Are you interested in the Xenotes Xcaret tour in Riviera Maya Mexico and wondering if it's worth it?
Or maybe you're not sure what the Xenotes tour is really like? You've come to the right guide!
I'm a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen, and have become a resident expert on the Xcaret adventure parks.
And I know just how confusing and overwhelming it can be when you're first learning about the Xcaret parks and tours online. That's where I'm here to help!
OVERVIEW
XENotes
Best all-inclusive cenote tour
In this comprehensive Xenotes review, you'll learn everything you need to know about the Xenotes tour experience including:
Ready to find out if Xenotes is right for you? Let's get started!
Xenotes is an all-inclusive tour offered by Grupo Xcaret, which brings you to four different Riviera Maya cenotes along the famous "Ruta de los Cenotes" near Puerto Morelos.
Previously called Xenotes Oasis Maya, Xenotes is now known as Xenotes, Enigmatic Waters Tour by Xcaret.
Xcaret arranges a circuit of different activities at each of the four private cenotes that includes kayaking, swimming, rappelling, and ziplining.
Each cenote on the tour is a different type, letting you experience the natural wonders of Mexico's Riviera Maya actively.
Beautiful Ha Cenote treats you to a semi-open cenote with hanging vegetation and beautiful underground gardens for snorkeling and kayaking. Water ziplines happen over Iik Cenote, where you can also cliff jump over 20 feet high.
You'll try assisted rappelling at Lu'um Cenote, a cavern cenote with million-year-old formations. K'aak' Cenote offers an adrenaline rush with water slides, ziplines, and cliff jumps.
And best of all, this full day all inclusive Xenotes tour includes round-trip transportation, a continental breakfast, deli lunch, drinks, and some alcohol.
Book your Xenotes tickets ahead of time by clicking here! Get 25% off with coupon code XCSALE23.
Xenotes cenote park is located in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, about 1 hour north of Playa del Carmen.
Driving times from nearby destinations are as follows:
Xenotes Map
Xenotes is pronounced "Shay-know-tays". The key to pronouncing the Xcaret names correctly is to pronounce the X as either an "Ish" or a "Sh" sound.
If you've never visited a cenote before, the Xenotes tour is the perfect activity. Cenotes are unique to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and you'll get to experience four different types in one day.
This action packed Xcaret cenote tour is really a one-stop shop where you can experience fun water activities like zip lining, kayaking, rappelling, and cliff jumping.
Set in the middle of the Mayan jungle, all activities take place in a natural environment that does not feel overly commercialized. And with small groups of around 15 people, you'll get a more personalized experience.
Plus, it's an all inclusive tour so all food, drinks, and round-trip transportation is included for a very fun, unique, and well-organized adventure tour experience.
If you're looking for a unique outdoor adventure while visiting Riviera Maya, Mexico, the Xenotes water tour will be perfect for you.
Adventurous travelers who love adrenaline-pumping water activities and are looking for a water park experience will especially enjoy this tour.
Xenotes is also a great family-friendly activity for children ages 5 and older, though kids may have more fun if they're a bit older.
But for both kids and adults, the Xenotes tour will be an unforgettable experience!
If you do not like water activities or getting wet, then the Xenotes tour is not for you. With so many water activities, you'll be dripping wet the majority of the time!
You don't have to be a strong swimmer to enjoy Xenotes as life jackets are mandatory, but you probably won't have a good time if you are uncomfortable being in the water.
With lots of swimming, walking, and climbing involved, the tour can also be physically demanding so if you're not able to walk or swim for long periods of time, it's probably not the best place for you.
There are also some important safety considerations to be aware of before booking your Xenotes tour. Due to the nature of the activities, the Xenotes tour is not recommended for pregnant women or people that have:
Here's a quick overview of the activities at each cenote-scroll down for detailed descriptions and reviews of these cenote activities!
The names of the cenotes are in the Mayan language, each representing one of the natural elements.
