If you’re planning a trip to The Riviera Maya, Mexico you absolutely cannot miss visiting one of the world-famous Xcaret Parks.
Xplor Park by Xcaret is the most adventure-packed park within the Xcaret umbrella, and the most visited zipline park in the world. In honour of celebrating their 15th anniversary, the new attraction at Xplor Park is finally open! In this guide, we’ll be sharing our review of the Toboganxote and our best tips to make the most of your visit.
What is Xplor Park Known For?
The Xcaret Parks are known worldwide as the ultimate Adventure Parks in Mexico. Xcaret Park is their flagship park, with an additional 5 parks available, each offering a unique experience. Xplor Park is their ultimate adventure-packed park and offers a full day of fun.
You can expect to enjoy a massive zipline course high above the tree line, the biggest slide in Mexico, ATVs through the jungle and lots of underground activities. Xplor Park is most definitely the park you’ll want to visit if you’re an adventure lover.
We’ve visited every Xcaret Park and we always say that Xplor is our favourite, especially now that their new attraction, known as the Toboganxote, is officially open.
Where is Xplor Park Located
Like the rest of the Xcaret Parks, Xplor Park is located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The park is conveniently located to Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Cozumel. We visited Xplor from Playa del Carmen, and it only takes around 20 minutes to get to the park and is conveniently located right along the main highway.
As this region of Mexico is covered in dense Mayan jungle, the park is seamlessly integrated into the natural environment, making it one of the most beautiful theme parks you’ll visit.
Can't read now? Save it for later!
How to get to Xplor Park
You’ll want to plan your transportation to Xplor Park in advance, as this is a full-day park and we’d highly recommend arriving at the opening at 8:30 am. Luckily, there are at least four ways to get to Xplor Park; Xcaret Transportation, rental car, taxi and collectivo.
Xcaret Transportation: When you’re purchasing you’re Xplor ticket, you have the option to add the Xcaret transportation, which is what we’d recommend. The Xcaret busses are clean, safe and well-maintained, making it the best transportation option on this list. The buses offer pick-up and drop-off from most major hotels in the Riviera Maya. If you’re not staying in a hotel, you’ll still be able to get the bus at designated pick-up locations, near the main tourist zones. If you’re nervous about driving in Mexico or feel uneasy about the taxis, Xcaret Transportation is definitely the best way to get to Xplor Park.
Rental Car: Hiring a rental car for your trip to The Riviera Maya Mexico is an awesome option if you’re looking for the freedom to come and go as you please. As Xplor Park is located right on the Carretera Federal (main highway), it’s an absolute breeze to find. The parks also offer complimentary, secure parking near the park entrance. We understand that some people are a bit nervous about driving in Mexico, which is understandable. However, if you’re a confident driver and prefer the flexibility of a rental, this is the best option for you.
🚗 Looking for an affordable rental? Here are the best options!
Taxi: You can always grab a taxi on the side of the road to get to Xplor Park. To get back to your accommodation, you’ll find site taxis at the exit of the park. From Playa del Carmen, the fare shouldn’t cost much more than about US$20-25, but you can refer to the official price sheet below. Taking a taxi may be a convenient option as you won’t need to book anything in advance, however, we wouldn’t recommend this as the best option. The taxi drivers seem to have a tendency to overcharge, especially if they hear a foreign accent. Additionally, the vehicles tend to be poorly maintained and a lot of them don’t even have functional seat belts. So even though we can’t recommend this option, it’s always available if you’re in a pinch.
Collectivo (Public Bus): The collectivo is most certainly the most cost-effective transportation option on this list, and what we used to get to Xplor Park. We however wouldn’t recommend this option if you’re uncomfortable roughing it, or if you can’t speak basic Spanish. To get the Collectivo from Playa del Carmen, you’ll first have to get the Collectivo depot, located right behind the Chedraui in Centro. You’ll only wait in line for a few minutes, till you’re loaded onto a bus headed towards Tulum.
The buses run up and down the Cartera Federal all day long, so you’ll be able to grab a bus at any time of the day. One thing to know is that these buses are typically not very safe, as the buses tend to be poorly maintained and the drivers seem to think they’re in Formula 1. However, if you’re on a tight budget, this is definitely the best option for you!
