One of the best things about staying at one of the Xcaret hotels is that you have unlimited and free full access to all its parks. And since I know that at first it can be a bit difficult to choose which ones to go to if you don’t have time to visit them all, I wanted to prepare this practical guide on ALL the Xcaret parks Mexico: what is the theme of each one, time you need to visit them, best and worst things, how many Xcaret parks Mexico are there in total, which Xcaret park is better, etc…
But not only that, because the Xcaret parks Mexico are one of the great attractions of the Riviera Maya and they are also worth a visit even if you are not staying in one of its hotels. So we will also talk about prices and which ones are more worthwhile.
Shall we start? 😉
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Our favorite Xcaret parks Mexico, which is the best Xcaret park? Xcaret Parks ranked
I am going to talk to you in detail about ALL the Xcaret parks Mexico a little further down, but if you have come to make a quick decision, our favorite Xcaret parks Mexico are:
This is our Xcaret Parks ranking 😉
It may surprise you that Xcaret or Xel-Há parks are not on this list, but both have animals in captivity and, as you may know, we are totally against tourism that encourages animal abuse. We will talk about them, but we wanted to let you know in case you prefer not to visit them for this reason like we do.
Xcaret parks Mexico, how many are there?
If we count Xenotes as a park, although we have included it in the tours section because we do not consider it a park, there are 8 Xcaret parks Mexico:
- Xcaret
- Xel-Há
- Xplor
- Xplor Fuego
- Xenses
- Xoximilco
- Xavage
- Xenotes
Comparative table of Xcaret parks Mexico
Although I am going to talk to you in detail about each one of them, I found it interesting to show you this comparative table of the Xcaret parks Mexico with the most important information about each of them so that you can see it at a glance (a little further down you will find the information about Xcaret tours):
| PARKS | XCARET | XENSES | XPLOR | XPLOR FUEGO | XOXIMILCO | XAVAGE | XEL-HÁ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THEME | 🎭 Cultural 💦 Water |
📷 Photographic / Optical Illusions 💦 Water 🎯 Adventure |
🎯 Adventure 💦 Water |
🎯 Adventure 💦 Water |
🎭 Cultural 💃 Party |
🎯 Adventure 💦 Water |
💦 Water 🎯 Adventure |
| OPENING HOURS | 8:30 – 22:00 | 8:30 – 14:00 / 13:00 – 18:00 | 8:30 – 17:00 | 17:30 – 23:00 | 19:00 – 23:00 | 8:30 – 17:00 | 8:30 – 18:00 |
| LOCATION | Next to the Xcaret hotels 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen 1 hour from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
Next to the Xcaret hotels 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen 1 hour from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
Next to the Xcaret hotels 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen 1 hour from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
Next to the Xcaret hotels 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen 1 hour from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
50 minutes from Playa del Carmen 10 minutes from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
50 minutes from Playa del Carmen 10 minutes from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
30 minutes from Playa del Carmen 1 and 15 minutes from Cancun ⤴️ How to get |
| FOOD | Included only in Plus tickets | Not included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| SWIMSUIT? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| PRICE | From 2.400 MXN | From 1.300 MXN | From 2.500 MXN | From 2.100 MXN | From 1.900 MXN | From 1.100 MXN | From 1.900 MXN |
| TICKETS AND DISCOUNTS | Buy your ticket with a discount here | Buy your ticket with a discount here | Buy your ticket with a discount here | Buy your ticket with a discount here | Buy your ticket with a discount here | Buy your ticket with a discount here | Buy your ticket with a discount here |
As you can see, the prices of the Xcaret parks Mexico are not low, but in general, they are very worth it. The cheapest, the basic ticket for Xavage, costs about 50 USD, but Xcaret or Xplor, which are the most expensive, cost about 100 USD per person. If you are Mexican, you have a 10% discount with the code PROMOMEX 😉
Do not worry because when I talk about each one, I will explain in detail the prices of the Xcaret parks Mexico and what the entrance includes.
Xcaret Parks Mexico, which ones are worth it and which ones are not?
If you have limited time and budget, I am sure that this mini-guide to the Xcaret parks Mexico will help you decide when it comes to investing the money for your next vacation. We will talk about what you will find in each park, what are the best activities, how much time you need to visit each one of them and how much they cost and what the ticket includes.
