Xcaret Park is the flagship theme park of the massive Xcaret Parks umbrella. Xcaret Park boasts over 50 natural and cultural attractions, making it nearly impossible to experience everything the park has to offer in one day.
In this post, we’ll be sharing 7 awesome things to see and do at Xcaret Park, so you can make the most of your time at this awesome Mexican theme park, in Playa del Carmen.
What is included at Xcaret Park?
With over 50 natural and cultural attractions included in your Xcaret General Admission, there is certainly no shortage of things to see and do. It is important to know that your general admission ticket does not include all that the park has to offer, however.
You are also able to purchase the Xcaret Plus admission, which gives you access to a beautiful buffet lunch at any of the restaurants on the property, as well as access to lockers and other awesome features.
There are also a multitude of add-on attractions and an incredible 7-course gourmet dinner that you can get as a part of the Xcaret Totel Admission.
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If you’re just planning on visiting with the Xcaret Park general admission, here are some of the best things included with your ticket; access to the three natural underground rivers, the beach, inlet and natural pools scattered all around the park.
You’ll also have access to the butterfly pavilion, coral reef aquarium and the aviary. You’ll also get inner tubes, life jackets and access to lounge chairs all day long. Although this is not all that’s included with your Xcaret general admission, these are some of the best things the park has to offer.
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What is the difference between Xcaret Plus and Xcaret general admission?
As mentioned earlier, the park is absolutely massive with over 50 attractions, so you can imagine how tough it is to experience everything the park has to offer in just one day.
Xcaret General Admission
✔︎ Access to the full-day park
✔︎ Swim in underground rivers & cenotes
✔︎ Snorkel in a natural inlet
✔︎ Access to cultural shows
✔︎ Entrace to Mexico Espectacular
If your vacation budget is a little more flexible, we’d highly recommend going for Xcaret Plus for a few reasons. Firstly, Xcaret Plus admission includes an incredible buffet lunch at any of the seven speciality restaurants on the property.
Each of the restaurants specializes in cuisine from different states within Mexico. We’d highly recommend the El Yucateco restaurant to experience the incredibly tasty cuisine of The Yucatan Peninsula.
Xcaret Plus Admission
✔︎ Access to the full-day park
✔︎ Changerooms & private lockers
✔︎ World-class buffet lunch
✔︎ Swim in underground rivers & cenotes
✔︎ Snorkel in a natural inlet
✔︎ Access to cultural shows
✔︎ Entrace to Mexico Espectacular
Additionally, the Xcaret Plus admission includes snorkel gear and access to the exclusive Plus area with lockers and changing rooms.
Essentially, you’re paying extra for the buffet lunch and snorkeling, which is worth it if you plan on being in the park from open to close.
💡If the buffet doesn't sound link your thing, The also have cafes!
How long should you stay at Xcaret Park?
As mentioned earlier, the park is absolutely massive with over 50 attractions, so you can imagine how tough it is to experience everything the park has to offer in just one day.
The park opens at 8:30 am and closes at 10 pm, and we’d highly recommend arriving just before 8:30 am to give yourself a chance to experience as much as you can throughout the day.
You’ll definitely want to stay till close because one of the best things the park has to offer happens in the evening; Mexico Espectacular, Xcaret Parks icon cultural show.
You can expect a full day of fun at Xcaret Park, so plan on arriving early and leaving late in the evening. If you enjoy the park but feel like one day is just not enough, Xcaret offers the opportunity to purchase a second-day pass at a fraction of the price.
The 7 best things to see and do at Xcaret Park
Now that you’re acquainted with what Xcaret Park has to offer, here is our list of 7 awesome things to see and do;
1. Explore any of the three underground rivers
The rivers are absolutely stunning and such a unique experience, as The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the only places in the world where you can experience this.
2. Visit the cemetary at Xcaret Park
This one may sound weird, but death is a huge part of Mexican culture. Typical Mexican gravesites celebrate life, rather than mourning it. This is a wonderful chance to see all the beautiful vibrant gravesites that you’ll typically find in ‘panteons’ all over the country. Don’t worry, it’s not a real cemetery.
3. Eat lunch at 'El Yucateco' restaurant
This activity is only included with the Xcaret Plus admission. The food served at El Yucateco is traditional cuisine from the area of the Yucatan Peninsula, so this is a great way to experience the cuisine of the area. Don’t miss the ‘cochinita pibil’, which is a slow-cooked pork traditionally eaten with tortillas or a fresh bread roll.
