Are you looking for some serious heart-pumping, adrenaline-fueled fun while visiting the Cancun area? Well, look no further than Xplor Park! Located in Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun, this park offers everything from zip-lining to underground river rafting and even jungle off-roading. As a frequent thrill-seeker, I was naturally intrigued by all Xplor had to offer. All four of us loved it! So much, we went twice.
You can visit during the day or during the evening for a nighttime experience called Xplor Fuego. If you are staying at Xcarat Hotel or Hotel Arte Xcarat admission is included in your stay. They even have a bus that will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the park.
Ziplines
First up, the zip lines. If you’ve got a fear of heights, you might want to sit this one out. But for those brave enough to take on the challenge, it’s an absolute must. The lines are long enough to give you a real rush but not so long that you start to question your own mortality like Noah sometimes does when we are doing this type of stuff. And the best part? Just when you think it’s over, you fly into a pool of water and end up soaked. (Personally, that’s my least favorite part.)
We like to do the zipline as the sun is setting. The views are incredible. Plus, once it’s dusk there’s fire ring you can zipline through and it makes for a great photo. You will definitely want to purchase the photos here. All throughout the park are photo spots for you to capture great images.
Toboganxote Water Ride
This is a totally insane water ride that I could only ride once because it scared the crap out of me. All three of my kids loved it. We rode it while it was still light outside but you can also ride it in the dark.
You have to have four people in a tube and it’s quite the climb up to the top of the ride. The 135 ft climb is worth it though. The Xplor website describes the ride better than I can:
“Go down four different types of descents, starting with the sphere and moving as if you were a pendulum to then reach the half-wave and rise with the inertia to the highest point and continue towards the tube that leads to the whirlpool. Immediately, you will leave at full speed towards the 72-ft (22 m) vortex, the largest in Latin America, to follow the zigzag route towards the final part.”
It was that highest point that is beyond scary. I still don’t understand how we didn’t flip out of the tube.
Underground River Rafting
Next on the itinerary was the underground river rafting. If you’re looking to cool down from the hot Mexican sun, this could be your favorite experience. At night it is pretty dark down there. It was so dark that none of my photos came out and the video I took is took dark to share.
You have to walk through a cave to get to it and I got kind of lost, hence this photo.
Jungle Jeep Tour
With all the activities being fairly physical, it was a welcome break to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Granted the ride isn’t exactly smooth. If you’ve got neck issues skip this activity.
If you did this activity more than a few years ago you’ll be happy to learn that they expanded the drive and it’s quite long now! So long, we would change drivers half way thru next time!
One thing to keep in mind is if it has rained recently. One of the times I was here they had a lot of rain and when I hit a puddle a bit too hard I totally soaked us!
Hammock Splash
Lastly, we have the hammock splash. It’s exactly what you think it is. You slide down a short zip line in a mesh hammock and you end up in the water. Sometimes you can race. It just depends on how many workers they have.
Food Included
Xplor is an all-inclusive package which means food is included too. There is an extensive buffet with good food as well as a snack station where you can get tamales and cookies. From what I could tell this park is alcohol free.
Conclusion
If I could sum up my Xplor experience, I’d say it was pure exhilaration. This park is a must-visit for adventure seekers looking for that next-level experience. Be sure to wear water shoes, a swimsuit, waterproof everything including a waterproof cell phone holder, bring and towel, and your sense of humor! You’re sure to walk away with some great memories and an even greater appreciation for living life to the fullest. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to Xplor!
Pro-tip: Regardless of when you visit, if you’re not wearing waterproof mascara, you might end up looking like a sad, soggy raccoon. I know because that’s what I looked like.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).
I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.
If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.
Choose Activities and Tours
To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.
When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.
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Selvatica is an incredible adventure park south of Cancun with all kinds of extreme activities right in the jungle-like off-roading, ziplining, and more.
