The Complete Guide To Xel-Ha With Kids, Riviera Maya

Xel-Ha is an all-inclusive natural water park in the heart of the Riviera Maya. The word ‘Xel-Ha’ translates to mean “where the water is born” in Mayan, and this is the perfect description of this watery paradise. Visiting Xel-Ha with kids was one of the highlights of our Riviera Maya visit.

Xel-ha is a natural waterpark, a concept that was completely unique to us. In practical terms, this means that the fun attractions are shaped by the environment.

Want to jump from a cliff into the cool icy water? There’s a cliff right there! How about a lazy river? The natural speed of a river flowing through the mangroves takes care of that!

Of course there are many manmade elements to Xel-Ha too, including a waterslide tower in the shape of a lighthouse. But the whole experience felt organic and, if you like to spend time in the water like we do as a family, it was a whole load of fun!

Xel-ha is part of the Xcaret group, which is the largest theme park chain in Mexico. Here’s everything you need to know about the Xel-ha experience, and whether or not we think it’s worth booking.

Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!

How Much Is Admission To Xel-Ha?

Xel-ha is an all-inclusive attraction. That means you pay one price for your access as well as unlimited food and drink throughout the day (including alcoholic drinks, although we didn’t partake because alcohol and water didn’t seem like a good mix!) When you visit Xel-Ha with kids, they are given kids wristbands (just as they would be in an all-inclusive hotel) so that they can’t access the alcoholic drinks.

There are other experiences you can pay extra for (sea diving, or swimming with dolphins or sting rays, for example) but for a first time visit, one day is barely enough to see everything included with the basic ticket! We didn’t need any extras and I would suggest first-time visitors save their money.

Admission is cheaper if you book online in advance. We were already in Mexico when we booked, but we did this independently rather than though a tour company (there’s no need, they don’t do anything you can’t do yourself!)

When to book? We booked about 2 days before we wanted to visit.
How to book? We booked directly with the Xel-ha website here.

	On The Gate Price	Booked in Advance Price
Adult (12+)	£84.90	£79
Children age 5-11	£63.75	£59
Children under 5	FREE	FREE

NOTE: Xel-Ha operates dynamic pricing, so these prices may fluctate slightly depending on the season/ time of year.

You can also pay a little more to add transportation to and from the park – prices for this vary depending on where your staying so I can’t add an exact price here. But we were staying in the Bahia Principe Grand Coba resort which is very close by and paid a very small additional fee (approx £5 each) to use the shuttle bus because it was cheaper than a taxi.

You have to wear a life jacket whenever you’re in the water but these were provided. Snorkelling gear and fins were provided whenever you wanted them too. There is no extra charge required for equipment hire.

What Did Our Day In Xel-Ha Look Like?

We arrived at Xel-ha early so that we were amongst the first people to be let into the park. I’d done some research and found that the best thing to do was to take the trolley to the very back of the park and ride the lazy river first.

This was great advice! We almost had the whole river to ourselves, and it was much more quiet and relaxing than when we rode again in the afternoon.

Half way along the river we stopped and climbed up to the ‘cliff of courage’. As the name suggests, this is a natural cliff that you can use to jump into the water.

The boys were apprehensive at first, but ended up getting out and doing it again 3 times!

From here we bobbed along the river a little more until we hit the zip wires, which we rode all 3 of, again without a queue. Each of these lands you in the water, which was a lot of fun.

Then it was time for a late breakfast. We went to the larger Mexican themed buffet restaurant as it was the closest to where we were at that point. As I mentioned, all food and drink is included, so this was a great break although breakfast was our least favourite meal at the park, and this was also the biggest crowd we experienced all day here too.

From here it was time to head to the parks only official man made water slides: the lighthouse. These are not for the faint hearted! Not because they’re scary, although they did go fast, but because of the way they throw you around. My back didn’t forgive me the rest of the day!