Next, let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of Xenotes that I'll discuss further in this Xenotes Mexico review:
Xenotes offers one all-inclusive admission ticket that includes all activities, equipment, round-trip transportation with hotel pickup, a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, soft drinks, and beer and wine.
Xenotes tour prices can fluctuate throughout the year but typically start at:
The best way and most secure way to purchase Xenotes tickets is by booking on the official park website, which has some automatic discounts and frequent promotions.
Book Xenotes tickets on the official website by clicking here! Get 25% off with coupon code XCSALE23.
There are a few different Xcaret discounts available-take advantage of these automatic discounts outlined below to get the best deal on Xenotes tickets and avoid paying full price for the tour.
You can automatically save by booking online on the official website in advance:
If you're interested in visiting more than one of the Xcaret parks and tours, you can save by creating your own combination package:
Staying at an Xcaret all inclusive hotel gives you all "fun-inclusive" access to the parks and tours, meaning you get unlimited access to all of the Xcaret parks during your stay.
This is an especially great option for families if you plan on visiting more than one of the parks.
Check out the hotel websites below for more info on these all inclusive resorts:
Wondering what it's like to stay at an Xcaret hotel? Find out in my Hotel Xcaret Arte review!
Xcaret also offers a special discount for Quintana Roo residents which is valid only online or through the contact center.
Tickets for Quintana Roo residents can be purchased through the website here but it is only available in the Spanish language.
You'll need to present an Official ID of Quintana Roo to get the best price and be eligible for the discount. For foreigners living in Quintana Roo, Temporary and Permanent Resident Cards are accepted.
Here's what you can expect on the day of your Xenotes experience:
Roundtrip transportation is included with the Xenotes tour with pickup from your hotel, resort, or designated meeting point in Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or the Riviera Maya.
The private Xenotes vans are new and comfortable and bright green in color-they can't be missed!
During pickup, you'll meet your driver (who will also be your tour guide), get your wristbands, and sign a liability waiver.
Do you need travel insurance for Mexico? Yes! Most insurance plans in your home country will not cover incidents abroad. I recommend using Travel Insurance Master, which is a handy travel insurance marketplace where you can compare policies. Get a FREE quote by clicking here!
After you're in the van, you'll head to the Xenotes site and your tour guide will explain the day's activities during the drive. From Playa del Carmen, it takes a little over an hour to get there depending on the number of pickups.
When you're in the van, you'll want to get prepared for the day's activities by putting on your water shoes and removing any watches, jewelry, or valuables.
Upon arriving at the Xenotes location, you'll be directed to small outdoor pavilions with dining tables and bench seating.
Each cenote on the tour has these types of pavilions along with restrooms, showers, and changing rooms.
Before getting started, everyone is required to take a quick shower to remove any sunscreen, insect repellent, or chemicals that might be harmful to the cenote environment.
These are outdoor showers so be prepared for the water to be a bit cold!
After showering, you'll then put on life jackets (which are mandatory) and head to the first cenote.
Each cenote has a life jacket stand where you can select your preferred size.
Here's a detailed look at each of the cenotes and my honest Xenotes reviews:
Rating: 8/10
The first cenote we visited was the semi-open Ha' Cenote (water), where you'll start by kayaking down a narrow river between vertical rock walls in a double kayak, getting to see lush vegetation, overgrown trees, and a beautiful island in the center of the cenote.
Then you'll head to the other side of the cenote via an underground cave entrance. Snorkeling masks are provided, and you'll be able to see tiny cenote fish, small catfish, and lily pads.
Overall, I enjoyed kayaking the most-it was a very beautiful and relaxing experience and not too difficult to navigate. I only wish it had lasted longer!
The snorkeling part of the cenote was a beautiful place with picturesque lily pads, but the visibility underwater wasn't the best so you could really only see some tiny fish at the surface.
Rating: 9/10
Iik Cenote (wind) is a large, open cenote where you'll get to go flying through the air on overwater ziplines.
The zip lines are divided into two sides, each with two zip lines. You can choose to go on a seated hammock or hang from a monkey bar.
