9 Kayak Trips on the Riviera Maya Worth Booking

1.4 Private Cenotes, Zip-Lines, Canoes & Mayan Village with Delicious Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 757 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $275Our pick

You get a private Riviera Maya pickup, four cenotes in the Tankah area, jungle zip-lines, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, and cliff jumping at your own pace. Guides such as Alberto, Marianna, Hugo, and Yair add local context, take photos, and finish with a home-cooked Maya lunch.

“Danny our tour guide was amazing. Super knowledgeable and very flexible with us. He helped us to get in all the things we wanted to see and do within our time restraint and truly customized our tour to us. One of the best tour guides I’ve ever had!”

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2.Kayak Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 303 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

Paddle calm lagoons in Sian Ka’an with guides such as Antonio, learning to steer through mangrove channels while looking for birds and other wildlife. The three-hour outing ends with sunset on the water. Bring water, sun cover, snacks, and a headlamp.

“Our guide, Antonio was very flexible, patient and knowledgeable. His passion for nature and birds is palpable and infectious. I would highly recommend this tour.”

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3.Tulum: Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $109Best value

From Tulum, you’ll paddle Laguna de Muyil and a Mayan canal with a local English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Javier, Manuel, or Javi. Expect calm water, mangroves, birdwatching, breakfast, lunch, and about two hours of easy kayaking, with a conservation fee paid separately.

“A wonderful place with crystal-clear water. Kayaking there is a great adventure, and you can learn a lot about the ecosystem and Mayan culture. The food is excellent, and the staff are very kind and helpful. I definitely recommend it — a must-have experience in Tulum. The floating experience is truly one of a kind; I’ve never experienced anything like it before. Convenient pickup directly from the house.”

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4.Sunrise Paddle Surf

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 40 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Meet at 6:00 am near Albatros and Petrel streets in Playa del Carmen for a two-hour shared paddleboarding session. Guides including Luis and Gustavo provide instruction, stay with you on the water, and take photos as you watch the sun rise over the Mexican Caribbean.

“We could not find the meeting point and could not contact the person running the activity!! Had to call TripAdvisor for a refund. Very disappointing as we were very excited!”

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5.Kayak Sian Ka’an Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

Paddle Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve from Tulum with a guide such as Antonio, Ernesto, or Ricardo. Choose a shorter or longer route through shallow lagoon water and bird-filled mangroves. Kayaks and reserve entry are included, while transport, food, snacks, and water cost extra.

“What an incredible, surreal experience! This is unlike any place you’ve been on this planet- you’ll kayak through the shallow lagoon, through bird-filled mangroves as your unbelievably knowledgeable guide educates on aquatic species beneath you. This is truly an unforgettable journey. I recommend reef-safe bug spray for twilight hour”

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6.Cenote Tankah and Mayan Village Tour with Zipline, Canoes & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $199

Spend 6 to 7 hours at Tankah swimming in clear cenotes, ziplining above the jungle, canoeing, and eating a Mayan village meal. Private transport, a guide, equipment, snacks, water, and entry are included. Ask for Yuri, Jhony, or Johnny when booking.

“Loved our guide, Yuri and loved the format. Jumping in senotes and zipping over the crystal clear water. Authentic Mexican lunch prepared over wood flames. Worth it! Thanks Yuri!”

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7.Private Tour Tankah 3 Zip Lines 3 Cenotes Canoe Snorkel Community

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $208

Spend about five hours in Tankah’s Mayan jungle with a private guide, three zip lines, three cenotes, canoeing, snorkeling, and a homemade lunch. Pickup is available from your hotel, vacation rental, or Airbnb. Ruben is one guide named in the tour details.

“We booked the private tour and we're glad we did! We can choose the pick up time and how long we spend on the activity. There is no rush, no group to follow, everything goes according to our agenda.”

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8.Zip lining and Canoe Monkey jungle in Tulum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $150

Travel from Tulum to Punta Laguna for a six-hour jungle day with spider monkeys, howler monkeys, zip lining, canoeing, a Mayan ceremony, and a sacred cenote swim. English-speaking guides such as Berto, José, and Alberto Taylor lead small groups of up to six.

“We did a tour of the cenotes/zip lining/canoeing with Berto and it was perfect. It was exactly what we were looking for-a chill day outside getting to see the nature of tulum. It was also just us which we weren’t expecting and loved. Berto was so knowledgeable and nice and really made it a great experience. Everything was safe, laid back and the nature was beautiful. I wouldn’t have changed anything, it was great and highly recommend!”

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9.Bacalar Lagoon! Kayaks & Cenote Azul From Playa Del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 3 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $151

Travel from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar for a swim at Cenote Azul, breakfast, lunch, a kayak ride, free time, and views of San Felipe Fort. The 12-hour outing costs $151, includes round transportation and a life jacket, and suits active visitors ready for a very early start.

“The tour company had transportation issues at the very last minute. Basically told us that the tour was no longer happening after we had been waiting an hour for driver to arrive at our hotel. They were apologetic and offered a full refund, hence the 2 stars instead of one. I wish they would have figured it out sooner and notified us the night before, instead of instructing us to wait outside hotel lobby 15 minutes before pick up time (laughable).”

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