Mexico is home to some of the most extraordinary cave systems on Earth — from vertical shafts hundreds of feet deep to some of the longest, most thoroughly studied underwater caves in the world. Cancun and the Riviera Maya are ground zero for the second kind: a hidden universe of caverns and underground rivers carved beneath the jungle over millions of years — the legendary gateway to Xibalba, the Maya underworld.
Here you'll find a handpicked lineup of cave tours built to explore this underground world in very different ways: hiking, swimming, and snorkeling past stalactites and stalagmites, often paired with nearby cenotes, lagoons, or archaeological sites.
Categories
Duration: Regular: half day · Plus: full day
Put your wetsuit, helmet with a special lamp and wet shoes and get deep in a cave, walk and swim in an unforgettable scenario, a world wonder where you will experience a journey...
Original price: $119.00 You save $24.00
per person
Duration: From 12 to 13 hours
An amazing tour for lovers of reptiles, adventure and the spooky. A thrilling private excursion for those adventurers looking for new experiences
per person
Duration: 8 - 9 hours
Have an unforgettable day on this private tour that combines the beauty of Tulum with an amazing adventure through caves, sinkholes and underground rivers.
per person
Duration: 7 - 8 hours
Join us on this excursion that combines the stunning Sac-Actun Cenote and the Yal-Ku lagoon. Admire the amazing underground world and snorkel in cenotes and rivers.
per person
In everyday English, "cave," "grotto," and "cavern" are all used pretty much interchangeably for any natural underground hollow. A cenote is something more specific — found only on the Yucatan Peninsula, it forms when a cave's roof collapses, exposing or opening access to the groundwater below. To explore those formations specifically, check out our cenote tours and activities.
Ox Bel Ha, in Quintana Roo, is considered one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world. It's part of the Riviera Maya and forms the basis for several of the tours in this category.
No. Every tour in this category is snorkel- and float-based, not scuba diving, so no certification is required. Life jackets are mandatory for the water sections, and you're always with a certified guide.
Most are, though each tour has its own age and fitness guidelines (check the individual tour page for details). For safety, none of these tours are recommended for pregnant travelers, anyone with heart conditions, or severe claustrophobia.
