3 Nature Reserve Trips near Playa del Carmen Worth the Money

1.Coba Ruins, Punta Laguna Nature Reserve, Cenote and Mayan family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 489 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $184Our pick

Ride through Coba’s jungle-set ruins with an archaeological guide, then look for monkeys at Punta Laguna, paddle a lagoon, try a zipline, share a Maya meal, and swim in a cenote. The eight-hour small-group tour costs $184 per person, with transfers from Tulum and some Playa del Carmen areas. Guides named in recent outings include Carlos, Marco, Alonso, and Luigi.

“This tour is a perfect balance of history, adventure, and relaxation! Our guide Luigi was knowledgeable about the Mayans and able to bring life to the ruins. Add to that seeing probably 30 monkeys in the wild, a zip line, lunch at an amazing small restaurant, and relaxing/jumping from 8 meters into a Cenote made for a perfect day in Cobá and the surrounding area!”

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2.Río Secreto Nature Reserve from Playa del Carmen Entrance or Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 168 reviews · 3 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $89Best value

Walk and swim a one-kilometer route through Río Secreto’s cool underground galleries, guided by a small group and headlamps. Wetsuit, helmet, water shoes, safety vest, locker, towel and a regional buffet are included. Choose admission only or add transport, Tulum or Puerto Morelos snorkeling. Guides such as Diego, Fernando and Sarah have earned praise for their care and local knowledge.

“Amazing tour! From walking through a cave to rappelling into a cave and ending with swimming in a cave, our entire day was an absolutely fantastic! We highly recommend!”

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3.Private Tour Tulum Ruins and Snorkeling in National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $195

Spend about seven hours on a private outing from Playa del Carmen, with a visit to Tulum’s Maya ruins, time for sea views and photos, snorkeling equipment, and lunch included. The water portion may bring you close to turtles, rays, and reef fish. Guides on past trips have included Jhony, Fernando, Alex, Ulises, and Cesar.

“Jhony was the perfect tour guide. Very professional, informative, social, punctual… can’t ask for more. The tour was seamless and we are so happy we went on it.”

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