The Xcaret Underground River Experience: Things to Do in Xcaret
Picture yourself floating magnificently down an underground river created by nature. Imagine the utter thrill of releasing all control and trusting mother nature to guide you through dark crevices in an underground cave. Experience the wonder of X C A R E T park, a world full of adventure hidden in the tropical paradise of Cancun Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Xcaret Park is basically the Disneyland of Mexico. There's food, entertainment, remarkable views, but there's also an underground river, zip-lining, & so much more. Xcaret Cancún Park is popular amongst Riviera Maya locals, citizens from Mexico, as well as tourists from all over the world. This is one of those one-stop-shops. People dedicate days here or just a day, depending on your energy level.
Related reading: El Cielo Winery Resort on Ruta del Vino Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, Mexico
Floating the Xcaret Underground River in Cancun
Park Xcaret has underground rivers allowing guests to swim in the waters through dark caves & into the tropical world of Xcaret. The names of the rivers include the Blue River, the Mayan River, and the Manatee River. Xcaret's location in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya (Maya River Mexico) gives it a natural vibe that's unlike any other theme park. You can unknowingly trek through a jungle, only realizing it when you see it from about. The pure expanse of trees as far as the eye can see. You have a feeling like you're just one fraction, a tiny leaf or bug in an enormous jungle.
You'll find something great in every corner. Xcaret is a popular trip destination for a reason. It's one of those places you must travel to at least once. Xcaret's Cancun Eco Park in Playa del Carmen offers the Mayan Village, the Aviary, the Coral Reef Aquarium, & the Butterfly Pavilion. Get your grub on with fresh food at one of their many restaurants. I only spent one day at Xcaret & feel like I missed out on a lot; there was so much more I could have done, seen, experienced, & of course, eaten.
Underground Rivers
The underground river experience is easily one of the most popular things to do in Xcaret. The underground rivers flow about 16.4 feet below the ground. Xcaret Park gives you a life vest & flippers for the river experience. I went with my family, a group ranging from a 50-something-year-old who couldn't swim to kids who could kind of swim to myself, an Olympic gold medalist. Oh wait, that's not me. I'm not an Olympic medalist but I know how to swim more or less. The swimming experience is easy. Simply hold on the road as a guide & the lifejacket helps keep you buoyant.
For snorkeling, guests can rent snorkel gear for a cost as well as a refundable deposit. However, if you have an Xcaret Plus ticket, you only need to pay the refundable deposit. Take a look at the Xcaret website for information about the underground rivers.
Related reading: Things to Do in Queretaro Centro, Mexico Top Attractions
Paradise River allows you to witness the beauty of the underground rivers without having to dive into the water. Paradise River runs along stretches of the Tropical Jungle Trail as you waft a raft. If you're not a swimmer or don't want to get wet, this is a superb option. Whether you swim through it or float through it, don't miss the experience of the Xcaret underground river in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Due to the whole underwater aspect, I didn't bring a phone or a camera so I made sure to utilize the photo-taking capabilities of my wristband. I took some photos throughout Xcaret but not at all during the underground river exploration. I love photos & being able to fondly look back on memories but sometimes you just have to completely absorb without any distractions.
How Long is the Underground River at Xcaret?
The river has an extension of 656 yards & an average depth of 5 ft. The rivers aren't for practicing laps, you can't just swim willy nilly wherever you want. Parts of the underground river are literally pitch black & you'll want to follow the rope lead like it's nobody's business. Other parts enable you to revel in the natural light of the sun. If you ever feel over your head, scared, or as though you've had enough, you can leave at one of the designated exits along the way.
Life jacket use is mandatory & it helps you float throughout the course. There are no waves so you don't have to stress about being overpowered. That said, everyone must wear a lifejacket. Why wouldn't you want to? Like I said, it gets dark in certain areas so you'll appreciate those safety precautions when you're in the water.
How Cold is the Water in Xcaret?
I visited in December & parts of the Xcaret underground river waters were cold-ish but nothing frigid. If you visit in summer, I imagine the temperature of the water is refreshing or warm! Even throughout that December day, the air felt warm against your skin, the sun shone brightly, drop of sweat rolls down your cheek after tracking all afternoon. The underground river sounds refreshing right now.
Tickets & Admission
There's Food and Beverage tickets, Photopass tickets, adult options, child options, so choose what works for your family, depending on what attractions you want to see. This beautiful park offers experiences you won't forget.
