Riviera Maya Tours & Excursions

For guests at Sandos Caracol and Sandos Playacar

You’re staying in the heart of the Riviera Maya — one of the most adventure-rich destinations in the world. The Seek & Go desk in your resort lobby can book any of these experiences, or reach them directly via WhatsApp at +52 984 152 4671.

Everything below includes round-trip transportation from your resort, guides, and equipment. Just show up.

Xcaret Parks

The Xcaret Group operates the best eco-parks in Mexico. All are within 30–60 minutes of your resort.

Xcaret — The flagship. Underground rivers, snorkeling, wildlife, butterfly pavilion, and the famous “Mexico Espectacular” evening show with 300+ performers. A full day easily.

Xel-Há — The natural water park. An all-inclusive snorkeling paradise in a massive inlet where freshwater meets the Caribbean. Unlimited food and drinks included. Bring nothing but your swimsuit.

Xplor — Adventure park with the best zip-line circuit in Mexico (14 lines, some over a mile long), amphibious vehicles through jungle and caves, underground river rafting. High adrenaline.

Xplor Fuego — Same as Xplor, but at night with torches and fire. A completely different vibe.

Xenotes — Visit four different types of cenotes in one day: rappel into a cavern cenote, zip-line into an open cenote, kayak a semi-open cenote, and swim an ancient cenote. Small groups, jungle picnic lunch included.

Xenses — Sensory park with optical illusions, underground rivers, mud baths, and zip-lines. Great for families, less intense than Xplor.

Xoximilco — Floating party on colorful Mexican gondolas (trajineras) with mariachi, tequila, and traditional food. Evening event only.

Mayan Ruins

The Yucatán has more accessible Mayan archaeological sites than anywhere else. Three are essential:

Chichén Itzá — One of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Pyramid of Kukulcán is iconic, but the entire site is massive: the Great Ball Court, Temple of Warriors, Sacred Cenote. About 2.5 hours from Playa del Carmen. Seek & Go offers Xichén Classic (with cenote swim) and Xichén Deluxe (with lunch at a colonial hacienda in Valladolid).

Tulum — The only major Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Smaller than Chichén Itzá but the setting is unbeatable — ancient temples on cliffs above turquoise water. Just 45 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Often combined with Xel-Há or cenote visits.

Cobá — Deep in the jungle, less crowded than Tulum or Chichén Itzá. You can still climb the main pyramid (Nohoch Mul) — 120 steps to a view over endless jungle canopy. Rent a bike or hire a bike-taxi to cover the spread-out site. Often combined with a Mayan village visit and cenote swim.

Cenotes

The Yucatán Peninsula sits on limestone riddled with underground rivers. Where the limestone collapses, you get cenotes — natural sinkholes filled with crystal-clear freshwater. The ancient Maya considered them sacred portals to the underworld.

There are thousands of cenotes in the region. Some are open-air swimming holes, others are caverns you rappel into, others are pitch-black caves for advanced divers.

Xenotes Tour — The best cenote sampler. Four different cenote types in one day with activities at each (rappel, zip-line, kayak, swim). Small groups, excellent guides, jungle lunch.

Cenote visits on combo tours — Most Seek & Go packages to Tulum, Cobá, or Chichén Itzá include a cenote stop. Ik Kil (near Chichén Itzá) is famous — a massive open cenote with vines hanging down to the water.

Ruta Maya Tours — Multi-stop tours combining ruins, cenotes, and sometimes snorkeling. The “Tulum + Akumal + Cenote” combo is popular.

Island Trips

Two Caribbean islands are easy day trips from Playa del Carmen:

Isla Mujeres — Small island north of Cancún. Catamaran day trips include sailing, snorkeling on the reef, beach club time, and lunch. The island itself has a laid-back beach town, a sea turtle sanctuary, and Garrafón Natural Reef Park. Trips depart from Cancún but include pickup from Playa del Carmen.

Cozumel — Larger island directly east of Playa del Carmen (45-minute ferry). World-class diving and snorkeling on the Palancar and Colombia reefs. Day trips include snorkeling at multiple reef sites, beach time, and lunch. The town of San Miguel has shops, restaurants, and the Discover Mexico chocolate experience.

Holbox — Remote island north of the Yucatán, known for whale shark encounters (June–September), bioluminescent waters, and flamingos. Full-day trip from Playa del Carmen.

Water Adventures

You’re on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the second-largest reef system in the world, stretching from Cancún to Honduras.

Snorkeling — Included in most island trips. The reef is right offshore. You’ll see parrotfish, angelfish, sea fans, brain coral, and often sea turtles and rays.

Scuba Diving — Playa del Carmen is a world-class dive destination. Reef dives, cenote dives, night dives, and bull shark dives (November–March) are all available. Seek & Go coordinates with local dive operators for certified divers.

📺 Watch my scuba diving videos from this trip: 🤿 Scuba Diving on the Mesoamerican Reef →

Swimming with Turtles at Akumal — Akumal Bay has resident sea turtles that graze on seagrass. Guided snorkeling tours let you swim alongside green turtles and loggerheads in shallow, calm water. Just 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen.

Whale Shark Encounters — Seasonal (June–September). Boat trips depart from Isla Mujeres to swim with the largest fish in the ocean. These filter-feeders congregate here to feed on plankton. Snorkel only — no scuba, no touching.

📺 Watch my whale shark encounter videos: 🦈 Whale Sharks off Isla Mujeres →

Parasailing — Available right off Playacar beach through Seek & Go. Fly 200+ feet above the Caribbean with views up and down the coast.

Combo Tours & Day Packages

Most guests want to maximize their time. Seek & Go offers combination packages:

• Tulum + Xel-Há — Morning at the ruins, afternoon snorkeling and all-inclusive at Xel-Há
• Ruta Maya Akumal — Tulum ruins + swimming with turtles + cenote swim
• Mayan Adventure — Guided cavern tour + cenote swim + regional lunch
• Chichén Itzá + Cenote + Valladolid — The full cultural day trip
• Xcaret + Chichén Itzá (2-day package) — Best of both worlds

Book Through Seek & Go

Seek & Go is the official Sandos in-house tour agency. Their desk is in your resort lobby.

WhatsApp: +52 984 152 4671
Email: info@seekandgo.mx
Website: seekandgo.mx

They handle everything: booking, payment, pickup times, equipment. Prices are competitive with what you’d find booking direct, but with the convenience of on-site support and Spanish/English staff who know the area.

On-Resort Wildlife

You don’t have to leave the resort for wildlife encounters. Sandos Playacar and Sandos Caracol are built into the jungle, and the wildlife knows it.

Coatis — These raccoon-like mammals roam the grounds in groups, especially around breakfast and dinner. They’re bold and curious — guard your food on outdoor patios.

Spider Monkeys — At Sandos Playacar, spider monkeys swing through the trees and sometimes come down to interact with guests. They’re wild but habituated to humans. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times.

📺 Watch my monkey feeding videos from Playacar: 🐒 Spider Monkeys at Sandos Playacar →

Iguanas — Everywhere. Sunning on rocks, crossing paths, lounging by the pool. They’re harmless and photogenic.

Tropical Birds — Toucans, parrots, and dozens of other species live in the surrounding jungle. Caracol’s eco-focus makes it particularly good for birding.

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