Gonna be real - xcaret and xel-há are disney versions of mexican culture. Paying $100+ to swim in chlorinated cenotes and watch sanitized "mayan ceremonies" performed by actors.

Real culture? Skip theme parks. Colectivo to coba ruins (60 pesos transport, 75 pesos entry). You can still climb the main pyramid unlike chichen itza. El rey ruins right in cancun (65 pesos entry) - smaller but zero tour groups.

Snorkeling? Isla mujeres ferry (200 pesos round trip), snorkel playa norte for free. Water's clearer than xel-há, no 500 other tourists.

Xcaret works if you have kids needing entertainment and don't care about authenticity. Otherwise you're paying premium for convenience.