Bacalar Lagoon. Urban Art. Isla Mujeres. Puerto Morelos. Riviera Maya. Playa Del Carmen. Isla Cozumel. Maya Ka'an. Grand Costa Maya. Archaeological Sites. Water Activities. Nature and Adventure. Sport Fishing. Places To Visit. Jungle Tour. Right about now, you may be asking yourself Where is this Riviera Maya?
To get started, please know the words Riviera Maya or Mayan Riviera can be used interchangably to describe this very same area. It is located on Mexico's eastern or Caribbean side. If we were to zoom into the Yucatan Penisula map of Mexico a little bit closer, the area known as the Riviera Maya is actually the northern tip of this Peninsula. I t is an area of coastline that stretches for about miles. Cancun airport and the Cancun Hotel zone are located at the very top or nothern most point.
Most folks consider the end of the Riviera Maya to be the city of Tulum. Others say it stretches to the border Mexican border with the country Belize to the south. If you're from the East coast, think of the Jersey Shore.
When folks say they are going "down the shore" they are talking about the area between Asbury Park and Cape May. As you drive south along the Garden State Parkway, all of the Jersey shore towns are off to your right. In Mexico, if you say you're heading to the Riviera Maya, you start in Cancun and head south down highway to one of the many beautiful resort communities along this gorgeous stretch coastline. The word Maya or Mayan that is associated with this geographic area pays homage to the indigenious culture that reigned over this area from BC until the Spanish arrived from Europe.
Mayan art, architecture, mathematics and astronomical calendars still present some of the world's greatest mysteries to researchers and historians. If you're interested in shopping, nightlife and fine dining, this is the place, but the beach is also alluring. Playacar is a nearby resort area offering upscale accommodations and some all-inclusive options. Cozumel , the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, is a short ferry-ride from Playa del Carmen. It's a great spot for scuba diving and snorkeling, the clear water offering visibility of up to feet.
The center of the island is mostly undeveloped jungle and lagoons with many endemic species of small animals and birds. Chankanaab National Park has a botanical garden featuring tropical plants, and Chankanaab Lagoon, a natural aquarium with more than 60 species of tropical fish, crustaceans and corals.
Tulum was once a busy Mayan ceremonial center and trading port. The ruins are in a spectacular setting, on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The town of Tulum has budget options for accommodation as well as some nice cabanas to rent along the beach. One interesting option is the Nueva Vida de Ramiro eco-resort. The unique topography of the Mayan Riviera makes it an ideal destination for adventure seekers.
You can dive in cenotes , swim or raft in underground rivers, ride ATVs through the jungle and fly on ziplines. Xcaret Eco Theme Park offers an abundance of activities for all ages. A full day can be spent in Xcaret swimming in underground rivers, snorkeling, seeing a re-enactment of the pre-Hispanic ball game, visiting ancient Mayan ruins and topping off the day by watching the spectacular cultural show that is presented every evening.
In Xel-Ha Park subterranean currents of fresh water combine with salt water producing a unique ecosystem with multitudes of tropical fish perfect for snorkeling. Other activities at this water theme park include floating along the river on inner tubes, swinging over cenotes and swimming with dolphins. Discounts can be had if you buy multi-park packages. Due to the construction of Cancun International Airport, this has become a popular and fairly inexpensive area to visit.
Most who visit the Mayan Riviera are staying at all inclusive resorts and are transferred from the airport to the resort along this path by bus or shuttle to their accommodations. It is a wonderful place for families or single visitors to visit. Tourism is the main industry and visitors are treated very well almost too well.
If you never leave the resort, you will likely be quite happy. If you choose to explore, it is a km mile road, so be home by dark. The official language is Spanish , like in the rest of the country. In the tourist areas, many locals also speak English, and some others French, German and Italian, as this area receives tourism from those places. However, some locals trace their heritage to the Mayans who settled the area before the arrival of the Spanish.
The present-day Mayans tend to live inland and speak little Spanish. Mayan languages are very much still alive and even people in the tourist industry of Mayan heritage may speak them.
While trying to speak a few words of one of these languages will certainly impress people, they invariably also speak Spanish and are just as happy to converse in that language with you.
The airport receives international flyers from most large Western Hemisphere airports and several major European gateways, though there are no non-stop flights to Asia or Australia. Once you arrive, you have a few options to get to your destination. There are several rental car agencies at the airport, or you get a taxi from the airport.
It's a good idea to agree upon a fare inside the airport terminal with one of the taxi providers, before heading out to an individual taxi. There are also private transportation services that can be pre-booked directly, or that your hotel can help arrange.
There is also service from the bus company ADO, which will be the cheapest option. While Mexico boasts among the most comfortable buses in the world, a long distance bus ride from Mexico City to Yucatan, while possible, won't be much cheaper than a flight. However, if you are already in the area, taking a bus becomes the vastly preferable option.
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