Rio Secreto Nature Reserve Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Rio Segreto Nature Reserve. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Rio Secreto Underground River Tour with Crystal Caves

• Rio Secreto and Tulum Tour from Cancun or Riviera Maya Hotels

• Rio Secreto Plus: Classic Tour, Bicycle, Rappel, and Ziplines

• Río Secreto Nature Reserve from Playa del Carmen Entrance or Tour

• Rio Secreto Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket

The only way to visit Rio Secreto Nature Reserve is on a guided tour, and there’s a wide range of options available. Tours generally start at US$89 and go up from there—some include additional sightseeing stops such as Tulum, the Mayan Ruins of Coba, and jungle cycling.

Yes, Rio Secreto Nature Reserve is worth visiting. Unlike many traditional cave tours, this is a chance to explore an underground river as it passes gorgeous formations of sparkling stalactites and stalagmites. The river itself is gorgeous, too—the crystal-clear, fresh water is great for swimming and wading through the cave.

Per one customer who booked the Rio Secreto Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket, "Such a magical experience. I was a little scared about deep water as I'm not a great swimmer but it was totally fine and I felt very safe and cared for. 100% check out this tour. My group had elderly people in it and they had the best time and no issues with navigating the cave."

Yes, you can choose from several different Rio Secreto Nature Reserve tours led by specialized guides. The classic tour includes access to the 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) underground route home to stalactite and stalagmite-lined caves. Other tours such as the Admission Rio Secreto Wild Tour with Lunch have adventurous add-ons. These unique experiences include rappelling, mountain biking, and riding a zipline above ground, not in the cave system.

The main attractions at Rio Secreto Nature Reserve are the underground caverns formed from limestone and coral that’s fossilized over the course of millions of years. You’ll walk and swim beneath these formations on a cave tour. Thousands of years ago the Mayan people considered them to be sacred. Other popular activities include rappelling down to Xibalbá (the Mayan underworld).

Rio Secreto Nature Reserve provides the equipment you’ll need to enter the caves and navigate its crystalline waters. Tours include a wetsuit, headtorch, life vest, helmet, and lamp. Wear a bathing suit to keep on beneath your wetsuit and opt for water shoes with a good grip. Guides will provide towels, so you can dry off afterwards.

Because the highlights of Rio Secreto Nature Reserve are underground, there’s not a bad time to visit when it comes to the weather. However, December through April is peak season in the Yucatan and Riviera Maya. During this time of year, booking your tour in advance as they have a tendency to sell out.

Rio Secreto Nature Reserve is in the small town of Playacar. The drive is around 30 minutes from Playa del Carmen. From Cancun it takes about 1.5 hours via the Chetumal-Cancun highway. Opt for a tour package that includes transport to save yourself the hassle of driving or dealing with taxis.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Rio Secreto Nature Reserve. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Playa del Carmen:

• Quintana Roo

• Chichen Itza

• Isla Mujeres

• Mayan Ruins of Coba

• Xcaret

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in and around Playa del Carmen.