4. Snorkel In The Natural Inlet at Xcaret Park
This activity is included with the Xcaret Plus admission, where you’ll receive snorkel equipment. The inlet is beautiful and allows you to admire some of the gorgeous natural ocean life in this region of Mexico.
5. Catch the Mayan Warrior Performance
You'll notice that there are various cultural shows that happen throughout the day in Xcaret. However, the Mayan Performance is our favourite, as it's setting tells such a beautiful story. The performance is set deep within the jungle, under a breath-taking Ceiba tree.
6. Go Parasailing at Xcaret Park
The Paraxute activity is an extra paid-for activity offered at the park, but it’s 100% worth the extra expense. You’ll have the opportunity to see the crystal clear water and expansive Mayan jungle from such a unique perspective. We did this activity the first time we visited Xcaret, and it was awesome.
7. Do Not Miss Mexico Espectacular!
The night show, which is included in Xcaret Mexico general admission may just be the highlight of the entire park. The show is a magnificent tribute Mexico's prehispanic history and vibrant culture. The show is held in the incredible Gran Tlachco Theater and is a two-hour-long show that’ll keep you hooked the entire time.
Of course, there are a ton of other things to see and do at Xcaret Mexico, but having gone a total of four times together, these above-mentioned activities are in our opinion the 7 best things to see and do at Xcaret Park Mexico.
This is why we'd recommend a stay at a Xcaret Hotel
Not only does staying at an official Xcaret Hotel include your entrance to all of the parks and experiences, it also includes your transportation to and from the parks. The hotels are a bit pricey, but if you’re visiting more than one Xcaret Park, this option may save you money in the long-run.
What do I need to bring to Xcaret Park Mexico?
It is very important to arrive to Xcaret Mexico prepared, as there are both wet and dry activities available and you’ll want to be able to partake in all the park has to offer.
For the water activities, it is recommended that you bring a bathing suit and a UPF 50+ sun shirt to protect you from the sun. I preferred to wear swim shorts over a bathing suit, as I found it more comfortable to walk around for the majority of the day in those. You’ll also need to bring a towel to dry up.
We’d also highly recommend getting a pair of water shoes, as you’ll be walking around on stone all day long, which can be abrasive to the bottom of your feet.
The first time I visited Xcaret I did not take a pair with me and I regretted it. You can either get a pair off of Amazon, or at the park. Just keep in mind that anything you purchase at the park will come with a hefty price tag.
Later in the day, you’ll want to get nice and dry to enjoy Mexico Espectacular and to travel back to your accommodation dry. We’d recommend packing a change of clothes for the evening, particularly a pair of long pants to keep the hordes of mosquitos away.
Additionally, you should bring sunscreen and bug repellant with you, but it is very important to know which kind to bring, as certain formulas are prohibited in the park. For sunscreen, only the kind that is allowed contains titanium oxide and zinc oxide . For bug repellant, only the biodegradable kind is allowed in the park.
Another handy thing to bring into the park is a reusable water bottle. You’ll find water dispensers scattered all over the park for a refill, or you can just purchase water from the stores in the park, but that adds up quickly as you’ll be in the park for the entire day.
Lastly, it’s totally worth bringing an action camera along with you so you can snap some lovely photos to show off back home. We use the Osmo action camera and absolutely love it.
The GoPro is also an awesome product, but a bit pricier than the Osmo. If action cameras are not your thing, we’d definitely recommend getting a good-quality waterproof phone case. Please don’t buy one of the cheap cases you’ll find in the tourist hot spots, we’ve owned so many of these and they always leak!
In conclusion, Xcaret is 100% worth its hefty price tag because as you can see, there are so many awesome things to see and do at this incredible Mexican theme park.
We’ve been to Xcaret Mexico four times together and never get sick of it, it’s a beautiful and interactive experience. If you’re thinking of visiting any of the other Xcaret Parks, such as Xplor, Xel-ha or Xochimilco, we have some awesome discounts for you:
1 thought on “Visiting Xcaret Park: 7 Awesome Things To See and Do”
Xcaret is a huge park it seems. Great summary so we know what is important and what we should prefer. Saves us a lot of time on site. Thanks also for the explanation between the two options “General” and “Plus”, this was not so clear to us until now. Thank you for taking the trouble to keep us so well informed! We are already looking forward to discovering the other contents. Keep up the good work!