. I loved it! I love Mexican history and culture. I was taken by the music and the costumes.
That was one of our favorite parts! Awesome that you got to experience it too.
Wow! I have never heard of this place but it is now on my bucket list. I am hoping to be in Mexico next year so I will have to check it out. Your photos have convinced me!
You will love this place if you visit it. Perhaps one of my best experiences in Cancun.
Oh good! I hope you make it to Xcaret! It’s so beautiful and so much to do that I’m sure you’ll love it.
That sounds like a cool place to visit. A fun filled park where you even have animals and ruins. That is unique.
It’s like no other place! jungle, ruins, animals, beach. It has it all. Hope you visit one day.
We’ve been to Xel-Ha three times but never to Xcaret – we always seem to go back to Xel-Ha! Xcaret looks awesome too – it’s difficult to choose! Such a great part of the world with so much to do.
How funny! I want to go back to Cancun and explore Xel-Ha but I also want to go back to Xcaret. I tend to do that when returning to places, I do what I already loved. If you go back, definitely give Xcaret a try. You will love it!
I’m actually book marking this post and saving it because this place looks amazing. It is very, very tourist oriented though? It looks wonderful, but I really like being able to explore old streets and stuff like that
You will absolutely love it! It does have a lot of tourists but it’s not overwhelming. The park is so big that people spread out really well. However, I went during low (rainy) season. I hope you visit it, it’s quite amazing and so worth it!
All of this looks fantastic! Looks like there’s a bit of everything at Xcaret which is a perfect trip to me!
It has a little bit of everything for everyone. Jungle, beach, animals, food, caves. You’ll love it.
An archaeological park? This is fantastic! What a great way to learn about the Mayan culture. This is super cool and looks like such a fun educational experience! Wow, definitely going to have to check this out more. Love the idea of swimming in an underground river!
You would absolutely love it! It has a bit of everything for everyone. The river was pretty amazing. You’ll have to try it.
Xcaret sounds like our kind of destination. Adventure, culture and natural beauty at its best. I am sure we would love it. Always been fascinated with Mayan culture and history, hence this is definitely a place we need to visit.
This has been one of my favorite places to date. So much beauty. Hope you get to visit one day!
I hear so many scary stories about Mexico. We are planning a trip to Riviera Maya in July and staying at an all inclusive resort. I would love to experience this! Did you feel safe traveling to Xcaret?
Do you know what, until I read this article! I didn’t know Xcaret existed. This place looks spectacular. So picturesque and unique. I’ve now added it to my bucket list of places and going to look up GoPro videos of this later on today! Really appreciate this post for informing me about the place.