How long do you need at Xplor Park
This is a full-day park, opening at 8:30am and closing at 5:00pm. Unlike the other Xcaret Parks, where you’ll have plenty of time to relax on the hammocks throughout the day, Xplor Park is absolutely jam-packed. So you can expect to be at the park enjoying the activities for the full 8.5 hours that the park is open.
We’ve been to Xplor twice before and both times we failed to get to all of the attractions, as there is just so much to see and do. We’d highly recommend arriving at the park at around 8:15am so you can get checked in and start Xploring right away.
🙊 Heading to Xavage Park by Xcaret? Read this article next.
What is there to do at Xplor Park
Xplor Park offers a total of 7 activities, as well as the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. Each activity takes anywhere from 25 minutes to 45 minutes (except Toboganxote), so getting to every attraction within the day is a bit of a challenge.
We followed a self-planned circuit of the park and loved the way our day was structured, especially because we were able to do the zipline course before the intense mid-day heat set in.
Below is exactly what’s available at Xplor Park, in the exact order we’d recommend visiting each activity:
Amphibious Vehicles
The amphibious vehicles are a ton of fun, and can take up to 4 people at a time. You’ll navigate through a carved-out path within the jungle, taking you through underground caves and up to a beautiful observation point where you’ll see the expansive Mayan Jungle below. This is a fast-paced and very bumpy ride, which in our opinion is a ton of fun.
Zipline Course
The Ziplines are the primary feature of the park and are not to be missed. You can choose to do the green line, which is more chilled, or the red line which will take you to the highest point in the park. The zipline course consists of 7 ziplines, ending in a refreshing river splash. We chose the red line, which seemed to be significantly quieter than the green line.
Toboganxote (New Attraction)
The brand-new attraction at Xplor is well worth the hype and we avoided two whole activities, just so we could experience the mega-slide twice. You’ll share a raft with 3 other people and you’ll go down the slide at various speeds until you end up in the refreshing wave pool. We love the slide for the unexpected drops and turns but know that this may be a little too adrenaline-packed for some people.
Underground Expedition
This course will have you following a path that includes underground rivers, slides and a small obstacle course. This course is a lot of fun and we’d recommend having good water shoes to protect your feet from the rugged terrain. You’ll also get lots of opportunities to get cool photos, with the Xcaret photo package.
Underground River
The underground river is an awesome way to experience the natural beauty of the Riviera Maya. You’ll receive a life jacket and enter the freezing cold water, which goes no deeper than chest height. You’ll be able to walk most of the river, while you enjoy the crystal clear water below, and prehistoric stalagmites and stalactites all around you. You’ll need water shoes to protect your feet from the uneven surface below. We wouldn’t recommend this activity if you’re claustrophobic.
Hammock Splash: If you’re a little afraid of the zipline course, the hammock splash is a good alternative. You’ll sit in a hammock attached to a zipline that will slide you down into a refreshing underground river.
Underground Rafts: The rafts are essentially the same experience as the Underground River, except for the fact that you’ll be navigating the course on a raft. If you prefer not to swim through the underground caves, and rather paddle then this would be the activity for you.
*We noticed that the Underground River and Underground Raft are pretty much the same activity, so we’d recommend just choosing one or the other.
🚨 Looking for affordable travel insurance? Here’s our favourite full-coverage plan
Is the new attraction at Xplor Park worth it (Toboganxote)
We first visited Xplor Park in 2020, and we could see from the zipline course that they were building a big new attraction, but we had no idea when we’d get to try it out. Fast forward to 2024, and the brand new 5-in-1 slide is finally open to the public!
After speaking to two people who had already tried the slide, we were a bit apprehensive about it because they both said it was terribly scary. However, we did not let their comments deter us, as we wanted to find out for ourselves.
In accordance with strict safety protocols, you’ll be paired with 3 other people who all fall within a combined weight range. Once you’ve got your group, you’ll meander uphill towards the beginning of the slide. We expected a very long wait for this attraction because it is so new, but to our surprise, we didn’t wait longer than about 45 minutes. It’s also good to know that there is sufficient shading for your wait in line.
Once it’s your turn to go, you’ll mount the 4-person raft, receive a quick safety briefing and head off. The slide starts slow, going through a dark tunnel before hitting you with that first adrenaline-packed drop. Without giving too much away, you’ll navigate through a few more unexpected twists and turns before the final big drop, ending up in the wave pool.
We loved the Toboganxote and didn’t find it nearly as scary as what our neighbours had told us it was. As we mentioned earlier, we even gave up two other attractions in the park, just so we could do the Toboganxote twice.
