My husband booked Carey tours for swimming with the whale sharks before our vacation in Riviera…read moreMaya. We got picked up on time from our resort, got to the boat and was served a little breakfast before we headed out. It was a rough day on the ocean (choppy), but an amazing day. We were supposed get two jumps in with the whale sharks. It was our lucky day! First we swam with a whale shark, then we got to swim with a Manta Ray! So great! Then they let us do another whale shark jump. In our group, my husband and I were the only ones who got to swim with the Manta Ray. They don't see them that often. After our jumps, they took us to isla mujeras for fresh ceviche prepared by the captain. We got to hang out in the Caribbean blue water. This was such a great experience!

We booked a Cenote tour with this company as an activity for a bachelorette party. The prices vary…read morebased on the group size. We ended up paying $125/person before tip. Our tour guide picked us up from our place of residence and we visited 3 different cenotes. The first one was a popular one called Gran Cenote which was beautiful! Our tour guide (I wish I remembered her name!!) was very nice and so much fun! She was engaging, knowledgeable, patient, and very accommodating. The second Cenote was tak-bi-ha. This was a cave with bats in it! The third cenote was a completely open one called Xunan ha. It was really fun to explore these different cenotes. They also provided snorkeling gear and we were able to snorkel in each of the cenotes. It was nice to have our guide guide us through the closed/dark areas of the cenotes with lighting. In the middle of the day we also had lunch at a local place. The food here was just ok and very greasy. Also several people in our group got sick later that day so not sure if there was an issue with the food or how clean the water was at the lunch spot...would be careful especially with drinking water here. Other than that we had an amazing time. I'm sure it would've been cheaper to go to these cenotes on our own but it was worth it to have this tour group organize everything for us, provide transportation, etc. Plus both our driver and your guide were amazing and made the day even more fun!

We had such an amazing time on the Tulum and cenote and snorkeling tour! Tulum was beautiful, and…read moreswimming and snorkeling in the cenote was an unforgettable experience. Lalo and "Sexy Chava" made the entire day so much fun--they were friendly, funny, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone was comfortable and having a great time. They truly made the experience extra special. We highly recommend this tour, especially with Lalo and Sexy Chava!

Our group of 8 friends booked the excursion with the cenote and sea turtle snorkeling recently…read more Booking was easy through Viator, a bit pricey but worth the experience. We were picked up from our resort right at 7 am and then we made our way to the Cancun Adventures office to wait for two other couples from other resorts. This ended up taking quite a bit of time, but thankfully there is a coffee shop next door where we got some caffeine and a snack. They did offer us cold bottled water and bananas on the bus (I would bring extra snacks because by the time we finished at the cenote I was starving and had to pay $6 for a small bag of chips at the cenote). The bus was pretty crowded with 12 people, and driving back into the jungle to the cenote was VERY bumpy. Be sure to take some dramamine if you get car sick! Omar was our guide and he was amazing. He told us about the area of Mexico we were in, and talked about the cenotes and what we could expect at each stop. Once we got to the cenote, we were offered a Mayan blessing, showered off, and headed into the cenote. They do not allow any photos or devices in the cenote. (They provide a locker for your stuff.) Once you get into the cenote they take your photos, which was kitschy and VERY expensive ($50 for one photo), but I get it's part of the tour. I absolutely loved the cenote experience itself - it was so cool to learn about and Omar's background in biology made it very informative. This part was about an hour, then you could shop a bit (they are pretty pushy but you can politely decline). Then we headed on to the snorkeling portion. I personally don't really love snorkeling, but it was fun to see the turtles! We saw about 4 or 5, but it was a bit chaotic with other groups everywhere. Then we headed to the beach club for lunch. This private beach was peaceful and the food was delicious. I personally loved the beef burrito. Mix the hibiscus and lemonade half and half for a tasty beverage. There are some areas to relax and changing rooms, so bring dry clothes to change into if you want. Pack a towel! Overall the tour took much longer than I was expecting, so be sure to plan for that if you have a dinner reservation or other evening plans. But I loved the experience and Omar was awesome.

This excursion was the highlight of the trip for myself and my 3 girlfriends. We were staying in…read moreCancun and it took us about an hour and half to get to Alltournative but it was so worth it! Our guide, Erik, could not have been more of a delight. He was so friendly and made the whole experience that much more incredible. His knowledge of the site and his safety tips helped us at each event. While we were there we went through several ziplines, snorkeled through ancient cenotes, rappelled, and got to eat some delicious and authentic Mexican food. I absolutely recommend this excursion for anyone looking for something exciting on their trip.

