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Río Secreto Nature Reserve from Playa del Carmen
4.7
168 Ratings
Playa del Carmen
Embark on a thrilling adventure through Río Secreto Nature Reserve, exploring ancient limestone formations and underground caves. Discover the secrets of these stunning natural wonders and indulge in Mayan cuisine. Optional visit to Tulum ruins available.
Embark on a thrilling adventure through Río Secreto Nature Reserve, exploring ancient limestone formations and underground caves. Discover the secrets of these stunning natural wonders and indulge in Mayan cuisine. Optional visit to Tulum ruins available.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Rio Secreto - Arrive at the reception and service area on the Cancun - Tulum Highway km. 283.5, just 5 minutes from Playa del Carmen.
- Rio Secreto - Watch a welcome video and enjoy transportation to the Río Secreto reserve (approximately 15 minutes). Upon arrival, guides will greet visitors, provide safety instructions, and distribute the…
- Rio Secreto - Arrive at the reception and service area on the Cancun - Tulum Highway km. 283.5, just 5 minutes from Playa del Carmen.
- Rio Secreto - Watch a welcome video and enjoy transportation to the Río Secreto reserve (approximately 15 minutes). Upon arrival, guides will greet visitors, provide safety instructions, and distribute the necessary equipment.
- Rio Secreto - Before entering the Mayan underworld, visitors will stroll along the nature reserve trails and receive a traditional Mayan welcome.
- Rio Secreto - Experience walking and swimming through stunning natural glass galleries on a 1km route, lasting at least 1:30 hours.
- Rio Secreto - Return the equipment.
- Rio Secreto - Enjoy a toast with Xtabentun.
- Rio Secreto - View photographs from the tour.
- Rio Secreto - Savor a buffet of regional cuisine and fresh waters.
- Rio Secreto - Return to reception for self-transfer or with the contracted transport.
- Tulum Archaeological Site - When this option is selected, visit the remains of an ancient clifftop fortress. Tulum was once a major trading hub, walled on three sides with the front open to the Caribbean Sea. The views are breathtaking. Your tour guide will delve into the history of the main buildings and astronomical discoveries.
- Carretera Federal 307 - When the tour with transportation is selected, expect pickup at major hotels in Cancun or meeting points downtown. Relax as your driver safely transports you to Rio Secreto nature park.
- Puerto Morelos - When this option is selected, visit the world’s second-largest coral reef formation. Marvel at the vibrant marine life, including colorful tropical fish, majestic sea turtles, and stunning coral formations.
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Use of all necessary equipment (wetsuit, helmet, water shoes, life vest)
- 20 USD State Preservation Taxes of Tulum Archaeological Zone
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- Lockers and Towels
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Use of all necessary equipment (wetsuit, helmet, water shoes, life vest)
- 20 USD State Preservation Taxes of Tulum Archaeological Zone
- 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) for admision ticket only.
- Pier & Reef Preservation Tax when Puerto Morelos Snorkel Selected $20 us cash per person
- Photos
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected) for admision ticket only.
- Pier & Reef Preservation Tax when Puerto Morelos Snorkel Selected $20 us cash per person
- Photos
Additional Information
Embark on a journey through an underground river and be amazed by ancient stalactites and stalagmites. As you navigate the turquoise waters, a knowledgeable guide will reveal geological wonders and highlight the local flora and fauna. Afterward, savor a buffet lunch featuring Mayan cuisine in the jungle, included with all options.
Río Secreto Admission…
Embark on a journey through an underground river and be amazed by ancient stalactites and stalagmites. As you navigate the turquoise waters, a knowledgeable guide will reveal geological wonders and highlight the local flora and fauna. Afterward, savor a buffet lunch featuring Mayan cuisine in the jungle, included with all options.
Río Secreto Admission (Without Transportation): Discover the cenote and cave at your leisure.
Río Secreto + Transport: This package includes admission and transportation from select Playa del Carmen hotels, allowing you to enjoy the cenote and cave without any logistical concerns.
Río Secreto + PLUS: Elevate your adventure with a bike ride, rappel, and zip-lines. Experience the cenote tour and indulge in a buffet lunch with Mayan cuisine.
Río Secreto + Tulum: Pair your visit with a guided tour of the ancient Mayan city of Tulum, enjoying both natural wonders and historical sites.
Reef & Cavern Explorer - Río Secreto + Snorkeling in Puerto Morelos: Broaden your adventure by exploring the Puerto Morelos reef along with the Río Secreto tour.
