From frothy drinks on stunning beaches to guided tours of ancient ruins, the Riviera Maya has it all.
The Riviera Maya is a strip of Caribbean coastline northeast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
It is known for its many all-inclusive resorts, such as those in the city of Playa del Carmen, and its long beaches.
To the south, Tulum is home to yoga centers and the still well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city, perched on a cliff overlooking a white-sand beach
A major attraction throughout the Riviera Maya are coastal and reef aquatic activities dependent on the beaches, coastal water and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (also known as the Belize Barrier Reef) which begins near Cancun and continues along the whole length of the Riviera Maya continuing southward to Guatemala.
This barrier reef system is the second longest in the world.
Activities at the most visited locations include jet-skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming in cenotes, swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, horse riding, sailing, and guided jungle tours.
Archeology is also a big tourist draw in the area, including the popular archeological sites operated by the Instituto Nacional de Archeological such as Tulum on the coast, and Chichen Itza and Coba located some distance inland.
The self-named ecoparks of Xcaret and Xel-Ha also include some smaller archeological ruins as part of their attractions, but these natural water theme parks operated by private business consortia attract much larger crowds due to the diversity and range of activities provided, such as swimming with captive dolphins.
