Río Secreto is a place of supernatural beauty, hidden and perfectly preserved in the Riviera Maya.
We invite you to visit Río Secreto Playa del Carmen, one of the most beautiful and spectacular destinations you can imagine in Mexican territory.
What is Secret River?
An iguana, which was being chased by a peasant from a community near Playa del Carmen, disappeared among some rocks.
The man, who did not want to deprive himself of the exquisite eggs and the tasty meat of the saurian, removed the stones and before his eyes a river of crystalline waters, until then secret, appeared.
This is how Río Secreto was discovered in 2006, an ancient subterranean current of sublime beauty.
A group of explorers entered the cavern and did not leave their amazement with each distance traveled, through the galleries that resembled crystal palaces and through the halls with grandiose rock formations that seemed to be taken from a fairy tale.
Currently, this wonderful nature reserve is visited by people from all over the world who come to the Riviera Maya expecting to discover the incomparable beauty of Río Secreto in a fantastic, mysterious and unforgettable journey through the interior of the Earth.
Río Secreto has been defined as a geological library with many pages yet to be read and interpreted.
You too can participate in this fascinating reading, while admiring its majesty and enjoying the entertainment available in this treasure in the bowels of the planet.
What to see in Rio Secreto
The Río Secreto Playa del Carmen tour is listed as one of the best “green” tourism experiences in Mexico and America.
Before entering the cavern with the underground river, they will provide you with the necessary equipment according to the tour that will take place, as well as food and drink rations.
On the tour you will see beautiful sets of rock formations (columns, stalactites and stalagmites) and listen to the guide’s explanations about how these structures took shape through the deposition and accumulation of mineral salts contained in the waters over millions of years.
You must walk carefully to avoid slips and falls. At times you will have to duck to save natural obstacles and, sometimes, you will have to float. Occasionally the water reaches above the knees.
You will see and feel the sounds of the fauna that inhabits the cave, particularly bats. These animals are great. They are the only mammals that fly it and their echolocation system is so perfect that one will never hit you.
Río Secreto is a network of caves and underground waters in constant exploration, so on your next visit there will surely be something new to see.
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What restrictions are there to enter Rio Secreto?
Río Secreto is managed by people with an almost obsessive concern for the preservation of the environment and nature lovers can enjoy it regardless of whether it rains or if there is a bright sun, whether it is day or night.
The nature reserve is managed with strict conservation controls, so you cannot enter with objects that can be lost (such as jewelry and cameras).
The use of cameras is restricted because the excessive use of flashes or artificial lighting disturbs the life of the fauna of the place. You will not run out of photos, since a photographer accompanies the tours.
You will travel through a part of the Xibalbá or Mayan underworld, the subterranean world that the members of this famous civilization considered to be governed by Hun-Camé and Vucub-Camé, gods of disease and death.
Therefore, before entering Río Secreto, a brief ritual requesting permission to enter its underworld is celebrated as a symbol of respect for the Mayan culture.
You should also do everything possible to empty your bladder, since your waste will not be welcome in this highly fragile ecosystem.
How many hours does it take to go through Rio Secreto?
The shortest tour lasts three and a half hours and the longest takes all day. This time does not include the transfer from Playa del Carmen, Cancun or any other location in the Riviera Maya.
One of the packages offered is designed to suit the client, who decides its duration.
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Things to do in Rio Secreto Playa del Carmen
In Río Secreto you can do four different tours: Río Secreto, Río Secreto Plus, Río Secreto Wild and Privilege.
Secret River Tour
attractions
It is a journey through a river of dazzling beauty, traveling through a natural glass museum and admiring rock formations that contain in their entrails the geological history of the planet. It includes:
- Access to the Nature Reserve in groups of 10 people (maximum)
- Locker for the protection of belongings
- expert guide
- Neoprene suit
- Lifejacket
- helmet with lamp
- Towel
- Buffet with food and non-alcoholic drinks
Prices
Without transportation to and from place of accommodation:
- Adults: $79.
- Children from 4 to 12 years old: 39.5 USD.
With transportation from the Riviera Maya and from Cancun (round trip):
- Adults: $109.
- Children from 4 to 12 years old: 54.5 USD.
Availability
- Without transportation: every day of the week (9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00)
- With transportation from the Riviera Maya: every day of the week (9:00 and 13:00)
- With transportation from Cancun: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (9:00)
Duration
Approximately three and a half hours.
