With so many amazing theme parks in the Riviera Maya, it can be hard to make time for them all. But no matter how pressed for time you are, you’ve simply got to have Xel Ha Park Mexico somewhere in your schedule. Regarded as one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, Xel Ha is an all-inclusive park full of so many incredible things to see and do that you could easily go there every single day of your holiday and have a new experience each time.
Things to do at Xel Ha Park Mexico
So you can make the most of your short visit to Xel-Ha and enjoy the very best of the best, put these three must-do Xel Ha Park Mexico attractions are at the very top of your itinerary!
Scuba divers entering the water: Photo: tommy.chang / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cycle along the bicycle trail of Huh Land
While most visitors walk along the seriously crowded footpaths to hop from attraction to attraction within the park, the savvy ones know to sneak into the jungle and pick up one of the free bikes. Not only will cycling get you where you want to be much faster, but the unique jungle trail you follow is one of the park’s hidden gems. With the dense canopy keeping you cool and shaded, you can take your time as you cycle along the 1 km-long route, being on the lookout for the porcupines, coatis and agoutis which pop their heads out of the bushes looking for food.
A white-nosed coati on a jungle trail: Photo Robert Pittman / CC BY-ND 2.0
Float in an inner tube along the Xel-Ha River Tour
Xel Ha Park Mexico is overflowing with water-based activities, but the one you can’t miss is the Xel-Ha River Tour. You can swim or even snorkel in the water, but the natural flowing current makes it best to go in an inner tube. This way you can lie back with the warm sun on your face, the cool water running beneath you and let the current and gentle sea breeze blow you around the park. If you get a bit restless, there are loads of quick and fun activities along the way. You can secure your inner tube amongst the mangrove roots and jump off the Cliff of Courage or swing along the zip line-like Salpichanga before getting back to your tube for more peaceful floating.
The wide open river tour: Photo Derek Kaczmarczyk / CC BY 2.0
Go on a Sea Trek
Although everyone rants and raves about swimming with dolphins, walking underwater amongst stingrays is where it’s really at. During this activity, you’ll don an astronaut-like helmet heavy enough to sink you to the ocean floor. Fresh air is pumped into the top of the helmet so you can breathe comfortably while loads of stingrays and tropical fish swim around you. The stingrays at Xel-Ha are remarkably friendly and curious, so be prepared for them to brush over your arms and legs as they get to know you. Even though it can be pretty unnerving at first, the Sea Trek is truly amazing and is something you’ll be telling people about for years to come.
Get up close and personal with stingrays on a Sea Trek: Photo Brian Norwood / CC BY 2.0
If this article has got you itching to visit Xel Ha Park Mexico, now is a great time to go! Although the resorts are really busy during the summer months, autumn is much quieter and you’ll be able to pick up a great deal on accommodation in the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel or Cancun, all of which are well located for visiting the park.