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by MexicoRuth
Seattle, Washington
July 7, 2003
When we got to the Xcaret office in Playa, it was closed, but someone soon came and walked us about a quarter mile to where a bus picked us up and took us to the park.
The park is spectacular. There are elements of a zoo with howler and spider monkeys, black panther, and manatees. Also great beach facilities (though most were closed when we were there due to rough and heavy seas).
The highlight for us was the underground river. Near the park entrance is the entrance to the underground river. You leave your belongings in a locked bag and the park takes them to the river exit down at the beach. You climb down some stairs and enter the very cold and amazingly refreshing river and float along wearing the mandatory life jackets. There are several places to get out and warm up and lots of "skylights" so you don't feel too claustrophobic! You can just float along with the current or speed up the trip by swimming.
The evening show is truly spectacular. The HUGE building is a technological marvel and the program is even better! Lots of music and dancing and an eye-popping game played in a darkened theater with a flaming ball!
On the way home we elected to miss the last couple of minutes of the show and catch a cab so we could catch a earlier ferry back to Cozumel. Otherwise we risked missing it and having to wait 2 hours for the next.
I truly enjoyed our day at Xcaret, but next time would probably just go on my own. There are lots of taxis in Playa del Carmen, the ferry is not hard to figure out, and you can buy tickets at the gate all for about $20 less per person than we paid--but it was still worth it!
From journal Cozumel: The best Vacation I Ever Took!