Rio Secreto Underground River Tour with Crystal Caves

I am so glad that my husband and I made time for this excursion while visiting Cancun! It was incredibly convenient to book everything online, including the transportation to and from the site all through the same platform. On the day of our tour, the shuttle arrived at our resort right on time. Our driver was very friendly and genuinely excited to talk with us about the tour, cenotes, and what we could expect, which made us even more excited for the experience. Once we arrived at Rio Secreto, our shuttle driver handled the check in process for us, helping us get our bracelets and making sure everything was set. After checking in, we waited a short time for the rest of the group to arrive, and the staff made sure we would have an English speaking tour guide, which we really appreciated. When it was time to begin, we were transported deeper into the park by another shuttle to the starting point of the tour. Our group consisted of 10 people total, two other couples and a family of four. Our guide, Jennifer (Jenny) greeted us as soon as we arrived and immediately made us feel welcome and well prepared. She clearly explained what to expect and made sure our group stayed together from the start. We were each given a locker with a key to store our belongings since nothing can be brought into the cave. We changed into our swimsuits and then were fitted with water shoes, wetsuits, and helmets with attached headlamps. I had never worn a wetsuit before, so putting it on was quite the experience. I could not stop laughing at how much wiggling and adjusting it took to get it just right! The helmets were much easier, and we tested our lights right away, which added to the anticipation. Before entering the cave, Jenny checked in with everyone about their swimming ability and gave clear, thorough instructions. She emphasized the importance of staying together, following her lead, and being mindful in the cave environment. Interestingly, the family of four in our group mentioned they could not swim. At first I thought they were joking, but they were serious! Jenny handled it really well. She provided them with walking sticks for extra balance and reassured them that she would guide them safely through different areas as needed. I thought that was a really thoughtful and accommodating approach. On our way to the cenote entrance, Jenny shared fascinating information about the site. She explained that Rio Secreto was discovered relatively recently in 2006, which made it feel even more special to explore. As a biologist, her passion for the cave system, the limestone formations, and the ecosystem was absolutely contagious. I found myself fully engaged, learning about the geology, the crystal clear water, and the history of the cave formation. One of the most memorable parts of the experience was when we had the opportunity to float in complete darkness inside the cave. Jenny had us turn off our headlamps, and for a few moments we were surrounded by total blackness while gently floating in the water. It was such a unique and almost surreal experience. Quiet, peaceful, and unlike anything I have ever done before. It is definitely something I will always remember. I also want to give a special shout out to Jenny for how well she managed our group. There were definitely moments when we had to pause and wait for others to catch up, which slowed the pace a bit. However, she handled everything with patience, professionalism, and a positive attitude. She worked hard to keep things moving while still making sure everyone felt safe and included, and that really made a difference in the overall experience. Once we were finished with the tour of the cave and swimming in the beautiful water, we exited the cave and walked back to the main location to change out of our wetsuits and into dry clothes. They do have changing rooms, bathrooms, and showers to rinse off, which was really nice. After that, once the group was ready, we were escorted to the cafeteria where we got to enjoy a nice meal that was included in the package. The only downside of the entire experience, in my opinion, was the photo pricing. Since you are not allowed to bring any personal items into the cave, including phones or cameras, the photos taken by their photographer are the only way to capture the experience. While I completely understand that this is how they make money and protect the environment, the pricing felt extremely high. One photo costs around $35, and the full package is over $125. Personally, I think $35 for a single photo is a bit of a ripoff. It did not take away from the experience, but it is definitely something to be aware of going in.

It was a fabulous experience. Tips! If you have foot issues bring your own water shoes. The ones they provide have thin soles. Hubby has serious bruises. Wetsuit not needed, but could help prevent scrapes. A tour like this would never be allowed in the United States due to safety issues. Still very fun, but moderate to high risk. Photos were $35 each. No high pressure to purchase them on our trip. The buffet was an actual buffet was quite good and was all you can eat. Our only downside was to drive there and back as it was very far from our resort. It was also very bumpy within the area of Rio Secreto.

