Planning To Visiting Riviera Maya? It's More Than Just White Sand Beaches on the Caribbean Sea!

Riviera Maya is a popular holiday destination on Mexico's Yucatan's southeastern coast. Whether you are seeking to visit Mayan ruins or relax on the white sand beaches, there is something for everyone here. In fact, one of the reasons it is such a great location is that unlike other island paradise locations in the Caribbean, there are plenty of day trip excursions and adventures you can take here that go well beyond simply soaking up the sun with a drink in your hand. If you’re thinking about visiting the Riviera Maya for your next trip, here are a few tips and tricks on what to look out for, when to go, and where to go.

When to Visit Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya and its surrounding locations are hot all year round. However, the question of when is the best time to visit Riviera Maya is a challenging one since each person has different priorities. For instance, if you are looking to relax and get some peace and quiet, then April and May are a great time to visit because they are less busy. From October through March, the weather in Riviera Maya will be dry, and while cooler than summer, temperatures are going to range from 70-80 degrees.

Summer temperatures in Riviera Maya see high temperatures in the 90's with high humidity and June through September is hurricane season so you may want to avoid that too unless you are a bargain seeker willing to take a risk of bad weather (or worse).

The rainy season in Riviera Maya stretches from May to November but it can also be a fantastic time to enjoy the warm waters of the Caribbean sea.

Boutique Hotels, All Inclusive Resorts, and Eco Retreats

The Riviera Maya is an extremely popular tourist destination on the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula. This is good news if you’re a fan of resorts on the beach. Cancun Airport offers direct flights from most major European and American cities so it is very easy to get to. Most travelers to the Mayan Riviera from the United States, Europe, and South America will travel through Cancun International Airport. However, Cozumel International Airport also offers more than a dozen direct flights, and it is only a short ferry ride from Playa del Carmen.

While you'll immediately recognize big-name American all-inclusive resorts, many European and Mexican hotel companies operate here. These properties often offer a variety of options that are sometimes better since instead of a huge cost for an all-inclusive resort, they are more like traditional hotels.

Major US Resort Brands with Locations in Riviera Maya

• Hilton Playa del Carmen - Located in Playa del Carmen, this all-inclusive adults-only resort offers luxurious suites and a prime beachfront location.
• Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya - Situated in Playa del Carmen, this adults-only all-inclusive resort features stunning ocean views and upscale amenities.
• The St. Regis Kanai Resort Riviera Maya - Positioned near Playa del Carmen, this luxurious resort offers elegant accommodations and exceptional service in a stunning natural setting.
• Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya - Located in Akumal, this adults-only resort provides a serene and romantic all-inclusive experience with a beautiful beachfront and sophisticated amenities.
• Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa - Found in Tulum, this family-friendly, all-inclusive resort combines Mayan-inspired architecture with modern luxury.

European Resort Brands with Locations in Riviera Maya

1. RIU Palace Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen - An all-inclusive resort offering elegant accommodations, a variety of dining options, and a beachfront location.
2. Barceló Maya Palace, Puerto Aventuras - A luxury resort known for its extensive facilities, including multiple pools, a spa, and diverse entertainment options.
3. Iberostar Grand Paraíso, Playa Paraíso - An adults-only all-inclusive resort featuring stunning architecture, gourmet dining, and personalized service.
4. Melia Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla, Playa del Carmen - An all-inclusive, adults-only resort with luxurious suites, fine dining, and a focus on relaxation and wellness.
5. TRS Yucatan Hotel (Palladium Hotel Group), Akumal - An adults-only, all-inclusive resort offering personalized services, exclusive amenities, and a tranquil setting.

Eco Retreats in Riviera Maya

• Azulik Tulum - Located in Tulum, this eco-friendly resort features handcrafted treehouse accommodations and a focus on sustainable living.
• Papaya Playa Project - Found in Tulum, this eco-resort emphasizes a connection with nature through its rustic-luxe accommodations and sustainable practices.
• Casa de las Olas - Located in Tulum, this eco-friendly boutique hotel offers a tranquil and intimate setting with a commitment to sustainability.
• Sandos Caracol Eco Resort - Situated in Playa del Carmen, this eco-resort offers an all-inclusive experience with a focus on environmental preservation and nature activities.
• Alaya Tulum - Found in Tulum, this eco-friendly retreat provides a serene escape with sustainable practices and beachfront yoga sessions.

No matter where you stay in the Riviera Maya area, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience.

Is Riviera Maya Just One Place?

The short answer here is no. The Riviera Maya has various resort towns that are in a linear line along the coast - roughly 75 to 100 miles in length (the area seems to continue expanding!).

So, it’s somewhat easy to find your bearings in that you can pretty much walk along the beach in one direction. Tulum is one popular town as it covers pretty much everything from health and wellness to energetic white sand beaches. Playa del Carmen is a better choice for those looking for tranquility and incredible, fairly undisturbed white sand beaches. Having said this, Playa del Carmen is still known for its upbeat atmosphere.

Cancun is Not Riviera Maya

While it gets confused with Riviera Maya, Cancun is a separate resort city. However, it is effectively the gateway to Riviera Maya since this is where most people fly into from the United States and other parts of the world.

