Dubbed the “Disney of Mexico,” Xcaret brings the whimsy and adventure of a theme park together with the incredible natural beauty of Mexico’s tropical rainforests. Xcaret is a large eco-tourism park built around an ancient Mayan archeological site only 47 miles (76 km) from Cancun. With such a short distance between Cancun and Xcaret, there’s no excuse not to leave the city for a ride on the wild side.
After a short 1 hour and 10-minute ride down the coast of the Riviera Maya, you’ll arrive in Playa del Carmen, a beautiful resort town. Xcaret is located 3 miles (6 km) south of the city center, right on the Caribbean Sea. With so much to see and do over its 200 acres, you may just have to make this trip twice during your vacation!
About Xcaret
Xcaret, or P'ole in the original Mayan language, means “small inlet” and was a large trading post for the Mayans. The archaeological sites discovered here date back mostly to the 1200s to 1500s and uncover missing information about their way of life.
### Xcaret Park
In the 1980s, the land surrounding the ruins was purchased for development alongside the growing boom in tourism to Cancun. The developers saw the potential to incorporate the unique archaeological and environmental elements with a traditional theme park. Natural cenotes and authentic Mayan ruins sit beside modern water slides and restaurants in a bizarre yet innovative fashion.
### Wildlife in Xcaret
By making these ruins and animals more accessible to the public, Xcaret is able to participate in conservation projects and education alongside fun activities. On the river route, you’ll swim under the green canopy of the tropics among mangroves and through underground channels. The estuaries and rivers of Xcaret flow right out to the ocean, and visitors can swim, ride boats, and observe local marine life.
### Mayan Culture in Xcaret
Xcaret has daily shows by local performers that highlight the colors, sounds, and flavors of pre-hispanic Mexico. Visitors can attend bombastic shows of traditional dances, music, and rituals. See folktales brought to life through plays, sports matches from pre-hispanic indigenous life, dances to regional songs, and the intricacy of ceremonial costumes.
Xcaret is sure to bring you closer to Mexican culture, flora, and fauna in a convenient resort-like environment. The distance of the ancient past almost instantly vanishes, even if just for a few hours. With 200 acres, 50 attractions, and six routes that weave all over the park, you are in for a big day!
From Cancun to Xcaret: travel tips
Add these steps to your to-do list before setting out for your Cancun to Xcaret transfer:
### Bring a refillable water bottle
You can bring your own water bottle into the park and refill it at one of its many water stations within the park. With all the walking you’ll be doing over Xcaret’s 200 acres, water is an absolute must.
### Come with a game plan
Before arriving at Xcaret, have your list of must-sees and map them out to maximize your time. Divide your day by “water activities” and “land activities” so you aren’t changing clothes multiple times per day, and bring a plastic bag to put wet items in after your water activities.
How to get from Cancun to Xcaret
The 307 highway is the only way to travel from Cancun to Xcaret, so the only question you need to ask is whether you'd like to travel with a scheduled shuttle bus or a more flexible private vehicle. All Daytrip drivers for Xcaret speak English and Spanish, and our live customer support is available 24/7. Our drivers are local professionals, and all vehicles are insured.
The best part of either of these options is not having to drive on Mexico’s hectic roads or stress about parking at one of the most popular attractions in the region. Each transportation option from Daytrip has its pros and cons, but which will you choose?
### Shuttle buses from Cancun to Xcaret
Pros: Shuttle buses are a low-cost option: Daytrip has seats from $12 (prices are in USD).
You can make some friends along the way who are also staying in Cancun.
Cons: You are picked up with other passengers at a central point in Cancun instead of right in front of your accommodation. (Although, sometimes, it is possible to have a custom pick-up for the shuttle bus ride, depending on demand.)
### Private drivers from Cancun to Xcaret
*Pros: Depart for the trip right from the front door of your hotel.
Add sightseeing stops to other local attractions, such as cenotes or the El Rey ruins. Our site-booking system makes it easy to add stops and even gives estimated times for each attraction.
Arrange your transportation to fit your unique scheduling needs.
Travel in privacy.
Cons:* It is more expensive than a shuttle bus. Our private transfers start at $23 per seat in a three-seater sedan.
Things to do when you get to Xcaret
After a quick drive from Cancun to Xcaret, it’s time to explore! Because you’re a smart and savvy traveler, you bought your tickets ahead of time and arrived early. Entry was a breeze, and you have a copy of the park map.
Xcaret is designed to bring you much closer to the Yucatan Peninsula’s stunning wildlife and natural wonders than a regular theme park. With that in mind, you’ll be ducking into caves, interacting with free-roaming animals, and have to watch for slippery rocks around water activities.
Activities can be as hands-off as observing pumas in their enclosures or as involved as snorkeling with fish, petting dolphins, and riding speed boats in the ocean.
