Xcaret

Private car transfer
from Cancun to Xcaret

Door-to-door
in 1 h 10 min
From ...
per seat
Comfortable
car
One way
Cancel for free 24 hours before departure
Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2024
Excellent
trustpilot-stars

Trip Information

Pick-up

Your driver will meet you at your address in Cancun.

  • Door-to-door service
  • Help with your luggage

Trip

You’ll travel in comfort for 1 h 10 min.

  • Optional sight-seeing
  • Clean, comfortable car
  • Professional driver
  • Bottled water
  • Child seats
  • Prepared for handicapped
  • Smoke-free
  • Pet friendly

Drop-off

Your driver will drop you off at your address in Xcaret.

  • Door-to-door service
  • Help with your luggage
In total
  • 76 km
  • 1 h 10 min

Overview: car trip from Cancun to Xcaret

Dubbed the “Disney of Mexico,” Xcaret brings the whimsy and adventure of a theme park together with the incredible natural beauty of Mexico’s tropical rainforests. Xcaret is a large eco-tourism park built around an ancient Mayan archeological site only 47 miles (76 km) from Cancun. With such a short distance between Cancun and Xcaret, there’s no excuse not to leave the city for a ride on the wild side.

After a short 1 hour and 10-minute ride down the coast of the Riviera Maya, you’ll arrive in Playa del Carmen, a beautiful resort town. Xcaret is located 3 miles (6 km) south of the city center, right on the Caribbean Sea. With so much to see and do over its 200 acres, you may just have to make this trip twice during your vacation!

About Xcaret

Xcaret, or P'ole in the original Mayan language, means “small inlet” and was a large trading post for the Mayans. The archaeological sites discovered here date back mostly to the 1200s to 1500s and uncover missing information about their way of life.

Xcaret Park

In the 1980s, the land surrounding the ruins was purchased for development alongside the growing boom in tourism to Cancun. The developers saw the potential to incorporate the unique archaeological and environmental elements with a traditional theme park. Natural cenotes and authentic Mayan ruins sit beside modern water slides and restaurants in a bizarre yet innovative fashion.

Wildlife in Xcaret

By making these ruins and animals more accessible to the public, Xcaret is able to participate in conservation projects and education alongside fun activities. On the river route, you’ll swim under the green canopy of the tropics among mangroves and through underground channels. The estuaries and rivers of Xcaret flow right out to the ocean, and visitors can swim, ride boats, and observe local marine life.

Mayan Culture in Xcaret

Xcaret has daily shows by local performers that highlight the colors, sounds, and flavors of pre-hispanic Mexico. Visitors can attend bombastic shows of traditional dances, music, and rituals. See folktales brought to life through plays, sports matches from pre-hispanic indigenous life, dances to regional songs, and the intricacy of ceremonial costumes.

Xcaret is sure to bring you closer to Mexican culture, flora, and fauna in a convenient resort-like environment. The distance of the ancient past almost instantly vanishes, even if just for a few hours. With 200 acres, 50 attractions, and six routes that weave all over the park, you are in for a big day!

From Cancun to Xcaret: travel tips

Add these steps to your to-do list before setting out for your Cancun to Xcaret transfer:

Bring a refillable water bottle

You can bring your own water bottle into the park and refill it at one of its many water stations within the park. With all the walking you’ll be doing over Xcaret’s 200 acres, water is an absolute must.

Come with a game plan

Before arriving at Xcaret, have your list of must-sees and map them out to maximize your time. Divide your day by “water activities” and “land activities” so you aren’t changing clothes multiple times per day, and bring a plastic bag to put wet items in after your water activities.

How to get from Cancun to Xcaret

The 307 highway is the only way to travel from Cancun to Xcaret, so the only question you need to ask is whether you'd like to travel with a scheduled shuttle bus or a more flexible private vehicle. All Daytrip drivers for Xcaret speak English and Spanish, and our live customer support is available 24/7. Our drivers are local professionals, and all vehicles are insured.

The best part of either of these options is not having to drive on Mexico’s hectic roads or stress about parking at one of the most popular attractions in the region. Each transportation option from Daytrip has its pros and cons, but which will you choose?

Shuttle buses from Cancun to Xcaret

Pros:

  • Shuttle buses are a low-cost option: Daytrip has seats from $12 (prices are in USD).
  • You can make some friends along the way who are also staying in Cancun.

