If you are searching for activities to do with your whole family, here is a list of family-friendly ideas, to enjoy your time together and create unique memories.

Xcaret:

Figure 1: "Xcaret Mexico" by Karsun Designs Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Located in Playa Del Carmen, extending in the Mayan Jungle, Xcaret is the Major Park of La Riviera Maya. Principally a water park, it possesses more than 50 activities, natural and cultural. On your program: Excursion, snorkeling, visit of an aquarium, museum and the turtle sea center, swimming in a cenote, underground river, lagoon, pools and the beach, and fun water games. The plus for families is a space design especially for children, call “Children’s World”, with water slides, labyrinths, cenote, hanging tunnels, a wading pool, and sandbox. You also don’t want to miss the incredible Xcaret Mexico Espectacular, an on-stage show with more than 300 artists, representing the history and legacy of Mexico.

Address: Xcaret - México, Carretera Chetumal - Puerto Juárez km 282 Int. B Colonia Rancho Xcaret, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. México. CP 77580.

Price (Online): For one day in the park, the ticket is MXN 2, 362.31 (USD 117.06) for +12 years old, MXN 1, 181.06 (USD 58.52) for children between 5 and 11 years old. The entry is free for children under 4 years old. 

Xel-Há:

Figure 2: "Xel-ha lagoon" by footloosiety is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Own by Xcaret, Xel-Há is located between Tulum and Puerto Aventuras. It is a water park, also referred to as an eco-park. It is the house of a natural inlet, surround by a stunning flora and fauna environment. The theme is centered around water, with an exciting range of activities, like snorkeling, water slides, tubing, river tour, cliff climb and jump, swim in a cenote, bike ride, and more. Design to satisfied families, kids can enjoy another “Children’s World” with water slides, rope climb, hanging games, wading pool, and activities such as painting and drawing. Xel-Há is the perfect place for a family day.

Address: Xel-Há - Mexico, Chetumal - Puerto Juarez Federal Highway, km 240, Premises 1 & 2, Module B, Xel-Há, Quintana Roo, Mexico, C.P. 77780

Price (Online): For one day in the park, the ticket is USD 89.99 for adults and USD 44.99 for children.

Jungala Aqua:

The Park is located inside the Vidante Complex, between Playa del Carmen and Cancún. This is also a water park, possessing areas design for children, with one being a waterslide complex, and the other being a rain fortress. This park offers private cabanas, perfect for a private place for the family. Jungala provides a more luxurious experience for visitors with a clean and relaxing environment (limited capacity), but the park succeeds in still being family-friendly with a range of activities for children.

Address: At Vidanta Riviera Maya, Cancún – Playa del Carmen Highway KM 48. Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo

Price (Online): For one day in the park, From MXN 1, 399 (USD 69.38) to MXN 5, 500 (USD 272.76) depending on the inclusion (cabanas, food,…). The entry is free for children under 3 feet tall.

Croco cun Zoo: 

Close to Puerto Morelos, Croco cun is not a Zoo where every animal is in a cage. It is a guided tour into the woods with an instructor, where you learn about the animal who lives in this environment. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to touch, hold and feed the wild animal around you. You will be closer than ever to a variety of animals, principally crocodiles, and other animals like snakes, monkeys, turtles, deer, parrots, caiman, and others. The zoo also possesses a children's playground. This is the perfect activity for children who are curious and adventurous, as well as their parents.

Address: 307 highway, Km 31, Carr. Cancún - Tulum, 77580 Puerto Morelos, Q.R.

Price (Online): For a 60 to 70 minutes guide tour, the ticket is USD 32 for people over 12 years old, USD 22 for children between 6 and 11 years old. The entry is free for children under 5 years old. 

Isla Mujeres and the maritime museum Musa: 

Figure 3: "Aerial of Isla Mujeres in Mexico" by dronepicr is licensed under CC BY 2.0

For an exceptional day with your family, I recommend a visit to the island close to Cancún, call Isla Mujeres. From Cancún, offer your kids a tour in a catamaran around the island's natural beauty and beautiful beaches. Once on the island, you will be able to do the most original activity, which is the maritime museum “Musa”. This museum has a particularly: it is underwater! The Museum offers a unique experience of snorkeling, visiting an underwater gallery of sculptures. This will also be the perfect opportunity to observe the marine lives that Isla Mujeres has to offer. If your children love the sea and know how to swim, be prepare for beautiful memories for the family.

Address (museum “Musa”): 77401 Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo

Price (Online): Diving from Isla Mujeres cost between $115USD and $155USD

Day trip to the ruin of Tulum and Coba, + Cenote

Another idea of a one-day activity is a visit to the Mayan ruin in Tulum and Coba. Relic of the past, it is an activity that both adults and children can enjoy. In Tulum, the ruins are together in an archeological site, not a lot of walking is required. In Coba, there is a possibility of renting bikes and transforming the visit into a bike ride. After the visit, the cenote open to tourists are not far from the ruin, this will be a good activity to relax the whole family after the visit. This activity is good for children to spend a lot of energic, and develop their cultural interest.

Address (the ruin of Tulum): Carretera Federal, Cancun - Chetumal Km 230, 307, 77780 Tulum, Q.R.

Address (the ruin of Coba): Carretera Federal Tulum 307, 77793 Cobá, Q.R.

Price: for the ruin of Tulum, the price is MXN 35 (USD 1.73), for the ruin of Coba, the price is MXN 40 (USD 1.98). Depending on the cenote, the price is between MXN 150 (USD 7.44) and MXN 450 ($22, 34 USD).

Voladores de Papantla

The last activity on this list doesn’t require a whole day like the other, it is a show happening on the 5th avenue in playa del Carmen, on the Parque Los Fundadores, which is a place by the sea. The Voladores de Papantla is a ritual made for the gods. Four people are swinging from the ground on a pillar, from the top to the bottom. It is pretty impressive and will, for sure, surprise the kids.

Address: Av Benito Juárez 251, Centro, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R.The last activity on this list doesn’t require a whole day like the other, it is a show happening on the 5th avenue in playa del Carmen, on the Parque Los Fundadores, which is a place by the sea. The Voladores de Papantla is a ritual made for the gods. Four people are swinging from the ground on a pillar, from the top to the bottom. It is pretty impressive and will, for sure, surprise the kids.

Price: Free, the performers are living off of this so a tip would support them.

La Riviera Maya is a place with a wide range of activities for the whole family, using principally water activities and putting the fauna and the culture at the front for unique kids’ activities.

Which activities excite you the most? Have you done one of them in your time in La Maya Riviera? Which one was your favorite? Comment Below!