My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Cancun recently on a work awards trip. Everyone in the…read moregroup had an opportunity to select an excursion, and this was the one we selected. Most people opted to do the spa, which was lovely-but I can do a spa day at home. I wanted to go to the JUNGLE! We were picked up from our hotel, along with another couple that selected this activity and then we stopped by two other hotels to pick up more people. From our hotel (Live Aqua) it was about a 40 minute ride in the shuttle. Our driver kept to himself for the most part, and the rest of the group took the time to get to know each other. It turned out that some were going on ATV rides and others were doing the zip line. We were part of the zip line group. Upon arrival, we signed some waivers and put our belongings in a locker. There is a charge (five dollars, I think) to rent the locker. But if you're doing the zip line, you don't want to be carrying anything with you. It's also required that you wear close toe shoes. Water shoes might be best so you can wear them to zip line and swim later. There was a bit of down time at the beginning-we were told to sit at a table and wait to begin. Then we were guided to a lady who positioned us holding some big beautiful birds. My wife is terribly afraid of birds, and the lady noticed that and made sure to keep some distance between her and the birds. I appreciated that-but we still went for a picture to capture the moment. Speaking of pictures, there's a staff member that follows the group around all day snapping photos. I'm not one to spend money on souvenirs, but I'll throw down coin for pictures. That's my kind of souvenir. After the birds, we started on the zip lines. I don't think any of us realized when we signed up, but there were ten different lines. There was a lot of stairs and walking-which didn't bother us, but if you have any physical limitations-or just don't wanna-then keep that in mind. There were two guides with us giving instruction and checking harnesses, plus the photographer. They were all very friendly and obviously knew what they were doing. On one of the lines, I asked about going upside down, and Paco-our guide showed me what to do-and went down the line with me. It was really cool-I highly recommend doing that at least once. The last line drops you off in a shallow pool of water. It was exhilarating! If you are wearing shoes that you don't want to get wet, your guide will take them down for you and give them back after you dry off. Then we got on to a jungle truck, as I like to call it, and took a very bumpy ride to the cenote to do some swimming. It was absolutely as beautiful as pictures you may see online. Of course, you should do the rope swing into the water, which everyone in our group experienced. The water was cool, but not uncomfortable. This was the point that our ATV friends joined us for a few minutes before we left to have lunch. Lunch was burritos and chips & salsa. Everything tasted delightful and was filling. Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) were available for an additional price. Be sure to bring some cash for tips-these folks worked very hard and treated us great. They earned every dollar they received and then some! The entire experience about 4 hours. I did feel that some parts were a little rushed (would have liked to have had more time in the cenote), but overall if was amazing. We are talking about bringing the 17 year old back next year-I think he'd love it!

Hugo and Dennis were awesome! I went with my cousin who is NOT an adventure person and also scared…read moreof heights. They made her feel very comfortable and she was able to go across a few lines with help (Vivi). Neither of us have done anything like this, ziplines or atvs, and when I come back, I will for sure be booking another excursion. It had rained a lot the day before we went, so we opted for the Polaris, which was still very exhilarating. Please keep in mind that you are in the middle of a jungle basically, so there is zero to no reception. You are also required to leave all your belongings in your car for the zip lines & human rollercoaster. Nothing in your pockets either. After you complete those activities, before going to the cenote and atv's you can retrieve your phones and such.

Lupillo was the best guide. Made us have the best day! I will definitely recommend this place to…read moreanyone.

The tour itself is lovely but beware! They promise all Sorts…read moreof stuff to get you to sign up. We were promised last pick up/first drop off and that we would be back at the hotel by 5:30 but the actual drop off was 7:30 pm as the drivers didn't even arrive to bring us back until 6pm. We had folks on medication and this was completely unacceptable. It was not until I mentioned contacting the credit card company to dispute charges that someone even attempted to get us back earlier. Before that they just kept screaming at us pick up is at 6pm there is nothing we can do even if you were told something else. The worst part is we were lied to - the schedule was set far in advance but they conveniently told us that we would make it back by 5:30 even though there was never an intention of doing that.

