Zipline in Tulum: ATV, Cenote & Jungle Adventure in Riviera Maya

Zipline in Tulum: ATV, Cenote & Jungle Adventure in Riviera Maya

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As soon as we entered the park, I could already tell this wasn’t going to be a gentle stroll through the jungle.

The first thing that catches your eye?

A towering wooden structure that looks like it’s been built purely to test your nerve.

My reaction?

“Fuck that.”

Russ:
“Oh cool!”

Typical.

Of course, that monster zipline is the grand finale, which means you’ve got the entire tour to stare at it and slowly realise what you’ve signed up for.

Before you get there, though, the day is packed with a few other adventures:

• 3 jungle ziplines
• ATV riding through the dirt tracks
• A cenote cave swim (you’ll see this cenote in a lot of other tours)
• Mexican lunch at the end

Not a bad way to spend half a day in the Riviera Maya.

Why We Picked This Park

There are quite a few zipline parks around Tulum and the Riviera Maya, so we did a bit of digging before booking.

In the end, Maya Adrenaline ticked all the right boxes for us.

1) The price was significantly cheaper

The tickets for Maya Adrenaline were nearly 50% cheaper than other adventure parks nearby, which instantly caught our attention.

Same kind of activities, half the price?
Yes please.

2) It was ridiculously close to our resort

Location was another big win.

Maya Adrenaline is only around 13km from central Tulum, and from our hotel — El Dorado Seaside Suites — it took about 10–12 minutes by car.

If you’re staying at Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an (where we stayed in 2025), it’s basically next door. The entrance is right by the petrol station.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend walking.

It might look close on the map, but once you get past the entrance there’s still a fair bit of dusty track to cover — and in the Riviera Maya heat you’ll end up a sweaty mess before the adventure even starts.

If you’re staying anywhere along the Riviera Maya strip, it’s definitely worth weighing up price vs distance when choosing your excursion.

3) It’s home to one of the biggest ziplines in Riviera Maya

The park is famous for its 150ft zipline that stretches roughly 1 kilometre across the jungle.

That’s the one you see looming above the park when you arrive… and yes, that’s the one waiting for you at the end.

4) Smaller crowds than the big-name parks

We’re not huge fans of being herded around in massive tour groups.

Maya Adrenaline felt a bit more low-key and relaxed, which suited us perfectly.

5) It’s a perfect half-day trip

The whole excursion takes around four hours, with morning and afternoon slots available.

For us, that was ideal.

Adventure in the morning… cocktails by the pool in the afternoon.

Sold.

Bring These Essentials With You

Before heading out to Maya Adrenaline, there are a few things worth bringing with you. It’ll make the day a lot easier (and a lot more comfortable).

1) Bring a change of clothes

The ATV section can get very dusty, and if it’s rained recently, the tracks turn into a mud playground.

Either way, chances are you’ll get a bit filthy — which honestly makes it even more fun.

Having a spare set of clothes or a t-shirt for afterwards is definitely a good shout.

2) Bring some cash

There’s no ATM at the park, so having a bit of cash with you is handy.

You’ll need a $10 deposit (or the peso equivalent) if you want to use the lockers near the cenote.

Photos from the excursion can be paid for by card, but smaller things tend to be cash only.

3) Swimsuit and water shoes

You’ll definitely want a swimsuit for the cenote swim.

Water shoes are optional, but the cenote floor can be rocky in places, so they’re worth considering if you have them.

4) Bug spray and sun cream

You’re deep in the jungle for most of this tour.

Which means sun and mosquitoes are both very real possibilities.

Bug spray and sun cream will save you from becoming the all-you-can-eat buffet for the local insects.

How to Book

Booking directly with the park usually includes transportation from your hotel, which makes things very easy.

That said, their website is very clunky and confusing.

You’ll also be able to choose:

• Your date
• Your time slot (morning or afternoon)
• Your pick-up location

Our advice is simple — book with whoever you feel most comfortable with, because there are plenty of options.

Most resorts offer excursion bookings, and you can also book through your tour operator, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, or similar tour platforms.

Us?

We actually booked through a slightly dodgy-looking guy in Playa del Carmen.

Turned out he wasn’t dodgy at all — his name was Danny, and he was an absolute legend.