Xcaret Plus admission includes a number of convenient perks such as:
- One lunch buffet
- Tours in three underground rivers,
- Xcaret México Espectacular presentation
- Access to the beach, inlet, & natural pools
- Visits to the Butterfly Pavilion, Coral Reef Aquarium and the Aviary
- Children’s World, a place of fun exclusively for the little ones
- Horse Exhibition, Papantla Flying Men and Pre-Hispanic Dances
- Tropical jungle trail
Xcaret Mexico Espectacular Show
Xcaret Mexico Espectacular Show is fantastic, showstopping, acrobatic, cinematic, & entertaining as hell. The costumes alone were a masterpiece with bobbing flamingos & jellyfish dancing their way across the stage. Hundreds of cast members make their appearance throughout the show, somewhere around 300 to be presence. You'll experience the history of Mexico through song & dance. You'll watch a terrifying match of the Mayan fireball game. Learn more about the Expectacular Show on their website!
Address: Carretera Chetúmal Puerto Juárez Kilómetro 282, Solidaridad, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico
Where to Stay
It also includes the use of snorkeling gear, lounge chairs, hammocks rest areas, free parking, & more. Read about the Plus admission features on the Xcaret website. If you plan to stay more than one day, it certainly helps to spend the night in a nearby hotel. If you have money to spend, the Hotel Xcaret Mexico is the most convenient choice. They have 900 rooms ready for you & your family.
The Hotel Xcaret Mexico has an ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE® vacation option which includes unlimited access to the parks Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco & Xenses, tours to Xenotes & Xichen, transportation between parks, airport shuttle, food & drink.
If you have a car or rental car you can drive in from your own hotel, Airbnb, or wherever you're staying. That's what we did. We drove in for the day. Had fun. Swam in an underground river. Ate tacos with an ocean view. Saw flamingos.
I positively enjoyed my time at Xcaret eco park in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo with a range of family members. Kids, adults, & elders can revel in the diverse entertainment, good food, & fun. I definitely could've stayed longer; I'm sure it would have been fun & I would've tried out more of the features. Hope you have a chance to enjoy it yourself!
Visiting Mexico
Mexico is a large country with so much to offer. Take a look at the Visit Mexico website for more information on tourism. Did you know Mexico has 32 states? Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur , Campeche, Coahuila, Colima, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Durango, Mexico City, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, & Zacatecas.
Cancun, located in the state of Quintana Roo, is certainly one of the more popular locations but it not for nothing. With crystal clear warm water & absolutely intoxicating food like huitlacoche tacos. What is huitlacoche you ask? What does it taste like? Read this post. Search for a place to eat, there are plenty of options.
Read my other blog posts about Mexico:
A Mini Guide to Tijuana's Breweries, Craft Beer, & Tasting Rooms
Things To Do at Playas de Tijuana, Mexico
Things to Do in Queretaro Centro, Mexico Top Attractions
El Cielo Winery Resort on Ruta del Vino Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, Mexico
Halliwell Manor: Where is the Charmed House? Where was Charmed Filmed?
If you're a Charmed fan you've seen a lot of Halliwell Manor over the seasons. In the TV show, the Victorian-style manor is based in San Francisco, but that's not where the series was filmed.
The Halliwell family went through a lot of tribulations & jubilations in that house in San Francisco. And plenty of magic! It was passed down over the generations. The Book of Shadows played in important part up in their attic of those sisters, Piper, Phoebe, Prue, & Paige. The Warren line of witches is powerful. For the most part, we saw the women inside their home with shots of the outside of the house more seen during transitions for scenes. The manor stayed in the Warren family line for four generations. Where was this filmed? If you were ever wondering about the Halliwell manor Charmed houses, this post has the information you're looking for.
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| Doing some external maintenance on the Charmed House/Halliwell Manor in LA. |
Where Is Halliwell Manor in real life? The address is 1329 Carroll Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
If you're in the LA area you need to check out the Halliwell manor. Where is Charmed filmed? You can actually find the Charmed house in Los Angeles. Can you believe it? I suppose it's not the biggest surprise considering Hollywood & Los Angeles is well-known for being a big part of the movie industry. That said, the tv show takes place in San Francisco so it is a bit of a shock to find out that's not where it was filmed. 500 Hidden Secrets in LA.
