Xel-Há park map, hours and the drive from Cancun
Xel-Há is a natural inlet on Highway 307 at km 240, about 18 km north of Tulum, 48 km south of Playa del Carmen and roughly 120 km from the Cancun Hotel Zone — plan on 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours each way from Cancun. The park opens 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its layout is simple once you see it: the river at the inland end, the inlet in the middle, and the lighthouse where the inlet meets the sea.
Xel-Há on the map
Xel-Há sits right on the federal highway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, so it is easy to reach and easy to combine with the Tulum ruins, 15 minutes further south. The entrance and parking are on the highway side; everything you came for is a short walk toward the water.
The park, area by area
The Inlet (Caleta)
The heart of the park and the reason it exists: a natural cove where underground fresh water meets the Caribbean. Snorkeling here is unlimited and included, and there is a real current where fresh and salt water mix.
The River
At the inland end of the inlet. You float on an inner tube or swim with a life jacket through mangroves, and the current carries you back toward the inlet.
Scenic Lighthouse
Stands at the mouth of the inlet. It is about 40 m (131 ft) tall, with 360-degree views from the top and a waterslide that drops you into the inlet.
Cenotes and caves
Underground pools and grottos along the jungle trails, quieter and cooler than the inlet.
World of Adventure and Cliff of Courage
Zip-lines that end in the water, jumps of about five meters and rope games. The Cliff of Courage is a free jump into the inlet.
Trails, bikes and hammocks
Jungle paths, a nursery with more than 270 native plant species, bikes to move between areas and hammock zones for the afternoon. There is also a children’s play area.
Optional activities
Some experiences cost extra — including the dolphin programs run by a separate operator inside the park. Ask which ones are included before someone in your group falls in love with one.
Hours, tickets and what is included
| What | Detail (September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Grupo Xcaret’s ticket pages list the park as closed on Tuesdays, while one of its FAQ pages still says daily. Check your date on the booking calendar. |
| All-Inclusive ticket | Admission, unlimited snorkeling, river, lighthouse, zip-lines, cenotes, life jacket, locker, meals (breakfast and buffets) and a domestic open bar. |
| Other tickets | Xel-Há Total adds one optional activity; Xel-Há Afternoon enters from 1:00 p.m.; the Xel-Há–Tulum tour adds the ruins and transportation. |
| Children | Free under 5. Ages 5 to 11 pay 25% less than the adult price. |
| Booking early | 10% off when you buy 7 to 20 days ahead on the official site, 15% off at 21 days or more. |
| Sunscreen | Only products with titanium oxide or zinc oxide are allowed. Regular chemical sunscreen is not. |
Source: Grupo Xcaret, official Xel-Há FAQ and ticket pages. The park sells in pesos and the price changes by date, so we do not quote a fixed figure.
For the live price with or without transportation, see Xel-Há tickets or the Tulum and Xel-Há tour, which adds the ruins and the ride from your hotel.
How far it is from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Cancun Hotel Zone (Punta Cancun, km 9) | about 120 km | 1 h 45 min–2 h |
| Cancun Airport | about 100 km | 1 h 15 min–1 h 30 min |
| Playa del Carmen | about 48 km | 40–50 min |
| Tulum town | about 18 km | 20 min |
Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing and Grupo Xcaret. Times are estimates without traffic; hotel pickups on a group tour add more.
On a shared tour, add the hotel pickups, check-in, changing and the drop-off back in your zone: a park that runs for about nine hours becomes a twelve-hour day from Cancun. Do not book a fixed dinner right after the estimated drop-off, and do not go the day before an early flight.
Audit the ticket before you pay
Admission
Date, hours, age rules, ID and the change policy.
Food
Which restaurants, which drinks, how allergies are handled and the serving times — the buffets close before the park does.
Equipment
Mask, life jacket, locker and towel, and whether any of them needs a deposit.
Activities
What is included and what is an optional extra. The park has both, and they are not labeled as differently as you might expect.
Transportation
Pickup point, number of stops and the return time to your zone.
The whole day is in the water
Follow the instructions on depth, current, flotation and where to get in and out. The inlet has a real current where fresh water meets the sea, and the life jacket is not decoration. If someone in your group does not swim, ask before buying what they will do for the other six hours.
Do not rely on an old list of animal interactions. Mexico changed the law on captive marine mammals in July 2025: riding dolphins, holding their fins and the foot push are now prohibited, and a lot of published material predates that.
What to bring
Mineral sunscreen only (titanium or zinc oxide), dry clothes for the drive back, water shoes, any medication and your booking. The Riviera Maya guide puts the park in context, and if you would rather skip the tour bus, the Cancun–Tulum transfer covers the same stretch of Highway 307 and shows the price of a private ride.
Traveler questions
Is there a map of Xel-Há park?
Where is Xel-Há in Mexico?
How far is Xel-Há from Cancun?
What time does Xel-Há open?
Are all activities included?
Can I use sunscreen?
Sources
- Xel-Há, official FAQ: hours, location and childrenwww.xelha.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Xel-Há, All-Inclusive: park areas and what is includedwww.xelha.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Grupo Xcaret, Xel-Há FAQ: sunscreen and lockerswww.xcaret.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Xel-Há, admission typeswww.xelha.com · checked 2026-09-30
- OpenStreetMap, Xel-Há and Highway 307www.openstreetmap.org · checked 2026-09-30