That said, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this approach unless you’re confident about who you’re dealing with, because unfortunately there are plenty of scammers around in tourist areas.armen, who wasn’t actually dodgy. His name is Danny, and he’s a legend. By the way, I wouldn’t advise this route unless you’re totally sure because there’s a lot of scammers out there.

Booking Through Tour Platforms

Another option is booking through platforms like GetYourGuide or similar tour providers.

These sites can sometimes offer competitive prices, reviews from other travellers, and flexible booking options.

You’ll also find excursions like this available through:

• Hotel tour desks
• Local tour booths in Tulum
• Social media tour operators

It’s always worth comparing price, reviews, and transport options before deciding.

ATV Jungle Ride

The first part of the excursion kicks off with ATV riding through the jungle.

You can either ride solo or share an ATV like we did. If you share, don’t worry — the group stops at a few points along the route so you can swap drivers.

Honestly, unless you really want your own ride, sharing works perfectly fine and saves a few extra pesos.

Once everyone’s ready, it’s time to hit the trail.

The track winds through the jungle on a mix of dusty dirt paths, tight corners and rough terrain, which makes it a lot more exciting than just driving in a straight line.

We absolutely loved it.

There’s something about racing through the sun-drenched jungle tracks with the sound of the ATVs echoing through the trees that instantly gets the adrenaline going.

At one point I even tried scrambling for my phone to grab a photo of some bright orange orchids growing in the jungle… which probably wasn’t the smartest move while bouncing around on an ATV.

Top Tip

Wear sunglasses or shades if you have them.

The dust kicked up by the ATVs can get pretty intense — especially if you’re near the back of the group — and without eye protection you’ll find yourself slowing down just to see where you’re going.

Cenote Experience

Next up on the tour was something we were really looking forward to — a swim in a jungle cenote.

After bouncing around on dusty ATV trails in the heat, stepping down into the cave felt like entering a completely different world.

The water was icy cold, thanks to the lack of sunlight reaching the cave… but after the jungle heat, it felt unbelievably refreshing.

Before jumping in, we snapped a few quick photos while our guide told us a bit about the history of the cenote.

For the ancient Mayans, cenotes weren’t just swimming spots — they were believed to be gateways to the underworld.

Pretty fascinating stuff.

Once we headed deeper into the cave, photography wasn’t allowed because the flashes can disturb the bats living inside.

And trust me… there were plenty of them.

Our guide led us through the cave using just one dim torch, holding it up to his face, telling the Mayan underworld story as we moved through the water.

It added a slightly eerie vibe to the whole experience — but in a good way.

Pretty cool, right?

Our Guide Made the Experience Even Better

Our tour guide was an excellent storyteller, keeping the whole group engaged as he explained the history of the cenote.

He switched between English and Spanish, and even paused so another guest could translate parts into French for someone else in the group.

It was a nice touch and showed how much he genuinely cared about giving everyone a memorable experience.

A Natural Cenote Spa Treatment

One interesting thing our guide told us was that the sand inside the cenote is rich in minerals.

He actually encouraged us to grab a handful and rub it onto our arms like a natural exfoliator.

Now, I’m not usually one for beauty treatments…

But I have to admit — my skin felt incredibly smooth afterwards.

Turns out those cenote minerals are no joke.

A natural jungle spa treatment, apparently.

The Ziplines

When you first arrive at the park, it’s impossible to miss the huge 150ft zipline tower standing above the jungle.

That monster ride is the grand finale of the whole excursion.

Which means you’ll spot it straight away… and then spend the next few hours pretending you’re not thinking about it.

The guides start everyone off with the smaller ziplines first, gradually working your way up before tackling the big one.

So yes — you’ll have plenty of time to let the nerves slowly build.!

Zooming Through the Jungle: Zipline 1

The first zipline acts as a bit of a warm-up.

It’s relatively tame compared to what’s coming later, but still a lot of fun as you glide over ditches, jungle paths and caves below.

It’s just enough to get you comfortable with the harness and the feeling of flying through the jungle.

Or at least… that’s the idea.

Judging by my face in the photo, I was already questioning my life choices.

Thrill Seekers Unite: Zipline 2

After a short hike through the jungle, you regroup with the rest of the tour to tackle zipline number two.

This one definitely turns things up a notch.

It’s higher, steeper and noticeably faster, sending you flying through the Riviera Maya jungle with caves opening up beneath you.

And by this point, you start to realise something important…

That enormous zipline tower you saw earlier?

Yeah.