My wife and I visited the park yesterday, and started with the subterranean portion of the park,…read morewhich was an amazing experience. We dropped in the cool water and began walking through the underground waterway, with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites surrounding us. (Quite refreshing, from the hot and humid summer heat of the jungle surroundings). Later in the evening we climbed the top of the large water slide. I was not ready for the twists and turns, along with the stomach to the mouth unexpected downward plunging sections. At the end of the ride, I was both exhilarated and exhausted! One of the park employees, Issac, who is now my hero, noticed how fatigued I was and went out of his way to help me out. Leading me to a nearby hammock, where I spent a few hours getting my equilibrium back under control. At the end of the night, Issac unexpectedly returned and presented me with a few complimentary gifts, a beautiful embroidered tote bag and a stone night light with the Heart emblem with the Xplor logo on the front. It truly touched my "corazon". Shout out to Issac!! From the old guy on vacation from Texas. I'll always remember you and will add this to one of stories I tell my friends and family.

The zip line course was a highlight, my family would definitely come back for that alone. All…read moreactivities we did were great fun. Minor criticisms - *It was a little confusing to get around, as signage was a bit inconsistent and occasionally conspicuous until you got your general bearings. *Food was pretty meh, if you're staying at an Xcaret Hotel I'd try to eat before/after your visit, if possible. *The water slide rider thru put isn't great, so I imagine wait times on very busy days can get out of hand in a hurry. I also complained about the helmets all day long until I soundly wacked my head and was 12/10 glad to have it on .

Came across on the ferry from Cozumel, eventually found our tour guide holding a sign for a tour…read moredifferent than what my ticket said. 1 hour drive to 1st stop. We were given locks for lockers and told to put away anything we didn't want to take on the ziplines. They went on to say we could bring phones or cameras at our own risk. We received harnesses and helmets, but as the second person checked mine, I was told I needed a different harness. After getting the 2nd harness and starting to climb the stairs, our tour guide told me I could not take my GoPro as I needed both hands on the line. It was on a bright yellow handle with a wrist strap. How did I get fitted for 2 harnesses and a helmet without them telling me? I put the camera away and started up the stairs. They were a little steep but doable. On the way up I passed several people from our group going down that could not handle the stairs. As we went from one platform to another I noticed several people in the group holding their phones on the zipline and the guides said nothing to them. But they didn't allow my camera, which was made to be secured to my arm? I was last off the ziplines. As I came down, my tour guide asked if I was wearing a swimsuit and told me to go wait by the hammocks. No further instruction like bring a towel, or put shirt away. He seemed annoyed with me for being last. I had to ask the others what we were doing next and what to bring. The underground cenote was next. We had the option of a regular life jacket or an inflatable one for those who wanted to dive. Even though the tour was listed as snorkeling and the description stated snorkels are included, there were no snorkels, only masks. We were told the government outlawed rental snorkels. The Adventure Maya website shows people with snorkels and still lists the activity as "snorkeling". Our guide told us a little about the cenote and took us around showing the bats and the stalactites. We did a loop in the cenote that according to the recording on my GoPro took 17 minutes before we got out. We left the cave and had 25 minutes to dry off and eat lunch before we had to be back in the van. Lunch was pasta with vegetables, rice, and roasted chicken, along with salad. While eating, there was someone going around selling the photos but never made it to my table before we left. I attempted to view the photos online for several weeks after. The site says they are available for 60 days after the tour, but nothing came up for our date or any other. Stop 2 was the YaKul lagoon and cavern. We were given the same options for life jackets, just a mask with no snorkel, and flippers, before being led down to the lagoon. We were not allowed to put on sunscreen here, and most of us had not put on sunscreen prior as all the swimming was supposed to be underground. I later learned there was an underground cavern at this location, but we were not taken there. It was very crowded with other groups. Our guide led us around in a loop, but there was not much to see. The water was also very murky from so many people kicking up sediment. Many of us just went back to get in the shade. Even with the short amount of time, the back of my head got sunburned. When the guide got out of the water we had 10 minutes to retrieve our things from the van and change clothes as we had to leave in 10 minutes to get to our ferry. The changing rooms were actually decent. I asked our tour guide about the other cenotes we were supposed to visit, as the description provided by the cruise line said "4 cenotes", but we had gone to 2. He was unaware of why it stated 4. When we got to Palya Del Carmen we had to rush to make it to the pier on time for the 3:45 ferry back to Cozumel. We made it on time however, the ferry did not start moving toward Cozumel until 4:22. The tour was supposed to return by 4:30 which would have given us a little time to shop in Cozumel before getting back on the ship by 5:30. Ended up being an hour late and got through security just in time to make it on the ship at 5:35.