I personally enjoyed the seated hammock because it was more comfortable and there were some funny positions to choose from including the Spiderman, Superman, Princess, and my personal favorite-Miley Cyrus's Wrecking Ball!
Each person gets to go on the water ziplines three times, so you can really get a good feel for it. And if you're feeling brave, you can also choose to cliff jump from the zipline platform at a height of around 20 feet.
Overall, I had a blast at Iik Cenote and really enjoyed the water ziplines-they were thrilling but not too scary and it was very comical watching everyone trying to perfect their pose!
Rating: 9/10
Lu'um Cenote (earth) is a deep underground cavern cenote unlike any other, with its hanging tree roots and cascading vegetation.
You'll put on a harness and helmet before climbing to the top of a wooden platform. Then you'll try assisted rappelling down under the earth and into the cold cenote waters.
You can even choose to rappel upside down if you wish. With the harness and help of the guides, it feels very safe and secure-I only wished it had lasted longer!
Lu'um is the deepest cenote you'll visit on the tour so the water is extremely cold, but it's such an exhilarating experience. You'll also get to jump from a small ledge into the refreshing waters below.
Overall, Lu'um Cenote was probably the most unique cenote you'll visit on the tour-the hanging tree roots are really spectacular. And getting to rappel directly into the water is such a rush!
Rating: 9/10
K'aak' Cenote (fire) is an open cenote with a variety of activities to keep you entertained, starting with a short water slide that shoots you out into the cenote.
You can then climb back to the top for more overwater ziplines from a hanging monkey bar.
And after you drop from the ziplines, you'll swim or inner tube for about 200 meters between stone walls where you can choose to do a cliff jump for one final rush.
Overall, Ka'ak' Cenote was relaxing and fun with a whole circuit of activities. The water was warm and comfortable, making it the perfect place to end the day with some final jumps and splashes.
Here's an overview of the Xenotes food and beverage offerings:
Rating: 7/10
Continental breakfast is included in the tour and is available to enjoy after the first cenote.
You'll return to the pavilion, where a light breakfast buffet will be set up with apples and pastries. Drink options include coffee, hot chocolate, and fruit waters.
Overall, the Xenotes breakfast was pretty basic but was a nice simple treat after the first cenote. If you prefer something more filling, you'll definitely want to eat a heartier breakfast before leaving your hotel.
Rating: 8/10
After the third cenote, you'll also be treated to a buffet lunch, which is a "jungle picnic". The Xenotes lunch buffet is basically a deli bar where you can build your own gourmet sandwiches.
The sandwich buffet includes a variety of rustic breads, deli meats, salmon, premium cheeses, and salad bar type toppings.
Additional sides include soup, tortilla chips, seasonal fruit, and chocolate brownies. A variety of drinks like soda, bottled water, wine, and beer are also available.
Overall, I was impressed with the lunch buffet at Xenotes. Some of the toppings are probably a little more unusual than what you may be accustomed to, but you'll still be able to build a tasty sandwich.
Plus, the wine and beer is a nice added touch!
Here's an overview of the services and amenities available at Xenotes Riviera Maya:
All necessary safety equipment is provided with Xenotes tours including life jackets, kayaks and paddles, snorkel masks, harnesses, and helmets.
The use of the life jacket is mandatory for all activities and there is a life jacket stand at each cenote.
Clean and well-maintained restrooms, showers, and changing rooms are located at each of the 4 cenotes, making it very easy to take bathroom breaks or freshen up throughout the day.
One of the biggest takeaways of the Xenotes tour is the photo package. Each group will have a professional photographer that follows them around during the day taking the best high quality pictures.
While the photo package can be expensive, it's a great way to capture your memories if you don't have a waterproof camera.
Plus, they're positioned in the best vantage points to get all the best action shots from the cliff jumps and ziplines.
If you do wish to purchase your Xenotes photos, the payment can be made by cash or credit card at the end of the day.
You'll then receive a redemption code where you can download your Xenotes pictures online.
Travelista Tip: Save money by adding the photo package ahead of time when booking your tickets online. This is cheaper than what you'll pay on the day of your visit. I personally bought the photo package and thought it was worth it!
