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Rio Secreto Underground River and Crystal Caves: A Glance at Mayan Underworld on Yucatan Peninsula
4.7
747 Ratings
Playa del Carmen
Discover the mystical Rio Secreto, an underground river and crystal caves on the Yucatan Peninsula. Swim through stunning caverns and explore the Mayan underworld. Optional visit to Tulum ruins available.
Discover the mystical Rio Secreto, an underground river and crystal caves on the Yucatan Peninsula. Swim through stunning caverns and explore the Mayan underworld. Optional visit to Tulum ruins available.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Rio Secreto - This attraction is located near to Playa del Carmen, you will observe a natural history dating back millions of years and you will be able to swim about one kilometer below of the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites in groups of 10 people maximum on the underground river.
- Rio Secreto - After the swim, you will enjoy a…
- Rio Secreto - This attraction is located near to Playa del Carmen, you will observe a natural history dating back millions of years and you will be able to swim about one kilometer below of the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites in groups of 10 people maximum on the underground river.
- Rio Secreto - After the swim, you will enjoy a delicious regional buffet in the Rio Secreto restaurant. ( alcoholic drinks are not included).
- Tulum Archaeological Site - When this option is selected . We will visit the remains of an ancient clifftop fortress. Tulum used to be a main trading hub . Walled on three sides . The front open facing the Caribbean sea. The views are breathtaking .Your tour guide will go deep into the main buildings history and astronomical findings.
- Carretera Federal 307 - When Tour with transportation is selected: Expect to be picked up at mayor hotels in Cancun or Meeting Points from downtown Sit back and relax while your driver takes you safely to Rio Secreto nature park.
- Zona Arqueologica de Coba - When this option is selected. The guide will explain the history and you learn the importance of fascinating Coba you will have the chance to discover the history and you will see the main structures of this site.
- Puerto Morelos - When this option is selected . You will visit the second largest coral reef formation in the world . Marvel at the vibrant marine life, including colorful tropical fish, majestic sea turtles, and stunning coral formations.
What's Included
- Use of all necessary equipment (wet suit, hard hat, water shoes, life vest)
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- Lockers and towels
- Use of all necessary equipment (wet suit, hard hat, water shoes, life vest)
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- Lockers and towels
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)
- Government fees
- Photos
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)
- Government fees
- Photos
Additional Information
Journey into a cenote and marvel at ancient stalactites and stalagmites. As you wade through clear turquoise water, an expert guide explains the geological secrets and points out local flora and fauna. Back in the jungle, enjoy a buffet lunch with Mayan cuisine.
Admission to Río Secreto Nature Reserve, WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION:** Explore the cenote and…
Journey into a cenote and marvel at ancient stalactites and stalagmites. As you wade through clear turquoise water, an expert guide explains the geological secrets and points out local flora and fauna. Back in the jungle, enjoy a buffet lunch with Mayan cuisine.
Admission to Río Secreto Nature Reserve, WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION:** Explore the cenote and cave, then enjoy a buffet lunch featuring Mayan cuisine at your own pace.
Río Secreto + Transport Includes admission and transportation to and from select Playa del Carmen hotels. Enjoy the cenote, cave, and buffet lunch without worrying about logistics.
Río Secreto + PLUS: Enhance your adventure with a bike ride,, Rappel and Zip-Lines. Enjoy the cenote tour and a buffet lunch featuring Mayan cuisine.
Río Secreto + Tulum:: Combine your visit with a guided tour of the Mayan city of Tulum, led by archaeological experts. Enjoy both natural wonders and historical treasures, plus a buffet lunch featuring Mayan cuisine.
- Passengers must weigh less than 250 pounds (113 kg)
- The minimum age is 4 years. For the Rio Secreto Plus and Rio Secreto with snorkel options, the minimum age is 7 years due to the additional activities.
- The duration for the option Rio Secreto Admission tour is 03:30 hrs. (approximately)
- The duration for the option Rio Secreto Tour + Transportation is 06:00 hrs. (approximately)
- The duration for the option Rio Secreto + Tulum Tour is 08:00 Hrs. (approximately)
Location
Rio Secreto
Carretera Federal Libre Chetumal _ Puerto Juarez Km 283.5, Ejido Sur
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(747 Ratings)
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Jonea_s
Oct 5, 2025
Amazing!!! - Amazing experience! My tour guide was very polite and was able to accommodate me by bringing my luggage along with the Tour. They were even able to drop me off at my airport instead of back at the hotel. The food was good for the price that we paid and this is definitely a Tour that I would do again.
Review provided by Viator
Yael_k
Oct 1, 2025
Beautiful cave, great guid, greedy operator - The cave is spectacular, and the only way to visit it is through the guided tour. Our guide Victor was nice, informative and professional. We were disappointed to learn that the provider does not give a proper salary to the drivers given the additional significance fee payed for the tour and the transportation. There is an expectation that the salary to the drivers will be through tips, which is outrages, and exploitation on behalf of the drivers. In addition, the fee for the photos is extremely high, 30 dollars per one photo, given that they do not allow using our own phones or cameras. Bottom line, the cave is beautiful, drivers and guides are professional and friendly, but the operator takes advantage of the fact that they are the exclusive operator to extract as much as they can from the tourists.
Review provided by Viator
Gretchen_r
Sep 17, 2025
This was a great... - This was a great experience! Our guide Hugo was knowledgeable and so helpful. I suggest that you are able bodied if you want to go on this trip.