We had a wonderful time doing the ATV tour and zipline/cenotes. ATV course was better than most…read moreI've done on vacation. The machines were in good condition, and the course had some challenging spots. Our guide, Karen, was awesome. Zipline/cenotes was fun as well. There is only one cenote, and I was disappointed it was a bit murky. Other's I've been to are crystal clear. Ziplines were fun, and you could also jump from the zip line tower, which was great. Overall, a great experience, and I highly recommend as a family activity.

This was ok. We were immediately hit with an upgrade sell?? Everything is contained within a…read morecompound. No cameras allowed because they want to sell you their $100 photo plane. No photos just sent to your phone? You can and do take them to the cenote. Snap away. The ATV was driving in a circle on bunny dirt roads. ( least favorite) at least go in the jungle, not a dirt road. Zip lines are the shortest I've ever been on. The guide was great and was upbeat. Tequila tasting is the same everywhere ( 20 minutes with a small taste of 4 ) maybe 1 shot . total. If you've never experienced something similar, you might like it. Hard upsell on the lunch and photos.

This was a great tour and I want to give a special shout out to Elise and Valeria. They were…read moreamazing and incredibly helpful and made the trip a lot of fun. Also a great playlist for a very long drive... which would be my only thing - it's a good hour and change drive but if you're okay with that - then def a highlight of a day. And again - Elise and Valeria were 10/10.

This was booked for us via Delta Vacations and we selected the ATV's and cenote. The whole…read moreoperation was well run and our hotel pickup was on time. Thankfully it was only about 20 minutes from our hotel so it didn't take half a day just to get there. In total the whole experience was under four hours. There were 4 other people in our group we didn't know, staying in hotels much farther away. Lots of waiting around when you get there. There are free lockers to store your things and clean restroom and changing facilities. If you have an underwater camera pouch, bring it. It's the only way you're allowed to have a phone on the ATVs (around your neck) and you can use it both above and under water at the cenote. It was our first time doing ATV's and didn't know what to expect. I had no interest in driving one myself so I decided to ride as a passenger with my bf. This was the worst decision EVER! Granted I am a small person and struggled to get both of my feet firmly planted, so I basically held onto the back handlebars for dear life while I was thrown around like a ragdoll. My back was literally bruised from hitting the seat with the abrupt motions. I felt like I had whiplash and at one point the plastic shield on my helmet came off because my head crashed into my bf's helmet. We would have enjoyed it more if the speed was higher and more in the jungle but you're basically on a narrow trail with lots of bumps and bottoming out constantly. The ride was advertised as 45 minutes but was less than 40. I did like how there's a guide with you the entire time both at the front of the pack and back. On the flip side, it also made it so that you couldn't necessarily go the speed that you wanted. After that harrowing experience we were offered a buffet lunch (nothing special but nice that it was free) and then taken to the nearby cenote. That was really the highlight of the experience. You do have to rinse off all of your sunscreen (even those that are reef safe) in a cold shower before you enter... not sure how effective this was because most people did a half assed job. I liked that you were provided a life jacket so you could also just float without having to worry about supporting yourself. The guide was very knowledgeable. And the water was very clear. I've been to caves before but none that were under water. Very cool! Be prepared for many money grabs, but that's Mexico. We were basically bullied into buying the additional insurance, felt like a huge scam. But ultimately it was $25 for the two of us and because of the manmade holes on the course I can see how an ATV can get damaged even if you drive responsibly. We thought they would be jerks at the end about every little scratch but there was barely an inspection. They also take many pictures of you throughout the experience which you are not obligated to buy. We even declined being photographed in the first place. If you have your camera pouch you can take pictures of yourself everywhere you go.

