If you’d like to enjoy a family vacation this year to Mexico, you should visit the Riviera Maya. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula where the white sandy beaches, turquoise Caribbean Sea waters, and warm tropical climate is so inviting, it’s the ideal place for a family vacation. Plus, Cancun has lots of family-friendly activities besides hitting the beach or lounging poolside.  There is an award winning pirate ship show that is one of the best family activities in Cancun, ancient ruins to explore, freshwater cenotes, Parque La Palapa, an Interactive Museum, and a Crocodile Conservation Zoo. For help booking your trip, call Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573 which is a reputable online travel agency with low cost all-inclusive vacation deals on sale right now. In the meantime, keep reading below to learn about the top 6 family activities in Cancun. Your whole family will thank you!

#1 Jolly Roger Pirate Ship

To begin with, one of Cancun’s longest running and most popular tours is the Jolly Roger Pirate ship. The whole family is guaranteed to have a fabulous time on board the 18th century replica pirate ship. If you want a fun filled day of adventure and world class entertainment as you cruise through the Caribbean Sea, the 3 1/2 hour family-friendly tour is perfect. It includes a gourmet dinner and a premium full open bar. Plus, there are children’s menu options for little ones and adults will love the tasty gourmet dishes and first class service. The pirate show includes dramatic fight scenes, acrobatics, singing, dancing, and so much more. There’s even real live cannon fire and fireworks to complete the show at night. The ship departs from Playa Linda Pier, and make sure to book your Jolly Roger pirate ship tickets in advance as space is limited!

#2 Explore Ancient Ruins

Secondly, did you know there are numerous ancient ruins to explore in Mexico? Specifically in the Riviera Maya region, there are various ruins to explore including the El Rey ruins, Chichen Itza, Coba, and Tulum ruins. The El Rey ruins are conveniently located right in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. Known as the magical Mayan city, you can easily reach the El Rey ruins by foot as it is only a couple miles from Playa Delfines, one of Cancun’s most popular beaches. Today, there are 47 intact stone structures at the El Rey ruins to explore. If you have time for a day trip, you should visit Chichen Itza ruins. Located a few hours from Cancun, it’s one of Mexico’s most impressive ruins and the El Castillo pyramid is the main highlight. In fact, it is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and was the most populated Mayan city in the area at one point. The Coba and Tulum ruins are also interesting to explore, too.

#3 Explore Freshwater Cenotes

Thirdly, no trip to the Riviera Maya is complete without taking a swim in the magical freshwater cenotes that are located in the area. Here we discuss a few options near Cancun. Discovered in 1987, the first cenote is called Dos Ojos (Two Eyes in English), and has a cave system that is flooded. The second is Gran Cenote that has crystal clear waters that are great for swimming. The third is Ik Kil Cenote, and this is considered by many people as the most beautiful cenote in the Riviera Maya. Next, Cenote Cristalino is the fourth most popular cenote in Riviera Maya and this cenote is open to the sky with rocks and vegetation that surround the cenote. Lastly, Cenote Calavera is perfect for taking pictures as this cenote has a main pool that has a swing to make for an exciting and whimsical experience for visitors.

#4 Parque Las Palapas

Next, take your family to Parque las Palapas in downtown Cancun during your vacation. The park is located just a short walk from Tulum Avenue and it’s a popular spot for local families and visitors to hang out. There, the city’s oldest Catholic Church, El Cristo Rey, is located at one end of the park and there are tons of vendors selling food, drinks, toys, handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes, and more. It’s a nice spot to sit on a park bench in the shade of a tree and enjoy ice cream with the family. There’s also a playground with small motorized cars, too. In addition, there are cultural events and festivals that are held on a regular basis in the park so check the calendar of events during your visit.

#5 Crococun

Our 5th pick for a family-friendly Riviera Maya activity is the Crococun Conservation Zoo. Skip the beach for the day and visit the conservation zoo that is filled with crocodiles and is just 19 miles away from downtown Cancun. Originally, Crococun was a crocodile breeding farm that was converted into a conservation zoo open to the public after Hurricane Gilberto virtually destroyed the crocodile breeding farm in 1988. Today, visitors can enjoy a 1 hour long tour that is led by knowledgeable guides that educate visitors about the crocodiles and the area’s fauna and flora as well. Kids will love getting to see the ancient and mysterious creatures up close. In addition, visitors will even get the opportunity to hold a baby crocodile and feed spider monkeys, too.

#6 Interactive Museum

Last but not least, Cancun has an Interactive Museum that is located inside the La Isla Shopping Village. The small aquarium is an ideal spot to spend an hour or two if you want to get out of the mid-day sun for a bit. Kids will love the chance to touch sleek manta rays and sea turtles that live in a large tank.There are also optional activities for an extra cost including swimming with dolphins and feeding sharks. You can purchase professional photos of your dolphin swim or shark feeding experience and there are other souvenirs in the gift shop, too. If you work up an appetite, there is a nice restaurant located at the aquarium that overlooks the dolphin enclosure so you can watch a dolphin show during your meal, too.

Are you ready to plan a dream vacation to Mexico so you can surprise your family? It’s clear to see that there are tons of great activities that the whole family will enjoy during your getaway to Cancun. Remember, to help book your trip call Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573 which is a genuine online travel agency with insider deals that you can’t find anywhere else. Right now, they have low cost all-inclusive vacation packages on sale to visit the top resorts in the Riviera Maya. In addition to the Riviera Maya, Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573 also works with other top resorts in Mexico including luxury properties in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, too. Their friendly travel specialists are ready to take your call right now to help you plan a wonderful vacation to the Riviera Maya. Call today because their affordable vacation packages are selling out fast!