Selvatica

Close your eyes and think of Cancun; now what exactly do you see? More than likely it’s white sand beaches in front of large resorts, where cobalt waters lap the shore and palm trees sway in the breeze. For as enticing as beaches and water might be, there’s an entirely different side of Cancun that offers just as much excitement; a place where you swim in turquoise waters set miles inside of the jungle, and literally race through the jungle canopy to feel the breeze in your hair. 
At the famous Selvatica Eco-Park, an hour south of Cancun, visitors can infuse their beach vacation with a shot of jungle adrenaline. Clip into a harness and race through the trees on the 12-line zipline adventure, or test your nerves on a bungee swing while staring out over the forest. If you’d prefer that a motor generate the speed—rather than regular old gravity—crank the throttle of an ATV while splashing through dirt and mud. At the end of it all, jump off the rocks into the cool waters of a hidden jungle cenote, where the beauty of the water is only surpassed by the lush greens of the jungle.

Practical Info

Allow 5 hours from your Cancun or Playa del Carmen resort for the full Selvatica experience. There’s a weight limit of 330 pounds for the zipline tours, and be sure to pack swimming gear and a change of clothes for swimming in the cenote. Tours are available Monday-Saturday, multiple times per day.