Cancun is a great spot for a lads holiday or bachelor party though. This is especially true since the hotel zone is always hopping with clubs and upbeat day activities. Additionally, resorts in Cancun can sometimes be cheaper as well as more accessible, but it is not technically part of Riviera Maya. While Cancun is great for nightlife and a younger party scene, the resort towns along the Riviera Maya coastline, including Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum are typically more laid back and better for relaxing. 

This is especially true for Tulum which has gained a reputation for hosting yoga retreats and eco-tourism resorts.

Puerto Morelos:

This is your authentic fishing village with a relaxed Caribbean vibe and plenty of wellness as well as eco tourism options. Depending on who you ask, Puerto Morelos is or isn't part of Riviera Maya since the lines between Riviera Maya and greater Cancun can become blurred. 

Playa del Carmen:

This is the most developed resort town in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and that means there are plenty of restaurants, resorts, and even vacation rentals. There are also plenty of tours that depart from here for snorkeling, fishing, and exploring the interior of the Yucatan peninsula.

Puerto Aventuras:

While there are plenty of hotels here, this small beach town is a private gated community with a mixture of residential and hotel properties and is the perfect spot for sport fishing in Riviera Maya.

Akumal:

With a name that comes from Mayan for "Place of the Turtle", you know this is going to have a laid back vibe and spectacular beaches. Whether you are looking to take a boat tour or just relax on the beach, the crystal clear waters and underground rivers found here make this an ideal place to visit in the Mayan Riviera if you are looking to spend time in the water.

Tulum:

Many visitors to Riviera Maya just look at Tulum as a place to see the ruins on a day trip, and it is the farthest of the towns from the Cancun International Airport, but there's a great vibe here that you shouldn't miss. Tulum is certainly a gem in the crown of Mexico's Riviera Maya. Here you'll be able to explore beachfront Mayan ruins while enjoying local food and the aromas of tropical flowers. This is one reason why it has become so popular as a destination for boutique hotels and eco-resorts.

Riviera Maya Things To Do On A Guys Trip

There are many things to see and do in this part of Mexico on a guys trip. First and foremost, this is your chance to visit some incredible history. Pre-Hispanic ruins such as Chichen Itza — a Mayan city and currently an active archeology site — are nearby for a day trip. Don’t get fixated on the Chichen Itza, though, as there are many lesser-known Mayan ruins when venturing inland.

Explore Mayan Culture at Chichen Itza And Tulum Ruins

Exploring Mexico's Riviera Maya is not complete without having a chance to visit Chichen Itza. While it is in a fairly remote location, it makes for a perfect day trip. The pyramids and ball court here are as iconic as they are impressive to experience in person, the ancient ruins found near Tulum are probably more impressive from a historical perspective for the diversity of buildings. Both places are worth exploring if you want to visit Mayan ruins in Riviera Maya, Mexico. However, while Chichen Itza was a ceremonial site, the Tulum ruins represent a well-organized trading port and center of commerce.

Whichever of these ancient Mayan city locations you visit, one thing that is important to remember is that while the Mayan empire no longer rules the Yucatan peninsula, many of the people you see working on these sites as well as in surrounding villages throughout Riviera Maya are in fact descendants of the Maya. This means that you have a great opportunity to experience still the living art and culture of this once-great civilization. As such, when touring an archaeological site, remember that this isn't just dead stones and rocks but it is an area of great cultural significance to make people who live here still.

Explore The Jungle And Take A Swim In A Cenote

The surrounding forests offer many activities, such as jungle theme parks with zip lines and yoga retreats. You can also swim in one of the ancient Maya sinkholes known as a cenote.

One of the most popular of these cenotes is Cenote Maya. This are essentially underground caves carved from limestone that are full of water. Some cenotes are wide open on top, while others like Cenote Maya are covered by a limestone dome. Cenotes in Riviera Maya go as deep as 130 feet but in some cases they can reach more than 1,000 feet in other parts of Mexico.

There are also a ton of endangered and rare jungle species that will raise the pulse of any avid birder, and it is possible that you might even get to meet one of the 1,800 jaguars that call the Yucatan peninsula their home.

The lush jungle also offers a variety of other opportunities to explore it but while you could take a hike, we highly recommend that you take a guided tour with a professional guide who knows what they are doing. An organized tour will also be able to help make sure that you don't miss anything that you otherwise may have just walked by.

Explore The Beautiful Beaches And Marine Life

Finally, there’s a lot to explore on the coast and in the water too, from neighboring islands such as Cozumel to spotting whale sharks and sea turtles or even going on a fishing or scuba diving charter, this is ultimately why you spent the time and money to visit Riviera Maya.

The Caribbean Sea is a great spot for shallow snorkeling and spotting incredible coral and tropical fish. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System stretches for more than 1,000 kilometers from the northeastern tip of the Yucatan peninsula. This includes areas in Riviera Maya and especially the island of Cozumel. This coral reef is home to more than 65 species of stony coral, and 500 species of fish as well as sea turtles, sharks, and other marine life.

This paradise below the waves is one reason that makes Riviera Maya Mexico such a special place with some of the world's best beaches and plenty of places to get fresh seafood in one fishing village street food stands. Mexican cuisine here is more than beans and beef like you might experience in the United States. Instead, it is all about the bounty of the ocean.

It needn’t be said, but Mexico is home to some of the best food in the world. All around the Riviera Maya, you can exercise your spice taste buds and indulge in some authentic local cuisine.