Xel-Há, Cancún, Mexico

Visit duration: 8 hours Editorial visit time estimate

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Xel-Há

Xel-Há Park is a commercial aquatic theme park and ecotourism development on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, in the municipality of Tulum, about 122 kilometres south of Cancún along Highway 307. Founded in 1984, it is run by the Xcaret group, which also operates Xcaret and Xplor. The park is named after the Maya archaeological site of Xelha, part of which lies on the park's leased land, and the Maya site of Tulum is about 13 kilometres to the south. Its centrepiece is a natural inlet and lagoon where river water flowing through rocks mixes with salt water, forming a natural aquarium home to hundreds of species. In 2014 it became the first tourist park in the world to gain EarthCheck Gold certification.

Checked 2026-11-05 · Source

What's inside

The main attraction is the inlet and lagoon, a natural aquarium inhabited by hundreds of species of tropical fish and abundant plant life. A shark fence stretches across the lagoon's entrance, and visitors may swim and snorkel in the lagoon itself. Beneath the surface the limestone has eroded into many small caves and grottos. The park offers a range of water activities, including snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming with dolphins. It also has a turtle reserve where research is carried out to learn more about marine life and support the ecological upkeep of the area. Xel-Há invests in sustainability programmes, buys local products and trains its staff in environmental care.

Checked 2026-11-05 · Source