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The number one fun center in the region. As well as the adrenaline-pumping rides that older kids love – the Wave Pool, Bubba Tub, and Twister – the Wet’n‘Wild section also has a Kids’ Park with gentler rides and slides for young children. The Baxal-Ha snorkeling pool, with rays and harmless sharks, is another big thrill for ages 8-plus.

Kids meet crocs (over 300 of them) at this attractive small zoo of all-local wildlife. Multilingual guides give informative, entertaining tours, and it’s well-organized, with opportunities to pet and feed baby crocodiles, deer, monkeys, parrots, and less familiar animals such as tepezcuintles (a kind of big rodent).

All the region’s eco-parks are family-friendly, but Tres Ríos goes a bit further with a special Kids’ Club, where parents can leave small children to play and join in group activities in the forest and park (see Cancún and the North).

One of the most enjoyable and accessible places for even small children to be dazzled by a real new experience – a first introduction to snorkeling and the underwater treasures of the Cozumel reefs. The sea is very placid and there’s coral and abundant sea life just off the beach. In the same park there’s also a coral lagoon, a botanical garden, and a Dolphin Discovery center.

Cozumel’s beach clubs offer all the fun of the sand and sea, plus restaurants and loungers in the shade. Playa Sol has the best choice of things to do for older children – snorkeling, kayaks, banana boats, beach games – and has a Kids’ Club for little ones.

The first and most famous of the eco-parks provides lots for kids to enjoy, in an easy, family-centered environment. The snorkeling river and dolphin pool are the biggest hits, but children are also fascinated by the zoo, butterfly garden, and forest paths (see Playa del Carmen: Xcaret).

This winding rock pool of brilliant turquoise water right at the north end of Akumal’s Media Luna Bay is one of the natural coral inlets on the Riviera coast. Rarely crowded, it’s delightful for swimming and snorkeling with young children, with coral and colorful fish that are easy to spot.

This snorkel park is another of the Riviera’s big family attractions. Few kids are not enchanted by swimming and snorkeling in the coral lagoon, and exploring its lush forest setting.

Xel-Ha

Getting to see local wildlife in the natural habitat, rather than in zoos or nature parks, can take a lot of time and effort, but at this small reserve north of Cobá you can see spider monkeys jumping through the trees after just a little exciting exploration. Village guides lead the way – deer, wild boar, and lots of birds will probably be around, too.

Some kids love Mayan ruins; others don’t. But one that most frequently scores a hit is Uxmal. Not only does it have lots of steps and temples for running around, but its clefts and stones are home to huge numbers of iguanas, which sit stock still until surprised, then dart off with sudden alacrity. Some are giants as big as crocodiles, but they’re all harmless no matter how scary they may look.