The Riviera Maya is a 100-kilometer stretch of coastline along the Caribbean Sea, stretching from Cancun to Tulum. The main resorts here are Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel. This coastline was developed relatively recently, after Cancun ran out of available land. The main tourist flow here is European.
Riviera Maya Beaches
Playa del Carmen is located in the center of the Riviera Maya, 70 km south of Cancun. This popular youth resort is bustling with activity around the clock, especially along the pedestrian area along the coast. Cozumel, Mexico’s largest island, is located 19 km east of the Yucatan. The island is known for its rich underwater world and the world’s second-largest coral reef, stretching over 700 km. Beaches occupy only 3% of Cozumel’s land area; the rest is a national park. Riviera Maya
Attractions and Entertainment
A vacation at Cancun and the Riviera Maya resorts can be unforgettable without leaving your hotel, but many don’t miss the opportunity to explore the ruins of Mayan and Toltec cities.
Chichen Itza, the largest ancient Mayan and Aztec city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tulum is the only Mayan seaport-fortress. Also worth visiting is the Xel-Ha National Park, a favorite retreat for Mayan emperors, known for its stalactite caves and karst lakes. At Ek Balam, you can see an excavated acropolis with a secret chamber. At the famous Xcaret Ecological Park, you can float down an underground river, visit a museum-aquarium, a turtle farm, a butterfly park, an orchid park, and Jaguar Island. You can play with dolphins, snorkel, and admire flocks of bright pink flamingos in the fishing village of Rio Lagartos.
In 2009, Xplor Ecological Park, located on 50 hectares, opened in the Riviera Maya. This unique underground world offers tourists rafting or a journey down underground rivers among stalactites and stalagmites, where the water temperature is 24°C. The underground adventure culminates in cenotes—natural wells used by the Mayans as water sources. Centuries-old rock formations, jungle walks, and suspension bridges make this a truly unforgettable experience.