Cons:

  • You are picked up with other passengers at a central point in Cancun instead of right in front of your accommodation. (Although, sometimes, it is possible to have a custom pick-up for the shuttle bus ride, depending on demand.)

Private drivers from Cancun to Xcaret

Pros:

  • Depart for the trip right from the front door of your hotel.
  • Add sightseeing stops to other local attractions, such as cenotes or the El Rey ruins. Our site-booking system makes it easy to add stops and even gives estimated times for each attraction.
  • Arrange your transportation to fit your unique scheduling needs.
  • Travel in privacy.

Cons:

  • It is more expensive than a shuttle bus. Our private transfers start at $23 per seat in a three-seater sedan.

Things to do when you get to Xcaret

After a quick drive from Cancun to Xcaret, it’s time to explore! Because you’re a smart and savvy traveler, you bought your tickets ahead of time and arrived early. Entry was a breeze, and you have a copy of the park map.

Xcaret is designed to bring you much closer to the Yucatan Peninsula’s stunning wildlife and natural wonders than a regular theme park. With that in mind, you’ll be ducking into caves, interacting with free-roaming animals, and have to watch for slippery rocks around water activities.

Activities can be as hands-off as observing pumas in their enclosures or as involved as snorkeling with fish, petting dolphins, and riding speed boats in the ocean.

Each route at Xcaret has a color and a theme. The routes are clearly marked with colorful tiles on the walkways, and each number on the map indicates an activity or point of interest. You’ll know you’ve reached your destination when you see a sign with the number and probably a crowd. Routes and colors are as follows:

  • River route - Black line
  • Aquarium route - Blue line
  • Beach route - Green line
  • Dolphins route - Red line
  • Mayan Village route - White line
  • Mexico Spectacular route - Brown line

Workshops

At Xcaret’s workshops, you can learn how to cook traditional Mexican foods and make handicrafts. At one much-beloved workshop, you can follow the chocolate-making process from bean to bar with your own two hands. At others, you can learn weaving, dances, pottery, and more from local experts. Check if your desired workshop requires pre-booking or additional costs before arriving!

Seasonal Events

Throughout the year, Xcaret highlights seasonal traditions in Mexican culture. The most popular one is the Festival of Life and Death Traditions, which takes you on a journey through Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This holiday blends elements of Catholicism’s All Saints Day with indigenous beliefs on life after death. This event runs from October 30th to November 2nd.

When is the best time to visit Xcaret

To get the most out of your tickets and arrive ahead of the crowds, visit Xcaret in the early morning. The opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, but the line begins to form before the park is even open, so aim to arrive 30 minutes before opening time.

When you plan out your schedule, take note of what time the workshops and special excursions start. Give yourself enough time in between activities to travel around the park to your next destination and change clothes if necessary.

Questions & Answers about Traveling from Cancun to Xcaret

Xcaret is a one-hour and 10-minute drive south down the coast from Cancun. This 47-mile (76-km) trip can be accomplished by booking seats in a shuttle bus, renting a private car, or hiring a private driver from a transportation company like Daytrip.
The Cozumel International Airport (CZM) is the closest, but it does not run as many flights as the Cancun International Airport (CUN). To reach the Cozumel airport, you will need to travel by ferry to the island and catch a taxi.
A private car. The only way to access Xcaret is to travel southbound on the 307 highway. A private car won’t make you pick up other passengers or travel to a meeting point. It can also reach higher speeds than a shuttle bus.
The easiest way to access Xcaret is to organize transportation ahead of time with a reputable company that provides shuttle buses, taxis, and private drivers. Confirm if your company will pick you up straight from your Cancun hotel or at a central meeting point.
We think so! Xcaret has activities for all ages and ticket options and bonuses at a variety of price points. For large groups, upgrades like the photo package solve the dilemma of one person having to be behind the camera for group photos.
Must-haves are: a photo ID, park tickets, the bank card you used to purchase the tickets, a water bottle, a swimsuit, dry clothes, and a waterproof bag. We highly recommend bringing water shoes with a backstrap (no flip flops) for the rocky, slippery paths around water activities.

