Akumal Monkey Sanctuary
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 169 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Akumal Monkey Sanctuary worth booking?
Akumal Monkey Sanctuary is a 2-hour experience in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, from $70 per person. It scores 66 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 169 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 66 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (169)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $70 per person
By visiting the sanctuary, you'll not only get to see cute and fascinating primates, but also learn about the important work being done to protect and care for animals in need. You'll gain an appreciation for the challen
What you get
- Local guide
- Monkey Bonding at special areas
About this experience
By visiting the sanctuary, you'll not only get to see cute and fascinating primates, but also learn about the important work being done to protect and care for animals in need. You'll gain an appreciation for the challenges facing animals in the wild, and how we can all play a role in preserving their habitats and ensuring their well-being. In addition to the monkeys, you'll also get to see a wide variety of other animals, from exotic birds to majestic snakes, each with their own unique story and importance to the ecosystem. The sanctuary is committed to educating visitors about the importance of protecting these animals, and the role that each of us can play in creating a more sustainable future. Plus, a visit to the sanctuary is a great way to support a worthy cause. With Mexico's new animal protection laws, sanctuaries like this one are becoming even more vital for the care and rehabilitation of animals in need.
What's included
Included
- Local guide
- Monkey Bonding at special areas
Not included
- Gratuities
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Transfer service from Tulum or Playa del Carmen
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
One of the most unique aspects of the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary is its commitment to education and animal welfare. Through engaging programs, the sanctuary raises awareness about conservation and responsible coexistence with wildlife. During your visit, you’ll meet a variety of rescued animals—from playful monkeys to impressive boa constrictors—each with a powerful story. Learn about the challenges they faced and the efforts to rehabilitate and return them to the wild when possible. Tours are limited to 20 people, allowing for a respectful and intimate experience that deepens your connection to nature and the sanctuary’s vital mission.
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Playa del Carmen
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 90 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 14 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- TulumAdventure Mexico
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 169 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
4 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
3 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
169 verified traveler reviews for Akumal Monkey Sanctuary. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Monkey business
My favorite part was when the monkey was climbing all over me and she kept coming back to me and staying with me over everyone else. I think she liked me! The tour was amazing too!
via Viator
Family
Our family of 7 visited the monkey sanctuary, and unfortunately, it was one of the biggest disappointments of our trip. It wasn't cheap, and the experience didn't come close to matching what was advertised. To be fair, they did warn us about the mosquitoes, but they were absolutely relentless. Between the heat and the bugs, it made the experience miserable. The tour guide was very sweet, but the introduction was way too long. By the time it was over, we were just ready to get through it. The website is very misleading. It shows people holding a snake on their shoulders, but we were only allowed to briefly pet the snake. The sanctuary itself was much smaller than the photos make it appear. Before entering the monkey area, we had to remove all jewelry, empty our pockets, and leave our phones behind. After all that, we walked in to see...one monkey. The guide simply fed the monkey so it would jump on people. It didn't interact naturally or pay much attention to anyone unless food was involved, making all the strict rules seem unnecessary. To make matters worse, everyone had to sit shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers while the photographer took pictures. Our family ended up with strangers in our photos, which isn't something we wanted after paying so much for the experience. We also weren't allowed to pet the monkey, despite what many people would expect from this type of excursion. Overall, this excursion was extremely overpriced, misleading, and not worth the money. We left feeling disappointed and wishing we had spent our time and money elsewhere.
Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us following your family’s visit. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, especially given the investment you made for your family of 7. We appreciate your kind words about your tour guide! However, we take your concerns regarding the tour length, heat, and bugs seriously. Operating in the lush jungle environment, mosquitoes can indeed be intense, and we try our best to warn guests beforehand. We also want to shed light on our safety and animal welfare protocols, which address a few of your concerns: Rules & Personal Items: Because we are a rescue sanctuary, the safety and well-being of the animals are our top priority. Rules regarding jewelry, pockets, and phones are strictly enforced because monkeys are curious and quick—they can easily grab items that could injure them or ingest small objects. Animal Interaction: As a sanctuary dedicated to ethical care, we do not allow direct petting or forced handling of the primates or reptiles. Our animals are given the space to interact on their own terms (often motivated by treat time!), rather than being handled continuously for entertainment. Photos & Group Layout: We strive to give every family dedicated time, and we regret that the seating arrangement made your family photos feel crowded by other guests. We will share this feedback with our team to improve the pacing and group dynamics. We are genuinely saddened that you left feeling disappointed, but we thank you for your input as it helps us refine the tour experience for future visitors. We wish you and your family all the best.
