Quintana Roo · best-of list
8 Top Things to Do in Quintana Roo
All 8 things to do our route editors picked in Quintana Roo, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, spread across 3 destinations.
Our curated picks
8 things to do in Quintana Roo, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bacalar 3 picks
Bacalar Lagoon Sailboat Tour
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Sail the lagoon of seven colors to the Pirates' Channel and Bird Island.
Tip: Morning tours have calmest water.
Photo: Bacalar Lagoon Tours · Google
Chacchoben
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Maya ruins in the jungle with restored temples.
Tip: Go early; it's quieter then.
Photo: Joan Antoni Jimenez Garcia · Google
Fuerte de San Felipe
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
18th-century fort built against pirates, with a museum overlooking the lagoon.
Tip: Good views from the ramparts.
Photo: Carol Carol · Google
Tulum 3 picks
Cobá
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Maya city in the jungle with a big pyramid and bike paths.
Tip: Rent bikes or tricycle taxis; climbing the pyramid isn't allowed.
Photo: O.Mustafin · CC0
Community Tours Sian Ka'an
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Mayan community-run tours floating through ancient canals at Muyil.
Tip: Book ahead; bring biodegradable sunscreen.
Photo: Marianne Olier · Google
Tulum Archaeological Zone
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Maya walled city on a cliff above the Caribbean.
Tip: Arrive at opening to beat heat and buses.
Photo: Marcel Müller-Janowski · Google
Playa del Carmen 2 picks
Ultramar Ferry to Cozumel
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
45-minute ferry to Cozumel for reef snorkeling and dive trips.
Tip: Take Dramamine if the sea is rough.
Photo: Ultramar Ferry Playa del Carmen · Google
Xcaret
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Eco-park with underground rivers, animals and an evening show of Mexican history.
Tip: Arrive at opening; plan a full day.
Photo: FeldBum · CC BY-SA 4.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Quintana Roo?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 8 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Quintana Roo has the most things to do on this list?
Bacalar and Tulum lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 1 more destination.
More lists for Quintana Roo
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Bacalar 3 on this list
- Tulum 3 on this list
- Playa del Carmen 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.