Each route at Xcaret has a color and a theme. The routes are clearly marked with colorful tiles on the walkways, and each number on the map indicates an activity or point of interest. You’ll know you’ve reached your destination when you see a sign with the number and probably a crowd. Routes and colors are as follows:
River route - Black line
Aquarium route - Blue line
Beach route - Green line
Dolphins route - Red line
Mayan Village route - White line
Mexico Spectacular route - Brown line
### Workshops
At Xcaret’s workshops, you can learn how to cook traditional Mexican foods and make handicrafts. At one much-beloved workshop, you can follow the chocolate-making process from bean to bar with your own two hands. At others, you can learn weaving, dances, pottery, and more from local experts. Check if your desired workshop requires pre-booking or additional costs before arriving!
### Seasonal Events
Throughout the year, Xcaret highlights seasonal traditions in Mexican culture. The most popular one is the Festival of Life and Death Traditions, which takes you on a journey through Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This holiday blends elements of Catholicism’s All Saints Day with indigenous beliefs on life after death. This event runs from October 30th to November 2nd.
When is the best time to visit Xcaret
To get the most out of your tickets and arrive ahead of the crowds, visit Xcaret in the early morning. The opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, but the line begins to form before the park is even open, so aim to arrive 30 minutes before opening time.
When you plan out your schedule, take note of what time the workshops and special excursions start. Give yourself enough time in between activities to travel around the park to your next destination and change clothes if necessary.
Xcaret is a one-hour and 10-minute drive south down the coast from Cancun. This 47-mile (76-km) trip can be accomplished by booking seats in a shuttle bus, renting a private car, or hiring a private driver from a transportation company like Daytrip.
The Cozumel International Airport (CZM) is the closest, but it does not run as many flights as the Cancun International Airport (CUN). To reach the Cozumel airport, you will need to travel by ferry to the island and catch a taxi.
A private car. The only way to access Xcaret is to travel southbound on the 307 highway. A private car won’t make you pick up other passengers or travel to a meeting point. It can also reach higher speeds than a shuttle bus.
We think so! Xcaret has activities for all ages and ticket options and bonuses at a variety of price points. For large groups, upgrades like the photo package solve the dilemma of one person having to be behind the camera for group photos.
The easiest way to access Xcaret is to organize transportation ahead of time with a reputable company that provides shuttle buses, taxis, and private drivers. Confirm if your company will pick you up straight from your Cancun hotel or at a central meeting point.
Must-haves are: a photo ID, park tickets, the bank card you used to purchase the tickets, a water bottle, a swimsuit, dry clothes, and a waterproof bag. We highly recommend bringing water shoes with a backstrap (no flip flops) for the rocky, slippery paths around water activities.
沿途参观这些景点
埃尔雷遗址
Playa Delfines is popular with local surfers and is located right in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone. Surf like the dolphins
阿尔弗雷多·巴雷拉·马林植物园
One of the largest nature reserves in Mexico, this lush patch of jungle is home to the last troop of spider monkeys on the coast. The Jungle Troop
查克吞泉
Sunlight and trees pour into a small hole in the heart of this stunning underground cenote ornamented by beautiful cave formations. Light in the Dark
"Miguel estaba en tiempo y forma en la dirección que le dimos. Ya estamos en camino. Miguel es muy amable!!!"
Silvia B.
Uruguay
2025年12月1日
"Our driver was fantastic! Friendly, communicative, timely and gave us some fantastic recommendations (and stories)"
Nathan R.
United Kingdom
2025年11月7日
"This was one of the best private transport experiences I have had. From the communication of Day Trip regarding my fairly impromptu reservation (less than 24 hours) to the Driver Pablo M, it was fantastic. Not only was Pablo on time (actually early at both our pickups which was greatly appreciated), communicative, and super kind, he also went out of his way to take care of us and our needs even making a bathroom stop on the way to our destination. Will definitely be utilizing this service again in the future! Thank you!"
Nicholas O.
United States
2024年11月10日
" I want to express my appreciation for the prompt response from your company. I booked my trip at the last minute, and you managed to pair me with a driver within an hour.
The driver, Julio, arrived on time and was very responsible. The car was comfortable, and he even provided water for us. It was such a thoughtful experience!
I would recommend Daytrip to anyone planning a long-distance car trip."
Kat A.
Hong Kong
2023年1月7日
"Our experience with daytrip was amazing. Ruben, the driver was great! Super friendly, attentive and always in time. We will definitely be using daytrip agin. "
juliana s.
Canada
2021年12月9日
"Our trip to/from Cancun to Xcaret was very comfortable. The van was clean and liked the fact that the seatbelts worked. We really appreciated working with Ricardo and your company in accommodating our date changes due to illness in the family. All worked out well. Ricardo was respectful, nice, and was not overly talkative. He focused on the task at hand.
Your website was pretty easy to use. The email with all the pick up information of the car and driver was definitely a plus. Gave a sense of comfort.
Keep up the good work."
