Zip-lining lovers, this is the park for you!!!  Granted, it has lots of other things to do as well, but this park definitely has an emphasis on zip-lining.  I’m talking about one of Grupo Xcaret’s popular parks in the Riviera Maya near Playa del Carmen called Xplor Park.  This Riviera Maya attraction offers a two-fer–Xplor during the day (open 9-5 Monday through Saturday), and Xplor Fuego during the evening.(open 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday).  The minimum age for park entrance to both options is age 5, and admission price is $152 USD p/adult; Xplor Fuego prices are a bit cheaper since park attractions are abbreviated for evening hours and there is less time available to enjoy the park’s fun activities.  You can purchase tickets from the website in advance for a cheaper price.  If you do so, remember to bring along your ticket if already printed out as well as a photo ID and the credit card you originally used to make this purchase.

I visited this park during daytime hours while on my March 2023 vacation staying at Hotel Xcaret Arte.  Some of you may already know that when you are booked at any of the Grupo Xcaret Hotels (Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Hotel Xcaret Arte, and Casa de la Playa) you have free admission to many parks and attractions as well as free tours to popular sights in the Riviera Maya–it’s called the All-Fun Inclusive concept.  That’s right, you can get in free to parks and go on as many offered tours as you want with no additional charge; even transportation there and back is included.  It’s quite a novel idea and offers vacationers an additional chance for fun and adventure without worrying about one’s budget.

Bus transportation to parks leaves the resorts about every 20 min. or so.  There is a selected spot at the parks where Hotel Xcaret resort buses park (and it’s marked with a Hotel Xcaret sign), so it’s relatively easy to gain access to any park’s admission entrance and easily find where to get back on the bus to return to your resort.

Xplor Park is a quick ride from Hotel Xcaret Arte (around 10-15 min.).  If I remember correctly, the resort bus goes to Xcaret Park first, then on to Xenses Park, then to Xplor to drop off guests.  Since admission is free for Xcaret resort guests, you have to go to a separate area reserved for Hotel Xcaret guests to check-in since you won’t be paying admission; at Xplor you will be going straight ahead once you enter–just show your Xcaret Hotel bracelet to park employees and they will give you directions.  Once at the Xcaret Hotel designated desk area you will be given your locker key and the wristband which holds the key along with your safety helmet, but you will be returning both these items to the general drop-off area when leaving the park–you do not have to find the Xcaret Hotel desk again.  Once you check-in and get your initial items you will be asked to go to the adjoining photo desk and if you want to purchase the photo package this is the place to do so, but if you decline you are free to leave the area and proceed to the central meeting spot of the park, the “Corazon”.  Keep in mind that flotation vests will be required if you want to do the Underground River Swim; there is a separate room to get your vests outside of the Corazon area.

It is a rather lengthy walk to the central meeting area of the park from here, but at least it is scenic with lots of stalactites and some water features, just follow the path until you wind up in the central meeting area with the giant heart–you will also see a sign with attraction hours and which park attractions are busy and which are not so that you can make a decision about what area of the park you want to go to next (it is updated frequently).

Lockers are located outdoors in sections near the central meeting area, but you have to find your right section based on color and number.  In each locker section are restrooms, benches, dressing rooms, and shower area.  Lockers themselves are large enough to hold a backpack and other smaller personal items; since each park visitor gets a key there should be no problem storing your stuff.

Here’s the attractions offered at Xplor Park and what your admission price covers:

• Zip-lines.  There are two separate zip-line circuits consisting of 7 zip-lines each; they are color coded and one is more challenging (I believe that is the red circuit) while the green coded circuit is for those who may not be too familiar with zip-lining or want to be less challenged due to physical restrictions.  Keep in mind that the more difficult zip-line circuit has a LOT of steps to climb in zip-line towers. These towers are narrow with steps going up in a circular staircase fashion which are more suited for those in good physical condition.  Various zip-lines are offered tandem or solo, so if you would like to ride a zip-line with a friend you have to specify the tandem option when you approach the loading area at the top of each tower. The final zip-line for both circuits ends in a cenote at a higher rate of descent speed, so expect a very uncomfortable wedgie if wearing only a swimsuit. I would recommend wearing shorts if you want to zip-line; you can always change clothes after you’re done.  There is no water to drink anywhere along zip-line circuits, so make sure you are sufficiently hydrated prior to starting your zip-line circuit choice.  Also, while you can wear glasses during your zip-lining experience, you cannot bring along cameras which cannot be firmly secured to your personal clothing or your helmet. **I did the red coded zip-line circuit and found the actual zip-lining from one tower to another to be a breeze, literally and figuratively.  Jungle views are phenomenal from this circuit, but the physical challenge of climbing seven sets of tower stairs was almost too much.  I think I need to implement more cardio in my workouts, lol…