via Viator
Fun Family Experience
Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed the monkey interaction. Ages 5 to 59.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing your lovely feedback! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your whole family had such a wonderful time on our Akumal Monkey Sanctuary Tour. We love how you highlighted the range of ages, from 5 to 59! At Tulum Adventure, we design our expeditions to be inclusive, engaging, and unforgettable for every generation. Knowing that the monkey interaction brought a smile to everyone—no matter their age—is the greatest reward our team could ask for. Thank you for choosing us for your family day out in the Riviera Maya. We look forward to welcoming you all back for another shared adventure in the future!
via Tripadvisor
AMAZING!!!! LOVED IT 😍
We absolutely loved our visit to Akumal Monkey Sanctuary. It was amazing to see all the work the staff do for the animals and how much they genuinely care about their wellbeing. Our guide, Eimos, was brilliant. He made the tour so enjoyable, sharing lots of interesting information and answering all our questions. You could tell how passionate and knowledgeable he is, and he really made the experience special. We booked our trip through our holiday rep, which also included ATV driving, a swim in the cenote, as well as holding a monkey making it a fantastic day out from start to finish. A few tips for anyone going: put on mosquito repellent before you arrive as you're in the jungle and there can be quite a few mosquitoes. If you're doing the ATVs, wear old clothes, take a bandana or face covering you'll get absolutely covered in dust! put your swim costume on underneath your clothes and bring a towel. There are showers provided at the end, which was a nice touch. We'd also recommend taking some cash/change to tip your driver and, if you can, make a donation to the sanctuary to help support the amazing work they do for the animals, plus they also have a shop and you can buy your tour photos. We'd highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this absolutely incredible 5-star review! We are over the moon to hear that our Off-Road ATV, Cenote & Monkey Sanctuary Tour was one of the absolute highlights of your trip to the Riviera Maya. Eimos is going to be incredibly proud to read your wonderful words! He is a core part of our family, and his passion, knowledge, and dedication to sharing the stories of our rescued animals are exactly what make these encounters so deeply meaningful and special. We also want to give you a massive thank you for sharing such thoughtful, practical tips for fellow travelers! Your advice on bringing a bandana for the dusty jungle trails, wearing a swimsuit under your clothes, and remembering eco-friendly mosquito repellent is spot-on and incredibly helpful for future adventurers. We appreciate your kind words about the dedication to our animals' wellbeing and your support for the sanctuary's conservation mission. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable jungle expedition in the future!
via Tripadvisor
Hold them monkeys
You get guided through the property and see all the different rescue animals there. You also get to be with a snake and have some monkeys climb all over you which is really cool. Only weird thing is that mayan prayer they do in the beginning but like whatever.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review! We are glad to hear that you had a really cool time exploring the property, meeting our different rescue animals, and having the monkeys climb all over you during the bonding experience. Regarding the Mayan blessing at the beginning—we totally understand it can feel unique or unexpected if it's your first time visiting the region! At Tulum Adventure, we practice conscious and respectful tourism. That brief ritual is a traditional Mayan way of asking the jungle for permission and safe passage before entering its territory. It is our team's way of honoring the local culture and the sacred heritage of this beautiful landscape. We are thrilled that, all in all, you had an awesome time with us and the animals. We hope to welcome you back for another jungle expedition in the future!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 1+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $70 to $103
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 59
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 66
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Akumal Monkey Sanctuary: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Playa del Carmen.
How much does Akumal Monkey Sanctuary cost?
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Prices start at $70 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Playa del Carmen usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Akumal Monkey Sanctuary take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Playa del Carmen is not rushed.
Is Akumal Monkey Sanctuary worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 66 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 169 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Playa del Carmen, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Akumal Monkey Sanctuary?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Akumal Monkey Sanctuary suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 1. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 2-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Akumal Monkey Sanctuary?
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Around 59 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Playa del Carmen can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Playa del Carmen and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Akumal Monkey Sanctuary start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Playa del Carmen within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Playa del Carmen?
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On Outty we rank every Playa del Carmen experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include VIP Chichen Itza Private Tour, VIP Tulum Private Tour, Chichen Itza Private Tour VIP. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Playa del Carmen?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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