The Riviera Maya is a young resort 50 km from Cancun. The main contingent is Europeans. Riviera Maya is well suited for holidays with children and families. Hotels generally do not exceed the height of palm trees, most club hotels offer an all-inclusive meal plan. The beach strip is white sand.
More than a hundred kilometers of the coastal strip of the Riviera stretches from Puerto Morelos (20 km from Cancun) to Tulum (150 km from Cancun). It is known not only for its beaches and hotels, but also for its unique stalactite caves – cenotes, which create an extensive system of many kilometers of underground rivers and lakes.
Along the Mayan Riviera there are the most famous ecological parks: Xcaret, Xel-Ha, etc. Subtropical jungles, exotic flora and fauna, karst caves, turquoise sea with crystal clear water, a unique climate, the mystery of the long-term Mayan culture – all this has turned the Mayan Riviera into one of the most famous resorts in the world.
Separately, it is worth highlighting the heart of the Riviera Maya – the city and resort of Playa del Carmen (located about 45 minutes from Cancun, on the way to Tulum).
The city’s central location provides quick access to all the sights and attractions of the Riviera Maya and Cancun. This city has flourished over the past few years, and its population is one of the fastest growing in the entire world. Everything is possible here: swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, fishing, para-sailing, sky diving and much more.
The central and most active street of the resort – 5th Avenida – is an ideal place for shopping and for choosing restaurants. In the evening the street is filled with music and resembles the European youth resorts of the world. There are daily ferries from Playa del Carmen to the island. Cozumel (every hour or twice an hour – depending on the season).
With a Mexican heart and a Caribbean soul, Cozumel is a paradise where tradition, taste and pleasure blend harmoniously. World famous for its coral reefs, it is also famous for water sports such as diving, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and more. The center of the island is covered with jungle and swampy lagoons, which are home to small mammals and endemic birds that never leave the island. Be sure to visit Chankanaab National Park and Punta Sur Ecological Zone. This protected area includes Punta Selarin with its historic lighthouse, as well as the Colombian Lagoon, home to many endemic and endangered species such as sea turtles. The choice of entertainment in Cozumel is endless: sea beaches, turquoise waters, scattered Mayan ruins, great restaurants,
Excursions on the Riviera Maya:
Chichen Itza – the main historical zone of the area – the sacred Mayan city (205 km from Cancun). This is the most famous and best restored city, where there are such delightful Mayan buildings as the pyramid of Kukulkan consisting of nine platforms with a temple on top, the largest and oldest building in the city – the Palace of the Nuns, the astronomical observatory El Caracol (“snail”), square Temple of the Eagles and Tigers, Pyramid of Osario and the sacred “cenote” (well) where sacrifices were made to the gods, Temple of the Warriors with its famous figure of the god Chaak, a ball game with the Temple of the Jaguar and the “northern temple” which may have been used for sacrifices, and many other monuments of the ancient Indian civilization.
Ecopark Xcaret is located near Playa del Carmen on the bay. This is a well-equipped recreation center with an abundance of tropical fauna, well-equipped beaches, a zoo, water attractions, underground rivers, an aquarium, caves, bars and restaurants, a small museum and much more. One of the main highlights of Shkaret is one of the best butterfly pavilions in the world.
Shel-Ha is a national park, which is a natural aquarium, which arose naturally in a mountain cave, fed partly by sea, partly by fresh water from underground rivers. Surprisingly clean and transparent water allows you to see exotic fish of unusual colors, and lush vegetation amazes with a range of shades.
Coba is an archaeological area in the heart of the jungle, with many ancient structures and numerous caves, most of which have not yet been fully explored.
Tulum is a former major Mayan port and one of the most famous archaeological sites on the coast. The city is surrounded on three sides by stone walls, and from the sea – by hard-to-reach cliffs fifteen meters high, and is the only fortification of the Mayan empire on the coast, as well as the last stronghold of the Indians, which existed until 1554, and repeatedly served as a refuge for the rebellious Indians. The Temple of Frescoes (De los Frescos), the Temple of the Descending God, the Temple of the God of the Wind, the Temple of the Sea, as well as an almost 400-meter ceremonial center have survived to this day.