- 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)
- Camaras / Cel phones are not allowed inside the caves
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
(168 Ratings)
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Boydm979
Feb 9, 2026
Excellent cave river tour! - Victor was excellent in explaining the formation of the underground cave river system. Our path thru the cave was a combination of walking on dry rock, walking thru ankle high and knee high water, and swimming thru a short section. Victor was VERY helpful with letting us know if there was an upcoming drop off or a rock on our right or left while in water. He led the group slowly to accommodate the different physical levels of the people in our group. It was a magical experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Storyteller439226
Dec 26, 2025
Excellent cave trip - Great experience! Really interesting, different activity from all the others in the area. My two teens thoroughly enjoyed themselves and so did I.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chintu_d
Dec 17, 2025
Enormous Fun Exploring an Underground River - This was such an exciting trip! It was our first main tour of a few we did in our 9 day holiday at Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, and it certainly set the bar high. First we went out of a boat with our guides and a group of about 15 others to go snorkelling on the second biggest reef in the world! We were given a floatation jacket, snorkel and mask, and flippers, and then once out at sea (maybe a 10 minute boat ride) we jumped off the edge of the boat to explore the beautiful under sea world of the reef and some amazing sea creatures. We saw plenty of fish, a turtle, a few rays and even a barracuda! There was a fair bit of swimming required, although the guide who lead us did have a life ring on a rope, if needed. We swam for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and to be fair, I was exhausted by the end, being a confident but less than fit swimmer. We were never that far from the boat, but certainly quite a way out to sea, so no sloping off to the beach for a rest. Bear this in mind if you are not the most confident swimmer - let them know before the swimming begins! I have snorkelled before but not for a couple of decades. My wildlife loving partner had never snorkelled before and he absolutely loved this experience, as I had hoped he would! We then got back on the boat via a ladder and returned to the harbour at Puerto Morelos, just had time for a quick coffee and slice of cake to recharge my energy levels (these were included in the price), ready for our next adventure at Rio Secreto underground river and nature reserve. For me, this was the most exciting part of the day. We donned wet suits and hard hats with a head lamp on, and water shoes (take your own if you have them) and our wonderful guide, Diago, took us first to meet a shaman for a blessing for our journey, and then we went down into he cave complex amongst the most incredible stalactites and stalacmites, wading through the waters of the underground cave. If you have swum in a cenote, which we did in a subsequent trip, this is different as you have to walk in a line along the river, in and out of small lakes and streams and tunnels underground, lit only by head torches - it was incredibly atmospheric! Diago made it really fun and also paid attention to our safety, and we had 2 other guides with us - a photographer and a second guide to make sure we were all ok. There were some tight spaces to navigate, rocks to climb over, and lots of steps up and down under the water, which Diago lit with his torch under the water so it was easier to find my footing. He is clearly really passionate about caving, and his joy was infectious - rarely have I had so much fun, it was like being a child all over again! At one point we all turned our torches off and were in absolute pitch blackness for a few seconds - truly breathtaking! Honestly, if you want to have an adventure, give this trip a try, but be aware that you need to be relatively able bodied to really enjoy the underground river as once you're in, you need to keep going through the cave system with your group. That said it was enormous fun and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thank you Diago for making it such a special experience.
Review provided by Viator
Karen
Nov 18, 2025
Highly recommended - A great chance to see natural caves. Our guide Martin was very good, knowledgeable and friendly, and always looking out for safety of the small group.
Only downsides are the very bumpy minibus ride into the jungle, and the extortionate price of digital photos ($30 for one)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda_h
Jun 27, 2025
Definitely do this tour - Fernando was the absolute best guide I have ever had. He was very knowledgeable not only about the cenotes and the ruins but about the culture as well. They do provide all the items needed for the cenotes but I would suggest bringing your own water shoes.
Review provided by Viator
Morganjm9821qq
Dec 15, 2025
Very cool but Overpriced Pictures - The experience itself was wonderful, but the pictures at the end are $30/each or $120 for all. You can't bring your own camera. Ridiculous!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rocio_m
Jul 7, 2025
Great Experience, poor transportation Communication - Overall a great experience! Victor our guide was great! He led us through the underground river secreto and was very informative regarding the rock formations and the ecosystem in general in Río Secreto. Would say that the transportation communication for pick up was lacking. You have to call or email them to arrange the pick up even if you select the pick up option on viator. Even then, if you have a Monday tour, I never got communication on Sunday even after attempting to call and text different numbers they provided. I had to reach to viator customer service for them to then reach out to the provider, who then gave me our pick up time. Such a hassle to just want to understand the pick up time. I would recommend calling or emailing them two days in advance given our experience with that. The good thing is that the excursion itself was worth it and would go again.
Review provided by Viator
Erin_s
Dec 22, 2025
Keep it a Secret. - I don't like to leave the less than stellar reviews but this activity was pretty mediocre. My friends hated it, I thought it was an over-priced series of transfers and bumpy rides. I considered my sub-par experience to be because of dehydration (do not go hungover, fam), but they were straight up mad about it. About five hours, and maybe 90 minutes was actually in the caves.
Lots of waiting on arrival--don't do the transfer if you can help it, just do the ~7-10 min taxi ride from PDC for like 20 pesos or whatever. And you can get there much closer to the start time and not have to wait around for over an hour of pickups and sit around and think time.