Before you begin, you should know that around the Xcaret universe there are many scams and supposed ‘bargains’, so it is best to ALWAYS book through the official website of the Xcaret group. All the links that you will find in this post lead to that website, which we confirm is completely safe.
They are not cheap parks, but if you are going to visit several they offer discounts per package 😉 In addition, children have a 50% discount.
1. Xcaret Park
Xcaret Park is the place with which the entire Xcaret universe began, which has now become one of the great attractions of Mexico. The good thing about Xcaret Park is that in addition to having fun activities (many of them take place in water) and being in a beautiful setting, it is also a great tribute to Mayan and Mexican culture and folklore.
Proof of this is its impressive night show ‘Mexico Espectacular’, which offers an incredible review of the history and traditions of the country: its dances, its sports, its music…
In the Xcaret Park there are rivers, beaches, a butterfly garden, a super curious cemetery, Mayan ruins, catacombs, caves, a lookout tower, boat rides, workshops and a lot of interesting areas and activities with which the day will fly by… A total of 50 attractions!
In addition, the Xcaret park has 7 buffet restaurants that you can enjoy for free if you buy the Xcaret Plus ticket (if you stay at one of the Xcaret hotels they are also included 😉)
From 5:00 p.m. the park begins to dress up and you will find different shows that are a small appetizer of the great night show.
You can consult the map with all the attractions of the park here.
We do not visit the Xcaret park because there are animals in captivity such as pumas, turtles, birds… And that encourages a type of tourism that we do not agree with, but if you want, it is possible to visit the park just to enjoy the night show paying a much cheaper ticket.
The cheapest ticket to Xcaret Park costs 2,400 MXN, approximately 100 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that there are several types of tickets to the park depending on what they include, the cheapest only includes admission to the park (you will have to pay for food separately) and the most expensive includes admission, unlimited food throughout the day and an extra activity.
2. Xenses
Xenses is the most recent addition to the Xcaret universe and is the most innovative and different of all the Xcaret parks Mexico. Xenses is quite an experience for all your senses, which will put you through his paces in the most fun and original way: optical illusions, visual traps, perspective games…
But not only that! In Xenses there is also room for adventure with water and air activities such as the Riolajante, Lodorama or the Bird Flight 😉
Xenses is divided into two areas: the Route of Doing and the Route of Feeling. In the first you will find the most adventurous activities (in which you will also get wet) and the second is the part in which they try to make your brain explode (here you do not get wet). And believe me, in some cases they succeed 😝
Our recommendation is that you first do the Route of Feeling with the Xensatorium as the main protagonist and then move on to the Route of Doing, in which yes or yes you are going to get wet. Go with a super open mind because at Xenses they are going to play with your brain to the limit. I do not want to tell you much more, because the best thing is that you discover it for yourself.
If the budget allows it, I highly recommend that you take the photo pass, because it is VERY worth it.
The cheapest ticket to Xenses costs 1,300 MXN, approximately 55 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that in Xenses food is not included in the ticket, so we recommend that you have a good breakfast so you don’t have to spend more there. The park can be visited completely in half a day, so you won’t need to have any food there if you don’t want to.
3. Xplor
Xplor is without any doubt our favorite park in Xcaret. If you have come to Riviera Maya to live exciting adventures you cannot miss it. Xplor is mainly known for its brutal zip line circuits (it has the highest zip line in the Riviera Maya), but the park is MUCH more than that.
In Xplor, in addition to the two zip line circuits (one more extreme and the other softer), which last about 45 minutes each, there are boogie routes (super fun!), impressive underground rivers through which it is wonderful to swim, walks through the caves, ‘hamacuatizaje’, rafting through caves… Seriously, it is a BRUTAL park. If we could only visit one, it would be this one without a doubt.
When you go to Xplor, keep in mind that the zip lines are the most requested activity, so it is the first thing you should do to avoid queues. The good thing is that in the center of the park, where the heart from which all Xplor activities start is located, there are traffic lights so that you know at all times how busy the different attractions are.
If the budget allows it, I highly recommend that you take the photo pass, because it is VERY worth it. In most activities you will not be able to take a camera / mobile with you, so it is the only way to save memories in photos 😊
The cheapest ticket to Xplor costs 2,500 MXN, approximately 107 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that the ticket to Xplor includes food and drinks, which you can enjoy not only in the main buffet restaurant ‘El Troglodita’, but also in the snack bars that you will find throughout the park during your visit.
