Top Riviera Maya & the Yucatan Day of the Dead Events

Tulum, cenotes, and the terrific snorkeling site of Yal Ku Lagoon make this day tour from Playa del Carmen one you must book. Walk through the ruins of Tulum, a bluff-top city overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and one of the last places inhabited by the Maya people. Discover cenotes and explore a lagoon teeming with marine life—the perfect spot for snorkeling. This guided day of culture, history, and adventure includes lunch and hotel transport.

Satisfy an appetite for adventure on a full-day tour of the exhilarating Xplor Adventure Park from Cancun. Splash into the cool water of subterranean rivers; paddle through atmospheric caves filled with stalactites; glide over the jungle canopy on a high-velocity zip line; and drive an amphibious vehicle on exciting off-road trails. Feast upon an all-you-can-eat buffet of flavorsome and fulfilling dishes while sipping refreshing beverages from an open bar. On this all-inclusive tour, hotel transport, entrance fees and lunch are all completely covered.

Discover the essence of the ancient Maya civilization on this full-day excursion to Coba and the Tulum ruins. This Cancun Super Saver takes you to explore Tulum's ruins with an expert guide, then jump into a rejuvenating underground cenote. Tour Coba, a once-thriving Maya village deep in the rain forest. Enjoy Yucatanean specialties at a buffet lunch and round-trip transportation from your Cancun hotel. Mayan pyramid Nohoch Mul is still visited. But Travelers will not be able to climb it due to the pandemic restrictions.  

Combine a visit to Rio Secreto with a tour of the Tulum Archaeological site with this small-group experience. You'll learn about ancient Mayan culture as you explore the ruins with a professional guide before continuing to the Rio Secreto natural reserve, where you'll walk and swim through a beautiful underground river.

Escape for the day to Xcaret, Mexico's ecological and archeology park located in Riviera Maya. On this full-day trip from Cancun to Xcaret, swim in a lagoon, snorkel in the clear aqua waters of the Caribbean, and discover a network of subterranean rivers. Watch for monkeys, birdlife, and butterflies as you stroll through the jungle at Xcaret and take tours of the ancient Mayan archaeological sites. After the sun sets, enjoy folkloric entertainment that highlights the ancient Mayan culture around Cancun, Mexico. This Xcaret outing includes pickup and drop-off at most hotels in Cancun.

Visit ancient ruins, snorkel with sea turtles, and swim in a cenote with this tour. You'll start at Tulum, where you'll explore the town's famous beachfront archaeological site with a professional guide. You'll then make your way to the jungle to swim in a cenote before wrapping your trip up at Akumal Bay, where you'll snorkel with sea turtles.

Journey to the cultural heart of the Yucatan on this combo tour of Chichen Itzá and the colonial city of Valladolid, departing from Tulum. Your knowledgeable guide offers perspective on the Maya-Toltec design as you walk past the impressively restored structures. Make a stop at a cenote where you can swim and relax. Then, continue on to Valladolid, to have a walk in the city center and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Explore the Rio Secreto Nature Reserve outside of Cancun on this full-day excursion, where you swim and wade in one of the most spectacular underground caves in Mexico. See the famous crystal caves on a tour that showcases the spectacular natural wonders of the Yucatán. Choose round-trip transportation from your Cancun hotel, or meet your guide at Rio Secreto directly. You also have the option to visit the Tulum ruins which you can add as an upgrade.

Learn all about the folklore of the cenotes of Cancun and how they are portals between the living and the dead on this group Day of the Dead tour. Visit Convent de San Bernardino de Siena and explore its architecture and energy, then head to Chichikan and a Mayan village for a Mayan purification ritual. After, enjoy a taco buffet and tequila tasting.

Explore Xel-Ha Park, the Riviera Maya's stunning natural aquarium, on this all-day trip from Cancun. Relax on Xel Ha's hidden beach, swim in cenotes and lagoons, go snorkeling, and spelunk in caves. Watch out for wildlife like angelfish and iguanas. Xel-Ha is all-inclusive, so enjoy Mayan cuisine, seafood and burgers with your admission. This tour is family-friendly and includes round-trip transportation to Xel-Ha from Cancun.

This small-group tour combines two impressive archeological sites of the Yucatán Peninsula: Coba and Tulum. Let a guide accompany you around the ruins and explain their significance. This day trip from Playa del Carmen includes hotel transport, beverages and a buffet lunch, plus a swim in Cho Ha Cenote.

Take in two of the Yucatan's most important Mayan archaeological sites on this full-day tour: Coba, known for its towering pyramid, and waterfront Tulum. There's no need to worry about self-drive, as transfers are included. Along the way, enjoy a Mexican buffet lunch, swim in a cenote sinkhole, and explore Playa del Carmen. Package includes entrance fees but Coba tax and any bicycle or tricycle rentals are at your expense.

Experience firsthand the traditional Day of the Dead celebration at any time of the year! Start visiting the Convent of San Bernardino de Siena (Valladolid), a place filled with rich history and architectural splendor, to then be transported to a Mayan village where the Day of the Dead will come alive next to a magical cenote. Engage in the ancient art of Mayan body painting, indulge in the flavors of traditional Mayan liquor, Tarentum, and savor the rich essence of cocoa and honey. Also, experience the spirituality of a sacred cenote at night, which is believed to be a portal between the living and the dead. You will be for sure captivated by what your guide tells you. Then, you will participate in a Mayan ceremony of offering to the dead led by a shaman, to pay homage to your ancestors. And finally, you will enjoy a Mexican tacos dinner to completely feel as so! This tour will allow you to be part of the Mayan community for one day!

Visit two of the biggest draws in the Yucatan on this tour to the Tulum Archaeological Site and Cenote Chen Há and Mariposa from Cancun. Not only do you get a guided tour of the massive archaeological site—a lot to cover on your own—but you get to make the most of your time in the area by visiting the beautiful cenote. You can swim there, too, if you pay a fee upon arrival.

Why is the Day of the Dead celebrated in Mexico? What is magical about celebrating death? Discover why this mystical celebration teaches us that dying is part of life and we should celebrate it. Delve into one of the most important events in Latin America: Festival de Tradiciones de Vida y Muerte, while you visit the world famous Xcaret Park. Get to know the colorful altars and offerings, specially the exquisite cuisine with which Mexicans remember their faithful departed. Festival de Tradiciones de Vida y Muerte is an event that only takes place once a year at the Riviera Maya and you cannot miss!

Embark on “Mérida’s Cantina Quest,” an exploration designed to showcase the vibrant heart of Mérida through its iconic cantinas. Each stop is a portal into the city’s lively culture, starting with a stroll down the majestic Paseo Montejo, setting the tone for an adventure into Mérida’s social fabric. The journey weaves through historic landmarks and into the welcoming embrace of local cantinas like El Lucero and Cantina El Estado Seco, where the spirit of Mérida comes alive. Conclude your quest at La Negrita Cantina, a pulsating center of music, conversation, and cultural fusion. This tour offers an immersive look into the places that are the heartbeat of Mérida’s community, inviting you to experience the city’s rich traditions and contemporary vibrancy uniquely and memorably. Please note: The availability and accessibility of attractions may vary based on time of day and crowd conditions, ensuring each visit is a unique experience.