Aktun Chen Eco Park – All You Need to Know Before Visiting

Aktun Chen Eco Park is one of the newest eco parks in the Yucatan peninsula. Located in Akumal, Aktun Chen is an easy drive from Playa del Carmen, and about an hour and a half south of Cancun. The Aktun Chen cave & underground river are a huge draw, and this natural park offers an amazing experience for the whole family. You can click the button below to head to their website, and use the coupon code 15OFF to save 15% when booking in advance!

Activities at Aktun Chen

There are many different things you can do at Aktun Chen, and the park is likely to keep you busy for hours. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, Aktun Chen is just outside the small town of Akumal. Like many eco parks in the Yucatan, there are tons of beautiful things to do while visiting the park.

Underground River and Cave

The underground river and at Aktun Chen is one of the most popular attractions in the park grounds. At over 2,000 feet long, this cave and river is one of the largest in Mexico. An ancient Mayan site, the Aktun Chen cenote and cave is really breathtaking. Whether you want to stay on the dry land or jump in the refreshing water, this is an experience you’ll remember.

There is (perhaps surprisingly) wildlife down in the cave. You may see some plants, little white-tipped deer, and fish swimming around in the water. The stalactites and stalagmites are massive, formed over millions of years. You can jump in the water to snorkel a bit and see the cave floor, or you can walk through the cave and stay dry. This is a great activity to do with kids as well, as it’s sure to spark their curiosity. You can learn more about the underwater river and cave, and use the coupon code 150FF to save 15% when you check out, by visiting their website.

Aktun Chen Ziplining

Ziplining is another thing you can do at Aktun Chen. Many people find ziplining to be one of their favorite things they do while in Mexico. Ziplining can offer a slight adrenaline rush, the opportunity to see the jungle from above, and an exciting time for the whole family. At Aktun Chen, you can zipling across their 400 acres of rainforest. The hosts will make sure you are safe, your gear will protect you, and the lines and landings are constructed with serious care. If you’re looking for somewhere to zipling in Mexico, we strongly recommend checking out the ziplining here!

You should book the ziplining excursion ahead of time, as time slots may fill up. You can use the coupon code 150FF on their website to save a little money.

Cenotes

There are many cenotes in the Riviera Maya, and Aktun Chen has one on their land! You can visit their cenote, or take an excursion to Tulum and surrounding cenotes. If you have the time, this is a great addition to your day! The surrounding area has so much to offer, and it’s great to get out and see it if you’re able to do so! You can check out Aktun Chen’s excursions here.

Food and Facilities

Aktun Chen has a small restaurant located near the wildlife sanctuary in their park. You can get a pretty simple meal at a not-too-bad price. You’re not going to get fine dining or a multi-course meal, but the food is good! As far as parks in Mexico go, the food is pretty fairly priced. There are also restrooms, snacks, and drinks available. Pretty much every staff member at Aktun Chen speaks both English and Spanish, so you hopefully wil have no problem at all communicating.

Aktun Chen Reviews

The reviews of Aktun Chen are generally pretty good. First, we can offer our own Aktun Chen review. To put it simply, we loved it! Two of us went in our late 20’s and spent the entire day here. We did every activity offered, and just had a wonderful time. We found the prices to be extremely fair, the staff to be some of the nicest we’ve seen at any park in the Riviera Maya, and the entire park clean and easy to navigate. Separated out nicely, everything is easy to find and access. From ziplining to exploring the cave, we had a wonderful time. Aktun Chen is a five-star experience in our book, and we can’t wait to return.

As for reviews from other people, they are generally positive. As of mid-2018, Aktun Chen has five stars on Yelp and similarly great reviews on TripAdvisor. Here are some highlights:

“Very nice park in the middle of the jungle, zip lining in the forest canopy or you can relax in an amazing cenote, highly recommended.”
-Andres A., 6/19/17, Yelp

“My wife and I came here based on a recommendation in a Foders travel book. Fantastic experience, to say the least. Truly a hidden gem. The water that we swam in down in the cave was crystal clear and perfect temperature. Bonus – i even got to hold a spider monkey. Wow.”
-Bill S., 11/4/16, Yelp

“Spent half day at aktun chen. We went there in the morning to be one of the first visitiors. They offer three different programs – ziplining, cave and cenote.

If you are a fan of ziplining – do it. It is really fun and the staff tries their best to make you feel safe. Hygiene is also in focus there.

We got sort of a private tour by Alfredo since we have been the only ones at the park at this time.
This man is a gem. He could answer all our questions, new exactly how to take the best pictures and was in general very welcoming and guest orientated.

The cenote is looking amazing – the tour there was ok. But no need to get highlighted. One of the grestest cenotes we ve visited in mexico.

Restaurant was way better then expected.

Overall an amazing experience and would definitively recommend it to friends and family.”
-Nero_9, 3/13/18, TripAdvisor

Visiting Aktun Chen

Aktun Chen is just outside the town of Akumal, and not too far from Playa del Carmen. You can find it on Google Maps here. If you’re staying in the Akumal area or spending some time here, check out our list of 7 Amazing Things to Do in Akumal, Mexico.

Remember to use the coupon code 150FF on the Aktun Chen website here to save 15% by booking in advance!

Looking for a place to stay in Mexico? Check out our list of the Best Hotels in Mexico!