Excursions in Playa del Carmen
 

My husband and I and our daughter and son , in their 20's, will be staying at Belmond Maroma for 4 nites and Rosewood Myokoba for 2 nights. There are many Excursions being offered. We have been to Chitzinitza and don't want to go back and have also been to Xcaret and would consider going back. Are there any great excursions/companies that anyone recommends?

There are lots of things to do, most of which do not require tours.
Visit Akumal for snorkeling with sea turtles and also nearby Yal-Ku Lagoon via taxi.
Visit Tulum ruins and also some beach clubs for drinks and lunch via taxi.
Visit Puerto Morelos for snorkeling by boat, also the Jungle Spa for massages by local Mayan women, Alma Libre bookstore, and maybe the Little Mexican Cooking School all doable via taxi.
Visit the Jungle Place spider monkey sanctuary (reservations needed two months in advance) via taxi, just outside Chemuyil.
Etc.

We just got back 2 days ago from Playa del Carmen (after 8 days in Merida). We had a lovely taxi driver take us to Muyil, ruins just south of Tulum. In addition to the ruins, there is a trail on a boardwalk through the old growth "forest" that takes 20 minutes or so to walk, and where you come out at the shore of a lagoon. You can take a boat ride across the lagoon to another lagoon that is connected by an ancient canal built by the Mayans to the actual edge of the Caribbean. (We didn't do this part but it sounded really interesting and will go back the next time we're in Playa). The admission fee was quite reasonable and it is all part of Si'an Kaan, a biosphere. Google Muyil for more info. I would describe the experience as educational and fun, rather than theme-park entertaining.

I just noticed there is a post below with a link detailing the writer's recent visit to Muyil.

There's a lot to see in the area, whether you use a tour or go on your own. I would urge you to get a good guidebook -- perhaps the Moon Guide or Rough Guide. In comparison to the cost of your trip, the cost of a guidebook will be nugatory, and you will have a wealth of information at your fingertips. For that matter, you can consult one at a local library or book store....

There are so many tours and so many historic things, ruins to do, that even after 20 trips we have not done everything. Look at all the tour companies and see what excursions you think are best. But then come back and see what is the best way to do them is since so many can be done on their own and for so much cheaper. I can't even really wait to go back again with my kids.
Good luck on your planning:)

Muyil, although close by, is off the beaten path, maybe because of it's size which is small. The well kept secret is the small hidden path that leads to the mangroves and lagoons. You need to ask the representative at the entrance how to find the path. It is part of the ruins admission but very few people venture past the ruins...well said Nepheline.

I generally use the website http://www.cancun-discounts.com/

to look for tours. They've always been good, I can't recall all the company names. That is really a local travel agency, I believe, but very easy to work with and answer questions quickly (the website folks). I think last November I did a day-long snorkeling tour to Puerto Morales and the company was Eco-tours or something like that. The one I really enjoyed is the one on their website to Rio Lagartos and Ek Balam.

I tried to work directly with a Mexico local day tour company and it was pathetic, they wouldn't even answer my emails (email address from their website), and then they finally answered one 3 weeks after I sent it and told me I could take one of their tours I had inquired about and just to call them when I got there rather than being able to take a reservation in a professional manner. I had moved on by that point.

If Muyil and boating/floating a Maya dug canal, or kayaking, interest you, there are small van excursions that leave from Tulum. There were only two couples (including us) on the one we were on. Great fun.

Yucatreks also does small van excursions to various sights in the Yucatan.
LocoGringo is also a good resource for info.