During our time in Rivera Maya, we booked an excursion with Alltournative to check out Coba ruins…read moreand the Mayan area. First, we started off in a Mayan town where we began our adventure. We did 2 ziplines, canoed, swam in the Cenote, and ate a delicious meal. Our tour guide Tonica was outstanding, explaining to us the culture of the Mayans and the history of the area. No phone are allowed during this portion, but there are lockers available to store your things. Our 2nd stop was at the Coba ruins, where we saw the Mayan temples in the town of Coba. It was a long walk to the main temple, but it was a cool experience and beautiful architecture to see. The whole trip was an all day adventure, but well worth it! Definitely recommend if your looking to learn about the culture of the area and the people who live here! :-)

This is the coolest thing we've ever done. We spent the afternoon walking, wading and swimming…read morethrough massive cenote water caves deep undeground. The exquisite formations are 1.5 million years old. There is art on the walls that's 4,000 years old and predates the Mayans. All of the animal life here - arachnids, catfish, shrimp and others subsist solely on bat guano. This was a magical experience.

Rio Secreto was an amazing experience!…read more I went to Cancun for a girls' trip, and honestly, I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I tend to get anxious about new experiences, but I always try to push myself--knowing I'll be happy I did afterward. When you arrive, check-in takes place in a hidden, lush area with benches. A short video plays so you can get an idea of what Rio Secreto is all about. After that, you check in, sign your waivers, and meet your guide for the day. We totally lucked out--our guide, George, was incredible! The guide makes all the difference. George was full of life, personality, and knowledge. He truly immersed us in the caves and shared so much about Mayan culture. I can't say enough nice things about him! Your guide then takes you by van to the Rio Secreto caves, about a 15-minute drive on an unpaved, natural, and bumpy road. I don't get carsick, but if you're prone to it, you may want to take something beforehand. The ride itself is scenic and surrounded by lush greenery. Once you arrive, you'll find lockers, showers, bathrooms, and seating areas. Be prepared to remove all jewelry, as it's not allowed in the caves--the water must remain pure. You'll take a quick shower before putting on your wetsuit and water shoes (they provide them, or you can bring your own). You'll also wear a helmet with a light. The facility is extremely clean and well-maintained. I was genuinely impressed by how often they sanitized the equipment, floors, and bathrooms. Once you're geared up, you take about a 10-minute walk to the caves. Before entering, you'll participate in a beautiful Mayan ceremony meant to cleanse your spirit--and take a quick group photo. Important tip: You cannot bring your cell phone! Let it go and just enjoy the moment. A photographer will take pictures throughout the tour, and trust me, it's worth it. Walking and swimming through the caves while listening to George share stories about the Mayans, the legends, and the discovery of Rio Secreto was truly magical. The water is cool at first, but you get used to it quickly. Floating through the crystal-clear water surrounded by stunning cave formations took my breath away. After the tour, you're treated to a delicious meal--including handmade tortillas! An amazing day and an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend Rio Secreto!

Easily one of my favorite experiences during a trip to Tulum. This stop was a part of a guided tour…read moreso I'm not sure different it would have been if we popped in on our own. There was a stand where you could buy your ticket and gear, if needed. Snorkels and flippers are a must! The walk through the trees was lovely and there are plenty of benches by the lagoon entrance to put on your gear, take off shoes, etc. We were there in Dec, the water was a bit chilly, but you quickly got used to it. We swam for like an hour and the life jackets made it so easy to rest as needed. I saw so many colorful fish and it was a beautiful, sunny day. I literally felt like alot of the fish I saw were the same ones I see at aquariums sometimes. So cool and such a great day!

Probably the most underwhelming snorkeling experience that I have had. This was my first time…read moresnorkeling in a lagoon and I was really excited because the water looked clear and beautiful on land. We came here with a tour guide around 11am in February, and the water was not only cold, but there were not many fish. When there were fish, it was the same type of fish over and over again. Maybe she just didn't take us to the right places, but I didn't see anything that excited me. I probably wouldn't want to come here again to snorkel. There are probably much better places for it!