4. Xplor Fuego
Did you like what I told you about Xplor? Well, the good thing is that you can also enjoy it at night, with all that that entails: jungle illuminated with torches and zip lines in the middle of the night. Don’t tell me you don’t think it’s a great plan.
Xplor Fuego is the night version of Xplor and the only difference between them is that in Xplor Fuego you can only do one of the zip line circuits. Everything else is the same as Xplor, but at night.
As in Xplor, if your budget allows it, I highly recommend that you take the photo pass, because it is VERY worth it.
The cheapest ticket to Xplor Fuego costs 2,100 MXN, approximately 90 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that the ticket to Xplor Fuego includes food and drinks, which you can enjoy not only in the main buffet restaurant ‘El Troglodita’, but also in the snack bars that you will find throughout the park during your visit.
5. Xoximilco
If you are a party lover you will love Xoximilco. Although it is true that Xoximilco is not a park itself, it is a brutal experience to get an idea of what a good Mexican party is like 😝
Perhaps the name sounds a bit familiar to you if you already know something about Mexico because Lake Xochimilco exists in reality and is in Mexico City. The concept of Xoximilco at Xcaret is very similar: colorful trajineras sailing across a lake while listening to Mexican music, enjoying traditional appetizers from the region, and tasting tequila, mezcal, and other typical Mexican alcoholic beverages. Sounds good, right?
What we liked most about Xoximilco, in addition to the brutal atmosphere that is generated in the boat, is how beautiful the trajineras are decorated, super colorful and illuminated. When it gets dark it is impossible to stop taking photos.
The experience begins by boarding the trajinera (they have a capacity for a maximum of 20 people) and navigating a lake while you make stops to listen to different music bands, pick up the different dishes or take photos. It is a super fun activity.
![Parques Xcaret: Xoximilco - El mejor seguro de viaje para México [+ 5% DESCUENTO] - xcaret parks mexico](https://comiviajeros.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2320.jpg "Xcaret Parks Mexico: which ones are worth it? Prices and opinion of all of them 13")
Oh! And do not forget to use the mosquito repellent that you will find in the trajinera when you get on, because you will need it. Xoximilco mosquitoes do not bite, they BITE 😝
The cheapest ticket to Xoximilco costs 1,900 MXN, approximately 80 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that the ticket to Xoximilco includes ALL the food and drink that you want to consume during the journey. Do not expect a copious menu, because what you will try are small samples of the most typical dishes of this area of Mexico such as the cochinita pibil.
6. Xavage
Of all the Xcaret parks Mexico, Xavage is undoubtedly the most extreme of all. It shares a location and space with Xoximilco, so when you visit it you will be able to see the ‘parked’ trajineras right next to the area known as ‘the island’.
Xavage is a park designed for the most adventurous and this can be seen, above all, in its attractions:
- Puma. A fast-paced route with a boogie over quite extreme obstacles.
- Libélula. Are you up for a high-speed spin and impossible turns in a water jet?
- Monos. Because climbing the trees is not just for monkeys 😝 If you are intrepid and fit, you will love this route through the heights through ropes and structures. You can choose between 4 levels of difficulty and the highest area is about 120 meters.
- Cocodrilo. Shall we take a kayak ride through the park’s lakes and rivers?
- Barracuda. If you usually love whitewater rides at amusement parks, you’re going to love this whitewater rafting ride in the park. It’s one of the park’s most sought-after rides, so if you want to do it, go early in your visit.
- Halcón. Do you want to fly like a hawk through this giant zip line?
- Serpiente. It is not an attraction itself, but the area of the park designed for the little ones (or for those who do not like risk so much).
It is important that you keep in mind that for some of these activities it is important that you have a minimum of physical shape, otherwise it will be difficult for you to enjoy them. Do a good research on each of them and calculate which entry pays you the most (or if it really pays you).
When you go to Xavage remember to wear closed shoes and protect yourself very well from the sun because most of the time you will be exposed without the possibility of sheltering under the shade. In addition, our recommendation is that you go first thing in the morning, as soon as it opens, to be able to do the most requested activities without queuing.