Next stop? Children’s World! This is aimed specifically at children, and included small slides, an adventure playground, and giant leaves for the kids to balance on and run across on the water. Both boys loved this area so we stayed here until lunch, and there were plenty of spots here for adults to relax while still being able to see their kids play.

Lunch was at the BBQ restaurant. We ate outside in the sunshine, and although this was also buffet style the quality was really good! We all enjoyed the food here, and there was something for everyone.

After lunch we went back to the lazy river because we’d all enjoyed it so much. Then spent the rest of the afternoon snorkelling in the big bay. I was amazed as just how many fish there were to spot, in a rainbow of colours and sizes.

I love to snorkel but the boys lost interest after around half an hour, so Mike took them off to ride the big slides again after a while, leaving me in the water to explore.

At this point it was nearly time to call it a day and get the bus back to our hotel. So we got out and changed (towels are provided too), and stopped for a drink on the sunloungers over the bay. Relaxing for 10 minutes while the boys played in the sand.

We had a high octane and fast paced day which suited us. But there were other families that seemed to have sat on these beds relaxing for most of the day. You can take it at the pace that best suits you and do as much or as little as you like.

Full List Of Attractions At Xel-Ha

Just because Xel-Ha is a natural water park doesn’t mean it’s not packed-full of incredible attractions. I’ve listed these below, so help you make an informed choice about whether this is the best fit for you and your family:

Main water attractions

• Xel-Há Inlet – the huge natural lagoon where you can swim and snorkel among tropical fish
• River Tour (Lazy River) – float down natural waterways on an inner tube or snorkel as you drift
• Snorkelling in Xel-Há – unlimited snorkelling in calm, clear water full of marine life
• Cenotes – freshwater sinkholes perfect for swimming and exploring
• Bay of Caprices – a quieter, scenic swimming and relaxing area hidden away from the main crowds

Nature & exploration areas

• Mangrove River & Jungle Trails – walking paths through mangroves, jungle and wildlife zones
• Xel-Há Cave – a peaceful natural cave area to explore
• Iguana Grotto & El Dorado Cave – small hidden swimming spots in crystal-clear water
• Xel-Há Nursery / Nature zones – areas dedicated to local plants and conservation
• Queen Conch Sanctuary – protected habitat for marine life conservation

Adventure attractions

• Scenic Lighthouse (Faro Mirador) – climb up for panoramic views, then ride the giant waterslide down
• Cliff of Courage – jump platform (around 5m) into deep water
• Salpichanga Zip-lines – water landing zip-lines over the lagoon
• Floating Bridge – wobbly challenge crossing over the water
• Bike rides through the jungle – explore trails by bicycle
• Rope swings / “Pelican Flight” style jumps – fun adrenaline water entry points

Family & relaxed areas

• Children’s World (Mundo de los Niños) – splash zones, safe swimming and kids’ activities
• Hammock & relaxation areas – lots of shaded spots for chilling

Would I Recommend Xel-Ha?

We had an amazing day and for us the experience was well worth it. We’re all water babies and are happiest when wet, so it was the perfect day for us!

If you don’t enjoy the ocean, fish, or swimming in natural environments then this isn’t the spot for you. There are fish everywhere and around all of the attractions, reminding you that this is their environment and we’re just borrowing it!

There was so much to see and do. We loved all the activities. And given that admission included all you could eat and as many cocktails as you wanted (if you’re so inclined) I thought the tickets were pretty good value too.

This was a great family day. And there are memories we made here, and experiences we had here, that I know have become key core memories for the boys.

Still planning your trip to the Riviera Maya with kids? Continue your trip planning below:

👉 Riviera Maya Trip With Kids? Family Travel Tips, Hotels, and Excursions
👉 Swimming With Sea Turtles In Akumal, Mexico. Full Review and Guide
👉 Visiting The Hubiku Cenote, Riviera Maya, Mexico. What You Need To Know!
👉My 5 Top Tips For Visiting Chichen Itza, Mexico With Kids (Learn From Our Mistakes!)

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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!