They don't let you take your phone which is bull. Then they try to sell you expensive ass photos. And then they don't tell you the price of the photos till the very end. The staff acts dumb when it comes to this question about the picture prices

TL;DR: Bad planning, but amazing tours and locations! FULL READ Disclaimer: The 4 out of 5 has nothing to do with the tour guide (Jorge) or the visits (Rio Secreto and Coba). Please read to the end to get to the review of the tour guide and locations. REVIEW FOR IMPROVEMENTS Pick-up and drop-off: During the booking through Tripadvisor you are requested to select a pick-up and drop-off location. As we were not staying in a resort, we chose a location near our Airbnb. In the received booking confirmation this pick-up/drop-off location is confirmed, but it's also mentioned to email or call the organizer to confirm the location for pick-up/drop-off. As this causes uncertainty, we reached out through Tripadvisor which resulted in us receiving a different location for pick-up/drop-off. Pick-up was scheduled at 7:50AM. We arrived at the pick-up at 7:35. As we were the only ones in this transport we left at 7:35. Incorrect booking: Upon arriving at Rio Secreto the staff believed we booked Rio + Tulum. After showing our booking confirmation multiple times this was rectified. HOWEVER, the group of Rio + Coba had arrived before our transport and were almost ready to go. Concluding: Had we not been earlier to our pick-up we most likely would have missed the Rio + Coba group meaning we would have to most likely accept Rio + Tulum. Luckily this did not occur, but did feel like an inconvenience. REVIEW FOR THE GUIDE AND LOCATIONS In short, Jorge our tour guide was amazing. Great energy, lots of knowledge and conducted the guides with a lot of humor which we could appreciate. Rio Secreto is an absolutely beautiful experience. We went rather deep into the cave system to a small chamber in which Jorge allowed us to experience the chamber in complete darkness and stillness. This was such a beautiful experience. Coba is literally situated in the jungle which allows for it to be a cooler visit than Chichen Itza or Tulum. As this was the 2nd leg of the tour it was hot, but as mentioned cooler due to the jungle AND less crowded than expected. The ruins are breathtakingly stunning. Climbing up Nohoch Mul gives a view unlike any other. Also here, Jorge provided amazing insights into the ruins and the depictions of estellas. We left our Airbnb at 7:20AM and were back at 7:15PM. Depending on your stay the time spent out can be significantly shorter.

Can be a bit challenging for older folks. Our guide Ana was amazing. She remembered all of our names and gave very detailed information. She made our day incredible.

We enjoyed the experience in the cave. I was pleased to see that the guides were light-hearted and helped me to cross some tricky sections. The guides were knowledgeable and entertaining as well. I enjoyed the presentation on cave geology. We were able

This is a must do activity when in the region! The natural beauty and uniqueness of the experience was amazing! Our guide Pepe was beyond impressive with his knowledge and dedication as our guide! Cost was reasonable with hotel transportation! The duration was just under 2 hours in the cave pic up at 9 and was back at our resort by 4 pm. Without reservation please enjoy this experience!

Well put together tour, lots of visitors but they have a nice flow so that it doesn't feel crowded. Everyone goes into different sections so you have your own private tour inside the caves with about 8 people and a personal photographer. The caves are beautiful and Pepe our guide told us everything about them, he was wonderful. Photos cost $35 each for a digital copy. Definitely recommend this trip!

Aaron was a great tour guide! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and overall great to spend the day with. When checking in for the activity the day before, it would have been nice to be reminded to pack a change of clothes, potentially your own water shoes (as you borrow them at the Rio), and that the ruins (if you opt in for the Tulum part) will be very hot in the afternoon. The main dislike is that the transportation vans are really a tight squeeze and smelled soggy from people wearing their bathing suits on the seat material. Viator should have direct links to the Rio Secreto directly, to get more information on what the day will look like. Overall, we enjoyed this excursion and would recommend.

We did the cave tour with Manuel and it was fantastic! I highly recommend it. It is a unique incredible experience. No camera's allowed so expect to pay $$$ after for the ones they take.