Vino de Mexico at Xcaret
- This recently opened wine cellar offers insight into the history of Mexican wines. The wine cellar is made up of three different rooms: Sommelier’s Store, which has the most exclusive wines and private tastings; The Regional Hall, which has a historical Mexican wine-making exhibition and Mexican wines organized by region; and The Tasting and Matching Room that fits 25 guests, with a sommelier on-site to explain how to match wines with food, properly select wine glasses and reveal other Mexican wine-tasting secrets. www.xcaret.com
Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park
- Aside from swimming in the cenotes, groups can partake of a new attraction called SkyCycle, which entails a bicycle running on a cable suspended at treetop level over the rainforest. SkyCycle allows participants to pedal through the air, taking in the scenery of the jungle, and then leads down into and through caverns filled with natural rock formations and cenotes. The tour continues with a snorkeling journey through a natural underground river system. www.hiddenworlds.com
Sian Ka´an Biosphere Reserve
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, the area of Sian Ka´an houses more than 300 bird species, crocodiles as well as elusive jaguars. The area, visited on a day tour from the Riviera Maya, is filled with sand dunes, mangroves, lagoons, savannas, coral reefs, rainforest and hidden Mayan temples. Groups can organize kayak trips or head out on canal tours following the Mayan trade route used 1,200 years ago. www.cesiak.org
Xplor
- The new park, next to Xcaret, offers activities such as zip lines, journeys through the jungle on amphibious vehicles and underground options such as swimming in caves surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites, or rafting through subterranean caverns. www.xplor.travel
Aktun-Chen
- This park recently introduced its Canopy Adventure, where groups can get a unique view of the jungle from above, over two suspension bridges and 10 zip lines. The park also offers wildlife encounters at its six-acre zoo, which is focused on repopulating local species such as the toucan and agouti, as well as a cave walk to a natural well. www.aktunchen.com