Mayan Riviera
Mexico
Talc-white beaches, reefs teeming with life, ruined temples in misty rainforests – the Riviera Maya offers a family or romantic beach holiday with a dash of Indian Jones adventure.
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Aktun-Chen
Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Last updated: 26 June, 2023
With forest canopy zip-lines, cenote-swimming, light caving, and wildlife-watching, this six-acre nature-based theme park set in scrubby jungle mixes safari park-zoo with light adventure in nature.
There are three separate tours which can be done independently or in combination: a zip-line circuit through the trees, snorkelling in a cenote, and/or a tour through a 5 million-year-old cave dripping with stalactites and stalagmites and coursed by a glass-clear underground river.
Facilities are simple – with little more than a Mexican restaurant – but there are far fewer tourist-bus crowds than at nearby Xel-Há.
Price from: £30
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
Aktun-chen is located between Playa del Carmen (about 30 minutes’ drive) and Tulúm (about 20 minutes’ drive) on Highway 307, between Akumal and Xel-Ha.
All equipment is provided (and food is available on site) but take a towel and wear relaxed, comfortable clothing.
When to do it
It’s open all year round, seven days a week.
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