Riviera Maya stretches from Cancún to the city of Tulum on the Yucatán Peninsula. Stunning beaches and remnants of the ancient Maya civilization have made this Mexican coastline a popular destination. Along the coast of the Riviera Maya, the Caribbean Sea displays its most beautiful shades.
The Maya were renowned for their advanced writing system, art, monumental architecture, as well as their knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. They were the most significant ancient American civilization.
The decline of the Maya civilization occurred in the 15th century, and it was definitively ended by the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Descendants of this ethnic group still live primarily in the states of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize today.
Table of Contents
Maya Riviera
Cancún
The center of the Maya Riviera, it is also home to the international airport. Often referred to as the second Miami due to its atmosphere and the many American visitors.
The city center itself does not offer much of interest; it is a typical Mexican city with quite a few poor areas.
The tourist area, with numerous luxury hotels, is located along the road Paseo Kukulcán, which starts from the eastern part of downtown. Here, you will find white sandy beaches and hotels of famous hotel chains. This long, 25 km stretch is known as the Zona Hotelera.
Cancún is an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy the beach in a luxurious environment. Unfortunately, the Mexican vibe is not felt here; Cancún is entirely touristy.
Playa del Carmen
Located 60 km south of Cancún. It is also a genuine tourist city, but here you can feel the Mexican vibe. Many believe it is much better to stay and relax here than in Cancún.
Interestingly, the streets are perpendicular in the American style, and the northeast-southwest streets are numbered.
Playa del Carmen has many kilometers of coastline. The sea is a beautiful azure blue, and the sandy beach is fine.
The most popular part is Calle Quinta Avenida, a very long pedestrian street. Here you can find everything: shops, cafes, restaurants, bars. It is worth spending time here in the evening; it is very atmospheric.
In the southern part of the city, there is a gated area called Playacar. Within this area, there are hotels of many famous hotel chains.
Tulum
Located in the southern part of the Maya Riviera, it is also an ancient Maya ruin city. Unlike other Maya cities, Tulum was built directly on the coast. In the 16th century, during the Spanish conquest, it was an important commercial and religious center.
The buildings of the ruin city are located in Tulum National Park, which stands on the coast. Its beauty is also enhanced by the stunning sandy beach that begins beneath the ruins.
The highest building in the ruin city is El Castillo, the Castle. There are three other temple buildings: the Temple of the Descending God (Templo del Dios Descendente), the Temple of the Frescoes (Templo de las Pinturas), and the Temple of the Wind God (Templo del Dios del Viento).
I have already mentioned the white sandy beach. The beach is in a fantastic setting due to the ruins. The beach begins with Playa Ruinas beneath the ruins, followed by the most beautiful Tulum Beach and Playa Paraiso.
There is also a part where many hotels are located. In the Zona Hotelera in Tulum, numerous excellent hotels stretch for several kilometers.
Chichén Itzá
Although not located on the coast, it is 200 km from Cancún and is one of the main tourist attractions.
The Maya city, built around 500 AD, was occupied by the Toltecs fleeing eastward from Tula in the 10th century. The military leaders of the two peoples, who formed an alliance, made it the capital of the Maya-Toltec empire.
Chichén Itzá is a meeting point of Maya and Toltec cultures and arts. Its unique architectural ruins have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World since 2007.
Its most famous and impressive building is El Castillo, the „Castle”. This pyramid temple was built around 987 by the Toltec king. The massive square stone temple, oriented precisely north-south-east-west, is divided into nine terraces and stands 55 meters tall. Each side has 91 steps – a total of 365 – leading up to the sanctuary at the top.
The pyramid temple’s special feature is revealed during the spring and autumn equinoxes: the shadows cast by the rising and setting sun create the image of a serpent crawling out of the temple. The head and tail were carved in stone at the base and top of the pyramid.
Other interesting buildings in the ruin city include the Temple of the Warriors, the Temple of the High Priests, El Caracol (the „snail”), the ball game court, and the Sacrifice Well.