Great day tell with Oliver as our guide. He's very friendly & knowledgeable. E we hit Tulum ruins…read morewhere he explained Mayan history. We were advised to leave at 8 by Adolofo who sold us the trip. Tulum ruins were empty when we arrived. By the time we left it was getting packed with large tour buses. Next into to cenote for some snorkeling is cool, refreshing fresh water caves. Everyone wears life vests so it is very safe. Again Oliver explained history of cenote use by the Mayan people and how they believe they were formed. In way back to Playa del Carmen, we hit Tropi Taco. Food was muy delicioso as was the choice of juego. Lunch was included in the price as was beer, water, & Gatorade on ice in the van. Overall, great trip with a great guide Oliver

My husband and I stayed at playa del Carmen and wanted to do some exploring in the Tulum area…read more There's plenty of taxis waiting to take you out but it's hard to find one coming back so we inquired with this company about a package that would take take us out to the Mayan ruins and to a cenote. The price sounded fair and we booked for 2. Adolfo helped us and we informed him we wanted something mellow because I am pregnant. Some of the perks he promised were water, buffet lunch, umbrellas for shade and extra precautions because of my condition. He asked us to meet him outside the booking office the next morning at 11:30am so he could walk us to our driver that would be around the block. He wasn't there, not a problem someone else walked us over. On average the trip was suppose to be 11:30-6pm I believe. Our driver was horrible. Keep in mind we are both Mexican, live in LA and have experienced Tijuana drivers so we are used to wild driving. This was completely unsafe and on a different level. It's about an hour drive. We were in a van with a family from Canada and one of the little kids threw up because of how fast this guy was going. I saw the cooler in the van but no one was offered water. We got to the ruins and we were handed off to our tour guide. We were led to the bathroom and an expensive gift shop were everything is ridiculously overpriced. We bought water here. It was scorching hot no offer of the promised umbrellas. The guide was rushing through and said to follow him and we would have time in the end to go back into the ruins to look around and take pictures if we wanted. We were asked to meet him at 3 for pick up. Although we were all done looking by 2. The Canadian family was probably down at 1 because they wore sandals and it was too hot for them. Wish they would tell you bring walking shoes, hats and umbrellas as there is little to no shade. A lot of wAsted time here waiting. Same driver picked us up and took us to the cenote. The drive in is long, unpaved and extremely bumpy. I was super worried for my belly and in pain. This guy was driving in extremely fast. I told my husband to say something about his driving and he seemed bothered. First he said someone else would be picking us up and that we should let the driver know ahead of time. Mind you our registration form indicated I was pregnant and to be cautious. Also pregnant or not that was just terrible driving. We got to the cenote and were rushed to change. We had time for a quick dip and given some information and then quickly led out. I was so disappointed we didn't spent more than 10 minutes there before being rushed out. No time for pictures or even a little swimming. The changing rooms are poor. The barely there curtain does not offer privacy and you pretty much have to be okay with being being exposed because the wind will blow it away. We changed and stood around like idiots not knowing where to go. Finally, someone informed us we'd get picked up to eat lunch. We were driven to a different part of the park probably around 4:30 and their idea of a buffet is rice, beans and 2 tiny taquitos. It was delicious but definitely not a buffet or enough food. This was a super late lunch and I would have bought food at the ruins had I known. Thankfully our other 2 drivers were caring and mindful. We had Samuel who was super friendly and caring. He's the reason why I'm not leaving 2 stars. It's not good when you're hoping not to get stuck with unprofessional people. All drivers need to be safe. Tour at the ruins need improvement. Time at cenote needs to be extended and they need better communication with clients. Lastly, they need to honor what they are promising when they sell you a package. They are a company with many staff members so adequate training for all is key. I would try a different company if I return.