@carmenvarner Los Angeles hidden gem: The house from Charmed ##charmed ##losangeles ##la ##fypage ##thingstodo ##hiddengem ##travel ##travelbucketlist ##witch ##fypシ 🔮
♬ original sound - carmenvarner
I randomly happened upon it during on Los Angeles trip. The address is 1329 Carroll Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The entire street is lined with remarkable, unique homes that you won't want to miss. The home's estimated value as of August 2020 is just over $1,100,000, & it has only gotten more popular with time. These days people have easy access to watching the Charmed TV show snuggled in their pajamas tucked in bed as they watch Netflix. It's certainly having its revival in popularity.
Add this location to your bucket list if you are a big fan. Not only is it a beautiful house but the street is lined with remarkable Victorian-style manors. Read 111 Places in Los Angeles that you can't miss!
“Our powers are not toys.” - Prue Halliwell: Season 1, Episode 2
You can find the original structure real house on 1329 Carroll Avenue in Los Angeles, California, along with a bunch of other beautiful houses on the same street. The Victorian mansions are worth a visit since you're already in the area. They filmed loads of outside shots of Halliwell Manor for the show, so it's easily recognizable. Walk around the neighborhood to get the full scope of the Victorian-style manor & architecture!
If you want to shop online so you can have episodes conveniently located at your home, opt for Charmed: the Complete Series or start with Charmed Season 1. Do you have a favorite season?
Whether you're a new Charmed fan or you've seen every episode 100 times & can quote every line, no matter what - you are welcome here on my blog!
Los Angeles has literally thousands of things you can potentially do, so this is just something to do if you have extra time or are a Charmed fan. Surprisingly, it's not very well known that the Charmed manor is actually in LA. I found it on accident as I was looking at the map, it just showed up. Carroll Avenue is located in Los Angeles near Echo Park. The neighborhood is beautiful.
Is the Halliwell Manor a Real House?
Oh yes! It's definitely a real house & a stunning one at that, well from what I've seen at least. However, the exterior of the house is different than the set they used for the inside of the house. When I visited they were doing construction on the exterior of the house. It looked like they were just doing standard maintenance to make it look refreshed. It's an old Victorian house after all. People live in the home so it's not available for tours or anything that I know of. In the tv show, the home is supposed to be on 1329 Prescott Street, San Francisco. But there's no location to visit in San Francisco!
“We kick evil’s ass every day.” “Sometimes twice a day.” - Paige Matthews and Piper Halliwell: Season, 4, Episode 15
Is the Charmed House Historic?
In 1976, the entire 1300 block of Carroll Avenue was listed as a National Register of Historic Places. The Carroll Avenue 1300 block contains the highest concentration of Victorian Era residences still standing in Los Angeles. The homes are considered part of the Eastlake & Queen Anne style. Built by real estate developer and city councilman, Daniel Innes, the Charmed house in real life is called the Innes House. It's one of the original homes build during the 1880s on Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights. These nine Victorian residences are considered Los Angeles-Historic-Cultural Monuments as they represent times long gone, a dedication to architecture, beauty, design. This house had some external work done such as a paint job & fixing the roof, but much of it remains intact. For the most part, it's still the original structure.
Buy the full Charmed DVD disc set on Amazon.
Can You Visit the Halliwell Manor?
Here's the thing: this is a real house & real people live there. It's a historic home. It's not a fake house on a fake street with fake people. It's a neighborhood with humans who genuinely live there. Be considerate & respectful when you visit. Don't walk directly onto their property, keep your distance & get a shot from the sidewalk. The home is tall so you don't want to cut it out by getting too close anyway! You can't go inside but you can take photos from the outside.
Where was Charmed Filmed?
Perhaps you're searching for the Charmed house San Francisco. For the most part, the filming location for Charmed was at Paramount Studios at 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. Exterior Halliwell manor shots were filmed at 1329 Carroll Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Despite the tv show being based in San Francisco, they didn't film there!
Thriller House
While you're in the area, check out the Thriller House on the same block. The address is 1345 Carroll Ave in Angelino Heights. The home is called the Sanders House & is well-known as the place featured in Michael Jackson's Thriller music video. Check out the Thriller CD on Amazon.
You might be interested to read my blog post about visiting the Gilmore Girls location: Where Was Gilmore Girls Filmed? Where Is Stars Hollow?