Secret River Tour Plus
attractions
It is a unique experience of connection with nature and observation of spectacular geological formations, traveling through the bowels of the Earth.
On this tour you can rappel, bike and hike through the jungle in the most dazzling settings you can imagine.
Another plus of the walk is the Ruta Seca route until you reach the Hall of Peace, where a light and sound show is presented in a completely natural environment.
It includes
- What is indicated in the Secret River Tour
- Bicycle
- Rappelling accessories
- Light and sound projection
Prices
Without transportation to and from place of accommodation:
- Adults: $99.
- Children from 7 to 12 years old: 49.5 USD.
With transportation from the Riviera Maya and from Cancun (round trip):
- Adults: $129.
- Children from 7 to 12 years old: 64.5 USD.
Availability
From Monday to Saturday (between 9:00 and 11:00), without transportation and with transportation from the Riviera Maya or Cancun.
Duration
Between five and a half hours and approximately 6 hours.
Secret River Wild Tour
attractions
This tour is an authentic exploration of the jungle through the heart of the Riviera Maya, going through jungle landscapes and caves by bicycle.
You will walk through a series of mysterious caverns and swim and snorkel in a crystal clear river below the ground. It includes:
- Access to the Nature Reserve
- Bicycle
- expert guide
- personal photographer
- Full wetsuit
- Lifejacket
- helmet with lamp
- Special shoes
- snorkeling
- Viewfinder
- Breakfast, snack and drinks
- Buffet lunch at the end of the tour
Prices
Without transportation to and from place of accommodation:
- Adults: $119.
With transportation from the Riviera Maya and from Cancun (round trip):
- Adults: $149.
Availability
- Without transportation: every day of the week (8:00)
- With transportation from the Riviera Maya: every day of the week (8:00)
- With transportation from Cancun: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (8:00)
Duration
All day
Tour Privilege
attractions
This personalized walk through the Nature Reserve is a true privilege, unique and unforgettable.
Apart from the tour of caves, observing beautiful and curious stone structures, you can snorkel and practice other entertainment, dedicating the time you have agreed with your specialized guide to each attraction. It includes:
- Access to the Nature Reserve
- expert guide
- personal photographer
- Necessary equipment
- New sorel tube (courtesy)
- Snacks and drinks during the tour
Prices
- One person: 389.00 USD.
- Between two and four people: 289.00 USD each.
Availability and Duration
Privilege is a tailor-made tour for you to delight in convenience in Río Secreto Playa del Carmen. The client and the guide establish the scope and time to dedicate to each activity, as well as all the details for a completely satisfactory tour.
Distance from Playa del Carmen to Rio Secreto
The Nature Reserve is located 9.2 km southwest of Playa del Carmen, traveling along the Free Federal Highway Chetumal – Puerto Juárez.
How far is Rio Secreto from Playa del Carmen
The travel time between the city center of Playa del Carmen and Río Secreto is between seven and twelve minutes, depending on the means of transport used.
How to get to Rio Secreto
After arriving in Playa del Carmen, access the federal highway heading southwest. After passing the Playacar private development and access to the Xplor Adventure Park, you will find the entrance to Río Secreto.
The exact address is this: Carretera Federal Libre Chetumal – Puerto Juárez, Km. 283.5 Ejido Sur, 77712, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
How to go to Rio Secreto from Playa del Carmen
The closest city to Río Secreto is Playa del Carmen. There are three ways to go to the Nature Reserve from Playa: own or rented car, taxi and bus.
The buses are those that go in the direction of Tulum and you can board them at the terminal located on Fifth Avenue, Centro, 77710, in Playa del Carmen.
What does National Geographic say about Río Secreto?
The famous organization Nat Geo has made reports about Río Secreto Playa del Carmen, highlighting both its natural beauty and its scientific importance and discoveries made.
Among these scientific findings are that of the white lady, a blind fish that adapted to live in the total darkness of the waters, as well as Pleistocene remains of species that no longer exist in the territory, such as llamas, elephants and giant armadillos. In addition to human skeletons.
Phone Rio Secreto Playa del Carmen
- Secret River Playa del Carmen: 998 113 1905
- For calls from the US and Canada: 1-800-935-8352
Invite your friends to a sensational and unforgettable adventure trip through Río Secreto Playa del Carmen and don’t forget to send them this article through social networks to prepare the atmosphere.
See also:
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