Riviera Maya Travel Guide

Riviera Maya Attractions

Map of Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya is a 180-kilometer stretch located along the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The region offers a diversity of attractions from solitary beaches to modern architectural complexes, including hotels, marinas, sports facilities and restaurants.

Jungle, flora and fauna, archaeological sites, solitary beaches, a turquoise-colored sea with crystal-clear water which turns to silver by moonlight, the fantasy and warmth of the tropics, the mystery of the millenary culture which lives on in the Maya people, are just some of the qualities which have turned the Riviera Maya into a destination which can compete favorably with all the rest of the Caribbean's tourist destinations.

Xcaret Tour

Xcaret, a marvel-filled territory located 55 kilometers South of the city of Cancun and only 5 kilometers from Playa del Carmen on Federal Highway 180, gets its name from the Maya word meaning "inlet" in reference to its location on one of the zone's most important coves. Xcaret was an economically important part of the Maya culture, a commercial exchange center.

Xcaret is one of the preferred places on the Riviera Maya, both because of its archaeological monuments and its Ecological and Archaeological Park which is dedicated to disseminating the Maya and Mexican cultures in general, as well as to preserving the environment and the ecology.

There are so many things to see and do at Xcaret! No less than 25 attractions included in your entrance ticket to the park, including underground rivers, beaches, manatee lagoon, coral reef aquarium, marine turtles, apiary, bat cave, butterfly pavilion, ecological tour, jaguars, mushroom farm, orchid conservatory, tropical jungle walk, wild bird aviary, theater, equestrian show, and a spectacular night show. We suggest you plan out an itinerary so you can get the most out of your day. Locators guides in the park make it easier to find what you are looking for.

Tulum and Xel-Ha Tour

Xel Ha  The name Xel Há identifies both the Park and the archaeological site located East and West, respectively, of the Puerto Juarez - Chetumal Highway 180, 115 kilometers from Cancun and 16 kilometers North of Tulum.

The word Xel Há is a combination of Maya terms which mean " water entrance " or "where the waters are born" in reference to the geography of this place (an inlet). The site was used as a port by the ancient Mayas due to its location at one of the important crossroads for marine traffic in the trade of merchandise and goods.

The main attraction at Xel Há Park is precisely its cove or inlet. Because of the combination of sea water with fresh subterranean currents of sweet water, the site is a natural aquarium hosting hundreds of marine species and tropical fish. No visitor to Xel Há can resist spending a few hours with a snorkel, visor and fins or putting on scuba gear to reach greater depths, along with the marine species. Within the park there are also turtle and dolphin sanctuaries, and research concerning marine life is also undertaken here to contribute to the knowledge and ecological conservation of this zone.

Xel Há is undoubtedly one of the most dazzling sites, both in its archaeological and its natural treasures, making it one of the basic attractions on the Riviera Maya, a place where nature celebrates in all its splendor, linked to the millennial culture of the Maya.

Tulum and Xel-Ha Tour

Tulum  (360 Virtual Tour: Tulum Ruins)  The Maya site of Tulum is a rectangle measuring 380 meters from North to South and 165 meters from East to West, located 128 kilometers from Cancun, and can be reached by federal highway 180, an excellent expressway with several lanes that provides fast and safe access to the entire Riviera Maya. Once you've arrived at the entrance to this historic site, you can walk or take a two-car tram to the archaeological zone which is one kilometer away.

The archaeological zone at Tulum is perhaps one of the most beautiful places on the Riviera Maya, combining the mystery of the ancient civilization which inhabited this zone with the singular beauty of the Caribbean sea which bathes its shores. The city of Tulum is the only known archaeological site located by the sea, and belongs to the region known as Tankah-Tulum which comprises the zones of Tankah, Tulum and Xel-Ha. It was constructed atop a cliff facing the blue sea and has an underwater coral reef that is the world's second-largest.

The majority of the constructions date from the mid post-classic period (1200 - 1500 A.D.) although some architectural elements still remain from previous periods, revealing the site's antiquity. The principal constructions that can be accessed beyond the magnificent stone wall with its five entrances, are the Castle which faces West and is dedicated to Venus (Kukulcan) and the Temple of the Descending God, adorned with bas-reliefs. Here one can inspect the exquisite frescoes which remain to this day, decorated in blue, orange, red, white and black.

Sian Ka'an Adventure Tour

Sian Ka'an means "Gift of the sky" or "Where the sky begins." It was the name given by the ancient Maya to South Quintana Roo. Since 1987, it has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Location between km. 1 to 50 along the south coast of Solidaridad Municipality and the entire coastline of Felipe Carillo Puerto Municipality, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The Sian Ka'an is the third largest protected area in Mexico. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system.

The Sian Ka'an is home to nearly every kind of the region's wildlife: jaguars, jaguarundis, howler monkeys and tapirs; crocodiles, turtles and manatees; millions of birds and many more. When you enter the biosphere, the road is surrounded by huge giant fan palms. The Sian Ka'an includes 27 little explored Mayan sites which are hard to find maps to. Whether or not you sill see crocodiles, anteaters or any of the rarer Sian Ka'an animals is a matter of luck, but you will always see plenty of birds.

Cobá (167 km from Cancun) Three hours south of Cancun is Cobá, an early Mayan site yet to be fully reclaimed from the jungle. Begun in 600 A.D., Cobá is a combination of the leading attractions of Uxmal and Chichén Itzá, but its geographical location, 100 km from Cancun, provides an added sense of adventure, as it was built in the heart of the jungle.