Review provided by Viator
666lauraz
Aug 31, 2025
Come early to do the PLUS - There are not enough words to describe this experience. When we left the cave there was a sign that said after this experience nothing will be the same! And it's exactly how you feel! I particularly felt like I was in the middle of the universe. If you come to Cancun it is something you can not stop doing! Hugo our guide made this experience magical! We did the yellow route. This was the first time of many!!!! Thank you!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_s
Aug 27, 2025
A must do while you're... - A must do while you're visiting Cancun. My husband and I really enjoyed the excursion. Our guide Naomi was amazing and the buffet lunch was so good!
Review provided by Viator
Edyta
Aug 27, 2025
Amazing expense. - Amazing trip for everyone, highly recommend for couple or family’s. Is not hard everyone ca do it, and you will like it for sure
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Akashd949
Aug 24, 2025
Great must do experience if in the area - Really breathtaking, must do experience! Overall great time, and professional conduct
Pros:
-> The transport was comfortable
-> The teams were organised and instructions were clear.
-> Options were provided for comfort (Wetsuits for the cold, walking sticks for balance).
-> It can be a little bit challenging for older travelers to make their way through the caves, but it's what you would expect. The tour itself was professionally conducted
Cons:
-> Photos are expensive, and your own device is (understandably) not allowed
-> The included lunch was just ok, honestly would have been happy without it for a slightly lowered price
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mikep197373
Sep 9, 2025
cenotes and Tulum ruins trip - When we booked the trip the seller didn't provide us with some relevant or Important information. This being that you are unable to take your own photographs within the cenotes. This became very very apparent after visiting the cenotes and being invited to view the photos before the included lunch. The price of the photos was $30 per photo or $120 for all of them. Now considering that the price of the trip itself was almost £100pp an additional charge of around £75 pounds for a download seemed very expensive. The cost would be better priced at between $30 -$40 for all photos to be sent via email or $50 to be added to USB thumb drive. Then off to Tulum for a guided tour of around 50 mins and then some free time of around an hour. Perfect time as it is not massive and once you've taken in the views which are beautiful and the history of the ruins you're pretty much ready to leave.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kannan_m
Aug 22, 2025
Río Secreto, Cancun – A Journey into Earth’s Hidden Wonders - If you're looking for an otherworldly adventure in Cancun that goes far beyond the beach, Río Secreto is a must-see. Our journey began with a private van pickup from Cancun, followed by a scenic 90-minute drive through the lush Yucatán landscape. Upon arrival, we signed waivers and were transferred to another location via a second van, joined by a small group of fellow explorers.
🧗♂️ Gearing Up for the Underground
Once we reached the entrance to the cave system, we were greeted warmly by our guide—a bilingual powerhouse who patiently explained everything in both English and Spanish. Our group of 10–12 was outfitted with wet suits, water shoes, helmets with headlamps, and walking canes. The cane turned out to be a surprisingly essential tool, especially when wading through the cave’s submerged pathways—it helped us gauge water depth and find safe footing.
🌌 Into the Depths
The cave formations were nothing short of breathtaking. Towering stalactites and stalagmites, sculpted over millions of years, surrounded us in a surreal cathedral of nature. Some sections required swimming, but for those who weren’t confident swimmers, the photographer guided them through alternate shallow routes—an inclusive touch that made the experience accessible to all.
One of the most unforgettable moments came when we turned off our helmet lights deep inside the cave. In complete darkness, we stood in silence for a full minute. No sound, no light—just the profound stillness of the Earth. It was humbling, eerie, and deeply moving.
📸 The Photo Experience
While the adventure itself was stellar, the photo package left a bit to be desired. A professional photographer accompanied us throughout the tour, capturing some truly beautiful shots. However, the cost—about $180 CAD for a digital set of 40 family photos—felt steep, especially considering it didn’t include a printed keepsake like an 8x10 memory photo. The images were available online the day after, which was convenient, but the pricing and lack of physical memorabilia were a bit of a letdown.
🏞️ Final Thoughts
Despite the pricey photo package, Río Secreto is a magical experience that’s worth every moment. The combination of natural beauty, thoughtful guiding, and immersive exploration makes it a standout excursion in the Cancun area. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just curious about the mysteries beneath the surface, this underground river will leave you in awe.
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_r
Sep 4, 2025
Book Directly, Do NOT bother with this TERRIBLE Operator. - I booked Puerto Morelos Snorkeling + Rio Secreto through this operator. I want to be clear, the tours themselves and the actual guides are great. This package is coordinated through a third party, an agency, and THEY are awful. Do NOT give them your money, work directly with Rio Secreto or the El Cie Marnia to book the excursions.
First of all, this agency contacted me less than 24 hours before my tour to advise me that they would not be providing transportation from my resort even though it was on the pick up list. They told me I had to go to a meeting point at my expense. It was too late to cancel of course so that was dishonest of them.
Second, I had to meet early in the morning before I had time to get breakfast at my Resort. The package included lunch so I was fine with skipping breakfast HOWEVER what I was not prepared for was that “lunch” would be at 5pm after completing BOTH activities, which are both physically demanding. There was also no access anywhere to BUY food while waiting for lunch. They did NOT prepare me for this. So, unfortunately my experience was not great because I had to power through Rio Secreto after the snorkeling, instead of being able to fully enjoy it because we were famished.
This tour company DOES NOT CARE about you actually having a good experience. This is a money grab, this company simply books things on your behalf that you could book yourself and have more control over your experience.
I reported this to both the operator and Viator directly and since they confirmed my pick up at my hotel and failed to do so, Viator submitted a refund request that the operator rejected - unsurprisingly. And of course they didn’t bother to respond to my message directly either. If you want to have a good day, skip this shady operator and BOOK DIRECTLY with Rio Secreto. DO NOT TRUST THEM with your experience.
Review provided by Viator