• Hammock Splash.  This is a separate zip-line experience from the regular circuits.  You will be riding in a sitting hammock from a very doable descent to a cenote below.  This attraction is for those who want a taste of what zip-lining is about, or for those who don’t have the time or energy to do either regular zip-line circuit.  **I did not do this attraction during my visit.
• Underground Rivers, commonly known as the River Swim.  You are required to wear your flotation vest for this attraction.  This is an interesting swim/flow through an underground cavern cenote with lots of stalactites and stalagmites.  Water temperature in the cenote is around 75° F and there is what seems to be a current running through this entire area of the cenote.  Since cenotes don’t typically have natural currents as strong as this one, I can only imagine that the park created one in order to aid swimmers along their river route.  You can choose between two route length options–either the entire course of 350 meters, or the “short cut” of 25 meters.  Exit opportunities are available along both routes for those who decide this activity is not for them.  Regardless of what route you take, there is the waterfall towards the end of this activity.   **I chose the 25 meter short cut route.  The waterfall area was a very exciting place to be but can also be pretty scary if you are not a strong swimmer.  Getting from beneath the waterfall to the exit route surrounded by lots of people literally feels like being in a wash machine.  Don’t panic, there is a lifeguard swimming right in the waterfall area along with another lifeguard standing in the exit route steps to help visitors who cannot make it to the exit route on their own.

• Underground Rafts.  You do not have to wear a flotation vest for this activity; visitors are expected to stay on their rafts at all times.  You can either ride solo on a raft or have a friend share a raft with you.  Visitors are given small “paddles” to strap onto their hands in order to help guide their rafts through an underground river cenote experience.  **I chose not to do this activity because I had read some park reviews stating that most people have some difficulty guiding their rafts and there tends to be raft backups as a result.  Even the park website states that “this activity requires coordination and physical effort”, and that sharing a raft with a partner “might make the coordination tougher”.  Hand paddles are obviously not the same as oars…
• Underground Expedition.  You do not have to wear a flotation vest for this activity even though part of it involves wading through an underground cave cenote.  However, due to the strenuousness involved in the Underground Expedition, you absolutely have to wear water shoes or a pair of sneakers with traction in order to fully participate in this activity in a safe manner.  Visitors can choose between two routes, easy and difficult.  The more difficult route challenges visitors with activities like obstacle courses, some are more military-like where you have to crawl under nets.  There are three primary areas–the underground river cenote “hike”, the water paths including going down a couple of waterslides, and a hike with the obstacle courses.  **I chose not to do this activity–I like to be adventurous but I don’t like to kill myself while on vacation.  Underground Expedition is for those who are in great physical condition and younger in age.
• Amphibious Vehicles.  This activity consists of driving or being a passenger in a vehicle which looks like a small open jeep with roll bars.  There are vehicles for one or two adults as well as vehicles for two adults and two children. (Since I was with a party of three adults, they did allow all of us to be in one vehicle, so that is also a possibility).  There are two circuits in this activity, each consisting of three miles.  You will be going through tunnels, small bodies of water, a small waterfall, and viewing the native jungle flora during this drive/ride.  Don’t expect much speed; vehicles tend to go slow to begin with, plus the faster you go the more bumpy the drive/ride gets.  **Due to this ride’s very bumpy experience, do NOT do it if you have more serious back and/or neck issues.  You will be very achy later on.  There is a reason why staff ask visitors if they have any physical issues before assigning vehicles.

• Toboganxote.  This waterslide ride is supposed to open at the end of July 2023 (it is brand new and hasn’t even opened yet), but who knows if there will be a delay or not.  It is supposed to include five different experiences as you are in a four-person inflatable raft going through this waterslide. The ride is supposed to take one minute and 15 seconds and ends in a wave pool.  Weight limit p/person is 220 lbs.  The only thing you can carry onto the raft is a camera which has to be secured onto your helmet.  I don’t know about eye glasses though…
• Food and Drink Opportunities.  Admission price also includes a buffet which opens at 11 a.m. as well as two snack and smoothie bars.  Only non-alcoholic drinks are included in the admission price.

Wondering what to bring along in your daypack to Xplor Park?  Definitely bring along your own towel; this park does not provide any towels for any purpose.  Also bring along one or two sets of clothing along with your swimsuit.  Depending on what activities you are planning on doing, you may want several shorts to stash in your locker just in case.  Also, don’t forget a bottle of water as well as water shoes or a pair of sneakers you don’t mind getting wet and possibly dirty.  You may want to bring along some sunscreen for select activities which are not cenote-related such as participating in the Amphibious Vehicle drive/ride.

What do you think?  Would you explore Xplor?  Have you already been to Xplor?  Write a comment below and tell everyone what your opinion is…