That’s next.

Shit…

The Final Boss: 150ft High Zipline

And now for the grand finale.

The mother of all ziplines in Riviera Maya.

This beast stands around 150ft high and stretches for roughly one kilometre across the jungle.

No pressure.

Once you reach the top, you’ll be soaring above the treetops with incredible views over the Riviera Maya jungle.

Or at least… that’s what Russ got to experience.

As you can see from the photo, he absolutely loved it.

Me?

Well, let’s just say heights and I aren’t the best of friends.

I tried to psych myself up for it. I really did.

But then we got stuck behind a kid climbing the tower who was huffing and puffing like a steam engine.

The constant stopping meant we were standing on this massive wooden staircase for ages while the height slowly started to sink in.

That’s when the old fear-of-heights alarm bells started ringing.

Eventually, somewhere around halfway up the tower, I decided…

Yeah… this isn’t happening today.

So while Russ flew across the jungle like some kind of adrenaline-fuelled action hero…

I quietly made my way back down the stairs and waited at the bottom.

Next time, fear of heights.

Next time.

Err… Did Somebody Say Tacos?

Did Somebody Say Tacos?

After all the adrenaline, dust, and near-death stair climbing (for some of us), it was finally time for lunch.

And honestly… it was way better than I expected.

Both times we’ve done excursions like this in Mexico, I’ve gone in with fairly low expectations when it comes to the food.

But once again, it delivered.

Lunch at Maya Adrenaline was a simple but really tasty Mexican spread:

• Fresh tacos
• Rice
• Soup with red beans
• Sour cream and salsa on the side

Nothing fancy, but exactly what you want after a morning of ATVs, cenote swimming and ziplines.

Safe to say the tacos didn’t last very long.

Is Maya Adrenaline Value for Money?

We paid around £65 per person for the Maya Adrenaline excursion when we visited in April 2022. Prices in 2026 are roughly the same, depending on who you book with.

That price included:

• Transport to and from our resort
• ATV riding through the jungle
• Cenote swimming experience
• Three ziplines
• Lunch

Considering everything that’s packed into the tour, we thought it was excellent value for money.

The whole experience lasts around four hours, which suited us perfectly. We tend to prefer half-day excursions rather than tours that eat up your entire day.

When we first visited Riviera Maya, we were staying at El Dorado Seaside Suites, and the park was only about 10–12 minutes away, so we were back at the hotel in no time.

If you’re staying at Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an (where we stayed in 2025), it’s basically next door. You can read our full hotel reviews by clicking the links.

Which meant we still had plenty of the afternoon left for what Riviera Maya holidays do best…

Pool. Sun. Cocktails.

Photo Packages

Photos from the excursion are available to purchase afterwards.

We were shown ours on an iPad while eating lunch and decided to grab them. The photo package cost around $40 USD.

Is $40 a bit steep?

Yeah… probably.

But when you see photos like this, it’s pretty hard to say no.

The guides manage to capture moments you’d never get yourself — flying over the jungle, mid-zipline, with nothing but green for miles around.

So while it’s not essential, we’re really glad we bought them.

Some memories are just too good not to keep.

Final Thoughts

You’ve probably guessed by now… we really enjoyed Maya Adrenaline.

The biggest win for us was how well the whole excursion was paced.

Nothing felt rushed, nothing dragged on, and the mix of ATVs, cenote swimming and ziplines kept the day interesting the entire time.

Another big plus is that it only takes around four hours.

We actually prefer tours like this. You still get a proper adventure, but you’re not sacrificing your entire day to do it feeling knackered.

If you take the morning slot, you’ll easily be back at your hotel by early afternoon.

Which means you can spend the rest of the day doing what most Riviera Maya holidays revolve around…

Pool. Sun. Cocktails.

The lunch was simple but tasty, the guides were great, and the whole experience ran smoothly from start to finish.

And if you’re brave enough to tackle that 150ft zipline tower at the end…

You’ll get one of the best views of the jungle around.

(Unlike me… who made it halfway up the stairs before chickening out.)

Maybe next time.

More Mexico. More Travel Tips:

• Sian Ka’an Biosphere: Wild Turtles, Dolphins and Blue Lagoons
• Fee-Free Spending Abroad
• Mexico Tourist Taxes Made Easy
• What Currency for Mexico: Peso or USD?
• Tipping At All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico

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¡Adiós amigos!

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