Visit these sights on the way

Playa Delfines

Playa Delfines

Playa Delfines is popular with local surfers and is located right in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone.  Surf like the dolphins 

Jardin Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin

Jardin Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin

One of the largest nature reserves in Mexico, this lush patch of jungle is home to the last troop of spider monkeys on the coast. The Jungle Troop 

Cenote Las Mojarras

Cenote Las Mojarras

This large sinkhole looks a lot like a lake, and is a favourite chill-out spot for locals. Sunk in the Sun 

Cenote Chaak Tun

Cenote Chaak Tun

Sunlight and trees pour into a small hole in the heart of this stunning underground cenote ornamented by beautiful cave formations. Light in the Dark 

Why people love Daytrip

Tripadvisor logo
4,800+ reviews
  • 778 travelers took this route with us
Nov 9, 2024

Great communication with an actual person! They will take you ANYWHERE, No pre-set routes to choose from!

Last minute plan change and Daytrip was our last resort so I chatted with them and had an immediate response from a real person, best situation ever. Never used Daytrip before but the reviews were incredible so we took the chance and booked a driver at like 11-12pm and by 7am the next morning when we woke, they found us a driver and the driver had already texed us making contact! Very impressed and will definitely use them again. We went from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Tivat, Montenegro.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler James B
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James B

Nov 9, 2024
Nov 1, 2024

Perfect Transport

Andreas did a great job picking us up from Pireaus Cruise Port and taking us to our rental in Spata. The three of us had been on a long cruise and had 9 pieces of luggage. He arrived in an appropriate vehicle and loaded and unloaded all of it. We are very happy with out decision to book with Daytrip.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler LuckyTraveler01
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LuckyTraveler01

Nov 1, 2024
Oct 26, 2021

Safe and Secure

Exceptional service. Comfortable, safe for a female traveling alone. Reasonably priced. It was my first time in Cancun, Mexico. My Spanish was limited, nice to have someone speak english and give you direction at the sites I booked them twice on my trip, with tours on the way to my destination.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler Trek746130
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Trek746130

Oct 26, 2021
May 10, 2021

Cancun to Tulum

We had an absolutely amazing ride with Cuauhtemoc from Cancun to Tulum. The ride was smooth, on time and as a added bonus Temo was very informative about Cancun, Tulum and everywhere in between! By far he was the best driver we had the entire time! Also the van was very sanitized and we felt very safe . 5 stars and way to go from Andrew and Lara. Book with Daytrip and if you're lucky you will get Temo!

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler andrewwE1487VT
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andrewwE1487VT

May 10, 2021

Vehicle options for this trip

Most popular

sedan

Sedan

Comparable to aVolkswagen Passat
Passengers and luggage
  • 1-3
  • 3x
  • 3x
  • Clean
  • Comfortable
  • Air conditioned
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Child seats
  • Pet friendly
  • Smoke-free
From ... per seatSelect

Best reviews

premium suv

Premium SUV

Comparable to aChevrolet Suburban
Passengers and luggage
  • 1-2
  • 2x
  • 2x
  • All standard sedan features
  • Premium SUV
  • Chauffeur-style service
  • Extra amenities
From ... per seatSelect

More options

mpv

Compact MPV

Comparable to aVolkswagen Touran
Passengers and luggage
  • 4
  • 4x
  • 4x
From ... per seatSelect
van

Van

Comparable to aMercedes Vito
Passengers and luggage
  • 5-7
  • 7x
  • 7x
From ... per seatSelect

The Daytrip driver advantage

Daytrip driver
  • Local knowledge about the route from Cancun to Xcaret
    Including available sights:
  • English speaking*

    All Daytrip drivers speak English* as well as their native language (and sometimes additional languages too!). They'll be happy to discuss local history and culture with you, as well as answer any questions you may have. And because they speak the language, they're able to provide you with a unique opportunity to connect with local culture. *Drivers for Lite service aren't required to speak English but must meet all other standards.

  • Safety first!

    We screen all our drivers for criminal and traffic records, and personally interview each one. We also inspect their cars for safety, comfort, and reliability. All cars must be less than ten years old, in excellent operating condition, and insured as required by local law. And because our drivers are locals, they're familiar with the rules and customs of the road.

World-class customer support

  • Available 24/7
  • Close relationship with drivers
  • Experts on the route from Cancun to Xcaret

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Cancellations: 100% refund up to 24 hours before the trip!
  • Changes: Free up to 24 hours before the trip!

Good to know

Children

If you’re traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!

Pets

Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.

Tips

Gratuity isn’t included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).

Luggage

  • Big luggage
  • 29x21x11 inches
  • 74x53x28 cm
  • Small luggage
  • 22x14x9 inches
  • 56x36x23 cm

Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If you’re traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.

Payment methods

Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.

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