The cheapest ticket to Xavage costs 1,100 MXN, a little less than 50 USD, but keep in mind that with the most basic ticket you will have to choose only three of the six attractions that the park offers. The All Inclusive ticket costs just over 2,900 MXN, more than 120 USD and includes unlimited ALL activities.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that the ticket to Xavage includes food and drinks (only non-alcoholic drinks), which you can enjoy in the main buffet restaurant and in a snack bar that is open all day.
7. Xel-Há
Although most of the Xcaret parks Mexico include activities in the water, a 100% aquatic park could not be missing in the Xcaret universe. And for that, Xel-Há exists.
As in the rest of the Xcaret parks Mexico, the attractions in Xel-Há are almost endless: unlimited snorkeling, a float ride on the river, a 40-meter-high viewpoint with a slide included, rope games, zip lines and jumps, trails in middle of the jungle, cenotes, caves, caves and a very long etcetera.
You can consult the map with all the attractions of the park here.
In addition, Xel-Há has several buffet restaurants that you can enjoy for free with your ticket (if you stay at one of the Xcaret hotels they are also included 😉). They say that the buffets in this park are the best of all the Xcaret parks Mexico.
As basic recommendations for visiting Xel-Há: go as soon as possible and do the activities that tend to attract the most people first (the giant slide and the float ride on the river), wear water shoes, but closed ones, and don’t forget to protect yourself good of the sun.
We don’t visit Xel-Há because there are captive animals like manatees that people can dive with… And that encourages a type of tourism that we don’t agree with.
The cheapest ticket to Xel-Há costs 1,900 MXN, approximately 80 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that the ticket to Xel-Há includes breakfast, lunch and drinks, which you can enjoy not only in the buffet restaurants, but also in the snack bars that you will find throughout the park during your visit.
Xcaret Tours, which ones are more worth it?
In addition to all the Xcaret parks Mexico, the group’s experiences are completed with the Xcaret tours, which are also included in the ‘All Fun Inclusive’ concept of the Xcaret hotels.
In our opinion, unless you stay in hotels, there are a thousand better options to do these activities, but it is clear that if you can take the opportunity to do them for free, it is a great opportunity. Even so, we are going to talk to you about all of them in case schedules, times and prices fit you 😉
1. Xenotes
Xenotes is a guided tour thanks to which you will be able to learn EVERYTHING about cenotes and how they were formed. During the tour you will be able to visit 4 different types of cenote (sometimes, depending on how the tour goes, a fifth is visited): open cenote exposed to the sun, closed cenote, old cenote and cavern or semi-open cenote.
They are guided tours with a maximum of 20 people per group, so you will not have a mega crowded experience as in other activities of this type. In addition, the ‘exploitation’ of these cenotes is exclusive to Xcaret, so you will not find more people than those of the tour itself.
In addition to the visit itself and swimming in the cenote, thanks to this excursion you will be able to enjoy jumping, kayaking, slides, zip lines and snorkeling.
The cheapest ticket for the Xenotes tour costs just under 2,600 MXN, approximately 110 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Keep in mind that the tour lasts all day and that the price also includes snacks, drinks and food, which is simple but sufficient.
2. Xichen
How could it be otherwise, Xcaret also has a tour to the ruins of Chichén Itzá. On this all-day tour, you’ll take a full (and guided tour, which is essential in this case) of Chichén Itzá, the sacred Tsukán cenote, and the city of Valladolid.
The cheapest ticket for the Xichén tour costs just under 2,900 MXN, approximately 120 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
Please note that meals and entrance fees are also included in the tour price.
3. Tulum y Xel-Há
If you want to combine a guided visit to the Tulum ruins with the Xel-Há park, this is your tour. The excursion lasts all day and is perfect if you don’t have much time during your visit to the Riviera Maya and want to get to know the most cultural and intrepid part of the area.
The cheapest ticket for the Tulum tour costs just over 2,900 MXN, approximately 125 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
4. Cobá
If in addition to Tulum and Xel-Há you also want to visit the ruins of Cobá, you can do it with this other tour from the Xcaret group. You will visit with a guide two of the most important archaeological zones of the Riviera Maya and you will end the day cooling off in the natural water park of Xcaret.
The cheapest ticket for the Cobá tour costs just over 3,300 MXN, approximately 140 USD.
You can buy your ticket with a discount here.