Yesterday we went on a real Mexican Adventure! Bus ride from our hotel (beware that not all…read moredrivers are multilingual). We went to atv ride 10 km, pretty hard ride for a 70 year old. Of course we were the fastest group! Next was the zipline. I did 7! My watch said 34 flights of stairs. Better not be afraid of heights. Lunch was the typical Mexican fair. Nicely done. A cenote snorkel, complete with bat cave and a ride to Tulum with tour guide. Excellent. It was a full day. Hats off to Isaac at Atv/zipline/cenote place. Oh did II mention tequila tasting. Ya that too at Tulum market. 6 checks on my bucket list

A Chichén Itz-A+ Experience!…read more We had an absolutely outstanding experience with Absolute Adventures, thanks in large part to our incredible guide, Alberto, and our professional driver, Yosmar. Alberto guided us through all the major archaeological sites at Chichén Itzá with a perfect balance of deep knowledge, storytelling, and patience. He answered countless questions--not just from my wife and me, but also from our very curious 10- and 8-year-old children. He made history come alive in a way that was engaging and accessible for all of us, which is no small feat on a long, hot day. What truly set Alberto apart was how attentive he was to our children's needs. He made sure we moved at a comfortable pace, checked in frequently, and ensured the kids stayed engaged and comfortable throughout the tour. He also did a fantastic job preparing us for interactions with vendors and other on-site situations, which made the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. Our driver, Yosmar, was equally impressive. He was extremely professional, always parking in safe areas--and whenever possible, in the shade (a huge bonus!). He was attentive while we were getting in and out of the vehicle at each stop, especially when traffic was present, which made us feel very well taken care of. After the archaeological sites, Yosmar drove us to a beautiful cenote, where Alberto again went above and beyond--explaining all the amenities, walking down with us, and even helping carry one of our bags. We later stopped at an authentic Mayan/Mexican restaurant, where even our kids found food they loved. Alberto asked if he could join us for lunch, and we were happy to have him--his insight into the dishes and local cuisine made the meal even more enjoyable. We wrapped up the day with a stop in Valladolid, getting a quick but meaningful look at the Spanish influence, Mayan culture, and, of course, chocolate. It was a long day, but being able to go at our own pace--with our needs and preferences fully respected--made it more than worth it. Booking with Absolute Adventures was one of the best decisions we made on this trip, and we would absolutely do it again. Highly recommended for families, especially those traveling with children.

5/5 Highly Recommend…read more We booked two private tours with Absolute Adventures: first the Tulum Ruins, Swim with Turtles and Mexican Lunch on a Monday and then the Two Cenote and Mexican Lunch on Wednesday. For Tulum and Turtles our tour guide was Luis and our driver was Rodrigo. For the Cenotes, our tour guide was Arturo and our driver was Enrique. Both guides were exceptional and both drivers took good care of us. Booking online was simple and their communication about the tours, both confirming the tours before we left home and same day communication about pickup, was excellent. Our hotel turned out to be a headache about letting outside tour companies onto the property, and we ran into some real meet up issues because of it, but the team was super responsive and got it sorted quickly. It all worked out in the end, and honestly that kind of responsiveness under pressure told us a lot about how they run things. We started our Tulum tour early to beat the crowds and heat (highly recommend!). Luis guided us through Tulum and made sure we stayed hydrated the whole time, which matters more than people think when you're out in that heat. His knowledge of the area, the flora, the fauna, the history, was genuinely impressive, and he had this rare ability to be educational and entertaining at the same time without ever feeling like a lecture. At our turtle excursion he schlepped our gear and made sure we didn't forget anything, none of which was his job, he just did it because that's who he is. I was also practicing my broken Spanish throughout the trip, and Luis never once made me feel dumb or embarrassed when I got it wrong, which I really appreciated. For our next tour, Arturo took us to the cenotes. When he picked us up, he suggested we visit a different cenote than what we'd originally booked. I was a little skeptical, figured he just wanted a shorter drive. I was completely wrong. The cenote he picked instead allowed us to have two totally different types of experiences that we would have missed entirely otherwise, and I'm glad we trusted him. At Cenote Jaguar, Arturo gave our kids real time and space to jump and play, which ended up being a highlight of the whole trip for them. At Cenote Dos Ojos, claustrophobia was a real concern for us. But Arturo's tour through the caves was informative and calm enough that we felt genuinely safe the entire time. Between the logistics, the guides, and how they handled a hiccup that wasn't even their fault, these two tours were one of the best parts of our trip.

During our vacation in Playa Del Carmen we booked a private tour with Living Dreams for a morning…read moreexcursion to Telum. Daniel Alvarez was our tour guide. We were picked up on time in a nice big clean car. Daniel was very friendly and was giving us history and information about the area during our ride. We parked and got on a tram to the main entrance. We entered the ruins with no issues as Daniel had all our tickets already. We were able to walk all the grounds and Daniel gave us all the amazing history and was able to answer all our questions- even the ones about the wildlife. When we retuned to the car he had a cooler with cold towels and a big variety of cold drinks for us. The excursion included lunch at a place of our choice and we asked for Daniel's suggestion as we wanted something local and not a tourist spot. He took us for some street tacos that were amazing! He was also kind enough to stop at a store so we could grab a few souvenirs and a mango stand for some fresh mango. Daniel was amazing and we will definitely use Living Dreams again and will be asking for Daniel!

