Entering Xel-Ha is an invitation to live life at its very fullest. Adventure is unsurpassable here; the color of everyday existence will pale at the comparison. Nature thrills the senses with sensations, rushes, and awe - this is the place to dive deeper, to jump higher, to run faster...to breathe freely at last.

Whether feeling the wind on one's face on the Floating Bridge, painstakingly balancing the length of Trepachanga, or crashing into the waters below from the Cliff of Courage, Xel-Ha will leave the nerves tingling and the soul aching for more.

At the mouth of Xel-Ha Inlet lies an exhilarating experience, a combined feat of Nature and engineering - the Floating Bridge. Built to unite the main service area to the jungle paths that lead to the river, the Bridge consists of interconnected buoyant sections resting upon the water, thus separating the inlet from the open Caribbean Sea.

Even on an idyllic day, crossing the Floating Bridge can be a tremendous achievement. The irregular motion of the waves will make the Bridge lurch to and fro, resulting in an awkward (and most amusing!) staggering gait for everyone (except experienced seamen, perhaps). A careful equilibrium is vital to reach the middle point of the bridge, one of the best places for fish-watching in Xel-Ha. The underside of the bridge acts as a shelter to many of the larger open sea varieties - schools and specimens of astonishing size are found in this vicinity.

Visitors who consider themselves deft, balanced, and with agile hands and feet will face a thrilling challenge in Xel-Ha. Two-thirds of the way down Xel-Ha River, there are two platforms constructed more than 50 yards apart from each other, bridged only by parallel ropes that hover above the River below. Crossing is a feat that requires equilibrium, flexibility, coordination, strength, and ultimately, resisting the urge to plunge into the cool waters below.

Snorkel equipment and fins can be left upon any of the platforms. Trepachanga can also be reached a short dip away from the footpath to the River, in case anyone is seeking a more direct access.

The Yucatan Peninsula possesses several geographic idiosyncrasies which disallow the formation of superficial rivers. Continental water flux is regulated by a complex system of underground waterways traveling to and fro between the peninsula and the sea - Xel-Ha represents one of this system's most important outlets.

From the depths of underground caves, through the mangrove forest, cool freshwater flows into the Xel-Ha inlet, where it mixes with the warmer seawater. This River, two-thirds of a mile long before reaching the Inlet, is one of the best visual examples of halocline and thermocline phenomena in the world.

Xel-Ha River is an excellent place to snorkel, simultaneously harbouring a number of freshwater and marine fish. There are several platforms along the way to pause and bask in the astonishing surroundings. For those who prefer a more relaxed voyage downstream, enjoying the beautiful natural scenarios from above the water, single and double inner tubes are available at no cost at the River's starting point.

Yet another thrilling challenge for the fearless and adventure-craving. Along the banks of the Xel-Ha River, accessible both from the water and from the footpath, are the Cliffs of Courage, from which dauntless visitors show off their diving skills or simply dare to leap off, crashing into the emerald and sapphire waters below.

Both drops are approximately 15 feet high, and both have wooden stairways to aid adventure addicts in climbing up out of the water and jumping back in over and over again. Additionally, the first Cliff (from the River towards the Inlet) also features the Rock Climb, in which grooves in the rock face provide an exciting ascent, building up the thrill of the next exhilarating jump.

Adventure is boundless in Xel-Ha, and all our little visitors will soon find out that this is the just the place to have big fun! Xel-Ha has built a special place for the youngest explorers of the Natural Wonder, keeping in mind the important balance between safety, amusement, and education that every child merits.

Children's World is found not far from Xel-Ha's main service area, and includes a wading pool, a playground area complete with swings, slides, rope ladders, a rope maze, and a wooden playhouse for hours of fun. Children with an interest in learning about this Natural Wonder and its Guardians can also let their imagination fly with painting and drawing activities hosted by Xel-Ha staff.

Very close by, as a suggestion for tired parents, is an exquisitely peaceful hammock resting area.