I had no idea that water parks in Cancun are a thing. In Cancun, closer to Tulum, are these epic water parks that work with Mexico’s Riviera Maya’s ecological system and they are so lit.
When I think of Cancun, I think of beaches and margaritas. Which is cool for me because I enjoy tanning while reading a good book (currently reading Malcom Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers) so when I had the opportunity to head to Cancun on a press trip, I gladly said yes.
My gurls.
Myself and three other journalists had the opportunity to stay at the Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún All Inclusive Resort and experience Xel-Ha and Xenses Park. Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún All Inclusive Resort was lovely (it’s going through a few renovations, the swim up bar wasn’t complete but the random sushi bar in the lobby made up for it).
While Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún All Inclusive Resort was fabulous, they created dopest rice art of my logo on my bed upon my arrival, it was my time at the water parks that solidified Cancun as more than a turn-up destination.
Xel-Há Park
Xel-Ha is like a natural aquarium that you can play in. There’s dolphins and manatees along with all the Finding Nemo(s) that you can see while snorkeling. There’s the longest laziest river (it takes over an hour and I was over it, honey), ziplining and a 98.5 feet (30 meters) high water slide. It’s all the play with an open bar!
It was at Xel-Ha that I remembered how fearless I can be. While floating on the lazy river, which is a cool mixture of fresh and salt water with the wide variety of marine vegetation and multicolored fish living in the Xel-Há river, there’s the option to abandon your floaty and jump off a cliff into the water. I don't know if I jumped off the Cliff of Courage or the Monkey Jump, all I know is that my courage was tested.
I saw this little girl continuously jump off the cliff and into the water and I couldn’t have a ten-year old show me out. I swam up to the cliff, climbed up the steps and prepared to jump. Then I got scared because jumping off of high things just isn’t normal. My ten-year homegirl suggested that instead of staring down into the water and jumping off that I should run and jump. Now, that was an idea that I could get behind.
Alas, I jumped and it was scary yet exhilarating at the same damn time. Since I was on one, I then continued onto this balancing rope course that satisfied my teenage Road Rules Challenge aspirations. Once that was complete, I zip-lined into the ocean. After all of that, I needed a drink while I waited for the rest of the crew to complete the river tour. It was a fabulous day of being challenged in a way that I didn’t know I needed.
Xenses Park
Xenses is a half day water/amusement park with senses-themed activities and optical illusions. Before heading into the water park, you go through this Tim Burton- type Mexican town that plays with your equilibrium. It’s a little town that is entirely on a tilt- or so it seems. I literally did not know if I was climbing down or descending up.
After the Town, we continued onto different activities that played with our senses (hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste) and entered a water park that was just mind blowing. There was this intense water slide. The ride’s instructor told us that you must know how to swim because at the end of the slide is a deep pool and that was accurate but once, I hit the water, I was like, “oh, this is real, real.” I had to really activate my swimming skills.
There was a zipline called Bird Flight that fulfills your wish of flying. I was flying through the air, face-down like a real bird. It was scary but it was such a dope way of appreciating the landscapes from above.
My fave part was the Riverlaxing. It was a dark salt- river -cave situation, where you can’t drown because of the salt and you just float as the current takes you through the cave. I was so relaxed, the water was warm and they had chill music playing. It was everything.
After the Riverlaxing is the Sludgerie which is similar to the Riverlaxing but I was floating in a strange mix of mud. It was a muddy activity but weirdly cleansing and calm. At the end of Riverlaxing and Sludgerie, I showered with potent streams of water to finish my treatment at the Natural Xpa of Xenses.
The craziest part of Xenses was the Xensatorium. It legit was a totally dark cave where you go barefoot and experience different ecosystems, without seeing anything, you just feel out which ecosystem you are in. I wasn’t about that life. I went into the cave, saw that it was totally dark and turned right back out.
The park’s instructors were like, “what’s wrong?” I go, “I just don’t understand. You want me to go through this dark cave and do what?”
I’ve seen horror movies. The Black character always dies first. And my Pops isn’t Liam Neeson, he’s old.
Nevertheless, I was reassured that I would be fine as I felt my way through this pitch-black cave. It was such a cool experience. You could really feel the different elements of a jungle, meadow, desert, forest, and mountain. I let the cold, heat, water, flora, and the sound of fauna characteristic of each one guide me through the experience.
Me. Being scared AF.
Both parks were fun and they pushed me past my comfort zones, which is what vacations are all about. Experiencing both Xenses and Xel-Ha was more rewarding than just lounging poolside. And both parks are kid friendly. Unbeknownst to me Cancun has more to offer than margaritas.