My wife and I can't recommend My Quest Concierge Private Tours enough. Shout-out to our amazing…read moreguide, Heriberto Lopez. He took excellent care of us for the day. It was just us three. We loved having a guide all to ourselves. We stayed at Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen. My wife found out about My Quest from Tripadvisor. We booked a "VIP Tulum Private Tour" over two months in advance through Viator. It cost $340, prepaid online, and we tipped Heriberto $75 in cash after the tour ($415 total in US dollars). We thought it was worth it. The preferred method of communication for My Quest, like most of Mexico, is WhatsApp. Two days before our tour, we got a WhatsApp text message from Carolina to confirm details. Our only gripe with My Quest came in this message. The company wanted to change our pickup time from 7:30am "to 6:45am since we have found more people due to the season." We were a bit annoyed with that because we booked and prepaid with My Quest in order to get a private tour at the time we specified months ago. I politely replied and asked if we could keep the original reservation time. I received a prompt response, yes. Around 8:30pm the night before our tour, we got a message from Fernanda. She confirmed our pickup time, told us that Heriberto would be our guide, and gave us his phone number so that we could message him via WhatsApp. Once again, I had to correct the pickup time from 6:45am to 7:30am. I messaged Heriberto to make extra sure. Heriberto showed up on time at 7:30am. He picked us up in a company car, a GMC Acadia, I believe. It could've been a GMC Terrain. I don't remember exactly. The SUV had a transmission issue where it would downshift unexpectedly, usually after we got going on the highway. This mildly concerned both us and Heriberto. He reported the issue to My Quest. Heriberto is local to Playa del Carmen, where My Quest is based. He's friendly and intelligent. We could tell he is passionate about his job. He loves his family, Mexico, and the environment. We felt safe when we were with him. Our tour consisted of three stops, each of which I reviewed on Yelp. In order, they were: 1. Zona Arqueologica de Tulum 8:45am to 10:00am (times approximate) https://www.yelp.com/biz/zona-arqueol%C3%B3gica-de-tulum-tulum-2 Zona Arqueologica de Tulum is the famous ruins of Tulum. This is a popular tourist attraction. Heriberto and My Quest proved to be very valuable here for two main reasons: First, Heriberto knew the most efficient route through the ruins and he was terrific at timing our stops so we were rarely around other people. He made our tour of Tulum feel special and intimate. Second, Heriberto was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Tulum and the Maya people. He brought an iPad to show us pictures and diagrams, which added another layer to his history lessons. 2. Cenote Xunaan Ha 10:30am to 11:45am (times approximate) https://www.yelp.com/biz/cenote-xunaan-ha-ciudad-chemuyil 3. Cenote Taak Bi Ha 12:15pm to 1:45pm (times approximate) https://www.yelp.com/biz/taak-bi-ha-zona-hotelera-tulum Cenote Xunaan Ha is an open, above-ground cenote. Cenote Taak Bi Ha is a closed, underground cenote. At both cenotes, Heriberto provided us with life jackets and snorkeling gear. Life jackets came from the cenotes and snorkeling gear came from My Quest. Xunaan Ha was a leisurely swim and snorkel. Taak Bi Ha was a guided tour. We absolutely loved both. Cenotes are some of the most beautiful natural occurrences on earth and they must be experienced in person. No hiking was involved, but the swimming, especially in the cold water of Taak Bi Ha, did take some energy. Eat a good breakfast and bring snacks for the car. Heriberto had bottled water for us. We arrived back at the resort around 3:45pm. We were gone for over eight hours. Due to highway traffic, it took over one hour to get from our resort in Playa del Carmen to Tulum and it took over one hour to get from Taak Bi Ha back to our resort. Therefore, there was a lot of drive time. We also made a pit stop at a Pemex gas station on the way back. At all three stops, Heriberto took care of everything: translation, parking, restrooms, escorting, tickets, access, etc. He was also great at taking pictures and videos of us, and knew all the best spots and angles. He knew how to make the pictures look as if there weren't other people there, especially at Tulum, which had large groups of tourists. We appreciated that even though we didn't ask for it. He just made it happen. Heriberto was fantastic. Tips: - Both Viator (via an emailed link to a web page) and My Quest (via WhatsApp messages) will tell you what to expect, what you can and cannot bring, and what's included and not included (e.g., lunch was not included on the tour we booked). - Don't wear sunscreen to the cenotes. It's generally not allowed because it harms the cenote ecosystems. - Strongly consider bringing water shoes. Ours came in handy at Taak Bi Ha.

This tour was the highlight of our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula and will forever be one of my…read morefavorite travel memories. Our guide, Manuel, was not only communicative and informative but went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and relaxed the entire day. He even stopped at a pharmacy on the way out to find a good medicine for my mom's back, which she hurt a few days before our trip. Without that she would have been miserable and unable to enjoy any of the activities at our stops. The pyramid at Chichén Itzá was breathtaking and Manuel took amazing pictures of us from the perfect vantage point. I have been interested in and studied Latin American history for several years so I found his knowledge about new and relevant information only just being released in academic circles incredibly fascinating. Our lunch at Paladar De Cura in Valladolid was the best meal I had our entire stay, and we also did a tequila tasting and some souvenir shopping in town. After lunch we headed to Cenote Chukum where we swam in the cool waters of a cavernous sinkhole with small catfish flitting beneath our feet. It's no mystery why this tour is rated the #1 activity on Tripadvisor out of 700 others. You will not regret booking it.

