Need suggestions for tours and things to do in the Mayan Riviera

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

I am taking the wife and kids (ages 8, 11 and 13) to the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya for spring break. I am looking for tour recommendations and other things to do in the area. We will have a rental car. My kids love the water and we would like to snorkel and maybe go scuba diving. Of course, we will want to visit the pyramids. Any advice and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Tim

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

http://www.entertainment-plus.net/tour_transport.cfm Tell Brant bigfrank sent you so you get the worst service he can give you,

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

With your group I would suggest Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Of course Chitzen-Itza is a great place, but it's a long trip and very hot there and the kids might get bored. For ruins, you might go to Tulum or Coba.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

With your group I would suggest Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Of course Chitzen-Itza is a great place, but it's a long trip and very hot there and the kids might get bored. For ruins, you might go to Tulum or Coba.

I second Tony's suggestion. We only did Xel-Ha but it was really a fun day, and from what I have heard Xcaret is great also. I wouldn't get talked in to the combo tour o Xel-Ha and Tulum because I think you will want to spend the whole day at Xel-Ha. Visit Tulum another day if you want to and maybe do some other things while there, beaching, snorkeling etc.
We also did a trip to Chitzen-Itza and it was great, but as Tony said the kids might get bored. It is the best of the ruins tho.
Spend some time in Playa del Carmen, it is a neat town to walk around and the beach is really nice there.

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

With your group I would suggest Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Of course Chitzen-Itza is a great place, but it's a long trip and very hot there and the kids might get bored. For ruins, you might go to Tulum or Coba.

I too agree with these recommendations. If you decide to go to Chichen-Itza, would recommend taking a bus tour as it is a bit of a drive away. Also would recommend taking games or something for the kids to do on the drive. When I went, they played a movie on the way back and the tour guide did some entertaining along the way, but with kids your age, you'd probably want some other options for them.

Xcaret was a bit expensive and the snorkeling there wasn't fabulous, but it may be better now.

Another tour that I really enjoyed was the day trip we took to Isla Mujeres. The snorkeling there was better than the other places that I've been around Cancun (but I'll admit we haven't snorkeled at Cozumel yet).

We enjoyed our swim with the dolphins as well (got it free for going to a timeshare presentation, would have been quite expensive otherwise).

Finally, don't forget to spend some nice time on the beach and just playing in the ocean. The kids will likely love this as much as almost anything else.

Your older kids might enjoy renting a jetski or going on a powerboat tour too.

[Wendy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wendy]

X-carret or Xel-Ha

I am also going down with my 15, 13 and 11 year old in August. We are staying at the Royal Islander. I've heard great things about both the Xcarret and Xel-Ha parks, but am unsure of what the difference is. Can anyone give some advice on what might be better for my age group?

Thanks!
Wendy

[biskits Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close biskits]

Tim
I just returned from Mayan Palace/Playa del Carmen last week.

I found a lot of info, tips and trip reports from below Playa-info site very helpful. It has a forum simliar to TS4MS and the people are just has helpful. There is no cost to join

Playa del Carmen, Mexico's Virtual Guide Book : Playa.Info

My wife and I did this trip with Mitch and it was a wonderful day....

Playa del Carmen - Anna James Tulum

Mitch Burkett, owner/guide YucaTreks Adventure Tours


Because there are so many in your group, you might be able to get a better deal. Go on above forum and PM him directly if you are interested.

Tell him Paul and Christine from Boston said hello!!!

Enjoy your trip!!!

Dont forget to check out the beach at Mamanitas in Playa.... You and your family will really enjoy it....

Best wishes,
Paul

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

Take the ferry to Cozumel. The beach is better on the other side of the island from where you dock. It costs $20 RT for adults - I don't know the price for children. Our grown kids went there to snorkel and absolutely loved it. I am not big into snorkeling, but the beach was nice there. We enjoyed our day and will go again the next time we go to the GM or MP at the Mayan Riviera.

I really liked both Xcaret and Xhel-ha. Kids might like Xhel-ha better. You can snorkel at Akmul near the Tulum Ruins. We like Tulum because it overlooks the ocean. We went to Chitzen-Itza once and last year, some friends wanted to take that tour from the GM. We told them that we had "been there - done that", so did not go. They went and said that they did not blame us for not going again. It was interesting, but a LONG day. They were glad to have seen it, but would not go again either. I would not take my almost 9 year old grandson there. He thought Tulum was neat, but it was more of a half day tour and he could go to the pool again. You kids will love the pool at the MP/GM.

[blr666 Member Find all posts View Profile Close blr666]

We took the ferry to Cozumel and went to one of the beach clubs, senor something. Anyways, they have trapolines in the ocean (close to the beach), kayaks, snorkeling, etc and it is mostly free as long as you order drinks or food. They have beach chairs, towels, & umbrella for free. It is a good day trip from the Grand Mayan. On the way back, you can dinner off 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen. We also took the Tulum/Xel-Ha tours through Brent. It was great. We had four kids under 7 with us and we opted out of Chichen Itza. Tulum was enough for them. Although, we did go to Teotihuacan the next week and they loved it.