Many visitors to Riviera Maya doubt between visiting Xcaret or Xel ha park. Let's see their differences and similarities to make it easier for you to choose.
The Xcaret and Xel Ha parks are two of the great tourist attractions of the Riviera Maya, an unquestionable stop for many visitors. Xcaret located 6 km from Playa del Carmen and Xel-há 54 kilometers.
Xel Há or Xcaret, how to choose?
What similarities and differences are there between them? Which one to visit Xel Ha or Xcaret? We hope to help you decide 🙂
Just as Xel Ha is a water park where you can do many activities in water, Xcaret is much broader: collect a cultural and traditional sample of all of Mexico, delving into the Mayan world. Xcaret is more complete for its diversity, Xel-Ha is a large water park
To know with children what park between Xel Ha or Xcaret to choose I asked my friends moms who have visited both. Xel has certainly been his choice: it is smaller and that makes services always closer, restaurants, bathrooms, changing rooms. In Xcaret there are more things but you get tired of walking. The roads are good for strollers (Baby strollers) and there is a very quiet cove where you can bathe.
Similarities between Xcaret and Xel-há:
- Both parks are administered by the same company, so the good professional performance and the dynamics that govern the parks are very similar.
- Both are located on Locations similar on the coast of Riviera Maya, in what we know as caletas, incredible natural landscapes.
- Both are family parks, to spend the whole day. Xcaret has a nightly show, opens up to 21 hours. Xel-há closes with sunlight, over the 18 hours.
- They work like all inclusive, with access to several restaurants. Xcaret have more options restaurants.
- both Xel Ha or Xcaret they lend you snorkel equipment (mask and tube), and you have ticket office y towel. Very well organized
- You can't go in or sunscreen or put on mosquito repellent if they aren't biodegradable. In both places they sell you biodegradable sunscreen at the entrance (without much controversy, but are there really biodegradable ones that do not pollute?)
- You will see both parks constantly announced throughout the Riviera Maya, it's hard not to want to eat the candy they offer you.
Remember that Mexicans there are attractive discounts, buy on their website directly to benefit from their offers and sales when buying in advance.
Differences between Xcaret and Xel ha:
- We have seen that both parks have water activities, and this is where their great difference lies. As well as Xel-há is a water park where you can do many activities in water, Xcaret is much broader: collect a cultural and traditional show of all Mexico, delving into the Mayan world.
- Fauna You can see in both parks, but in Xcaret the fan is much wider, with mammals like pumas, jaguars, deer. In Xel-Ha, the animals you can see are maritime, and the occasional loose animal, such as coatis.
- As we are seeing Xcaret it is much more complete and larger. In the different ticket packages, they offer the option of several days. The price of the entry Xcaret is something more expensive.
- In both parks you can swim by natural rivers: the subterranean waters of the Yucatan Peninsula flow to the surface emerging their last meters to the sea. You can travel these freshwater rivers: in Xel-há on a float and in Xcaret swimming with snorkel mask and vest.
- Both coves in ancient Mayan times were port cities. You can visit the Mayan settlements de Xcaret y Xelhá, the entrance is separate.
Where to buy tickets to Xel Há or Xcaret
If there is something that I can clarify that happened to me in the writing, do not hesitate to write to me. I assure you that the two parks offer fun, they are designed to make you happy.
It is best to buy the ticket directly with them, they have OFFERS AND PROMOTIONS interesting throughout the year, especially for Mexicans. If you buy in advance they also make discounts
Good way,
- Offers on flights international and national ..
- Find the accommodation with the best offers from Booking.com.
- Stay with airbnb and get 25 € discount.
- Contract activities, tours and excursions organized.
- Rent a car with the indispensable and necessary best discounts.
- Secure your transfers of arrival or departure to the airport.
- Travel safely with IATI and take advantage of 5% off.
If you prefer, you tell us your idea of the trip and together we organize it.
I had doubts to choose and in the end we decided on Xel-Ha.
The children had a lot of fun going down the river on the floats, jumping from the platforms and with a leisure area with very fun zip lines. In this park you spend practically all day in the water, outside the water there are few options.
You can also swim with dolphins.