I want to caveat this review straight away - we visited on a pretty quiet day. We came in on a…read moreDisney cruise and I checked before booking and only 1 other cruise ship was in port on the day we visited and that ship was a more adult oriented cruise line. Because of that I was fairly confident Playa Mia would not be overly full and I turned out to be correct. After doing some research before going there are other offerings that are better for pure adult visitors and Playa Mia strikes a good middle ground for everyone. We picked this beach park because it was the only one that didn't nickel-and-dime you on every little add-on: for example the obstacle course/water park is included with the all-inclusive package we bought. As I mentioned, we did get the all-inclusive package including travel. Some of the other guests were not on all-inclusive visit and most opted for their own travel. Having already been once, next time I may handle travel myself as I am an experienced traveler and the taxi's were very friendly, however with a young one in tow I must say the friendliness and helpfulness of the people who met us and arranged our travel in both directions was amazing and I absolutely do not regret paying a little extra for the included travel. Ultimately they did just put us in a taxi that they paid for but they met us super close to the boat exit and walked us all the way to the taxi stand and dealt with telling him where to go, etc. That was nice while we dealt with our hyped up kids in a new environment. I can't speak to the non all-inclusive experience but if you don't plan to drink a lot (including water/soft drinks for the kids) I think it can be a bargain. However, with the full package we bought, the only thing I ended up paying for was a deposit on the towels that we ultimately got back. I did tip our server (Alberto was awesome) decently well because of how much work he did during the almost full day we were there - so tipping is an additional expense that happens in any kind of place like this. One note, I did go for the top level all-inclusive package and with that the adults got a Tequila tasting and the kids got a chocolate tasting. Obviously the intent of these is to sell some goods but don't skip out on these if you get them - both tastings were delicious and even though we never buy anything at these things, in retrospect we still wish we had picked up some coffee Tequila. Because the day we visited wasn't super crowded, we had such a great time. The facilities are on the older side and the landscaping isn't perfectly manicured but it's on a beautiful beach and there was at least a little something for everyone: from 5 years old to 40. If it were considerably busier, that might pose an issue but they have a lot of room for people to spread out so except for the buffet being busy, I think it would take a lot of people for it to ruin your day.

This place came highly recommended on social media of moms who have littles in swim diapers. We…read moredidn't book an excursion through the cruise line but found a great option right at the pier before reaching the Cozumel sign. A gentleman had a booth for Playa Mia. You can purchase the $15 day pass to access the beach. There was another package that included food, but it seemed unnecessary since we didn't plan on staying too long. My goal was getting a spot where the kids can play with sand. The weather had been iffy too. It was raining on the taxi ride there, but thankfully it let up by the time we walked to the beach area. Once we arrived, we did have to pay $6 for an umbrella to use with our beach chairs. The umbrella kept closing so we had to get somebody to keep opening it back up. Finally, they told us they had to close the beach umbrellas for 30 minutes due to the wind that was coming. That was my sign to leave since it had already poured on our way there. The bathrooms are located to the left of the open buffet area. They have a feet washing area in front of the bathroom. There are two entrances. The left is for the toilets and the right is for the showers. Inside the shower area they have the baby change table. The beach area itself was clean and well maintained. Once you get there, keep going all the way inside. There were will be stores and excursions you can purchase. The ticket area to show you paid and to get your wristband will be on the left. We purchased a sand bucket that came with a toy from a store there for $10. They offer fun inflatables in the water for the older kids and banana boat rides. We apparently had a server who was helping our area. The gentleman who served us was friendly and attentive. My little one was thrilled to have chicken wings. We asked for the sauce on the side and the wings were crispy. We also tried the fajitas and they were pretty good. The salsa had a nice kick. I would definitely skip on the bean and cheese nachos! Overall, it was a great, affordable way to enjoy some time at the beach without committing to a full day excursion. I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a low-key, budget-friendly beach day with the kids.