Once the groups are ready to go after an hour or so, it's another ~20 minutes (feels like a nauseous purgatory eternity with a hangover... again... just don't!) in a cramped van over bumpy jungle roads getting to a cave entrance. Just so you understand how the time works out. No one was having a good adventure time in the vans. Arrive at the next point, change, shower, put on your gross reused wetsuit that you hope no one peed in, walk a few minutes to a hole in the ground, and you have finally arrived!
I thought cave time was a nice experience, a comfortable swim, some difficult terrain in sloshy water shoes, but I've been to New Zealand... if you can spring for that trip, that's where it's at. My friends thought the caves were cool, but they want to make it clear that you must be a good swimmer and ability to tread water because there are areas where you must swim through deep pools.
Oh yeah, and because you are not allowed to bring in your own cameras (thankful, it would be way more annoying waiting for the selfies), there is an excruciating amount of time spent waiting for the photographer to get each group to pose at what was maybe a dozen stops along the way. Wish we could have elected whether we wanted pictures and gone with a no-photo group. Or, a single pose at the end or something. Photos are incredibly over-priced.
Very efficient and get in/get out once the cave time starts. Which is great because you don't want to be simmering in that group wetsuit. Um the lunch spot had really cute iguanas.
If you have never been caving and this is your chance, do it but don't expect it to change your life.
Also, to the tour company, freaking pay your drivers a wage. Till then, travellers, remember your pocketfuls of propinas for everyone and don't forget your driver's!
Review provided by Viator
Austin_s
Jul 23, 2025
Breathtaking Experience, But the Photo Scam Leaves a Bad Taste - Rio Secreto is one of the most unique and breathtaking adventures you can experience in the Riviera Maya. The underground river, crystal-clear water (~20°C), and ancient cave formations are truly awe-inspiring. I didn’t wear a wetsuit and was totally fine—just immersed in the beauty and peace of nature. They provide a solid helmet, headlamp, and water shoes, so you don’t need to worry about gear.
Our guide, Victor, was fantastic. He spoke English, Spanish, and French, and handled our multicultural group with great energy and professionalism. He made the tour fun, informative, and very safe.
That said, the big downside is their photo policy. You’re not allowed to bring a camera or phone, which is understandable—but then they assign a “professional” photographer who only takes still photos (no video) and most of them came out blurry or overexposed. Be warned: if your headlamp is on, it ruins the photo exposure. Turn it off during photo ops if you want a chance at a decent shot.
I was solo on the tour and figured I’d rely on the pro photographer to capture some memories. But here’s the kicker: they wanted $30 USD for ONE photo or $120 USD for the full package of 25 photos. And only two were worth keeping—one at the entrance, and one group shot in the cave. Not a single good photo of me inside the cave. When I asked if everyone pays that much, especially families of 3 or 4 who were with me, they told me no—larger groups are charged more. So, keep that in mind: you’re still paying a high price as a solo traveler, and it’s not per person—it’s per photo package, regardless of quality or quantity of good shots.
This whole setup feels like a cash grab. With better photo quality, more thoughtful pricing tiers, or even a GoPro video option, they could offer so much more value. As it stands, it felt like an overpriced afterthought tacked onto an otherwise magical experience.
Final Take:
✅ Go for the experience—it’s truly one of a kind.
❌ But don’t expect to bring back quality memories unless you’re ready to overpay for blurry photos.
💡 If capturing memories is important to you, consider visiting a cenote instead, where you can take your own photos and enjoy the water freely.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_m
Jul 2, 2025
Great destination, poor coordination. - First, the tour was wonderful. Our guides were great. 10/10 experience for the reef snorkeling and caves. I highly recommend. I rated this a three however due to the poor coordination by the tour company. I was emailed at 10:45pm the night before our tour that we would be picked up several blocks from our hotel, which was fine, but I was very lucky I saw it in time to catch our transport. It resulted in a rushed morning where we did not eat breakfast. We expected Rio Secreto to be the first stop, but they switched it and we went snorkeling first. The reefs were amazing, we saw tons of fish and sea turtles. We finished up there around noon. When we got to the caves we expected to have lunch, but we're informed instead we would go directly on the tour. The caves were amazing and the highlight of our trip so far. Our guide was wonderful. I appreciated the natural caves and formations. There are no lights or infrastructure beyond your headlamps. The water is crystal clear. It was mostly knee deep, but there was one area where we swam. I have been in many tourist trap caves and this was not like that at all. With our small group in the quiet caves it really felt like a genuine experience in a beautiful natural setting. The water was cool but not cold. By the time we finished it was 4pm. At this point none of us had eaten all day. We were put in front of kiosks to buy pictures before they would let us proceed to the cafeteria to eat. When we were finally allowed to eat, the food was cold, picked over, and had flies in it. This simply could have been a wonderful experience. It really should have been. The late notice on the change in pick up location, change in schedule that disrupted lunch, and two starving kids really put a damper on the whole experience though. If you take this tour I would suggest packing a couple of granola bars.
Review provided by Viator
