Riviera Maya, Mexico
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Stretching down the Yucatán Peninsula's Caribbean coast lies the Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera. The Riviera Maya coastline stretches from the southern end of bustling Cancun to the north, down south to the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, and in the center of the coastline lies the once sleepy fishing village turned popular city of Playa del Carmen.
The coastline today is dotted with an abundance of all-inclusive resorts as well as smaller boutique hotels perched on the idyllic sandy beaches, this coastline is most historically notable for its Mayan past. The pre-Hispanic civilization lived throughout this region and the impressive archaeological ruins remain a popular tourist attraction today including Tulum and Chichen Itza.
The northern stretch of the coastline extending from Playa del Carmen up to the southern end of Cancun is home to numerous popular resorts, but the southern end of the coast stretching toward Tulum is home to smaller villages and resorts that are bit more spread out along sparsely populated beaches.
Archaeology buffs shouldn't miss the Mayan ruins at Tulum, Muyil and Coba. The first two sites can be visited on the same day, but seeing all of Coba takes most of the day or an overnight stay near the ruins.
With its pristine beaches, low-lying jungles and abundant wildlife, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is truly the undiscovered gem of the Riviera Maya. It is difficult to explore Sian Ka'an independently, but there are several very good ecotour outfits in Cancun and Playa del Carmen with English-speaking guides as well as ecolodges within the reserve that offer tours (some in Spanish only).
The most popular activities for visitors to this region include visiting the Mayan ruins, eco-tourism parks including Xcaret and Xel-Ha, snorkeling along the expansive barrier coral reef, golfing and of course soaking up the sun on the relaxing beaches.
The coastline today is dotted with an abundance of all-inclusive resorts as well as smaller boutique hotels perched on the idyllic sandy beaches, this coastline is most historically notable for its Mayan past. The pre-Hispanic civilization lived throughout this region and the impressive archaeological ruins remain a popular tourist attraction today including Tulum and Chichen Itza.
The northern stretch of the coastline extending from Playa del Carmen up to the southern end of Cancun is home to numerous popular resorts, but the southern end of the coast stretching toward Tulum is home to smaller villages and resorts that are bit more spread out along sparsely populated beaches.
Archaeology buffs shouldn't miss the Mayan ruins at Tulum, Muyil and Coba. The first two sites can be visited on the same day, but seeing all of Coba takes most of the day or an overnight stay near the ruins.
With its pristine beaches, low-lying jungles and abundant wildlife, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is truly the undiscovered gem of the Riviera Maya. It is difficult to explore Sian Ka'an independently, but there are several very good ecotour outfits in Cancun and Playa del Carmen with English-speaking guides as well as ecolodges within the reserve that offer tours (some in Spanish only).
The most popular activities for visitors to this region include visiting the Mayan ruins, eco-tourism parks including Xcaret and Xel-Ha, snorkeling along the expansive barrier coral reef, golfing and of course soaking up the sun on the relaxing beaches.
