Cave Solidaridad, Quintana Roo Municipality of Solidaridad Riviera Maya
Semi-flooded cave near Playa del Carmen, visited on guided walks and swims among dense stalactites in small groups.
From Playa del Carmen: 10 min by car (11 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Where to stay near Río Secreto
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Tours to Río Secreto
Day trips and guided outings from Cozumel often include Río Secreto; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rio Secreto Underground River Tour with Crystal Caves
★ 4.7 (845) · From US$89
How to get to Río Secreto
- From Playa del Carmen: about 10 min by road (~11 km)
- Nearest airport: Cozumel (CZM), 7 min by car to Cozumel
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Popular tours to Río Secreto
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Río Secreto
Río Secreto is a semi-flooded limestone cave system beside Highway 307 at km 283.5, close to Xcaret and a short drive south of Playa del Carmen. Around 38 km of passages have been mapped, of which only about a tenth is used for visits; the rest is kept as a nature reserve. The cave was found in 2004 when a local farmer followed an iguana into one of its openings. Cavers and divers explored it formally between December 2006 and September 2007, and guided tours began in April 2008.
The underground river runs through chambers packed with stalactites, stalagmites, columns and finer formations such as helictites and cave pearls. Long before the tours, the Maya used the cave for ritual: altars, cave paintings and a Postclassic vessel have been recovered inside. Bats, catfish, Mexican tetras and amblypygi live in the cave.
The standard visit (the Classic tour) is a route of about 1 km on foot and in the water, in groups of up to ten with a guide, wearing a wetsuit, life jacket and helmet lamp. You only need to be able to float. The route has no stairs or alternative exit, so it is not suited to people with claustrophobia, heart trouble or difficulty walking. Cameras are not allowed inside; the operator's photographers take pictures, which you can buy afterwards. Longer packages add rappelling, a jungle bike ride and zip lines, or combine the cave with Tulum or Cobá.
How to get to Río Secreto
Drive from Playa del Carmen: 10 min, 11 km
The entrance is at km 283.5 of Federal Highway 307 (Chetumal–Puerto Juárez), just south of Playa del Carmen and near the Xcaret parks. The operator says you can arrive by public transport and buy admission only, or book a package with round-trip transport from Cancún or the Riviera Maya.
Directions to Río Secreto on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Río Secreto
- Playa del Carmen · 11 km by road, 10 min
- Cancún · 75 km by road, 1 h 5 min
- Valladolid · 148 km by road, 1 h 50 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Río Secreto: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Classic tour departures Monday–Friday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00; Saturday–Sunday at 9:00, 11:00 and 13:00. Arrive at the ticket office at least 20 minutes early. Río Secreto official site (2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- 2026 prices for the Classic tour: 89 USD per adult and 64.50 USD per child aged 4–11 without transport; 119 USD (child 79.50 USD) with round-trip transport from Cancún or the Riviera Maya. Includes guide, wetsuit, life jacket, helmet lamp, lockers, towels and a regional buffet. The Plus tour is 109 USD. Río Secreto official site (2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Time needed
- The Classic tour takes about 3.5 hours; the Plus tour 5.5 to 6 hours. Río Secreto official site (2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Guide or tour
- All visits are guided, in groups of up to 10 people per guide. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Río Secreto official site (2026) · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Minimum age 4. No cameras inside the cave. Shower before entering to remove lotion, make-up and hair gel. You must be able to float; not recommended for pregnant women or people with claustrophobia, heart problems or difficulty walking. Río Secreto official site (2026) · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Río Secreto: what to see and do
Walk and swim about 1 km of the underground river among dense stalactites
Moments of complete silence deep inside the cave
Formations such as columns, helictites and cave pearls
The Plus tour adds rappelling, a jungle bike ride and zip lines
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Río Secreto
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Río Secreto.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Cozumel often include Río Secreto; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at CZM (Cozumel): about 7 min by road to Cozumel, then 24 km more to Río Secreto, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cozumel (CZM), about 7 min by road from Cozumel, the base for Río Secreto.
Travel insurance
If you plan on caving at Río Secreto, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Cozumel: download a map of the way to Río Secreto before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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Photos
When to go to Río Secreto warm
Río Secreto shares the climate of Cozumel, 24 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and May.
Underground water keeps much the same temperature all year, so Río Secreto is good in any month and coolest to visit in the hottest ones (May, July, and August).
See the month-by-month climate of Cozumel
Weather in Río Secreto now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Cozumel
Cozumel is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Río Secreto, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Tulum · Quintana Roo · 54 km away
Closest to Río Secreto
-
Xcaret · Nature reserve · 1 km away
-
Xenses · Nature reserve · 1 km away
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Xplor · Nature reserve · 1 km away
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Playacar · Town · 6 km away
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Quinta Avenida · Landmark · 7 km away
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Playa del Carmen · City · 8 km away
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Punta Esmeralda · Beach · 11 km away
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Xpu-Ha · Beach · 18 km away
Near Río Secreto
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.