9 Things to Do in Playa del Carmen with Kids

Parque Fundadores is a recreational park overlooking Playa del Carmen’s main beach. It’s one of the town’s most photographed locations thanks to its 16-meter-tall bronze arch, which has a whimsical design of a man and a women holding hands. There’s a playground built in the shape of a pirate ship, and a stage that hosts live shows all year round. A must-see is the Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), which is a Mayan performance featuring acrobatic skills and traditional music.

Quinta Avenida is a trendy avenue that runs parallel to the main beach of Playa del Carmen. This touristy avenue contains plenty of souvenir stalls, grocery stores, and shops selling beachwear, Cuban cigars and handicrafts. It’s also a good place for checking out street performances, including celebrity impersonators, dancers, and musicians. Come sundown, Playa del Carmen becomes a lively hub of nightclubs and mescal bars with views of the ocean.

The Jungle Place is a wildlife sanctuary for spider monkeys in Quintana Roo. The center is only open for guided tours, which cost around $80 per person. All proceeds go towards the rehabilitation of these endangered animals, including medical care, food, and shelter. Most of the spider monkeys are free to roam at Jungle Place, and you can see some of the staff’s day-to-day duties during the hour-long tour. Located in Chemuyil, the Jungle Place is about 47 km south of Playa del Carmen.

The Xaman Ha Aviary houses about 200 tropical birds from 30 different species, most of which are indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula. The bird sanctuary spans almost 130,000 sq m in size, and is decorated with rock pools, waterfalls, and beautiful plants. A stone pathway leads you through the aviary, where you can see colorful toucans, flamingos, and parrots. Admission to Xaman Ha Aviary costs around $22 per adult and is free for children under 12 years old.

Xel-Ha Park is an all-inclusive aquatic theme park that sits around a natural inlet with many marine animals. You get to enjoy a variety of nature activities throughout your visit, including bike rides, ziplining, and encounters with manatees and stingrays. The Children’s World features a wading pool with waterslides and a playground with rope climbing and hanging games. For expansive views of Xel-Ha Bay and the Caribbean Sea, climb to the top of Scenic Lighthouse, which is 40 meters tall.

Cenote Chaak Tun is a beautiful swimming location about 7.5 km northwest of Playa del Carmen. This freshwater cenote consists of 2 underground rivers, with hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites. There’s a diving platform and plenty of rope swings for you to enjoy as well. Daytrips to Cenote Chaak Tun cost around $60 per adult and $50 per child, which includes transportation, admission fees, helmets, snorkeling equipment, and locker rental.