About Charmed
The Charmed series has eight seasons that aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006. Fans across the globe were devastated when the show was canceled but at least we can watch it now. Since the show first aired in 1998, the fashion & style really reflects the era. They have some pretty iconic outfits & cool looks. These badass witches use their powers to fend off the world of evil & other creatures & demons that come into the mix. The Book of Shadows is a family spellbook filled with all the essentials of witchcraft. The manor has been in the Warren line for four generations. The Book of Shadows includes spells, incantations, instructions for potions, & everything in between. There are even some Book of Shadow Replica books out there. The tv show received a cult following of people who enjoy watching the episodes to this day. Perhaps you are one of those people! I know I am. They are the Charmed ones.
“Stop trying to predict the future, that’s my job.” - Phoebe Halliwell: Season 2, Episode 16
The main actors include Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, T.W. King, Dorian Gregory, Greg Vaughan. Karis Paige Bryant, Brian Krause, Julian McMahon, Rose McGowan, Drew Fuller, & Kaley Cuoco. The show is supposed to take place in San Francisco, California: located on 1329 Prescott Street, San Francisco.
The main characters are Piper Halliwell, Phoebe Halliwell, Prue Halliwell, Paige Matthews, Leo Wyatt, Darryl Morris, Cole Turner, Wyatt Halliwell, Elise Rothman, Inspector Andy Trudeau, Billie Jenkins, & a bunch more. Did you know you can buy Piper Halliwell action figure dolls online?!
Once again, find the Halliwell Manor located on 1329 Carroll Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The street has a bunch of cool houses. Los Angeles has rooftop bars to enjoy creative cocktails & trendy places to eat, but it also has the Halliwell Manor! The Victorian-style manor is near Echo Park, so you can spend the afternoon in the area; hang out at the park, reading a book under the cozy shade of a swaying palm tree.
The great thing about television is that it allows you to live a different life, meet new people, take part in a world you've never been to.
Have you visited? Please feel free to share your experience, your favorite Charmed episode, or anything. Hope you have a great day & happy watching! Do you have a favorite season or character? What's your favorite thing to do in Echo Park/Angelino Heights?
Other Things to do: San Diego Edition
Things to Do in North County San Diego, California. North County San Diego has hundreds of e experiences to offer, from coastal surfing to hiking in the mountains to sipping craft beer. The coastal cities are Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, Solana Beach, and Vista. Inland cities are Escondido, Poway, San Marcos. The mountain cities include Ramona & Valley Center.
Things to do in Oceanside, California: food, coffee shops, beaches, & more.
Things to do in Encinitas, California: surf, fun, food, & other cool stuff.
Things to Do in North County San Diego, California
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
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| Things to do in North County SD area, from hikes to craft beer to food. |
Remember this post is more for future reference as travel starts to open up again. Please be safe. Socially distance yourself from others whenever possible. Wear your mask. I went on a hike & nearly everyone wore a mask. There weren't many people on the trail, but each person put their mask on as they passed by, especially in narrow areas of the trail where you can't distance yourself. It's like sunscreen, hat, water, it's protection! Why wouldn't I protect myself?
What is Considered North County in San Diego? What Towns are North of San Diego?
Things to do: What is There to Do in North County San Diego?
Beaches
Hikes
Water Activities
Gardens
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| Grab coffee or tea at one of the many coffee shops in Carlsbad, Oceanside, etc! |
Coffee & Tea
Breweries in Vista
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| Don't miss the craft beer & brewery scene in North County; Vista has a lot of breweries! |
Breweries in Carlsbad
Breweries in Oceanside
Wineries
Other Adult Beverages
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| Lots of hiking & nature in North County SD, such as in Escondido! |
Parks
San Diego Zoo
LEGOLAND California
Shopping at Westfield North County
Schools
Outdoors and Other Things
Oceanside, California
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Encinitas, California
Del Mar, California
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| Rainbow in San Marcos, California. |
Travel outside of La Jolla & the most well-known parts of San diego & really visit up north. There are literally so many things to do. Adults, teens, & kids alike can find several great opportunities in North County San Diego. From shopping local boutiques on a weekend to heading to a dive bar with friends at night, there's always something to do. You'll have a good time. What is there to do in San Diego today? See for yourself! I hope you get a chance to travel to North County. Do you have any new information? Leave a comment or email.
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