If you have a chance to see Cobá while it is still buried in the jungle do it. This group of ruins is all that is left of what could have been the largest of all Mayan cities. There are thought to be over 6,500 structures spread out over 50 square kilometers. During its hey day around 750 A.D. there may have lived as many as 50,000 Maya.

Riviera Maya Towns and Villages

Puerto Morelos  Puerto Morelos Hotels
Puerto Morelos, considered as the gateway to the Riviera Maya, Puerto Morelos is located 15 minutes south of Cancún International Airport and 36 km north of Playa del Carmen. This small fishing community, with its warm, and friendly people, offers several sites of interest, as well as all kinds of activities for couples, friends or families, such as Crococun crocodile farm, or Yaax Che Botanical Garden, to name a few.

Its Marine Natural Park "Reefs of Puerto Morelos" boasts a wide variety of multicolored tropical fish, dolphins and turtles, as well as breathtaking corals. Puerto Morelos is the ideal spot for an unforgettable vacation, a quiet place with a bohemian flair. Painters, writers, artists and people from all over the world now call this beautiful Mexican town home and enjoy its quiet pace.

Punta Maroma and Punta Bete  Punta Bete Hotels
Along the coast are Punta Maroma and Punta Bete, which are also paradise-like places on the Caribbean, integrating a string of sandy white beaches, sometimes with ragged limestone shorelines, and others where the jungle touches the sand. A sweet-water river from some subterranean source and flowing into the turquoise sea is typical of this zone. Small hotels and cabins provide the basic comforts.

Playa del Carmen   More Playa del Carmen Info & Hotels
Playa del Carmen offers everything you might look for in a Caribbean location, such as powdery white sand beaches bathed by transparent waters, luxurious hotels providing all the comforts required by international travelers, and also smaller lodgings with personalized service. Numerous bars and discothèques, two shopping malls, restaurants offering traditional and international cuisine, cultural and recreation centers, water sports and golf are also options, with a level of excellence to satisfy the most demanding first-class travelers. La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue), the zone's main artery, is filled with gastronomic and entertainment options, together with numerous shops and boutiques, all of which make this an obligatory meeting-place after several hours spent on the beach or on an excursion trip, prolonging the activity in Playa until dawn.

Today, Playa del Carmen attracts sun worshippers, beach- and sea-lovers as well as those in search of the marvelous combination of ecological and archaeological tourism. The unique conjunction of culture plus nature, and the tranquility which characterize this spot, are still the distinctive attractions to be found here, intelligently preserved by well- planned development which sought to conserve the original magic.

Puerto Aventuras  Puerto Aventuras Hotels
This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Caribbean. Located 70 kilometers from Cancun and 14 kilometers from Akumal, Puerto Aventuras offers numerous attractions such as ecological tours, water sports and fishing.

Facing the beach, in the middle of the bay, is an island that serves as a nocturnal sanctuary for thousands of birds. The water is warm and transparent, making this one of the favorite places for snorkeling and scuba diving. It also has a dolphin facility where you can enjoy the marvelous experience of swimming with one of the planet's most intelligent creatures.

One of the principal attractions at Puerto Aventuras is the San Carlos Marina, where numerous ships berth and where there are many restaurants and cafes with a splendid view of the sea. You can rent boats by the hour or day from the Marina for deep-sea fishing or simply to cruise the Caribbean sea's tranquil turquoise waters.

Puerto's Cedam Museum Is a fascinating display of wreckage and artifacts collected from shipwrecks along the eastern coastline. Exhibits include 16th century breech-loading cannons and an elephant tusk from the wreckage of a 17th century ship carrying African slaves and ivory.

Xpu-Há  Xpu-Ha Hotels
Xpu-Ha (100 km from Cancun) is a tranquil beach that has been developed into an all-inclusive eco-park where you can snorkel, swim in the cenote, and dive.

Kantenah  Kantenah Hotels
Solitude, seclusion and privacy are words which aptly describe Kantenah. One can explore the surrounding jungle, snorkel over the offshore reef, or just unwind by whiling away the hours in the shade of a palapa. On both sides of the bay there are hotels of excellent quality.

Akumal   Akumal Hotels
Only 105 kilometers from Cancun, Akumal, which means "land of the turtles" in the Mayan language, owes its enchantment and fascination for tourists from around the world who visit here, to the fresh waters of its caves and subterranean rivers. 

Located North of Tulum, Akumal offers excellent hotel accommodations and restaurants, together with an ecological park, the Ukana I and the Yaku lagoon. More than 200 entrances to subterranean caves, with depths of up to 150 meters, make it a gathering place for divers from around the world. Besides scuba diving, snorkeling and jet skiing are also available, making it a favorite with all who love water sports.

Tulum  Tulum Hotels
There is Tulum Ruins and there is the town Tulum. The town Tulum is around 5 kilometers south of the Tulum Ruins. The town is small but has many restaurants, bars and hotels. There are some nice hotels in the area and many miles of white sandy beaches. There are of course villas, cabana, apartments and houses to rent by the day or week. Much of the stuff you will find in the shops in Playa can be found here but not in quite as abundance. Also the beach resorts are secluded and not as busy as Playa del Carmen. There is a gas station here and numerous dive shops and fishing charters. Tulum town is also close to the ruin sites of Coba, Muyil and Tulum.