What to Wear to Xplor Park: Complete Dress Code Guide

Wear swimwear with board shorts/athletic shorts over it (harness rests on upper thighs during zip lines, bare skin gets uncomfortable), water shoes or aqua socks (essential, regular sandals fall off, sneakers get waterlogged and heavy), and fast-drying athletic shirt or rash guard for sun protection. You'll be wet more than dry throughout the day at Xplor, underground river swimming, cenote splashes from zip lines, and multiple water activities mean planning for constant wetness, plus you must use biodegradable sunscreen (strictly enforced to protect cave ecosystems, conventional products damage cenote waters, staff checks at activity entrances).

Essential Clothing

Wearing swimwear is essential since the park features extensive water activities. You'll be swimming through underground rivers, splashing down into cenotes from zip lines, and getting thoroughly wet multiple times throughout the day. Plan to be wet more than dry.

Both men and women should wear shorts over their swimwear because the harness for the zip lines will rest on your upper thigh, direct contact with bare skin can be uncomfortable during multiple runs, and you'll likely want to repeat the zip lines if lines are short. Board shorts or athletic shorts work perfectly.

For upper body coverage, lightweight, fast-drying shirts provide excellent sun protection between activities. Going shirtless is also acceptable for men and very common at the park. Women typically wear swimsuit tops or athletic tops that can handle getting wet repeatedly throughout the day. Rash guards are ideal if you have one.

Footwear Matters

Water shoes are ideal for Xplor, and I can't stress this enough. Aqua socks or similar footwear work best overall because they don't fall off during zip lines, a real concern with regular sandals that I've witnessed happen to other visitors. They also protect your feet while swimming in natural caves with rocky surfaces and walking on concrete pathways between activities.

Regular sneakers get completely soaked and become heavy and uncomfortable for the rest of your day. They also take forever to dry, making your ride home unpleasant. Flip-flops may fall off during activities, and going barefoot isn't recommended due to concrete trails and uneven surfaces in the caves.

Invest in a pair of water shoes before your visit, you'll use them for cenotes and other water activities throughout your time in the Riviera Maya. They're available at most shops in Playa del Carmen, usually for $15-25 USD, and they'll serve you well beyond just this park visit.

Sun and Bug Protection

This is important and strictly enforced: sunscreen must be biodegradable inside of Xplor. The same applies to insect repellent. Conventional products containing certain chemicals damage the delicate cave ecosystem and cenote waters that have remained pristine for thousands of years. The park takes this seriously, and staff will check your products at certain activity entrances.

Most pharmacies and shops in Playa del Carmen sell biodegradable options, look for labels mentioning "reef safe" or "biodegradable." You can also buy them at the park entrance, though prices are higher. Apply sunscreen generously before activities begin, as you'll be exposed to strong tropical sun throughout the day, especially during zip line queues.

Photography Options

Almost all aspects of this park include water, so standard phones and cameras are risky even with waterproof cases. I've seen phones slip from wet hands into cave waters more than once. Waterproof cameras or GoPro-style action cameras work best if you want to capture your own footage, just make sure they're secured with a wrist strap or floating handle.

Alternatively, the park photographs visitors throughout the day at key moments, and you can purchase photos at the end of your visit. Professional photographers position themselves at exciting spots during zip lines and in the caves, catching angles you couldn't safely capture yourself. The photo package runs around $59 and includes all shots from your day.

Other Items to Bring

A hat and sunglasses are useful for walking between activities, though you'll want to store them in lockers during actual adventures. Bring a towel for drying off between activities and a change of dry clothes for the ride home, trust me, you'll appreciate having dry clothes after spending the day soaking wet.

The park provides complimentary lockers, changing booths, and showers for guest convenience. Take advantage of these facilities, changing into dry clothes before leaving makes the journey back to your accommodation much more comfortable, especially if you're taking a colectivo with other passengers.

Final Tips

Keep valuables in your locker rather than trying to carry them through activities. Leave jewelry, watches, and anything you'd be upset to lose safely stored away. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, as cave mud and adventure park activities can leave marks on lighter fabrics. Most importantly, dress for comfort and movement, you'll be climbing, swimming, paddling, and flying through the air all day, and restrictive clothing will only slow you down.

Related Playa del Carmen Resources

• Playa del Carmen Complete Guide
• Shopping, Leisure, and Community in Playa del Carmen
• More Playa del Carmen Travel Guides
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