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Sports: Eco-Thrills

By Jane Ammeson

The splendid beauty of Riviera Maya goes beyond its endless beaches. Its stunning interior features lush jungles and cenotes, sinkholes that lead the way into a world of vast caves carved by underground rivers.

Río Secreto is the ideal spot to kick off an exploration of the Riviera Maya’s “underworld.” Trace the twists this river takes below the surface via a 90-minute guided tour that takes you past

stalactites and stalagmites and into both large and small caverns. This eco-tour, part river hiking and part swimming, is a thrilling introduction to the ecological mysteries of the Yucatan. And for those who want a more physical challenge, try the Route Privilege, a four-hour expedition into parts of the river system previously only accessible to scientists and specialists.

More down-under fun awaits at Aktun-Chen, an eco-park whose immense cave system was named one of the top 10 underground walks in the world by the National Geographic Traveler magazine. Here visitors follow a labyrinthine path of vast canyons and shallow underground lakes while sunlight pokes through holes in the ceiling. A cenote nestled beneath the earth’s surface offers a great way to chill with a swim and snorkel amongst its high arched chambers and long narrow passages. Above ground, a small menagerie showcases the diverse animal life found in the Yucatan, including white-tailed deer, parrots and colorful iguanas. Walks through the jungle also reveal the abundant plant life, such as the chicle tree, which a century or so ago was used for making gums such as Chiclets. Those who’d rather get the bird’s-eye view will enjoy the 11 zip-lines and two suspension bridges that traverse the park.

Xplor, one of Riviera Maya’s newest eco-parks, blends adventure and exploration. Paddle or float along an underground river, ride an ATV through the jungle and zip-line over the jungle canopy before splashing down into a cenote. Be sure to check out their newest attraction, the Hamacuatizaje, a hammock chair that rapidly descends into a cool, clear cenote.



Deeper into the jungle you’ll find Punta Laguna, a sanctuary for spider monkeys and part of the Otoch Ma'ax Yetel Kooh Nature Reserve. The reserve’s name is Mayan, meaning “House of the Spider Monkey and Jaguar.” Of course, it’s also home to a variety of other species, including howler monkeys, pumas, coatis and a variety of birds. Trek through the jungle atop a crumbling platform of Mayan ruins listening to the sounds of the scampering monkeys as they make their way among the trees. Easy to spy and fun to watch, the spider monkeys often move in pairs, grabbing sweet fruit from the trees. But watch out as careless—or perhaps mischievous—monkeys sometimes let the soft squishy fruit fall from their hands where it plops on whatever (or whoever) is below.

Hot from this jungle walk? Stroll to the preserve’s saltwater lagoon for a swim and some kayaking.

For the last 35 years, divers in the know—and who don’t scare easily, including those at the Akumal Dive Shop in Playa Akumal—hit the waters from late December to March to swim with bull sharks (don’t worry, they don’t bite) who arrive to dine on manta ray eggs, one of their favorite foods. Now, with growing enthusiasm for shark encounters, the diver center offers them, along with nighttime snorkeling tours in the sheltered Akumal Bay.

You can also encounter sharks through the Xcaret Shark Tour at Xcaret, an eco-park that earned a GEM (Great Experience for Members) and was listed as a “must-see” number one attraction in Mexico by AAA. Also winning the designation was Xel-Há, which bills itself as the world’s most beautiful aquarium. Here, visitors can explore the narrow rock passages of Grotto Ixchel and El Dorado Grotto, swing from a rope and drop into a cenote and then travel down a river that’s hedged in by steep canyon walls. More adventurous travelers can jump from a tall cliff into deep waters, take the Salpichanga—a ride above the river that ends with a splash—or walk across a rope bridge set above clear blue waters.

Other wild rides in the area include the SkyCycle, a unique biking experience available at Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park. The SkyCycle is like a zip-line, only you’re strapped in a chair pedaling high above the jungle. After starting off with the bird’s eye jungle view, you swoop down into a cave, then back out over the jungle, then through a lush green cenote. For a more intense experience, try the new Avatar One, which combines the rush of the zip-line experience with the twists, dips and drops of a rollercoaster, complete with a splash landing in a cenote.

Hacienda Tres Rios, a recently opened resort a few miles north of Playa del Carmen, offers a variety of eco-tours on their property for guests staying there. Included is a soft adventure swim and snorkel that winds its way through the jungle with stops to cool down in several of the 10 cenotes located here. There’s also a kayak to the Caribbean Sea along two rivers that merge—Río Selva (Jungle River) and Río Pajaros (Bird River). You also may want to try the X.Treme HTR tour, which involves a bike trip to Cenote Eagle for a swim or snorkel, then a kayak down the Río Selva for a dip in the ocean.



Riviera Maya Golf

By Kyle Roderick

Because this majestically beautiful area attracts passionate golfers from all corners of the earth, it’s essential to do your research and book tee times in advance. Here are answers to FAQs along with contact information for Riviera Maya golf resorts to help ensure that you get to play when and where you want.

Rosewood Mayakoba: This resort features El Camaleón, a Greg Norman-designed 7,000-yard, 18-hole course that hosts the annual El Camaleón Rosewood Mayakoba golf classic. Note: the course will be closed to the public from February 22-26, 2012, for this professional tournament. For reservations and information on golf packages, go to rosewoodmayakoba.com/en/golf.cfm.

Iberostar Playa Paraíso: Two differentiating factors of this five-star resort: it’s couples-only, and the Playa Paraíso features much hillier terrain than other Riviera Maya courses. This is the ideal resort for upgrading your game—and the golf club is sited near a replica of a giant Mayan pyramid! Book your stay and tee times at iberostar.com.

The Cancún Golf Club at Pok-Ta-Pok: Situated between the Caribbean and the Nichupté Lagoon, the club partners with such upscale resorts as the Crown Paradise Club, the Gran Caribe Real, The Royal in Cancún and the Royal in Playa del Carmen to provide packages at its Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course. To plan your vacation at a property that partners with the Cancún Golf Club go to cancungolfclub.com.