Recommendations: you can not use your sunscreen or anti-mosquito, they give you diving glasses (loan) and tube (gift), you do not have to bring a towel and look for some invention to take the flip-flops by hand because the ticket office can be far away when you need them.
Thank you very much for your contribution, sure it is great for other travelers to decide. I will add what you say in the entry because it seems important to me to stand out, and it happened to me. Xel-Ha for children is very fun and to enjoy as children too, it's good that you enjoy it. Very good way!
Best regard.
Thank you in advance for your recommendations, they are very complete.
You can recommend something to me (which of the sites you mention is better), I travel with my wife and my children (6 years and a baby of 9 months)
Thank you
Hi Guillermo,
In this case I would think more about your 6 year old son, if he likes to bathe and swim, XelHá will enjoy it a lot. If you do not like water and are afraid to swim, Xcaret will be the best option.
I hope the answer serves you.
Best regards,
Thank you very much for the information.
So Xel has
thank you again.
Bill
Hello, which park would you recommend me to do snorkeling, I see that the two have that activity but which would be better?
Hi Guillermo, really for snorkeling they have several activities at the two parks, but if you focus on swimming and snorkeling, I would choose Xel Ha.
Regards!
Thank you for your opinion Sandra, apparently choose Xel Ha. Have a good day.
To go to the two parks where I recommend swim with dolphins, I understand that it will be similar experience but I mean more to enjoy the other amenities of the park
Hello Omar, as well as Xel-há is a water park where you can do many activities in water, Xcaret is much broader: it gathers a cultural and traditional sample from all over Mexico, delving into the Mayan world. Xcaret is more complete because of its diversity, Xel-há is a large water park. As you say, swimming with dolphins is similar in both parks. According to your tastes and desires, it is very complicated for me to recommend without knowing you.
I hope I've helped.
Greetings and have an excellent holiday,
Hi, I really have not decided yet .. we are two adults but with a child of 3 years .. which of the two of us should we go? Can we do all the activities with him? Thank you
Hello Micaela,
I asked my friends moms and no doubt XelHá for that age: it is smaller and that makes the services always closer, restaurants, bathrooms, changing rooms. In Xcaret there are more things but you are tired of walking. The roads are good for strollers (baby strollers) and there is a cove in Xel-Ha very quiet where you can bathe. Do not even think about it, they told me, Xel-Ha.
Greetings and enjoy a lot,
Hello, I am going to travel in July as a family with two teenagers and I do not like cold water and snorkeling, which of the two parks do you recommend? And do you recommend going with sneakers or directly in flip flops? Thank you
Hi Elizabeth, in this case I definitely recommend Xcaret. You can go with sandals, there is a lot of walking in Xcaret, so you have to take it into account.
Have a good trip ?
Hi. We are a couple with grown children (20 and 19 years) They want adventures. Which to choose? Thank you
Hello Jorge, uf ... surely in your case I opted for Xcaret, there is more variety. There is also the Xplore, with activities moved, in case you do not know. But yes, Xcaret I think is wider for you.
Best regards,
HELLO MANY THANKS, I AM FROM COLOMBIA AND I THINK TRAVEL, BUT I DO NOT WANT YOU TO MOVE ME, YOU COULD GIVE ME A COUNCIL, WHICH WOULD BE BETTER TO RENT A CAR AND PURCHASE THE TICKETS ALLA OR YOU COULD GIVE ME PLEASE INFO WHERE YOU GET POPR INTERNET WITHOUT BOTH INTERMEDIARIES THE TICKETS TO CHICHEN ITZA AND ESCALET ??? THANK YOU
An apology Javier, tomorrow I calmly reply that I have not been operational.
Greetings to Colombia 🙂
Hello Javier, excuse the delay. For tickets to Xcaret your direct website is where you almost always get better prices: https://www.xcaret.com/es/ There is a tourist agency that sells by web and it is very economical, in case you are looking for good prices. I give you the direct link, there are all kinds of tours, sure you find something you like: https://www.civitatis.com/es/cancun/?aid=1767
Regarding car rental, the cheapest option is to go to the car company directly, or buy them directly online.
I hope you serve the information, happy holidays 🙂