Xenses: Take Your 5 Senses for a Ride
While some would describe their experience at some of the sites in the Riviera Maya as “mind-blowing”, that should be taken literally here. Just a few miles south of Playa del Carmen, Xenses park is something of a hybrid between an aquatic park and a science museum. And, as the name implies, it will mess with your mind.
What exactly is Xenses?
A great place to spend half a day with the kids, Xenses (pronounced “senses”) is a unique park, for sure. What sets it apart from the rest of the eco-parks in Xcaret is that it’s not precisely an eco-park. Rather than featuring ruins to explore or a walk through the jungle, Xenses has rides. And each one is designed to stimulate—or fool—your senses, one way or the other.
What kind of rides will I find in Xenses?
There are about 15 rides in Xenses that offer different kinds of experiences. Perhaps the one that best describes the “mind-blowing” aspect of the park is the one called “El Pueblo”.
As you can probably guess from the name, “el Pueblo” is just that: a town. But, though the ground is flat, the whole thing it’s built at a slant, which can really mess with your perception. Things seem to move in impossible ways, like that stream that borders the street—it flows uphill.
Other rides are more akin to a water park. There’s a big waterslide, for example, and a pool that takes you through colorfully lit caves floating on your back.
Ever wanted to play in the mud but were too embarrassed to try because we’re supposed to be, you know, grownups? Guess what? There’s a mud river, man!
As Xenses is all about stimulating the senses, you should know some of the rides feature dark and closed spaces. You might want to stay away from those if you’re claustrophobic.
Other facilities
Given that this is something of a water park, Xenses provides lockers to leave your stuff in, though they’re rather on the small side. Bring a change of clothes and, more importantly, a towel; the park doesn’t provide one. There’s also a snack bar and a gift shop.
