Rio Secreto Review

Want to feel like you are standing inside a National Geographic magazine photo? Go to Rio Secreto.

Rio Secreto – or the secret river if you translate it – is just an tiny part of the incredible underground river system that makes this area so unique.

10 years ago it was re-discovered and developed, giving you the opportunity to explore this underground world. You’ll spend 90 minutes with an expert tour guide who’ll walk you through these extraordinary channels and see caves like you never thought possible.

We arrived to Rio Secreto and checked in. There’s a briefing area that explains through video what to expect and what will happen.

TIP #1 – Don’t wear anything that could potentially pollute the water

Avoid wearing jewelry as you will have to remove it (even earrings) and leave them in your locker.

You will be underground, so you will not need sunscreen or bug repellent. You need to shower anyway before entering the cenote system, but you can do your part by avoiding creams and cosmetics that could stay in the waters.

Once the video and instructions finished, we were ushered over to the vans. A mini-van took us 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) through an unpaved jungle path through until the main Rio Secreto entrance.

Once we arrived, we were provided with a locker key to store our belonging and offered water shoes and wet suits. We were also provided with helmets and life jackets.

Once you are changed and given your equipment, there is a short walk through the jungle to the cave entrance. On the way, a Mayan shaman performs a purification and blessing ceremony. This was very interesting.

Our guide was Alfredo and honestly, his passion and dedication was felt every step of the way. He is knowledgeable and keen to share. It was clear that he loved what he did and he was one of the better tour guides I’ve experienced over the years.

Now it was time to enter the cenote.

TIP #2 –  Wear the water shoes and wetsuit provided.

The water is not cold per say, it was 25C (75F) the day we were there but you are underground with no sunlight and it can feel chilly.  Although you are provided with a life jacket, you should be able to touch the bottom almost at all times.

The guide will bring you into the channels and you will explore about 600 meters (1950 feet) of caves. The stalagmite and stalactite rock formations will leave you breathless. You really feel like you are in another world. The water is so clear and fresh. It is an incredible experience.

You do not need to know how to swim, as long as you know how to float. There are areas where you are walking along with barely any water at all, and others where you do float for a very short while.

TIP #3 – Kids as of age 4 can do this tour, but make sure you have an adventurous kid that is active and does not scare easily.

My son is almost 8 and having lived in Mexico almost his whole life, he has been exposed to many opportunities and adventures.

I consider him to be pretty daring. That being said, he is not a fan of “cold” water and did manage quite well for the first little while. After that, he was done. He was tired and cold and that made for a whiny kid.

You know your kid best and know what they can do.

In the case that you want to participate and have children that are either too young or you feel would not make the best of it, babysitting can be arranged for an extra cost.

TIP #4 – Although this is not what I would consider an extreme tour, you do have to have a sense of adventure and not be overly timid.

These are caves. They are underground and it is dark. There can be fish, bats and other insects. When you are walking through the jungle, there is a chance for other wildlife and insects. If you are scared of the water, this may not be the best choice.

However, don’t let a little uneasiness make you miss out on an incredible experience.

Once you finish in the caves, you walk back to the main locker area and have a chance to change into dry clothes and shower if you want to. Towels are provided but you can bring your own if you prefer.

Once ready, you can head to the photo area and check out your pictures.

TIP #5 –  Bring extra money for photos and tips

The tour does not have any hidden extras. The exploration, guide service, food and drinks are included.

However, you are not allowed to bring a camera at all (even waterproof) and a photographer follows you throughout the tour. The professional pictures are amazing but costly. The package price for all the pictures was $79. That is the same cost as the tour. They had another promotion for $109 that also included a t-shirt, and a few other items.

The tour guides do get a salary, but minimum wage in Mexico is about $10US per day. If you appreciate the professional service you will receive, don’t hesitate to leave a tip.

You do get a buffet meal at the end of the tour. I wasn’t expecting much as I thought it was a light snack, but there were homemade tortillas, rice, beans, chicken, salad and fruit. We ate our fill (and more) before heading back in the van.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with Rio Secreto. I think it is a quality tour, but it doesn’t feel like an organized run-of-the-mill excursion that is sold to the masses.

You can get more information about Rio Secreto.

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Have you done Rio Secreto? What did you think? Leave your comments below!