So if you had to ask us if the new attraction in Xplor is worth it, yes, it is so much fun and we already can’t wait to go back!
🍹Headed to Xel Ha Park? Read this article next.
Our must visit spots to your google maps?
Get over 400 of our favourite activities, sites, restaurants & secret spots in The Riviera Maya Mexico, on Google Maps!
What is included in The Xplor Park admission ticket
The great thing about your admission to Xplor Park, is that it includes food and beverages all day long! In addition to the food and beverages, you’ll also get access to all seven attractions available at Xplor, as well as a locker and helmet.
Xplor All-inclusive Admission
✔︎ Access to all 7 attractions at Xplor
✔︎ Light breakfast
✔︎ Buffet lunch
✔︎ All day non-alcoholic beverages
✔︎ Locker & helmet
Keeping in mind that the price may change slightly throughout the year, you can still expect to pay around US$150 per person for admission to Xplor Park. There are ways to get a bit of a discount on your ticket. First, if you can book your Xplor ticket at least 7 days in advance, this will secure a cheaper entrance than if you were to purchase just a few days in advance or at the gate. You will also receive a bit of a discount on your ticket if you purchase a two-day combo. You’ll find that you can get a 2-day combo ticket for Xplor Park & Xel Ha, for around US$230.
Additionally, throughout the year, you may be able to get some awesome discounts on the Xcaret Parks from discount coupons that go live at certain times throughout the year. If you sign up for our monthly newsletter below, you’ll find that we always include the latest Xcaret Park coupons for you to use.
Is the Xplor Photopass worth it?
Much like any big theme park in the US, the Xcaret Parks also offers a photo package, that you can purchase with your ticket or at the end of your day at the park.
As Xplor is such an extreme park, you won’t be allowed to take cameras and phones with you to most of the attractions. Additionally, the lighting conditions aren’t always the best, as many of the attractions are in underground caves.
As you walk around the park, you’ll notice many opportunities to get your photo taken at cool spots by scanning your entrance bracelet. Each ride you go on will automatically take your photo, meaning you’ll also get some awesome natural photos.
We purchased the photo package and were not disappointed! Overall, we got over 90 pictures, and most of them were really great. Here are a few of those pictures, so you can get an idea of what you’ll be getting.
What to bring to Xplor Park
When you arrive at Xplor, you’ll receive a key to your own locker, where you can store your personal belongings. But the lockers aren’t huge, so don’t bring a lot of stuff. As you’ve got access to food and drinks all day long, we wouldn’t recommend bringing your own food.
This is what we’d recommend bringing into Xplor Park:
Water Shoes: these will be required to go on the Toboganxote and will help protect your feet from the rugged terrain
UPF50+ Sunshirt: If you’ve got sensitive skin like me, you may want to bring a sun shirt to wear on the zipline course and the Toboganxote. The rest of the park is well-shaded by the jungle.
Quick-dry towel: you won’t be provided with towels at the park, so it’s best to bring your own.
Action camera with the clip attachment: You won’t be allowed to bring loose objects with you to most of the attractions. However, if you can clip your action camera into your helmet, you’ll be able to capture your whole day at the park.
What to wear to Xplor Park
You’ll mostly see people walking around in anything from tiny bathing suits to full-on tights. Having gone to Xplor the first time in just a bikini, I can tell you that was a mistake, especially for the zipline course.
Most of the attractions will require a lot of movement and the harnesses for the zipline really gets up in your business, so I wouldn’t recommend wearing anything too skimpy for comfort reasons.
Geovanny wore a bathing suit and I wore a pair of Under Armour exercise shorts and a sports bra, which was absolutely perfect for the day.
Is Xplor Park worth it?
Given that the Xplor admission is not the most budget-friendly, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth it. Aside from the attractions, the all-you-can-eat-and-drink definitely makes it worth your money. And we must say, the quality and variety of food on offer at the lunch buffet is seriously impressive.
🏝️ Headed to Xcaret Park? Read this article next.
When it comes to the activities and facilities, you won’t find anything better in this region of Mexico. The activities are incredible, especially the ziplines and Toboganxote. The facilities, including the lockers and bathrooms, are all amazing and very well-kept.
This park is truly world-class and just as good as any park you’d find in the US. We’re huge fans of the Xcaret brand and recommend the parks to everyone who visits.
