Xplor Park

If your family's idea of a perfect day involves flying through the jungle canopy, driving amphibious vehicles through flooded caves, and paddling underground rivers lit by stalactites, Xplor Park is your destination. This adventure park near Playa del Carmen packs more thrills per hour than any other attraction in the Riviera Maya.

The park centers on four main activities, and you can repeat any of them as many times as you want during your visit. The zip line circuit features 14 lines across two routes, including the highest in the Riviera Maya. Kids as young as 5 can ride (with height requirements met), and the landing systems are automatic — no braking skill needed.

Several lines dip you just above the jungle canopy or drop you toward underground cenote pools.

The amphibious vehicles — real jungle jeeps — follow a route through dense vegetation, across mud tracks, and into partially flooded caves. Kids can't drive (minimum age 18 for drivers), but they absolutely love being passengers on this bumpy, splashy ride.

The underground river experience is something you won't find anywhere else. Using special hand paddles, your family navigates through limestone caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, with soft lighting creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The water is warm and waist-to-chest deep.

The 5-in-1 waterslide puts your family on a four-person raft and sends you through four different types of descent — curves, drops, and tunnels — before launching into a giant wave pool. It's a screaming, laughing finale that families ride over and over.

Xplor includes a buffet lunch and unlimited snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, so there's no need to bring food or worry about extra spending. The park has clean facilities, changing rooms, and lockers.

Note that Xplor has a minimum age of 5 and height requirements for the zip lines. It's not suited for toddlers or infants. For families with older kids and teenagers who crave adventure, it's arguably the best day you can have in the Riviera Maya.