Round trip transportation is included in the Xenotes tour and the brightly-colored green vans are large, comfortable, and have waterproof seats.
Each group will be assigned to one van that will be used for the entire day-where you'll drive from one cenote to the next and then back to your hotel or resort.
Since there are no lockers at Xenotes, the van will also be used to store personal belongings. There weren't any issues with this on my tour but it's best not to leave any valuables just to be safe.
If you're looking for Xenotes alternatives, there are a few other comparable options in Riviera Maya:
Also located along the "Ruta de los Cenotes", Cenote Zapote is a Riviera Maya eco-park that is probably the most comparable option to the Xenotes experience.
At Cenote Zapote, you can visit 3 different types of cenotes, as well as go ziplining and biking. It's a very fun experience but the Xenotes tour has more to offer in terms of water activities.
You can read more about my Cenote Zapote experience in this post!
Another option would be to visit Rio Secreto, which is an underground river system located just south of Playa del Carmen.
At the Rio Secreto attraction, you can swim and trek through these underground caves, as well as go biking and rappelling.
This impressive network of underground rivers and caverns feels very natural and untouched, but does not offer quite as many activities as Xenotes.
You can read more about my Rio Secreto experience in this post!
Another comparable option from Grupo Xcaret would be Xplor, which is an adventure park known for its ziplining, amphibious vehicles, and stalactite river swim.
Xplor will give you an adrenaline rush with its variety of land, water, and adventure activities but overall feels more commercialized than the Xenotes park in the heart of the jungle.
You can read my full Xplor review in this post!
And if you're interested in visiting more than one of the Xcaret parks, you can create your package and get an automatic bundle discount.
Create your own Xcaret package by clicking here!
Below is what I would recommend wearing on the Xcaret Xenotes tour:
Here are the essential items to bring to Xenotes by Xcaret:
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Xenotes Riviera Maya:
The Xenotes tour is available every Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays).
The Xenotes tour is a full day tour and lasts approximately 8-9 hours depending on the size of your group and pickup location.
The average water temperature of the cenotes is 75-78°F throughout the year.
The pickup time for the Xenotes tour is between 8AM-10AM depending on your hotel location. I was picked up in downtown Playa del Carmen and the pickup time was 9:05AM.
Yes, food is included at Xenotes. A continental breakfast with pastries and hot drinks is provided at the end of the first cenote. You'll then be treated to a lunch buffet with soft drinks, beer, and wine after the third cenote.
Yes, Xenotes is a great family-friendly activity for kids ages 5 and older. With so many action packed activities, it's probably best suited for slightly older kids and those that are very comfortable being in water.
The minimum age requirement for Xenotes is 5 years of age. For the zip line activity, a minimum height of 4.5 ft (1.4 m) and a minimum weight of 88 lbs (40 kg) are required.
Reservations canceled more than two days in advance of the date of visit are subject to a 10% administration fee.
Reservations canceled in 2 days or less before the visit date, or in case of a no-show, are not refundable.
More information on the Xenotes cancellation policy can be found here.
Follow these tips to make the most of your Xenotes experience:
So, is Xenotes worth it? I honestly had a blast at Xenotes and thought it provides outstanding value for the money.
It's just as expensive as many of the other attractions in Riviera Maya but provides a full day outdoor adventure with roundtrip transportation, food, and drinks included.
Basically, they do all of the work for you so you just have to have fun! Plus, you'll get to experience some amazing natural cenotes, unlike anywhere else in the world.
If it's your first time visiting Riviera Maya and you want to see some cenotes, then I would highly recommend Xenotes. It's really the most hassle-free option to experience a variety of different cenotes in one day.
Plus, what I loved about Xenotes is that you'll be in a smaller group and the park feels much more natural and less commercialized than any of the other Xcaret adventure parks.
So what do you think, are you ready to book your ticket to Xenotes?!
The post Xenotes Review: Is this Riviera Maya cenote tour worth it? (2023 Review) appeared first on Viva La Travelista.