Blazing torches and throbbing heartbeats await clients at Xplor Fuego, the nighttime adventure at the Xplor eco-park in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Glowing lights illuminate 580 yards of underground rivers and caverns, where helmeted guests paddle rafts through passageways opening up to gaping caverns. Swimmers float in chilly, crystal-clear water beneath dripping rock icicles glistening in misty red light. Yes, it sounds spooky and somewhat foreboding. But Xplor Fuego is all about fun.
Xplor attracts thousands of guests in daylight. At night, however, only a few hundred brave souls show up to play in the shadowy jungle. Smaller crowds mean shorter queues for such attractions as the park’s zipline circuit, where shrieking adventurers strapped into harnesses fly above treetops and splash into waterfalls. Amphibious vehicles cross night-shrouded rope bridges and roll through mysterious caves. There are plenty of rest areas that provide space for adventurers to catch their breath.
All that adrenaline leads to hearty appetites which can be sated at Xplor’s bountiful buffet. Steaming coffee and hot chocolate eases any shivers — though the warm jungle air quickly erases the goose bumps from chilly underground waters. Everything hungry fun-lovers could possibly consume is included in the entry fee, along with hot and cold drinks.
Xplor’s all-inclusive fee covers all gear and activities. Advise clients to bring towels and wear swim shoes or strapped sandals and bathing suits with quick-drying shorts and shirts. Lockers are available. Cameras are allowed, but beware of water damage. The helmets worn throughout activities are equipped with built-in chips that activate cameras around the park. Photos are sold in the shop.
Xplor Fuego is open from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday nights. Adult admission is $109. Admission is half-off for children under age 12, and kids must be at least seven years old to enter the park. www.xplor.travel