Such a great experience. Claudia was so knowledgeable as a guide and Charlie was a great driver. We…read moretoured the Mayan ruins, swam with turtles and explored a private Cenote. Claudia took care of everything so we didn't have to get our own tickets or wait in lines. If looking for a tour Living Dreams Mexico is an amazing option.

Absolutely horrible experience…read more I had booked a private transfer from Cancun to Playa Mujeres. I arrived and there was nobody waiting for me. I therefore had to use my phone in Mexico (something I was not planning on doing) to contact the Tour Operator. I was told there was an issue with the reservation getting into their system and to hold on. After about 20 minutes they told me that it would be at least an hour before they could get anyone to me. That they would cancel this trip and issue me a refund and that I could find a Taxi. Obviously I would not use this company to return to the airport and booked with a different company. Now, had this company wanted to even attempt to make things right, they should have informed me to book a taxi, and they would pay for that taxi. The trip I booked via Viator was $118. The Taxi Cost me about $147 for one way and the return trip with a different company was $75. So, essentially this company could have offered to pay for the taxi (they would not have had to pay for the cost of their driver or their transportation). So, for maybe an out of pocket expense to them of under $100 they could have maybe had a little better review. But, I did request and get a refund. The company responded to me, "We apologize, there was indeed an error in the automated system entry; however, we have approved 100% of the refund. We regret the inconvenience and remain at your service. Best regards!" User beware if you are using this company.

Highly recommend booking an excursion with CA Tours. The staff was prompt, professional, friendly…read moreand knowledgeable about everything. My group of 6 got picked up in a fairly large fan. We chose the Cenotes, Mayan ruins and snorkeling excursion. The $170 excursion included lunch, cold water, snacks, transportation from our resort in Playa Del Carman, tour guide. The 3 part excursion lasted from 745 to 3 PM. Highly recommend bringing towels, bug spray, water proof phone case, snacks and if you choose the Cenotes bring a flash light if you arent a fan of the dark. My friends and I really enjoyed our experience. Everything was organized. We had plenty of time to ourselves to explore and overall we felt really safe. We booked on Trip Advisor to get the price of $170. I'd recommend going through maybe your resort or hotel to see if you can get an additional discount.

Just go! This is a gem. Yes, you might be a little apprehensive about leaving the Hotel Zone and…read moreventuring out, but this is worth it. We ended up here twice during our trip. Our first trip was during an evening where things were quite lively. Live music was playing from the stage. There was dancing, families everywhere and many street vendors. There are also a number of food court restaurants near the palapas. The ones we visited, all were outstanding and the food was extremely reasonable (ok, cheap), but bring your pesos. My daughter got three huge empanadas for 95 pesos (less than $5.50 US). I got 4 street style pastor tacos for roughly $4.50 US. We also bought esquites both times for $2 for a small cup. Well worth it. On the second visit, it was late afternoon/early evening. The vibe wasn't as festive, but still busy and lively. The HZ buses drop you off nearby and the walk is very short and extremely safe. On our second visit, we walked from Mercado 28 and it was still very safe.

Hot! Bring ya hand fan!!! Tons of locals and their families flock to here on Sunday nights!!!! This…read moreis their go to spot! You want to find good local food, desserts, arts and crafts, vendors with local goods, local bars, and best prices in town, go here! Arrange uber in and out or taxi! It gets busy we rode the bus like some crazies, it was fun but packed and had ac but no private ride. Tacos, tortas, pizza, turkey legs, marquisette, crepes SnoCones, bags, clothes, art, massage stands. It's a one stop shop- socks, jewelry, kitchen dishes, souvenirs yes! I don't know if you would find a parking spot so I say uber. It starts around sundown and their out there until 11pm at least. It was so hot no winds and lots of people packed in there. Not much seating or benches, tables they had were occupied and people wasn't moving anytime soon. It depends time of year I'm sure as well, but like I said it's more locals here you will see O tourists unless they did their research hahaha