What is Xel-Ha?
Xel-Ha (pronounced Shell-Ha) is an all-inclusive natural aquatic park located on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Xel-Ha is situated in a stunning location, nestled between the jungle and the Caribbean Sea. The park is spread over an area of 200 acres and offers visitors the opportunity to explore both the lush vegetation and the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea.
The natural setting of Xel-Ha is what sets it apart from other waterparks. It is the perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling. Visitors can explore the park’s underwater world and discover the beauty of the coral reefs and exotic fish species. There are also a lot of activities to choose from! Whether you want to go down a 98 foot thrilling waterslide, cliff jump, zip line, or just soak up the sun and enjoy all of the included food and drinks, there is something for everyone! The park’s many attractions are carefully integrated into the surrounding environment, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature while having fun. It is a unique and breathtaking eco-park that also has an important cultural history.
The ancient Maya utilized the Xel-Ha lagoon, which is now a part of the Xel-Ha Eco Park, as a maritime port during the Classic period of Maya civilization, between 700 and 1200 A.D. The Maya used the lagoon for fishing, transportation, and trade with neighboring coastal communities, making it an important hub for commerce and communication.
How Much is Entry?
Entry is all-inclusive with food and drinks. As of March 2023, prices are $90 for adults (12 and up), $67.50 for children (5-11), and kids under 4 are free. Prices can change with time so for the most updated price information CLICK HERE.
What is included in your day?
One of our favorite features of Xel-Ha is its all-inclusive aspect. This made it so easy to enjoy the day without having to bring a ton of belongings. Here’s what is included:
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Food: We love all you can eat and were pleasantly surprised by the food selection. They offer continental breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and snacks and lunch buffets from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The kids loved the endless ice cream!
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Unlimited drinks, including soda, beer, and alcoholic beverages (for adults 18+).
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Access to the park’s natural attractions, including the lagoon, beaches, and jungle trails.
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Snorkeling equipment and life jackets.
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Towels
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River floating on inner tubes
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World of Adventure: zip-lines, cliff jumps and rope games.
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Children’s Playground that our kids LOVED.
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Scenic Lighthouse with 360° views and a waterslide
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Gorgeous rest areas with views or hammocks
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Bicycles.
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Restrooms, changing rooms, showers, lockers.
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Free parking.
Visitors can also choose to purchase additional services and activities, such as swimming with dolphins, spa treatments, and guided tours. Overall, a visit to Xel-Ha offers a full day of adventure and relaxation, with something for everyone to enjoy.
What is NOT included in your day?
While Xel-Ha includes A LOT of activities and you can fill your day easily with inclusions alone, but they also have several fun activities for an additional cost. These include:
- Swimming with dolphins
- Snuba
- Adrenalina Xel-Há
- Sea Trek Discover
- Snuba Cenote
- Zip-bike
- Sea Trek Stingray
- Manatee Encounter
To view a full list of activities and prices: CLICK HERE
Tips For Your Day at Xel Ha
Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your day at Xel Ha.
Arrive early
Xel-Ha opens at 8:30 am, so it’s a good idea to arrive early. We got a late start the day we went and wished we had more time. The park can get busy later in the day, so arriving early will give you plenty of time to explore the park and enjoy the attractions.
Grab a Locker
Xel-Ha has free lockers available, which is a perfect way to store your valuables at the park. The lockers are located near the entrance, and they come in different sizes to accommodate different needs. I highly recommend putting everything in the locker and carrying the bare minimum throughout the park. Since towels and snorkels are provided we recommend just carrying your waterproof camera and phone inside a waterproof case.
Take Advantage of the Park’s Amenities
Xel-Ha has several amenities available to visitors, including showers, changing rooms, and restaurants. They also have a service where you can lock your belongings in a bag at the start of the lazy river and it will be transported and waiting for you when you finish. Take advantage of these amenities to make your day at the park more comfortable.
Try Everything!
There was so much to do during the day and we had a great chance to try new things. Whether it’s cliff jumping, ziplining, snorkeling, or going down their crazy tall slide, push yourself to try a little bit of everything and get out of your comfort zone.
What to Pack
Sunscreen (and take advantage of their exchange program)
With all of the water activities, you will have a long day in the sun and definitely should protect yourself, but also protect the reef! The park asks that you use reef safe sunscreen that has only active ingredients of titanium oxide and zinc oxide. If you own sunscreen that doesn’t meet those requirements, no worries. You can take your sunscreen to a station when you enter and they will exchange your sunscreen for reef safe sunscreen for the day!
Water Shoes
This to me is a must. You will be in and out of different activities all day and having water shoes that were comfy allowed us to go from one activity to the next without having to keep track of flip flops left around. There were also parts of caves and inlets with rockier bottoms so these helped protect our feet.
Waterproof Camera
Xel Ha is home to some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Riviera Maya, so it’s a good idea to bring a waterproof camera (like a GoPro) with you to capture your memories. There are plenty of opportunities to take pictures, whether you’re snorkeling in the inlet or exploring the park’s waterfalls.
Waterproof Phone Case
We also wish we had bought a waterproof case for our phones. We made the mistake of leaving our phones in the lockers, making it hard to communicate.
Reusable Water Bottle
The park has filtered water filling stations throughout the park. While this park all food and drinks are included we recommend you still bring a water bottle to fill and carry on the go. Cool fact…if you look at the water refill station the number shown on it lets you know how many plastic water bottles were conserved by having refill stations.
Rash Guard
Being in the sun all day we recommend a long sleeve rash guard for extra protection especially if you have little kids.
Change of Dry Clothes
There are showers and changing stations right next to the lockers. This isn’t a requirement but it can help you stay comfortable when you’re done going in the water.
Commitment to Sustainability
The park has received several awards for its sustainable practices, including being awarded the EarthCheck Gold certification. Xel-Ha has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including recycling, composting, and reducing energy consumption. The park’s commitment to sustainability not only helps protect the environment, but also provides visitors with an educational experience about the importance of conservation.
One of Xel-Ha’s most significant commitments to sustainability is its “no plastic” policy. The park has eliminated single-use plastic items such as straws, cups, and plates. This policy has helped reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean and on the park’s premises.
Xel-Ha also has water refill stations scattered throughout the park, which encourages visitors to bring their reusable water bottles instead of buying single-use plastic bottles. This initiative not only reduces plastic waste but also promotes a sustainable lifestyle.
In addition to its “no plastic” policy, Xel-Ha has also eliminated paper maps. Instead, visitors can use a digital map on their phones or tablets, which reduces paper waste and encourages the use of technology.
Xel-Ha vs Xcaret
If you only have one day and can’t visit several parks, it can be hard to choose which one to visit. We recently wrote a detailed blog on Xcaret you can read HERE! Xcaret is much larger with more activities, and therefore is open longer from [8:30]AM – [10:30]PM, whereas Xel-Ha is open from [8:30]AM – 6PM. While Xcaret has more of a variety of activities such as a butterfly pavilion, aquarium, and Xcaret Mexico Espectacular, it does not include food, drinks, snorkel gear or lockers. Xel-Ha costs $90 per adult while Xcaret’s most basic package is $109.
In conclusion, Xel-Ha is an amazing park to visit while in the Riviera Maya due to its stunning natural setting, unique attractions, commitment to sustainability, and excellent amenities and services. Whether you’re looking to relax in the sun or have an adventure exploring the park’s natural wonders, Xel-Ha offers something for everyone!