Cobá
Also located away from the coast, it is 50 km from Tulum.
In the Classic Period, between 200 and 800 AD, it was one of the largest cities in the entire Maya world until its great rival, Chichén Itzá, took over the leadership role in the region.
Only a small portion of Cobá’s more than 6,500 structures has been fully excavated. The three most important building groups are Cobá, Nohoch Mul, and the Group of Paintings.
This area is home to one of the tallest structures in the entire Maya world, the 42-meter-high Nohoch Mul pyramid. It is worth climbing to the top for a fantastic view of the forested landscape.
Xel-Há Park
This huge adventure park is located near Tulum.
The entrance fee is not cheap, but it includes almost everything: multi-course all-inclusive meals, bike use, unlimited use of all attractions, towels, luggage storage, and bio sunscreen.
Activities include a 30-meter-high winding slide, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, cliff jumping, zip-lining, and swimming in a mangrove forest.
All information here!
Xcaret Park
This coastal eco-archaeological park near Playa del Carmen offers various programs.
Attractions include a dolphin show, zoo, underground river, Maya village and cave, wine cellar, Mexican cemetery, 80-meter lookout tower, and a special area for children.
All information here!
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
This huge park is located south of Tulum and is definitely worth a day visit.
Among four types of mangrove forests, there is a true water labyrinth with an extraordinary bird population. You can see six-meter crocodiles, nests of pink pelicans, 600-kilogram manatees, massive turtles, and dolphin families in the open sea.
There are more than 20 archaeological sites in the area, including Muyil, the ruins of an ancient Maya trade center.
Cozumel
This island is located „opposite” the Maya Riviera, and many cruise ships dock here. The sandy beaches and Maya cultural relics attract most tourists to the island.
It is reachable from Playa del Carmen by a 45-minute boat ride, with several daily departures from morning to evening.
Its most famous attraction is San Gervasio, a Maya archaeological site. Today, six main building groups are connected by sacbés (Maya roads).
The Chankanaab lagoon in the southern part of the island, connected to the sea through an underground tunnel, is interesting for its wildlife: marine animals in the lagoon and the region’s vegetation in the adjacent botanical garden can be studied.
Isla Mujeres
This island stretches 8 km in length but is less than 1 km wide, located just a few kilometers from the city of Cancún.
Many people visit the island for its warm climate and sandy, palm-lined beaches. Playa Norte, located at the northern end, was selected as one of the world’s top 25 beaches by TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice in 2013.
In the south, Garrafón Park offers excellent views of the island and the sea from its heights, and there are opportunities for kayaking, diving, as well as hiking and biking.
Animal-loving tourists often visit the Tortugranja facility, a center for sea turtles that serves both tourist and scientific observation purposes. There is also a dolphinarium on the island where visitors can swim with dolphins.
Many are also drawn to the ruins of the Muncada hacienda. According to legend, a pirate named Mundaca built a house for his love, but the woman did not reciprocate his feelings. The house has been in ruins ever since.
Holbox
60 km north-west of Cancún is this island, which is not yet a „tourist destination”. Around the island, you can easily spot sharks.
There is only one small town on the western part of the island. There are no paved roads anywhere, only sandy paths and tracks.
The town is also accessible by bike or golf cart.
Many say that it is more authentic than the island of Mujeres because of the few tourists.
Cenote
This is a naturally formed well-like karst formation, of which there are many on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Cenotes usually have a roughly circular opening, and the water collected at the bottom is often very clear underground water. They are suitable for swimming.
The most famous cenote is Cenote X’toloc in Chichen Itzá. However, there are also several cenote parks near the coast.
Weather
The Yucatán Peninsula has two seasons, a dry season and a rainy season. The dry season spans from November to May, and the rainy season lasts from May to November.
Therefore, the Maya Riviera is a perfect holiday destination during the winter months.
In winter, daytime temperatures range from 26-28 degrees Celsius, and the sea temperature is 25-26 degrees Celsius.
The hurricane season lasts from August to early November, so it is advisable not to travel during this period!