Xel-Há & dolphins — natural water park

Xel-Há is a natural water park set at the mouth of an underground river, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It's one of the most distinctive sites in the region: a true cove where the jungle's fresh water meets the Caribbean, creating an ecosystem that supports abundant marine life.

Mask, snorkel, life jacket and towel are handed out at the entrance. You then explore the cove freely by snorkelling, following the guide ropes or drifting with the natural current: parrotfish, surgeonfish and silvery shoals let you approach easily. A supervised dolphin interaction of about thirty-five minutes is included in the package, in a natural seawater pool.

Good to know: the 50 peso tax is not included and is paid locally. Eight park activities remain extra, among them the spa, swimming with rays and the sky bike, as do the photos from the dolphin programme.

The three programmes — Harmony, Interax and Primax — are described in detail on the "Meeting the Dolphins – Riviera Maya" page, with the length, the group size and the number of interactions for each.