Why location matters

Riviera Maya is not one town, but a strip that runs from roughly Puerto Morelos all the way down to Punta Allen. The largest nearby city is Cancun (and the nearest big airport), whereas Playa del Carmen and Tulum are the two most well-known resort towns within the strip. However, beyond the resorts, Riviera Maya is home to a range of amazing attractions.

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Cenotes

The region houses uniquely beautiful cenotes, which are natural limestone sinkholes with crystal-clear freshwater pools. Over the years, divers have mapped connected cave systems underground, stretching for huge distances, finding the ones that are easy to visit for tourists with the right infrastructure in place. 

Near Tulum, alone, there are dozens of cenotes you may visit, including the Gran Cenote, Mayan Blue, Calavera, Caracol and Santa Cruz Tulum, just to name a few. Each of these has clear, turquoise water, while some also have fish and turtles, and most don’t require wetsuits.

Mayan ruins

For those interested in history, the ruins in Riviera Maya are truly fascinating. At the Parque Nacional Tulum, you will find one of the most photogenic archaeological sites anywhere, with ancient ruins sitting on a cliff over the Caribbean.

Continuing north towards Ciudad Chemuyil, you’ll also reach the Archaeological Site of Xel-Há, featuring a former Maya port, ruins, temples and two freshwater pools. The park is also filled with exotic wildlife, such as iguanas and native birds.

If you’re willing to drive a bit further inland, then the Mayan city of Coba is your go-to. Visit the pyramid ruins, where you can climb Nohoch Mul, the area’s highest pyramid. After which, you can relax at one of the two large lakes: Laguna Coba or Laguna Macanxoc. 

Activities

Beyond nature and historic attractions, Riviera Maya will pleasantly surprise you with the sheer amount of activities. For families, the Xplor Park jungle adventure park near Playa del Carmen is the perfect fun-filled day out. You can explore the underground rivers, try your hand at rafting and amphibious vehicles, and get an adrenaline rush on the zip lines and waterslides. 

If you want to explore the water world, Cancun is the place to be, with the Aquaworld adventure sports centre, Interactive Aquarium and Dolphin Connection Mx. Besides, there are endless options for water sports along the coastline, including snorkelling, speedboats, scuba diving, jet skiing, and surfing.

Picking a well-located hotel

So, with all of that dotted along the strip, how do you choose the right location for a hotel? There are plenty of hotels and resorts in Playa del Carmen or Tulum, placing you close to the towns’ attractions and nightlife, but it’s also some of the busiest places in the region. Meanwhile, staying too far away from everything will make the day trips much longer.

The best strategy is to look at hotels near Riviera Maya, ideally in an area with a good selection of amenities, but still giving you that relaxed holiday experience. For example, the town of Puerto Morelos sits at an excellent coastal location, in between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It’s much less busy than the larger towns and has its own local restaurants and beaches. Properties like Ocean Coral & Turquesa, Ocean Maya Royale, and Oceans Riviera Paradise are well positioned in this stretch, offering all-inclusive packages that make it easy to balance resort comfort with day trips across the region.

It’s also worth checking whether a hotel runs excursions to the major attractions, like Coba or Gran Cenote. While you can book tours separately, having a hotel provide you with trusted and pre-planned options takes the worry out of your holiday.

Smarter holiday decisions

Many people tend to book their hotels based on the photos and hope to figure out the rest once they land. But, that often means spending a lot more of their holiday time stuck in the hotel or in a tour van. So, look at the location first and only then pick the prettiest pool and best facilities. 

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Sian Ka’an

A biosphere reserve in the region of Tulum and an official UNESCO World Heritage site. Sian Ka’an is over 5,280 km of land, uncultivated ground, and the Caribbean Sea, including a section of coral reef. There are also around 23 archaeological sites in the area, including Muyil, a fairly small set of ruins with a rich history.

One of the key activities in Sian Ka’an is the canals: a small boat takes you through clear turquoise open water, through a tight man-made canal to a natural one, deeper into the “swamp” where you get to float with the current observing the beauty of the preserved natural habitat. It is fairly shallow; you can even walk, but the water will gently carry you forward. The plant life is amazing, from deeply rooted trees to massive air plants shooting out strings over the water. The end of the floating tour is a boardwalk that takes the group back to the boat across the swampy field, around you, as far as the eye can see, are waist-high greenery and an occasional heron strolling through the grass.

Viator offers a range of tours to this site, both private and group. See them all here.

Laguna de Kaan Luum

Some people call this spot a secret. But really it is just less popular than other spots in the region. It is a clear, shallow lake, with spectacular turquoise water. There are a few swings, about bum deep in the water, multiple hammocks, and a dock people relax on. A single vendor will sell you a snack or a coconut for cash. Off to the side is a tall observation deck with a stunning view of the area. If you have a car, you can easily drive here, park outside, and then stroll down a short forested pathway to the water. There is a small cash-only admission fee. If you do not have a vehicle, don’t feel like taking a taxi, and would rather go with a tour, here are a few options. In most instances, it would be paired with another cenote stop or Tulum.

Tours:

• Kaan Luum Lagoon, Cenote Zacil Ha & Cenote Zemway Tour from Tulum
• Explore Cenotes in Tulum Kaan Luum Lagoon from Cancun
• And a few more Laguna de Kaan Luum tours

Xel-Há

One of the bigger waterparks in the area. A large space your whole family can enjoy, a multitude of water activities from adventurous to lazy river kind. Great place to snorkel or lie back and take a nap in a hammock. This is an all-inclusive park, so your fee covers food and drinks. You can easily spend two days here, so at least one full day is highly recommended.

Here is a selection of different tours from Viator and a few from GetYourGuide.

Xcaret

An eco-archaeological and cultural heritage park. First things first, this place is huge! There are over 50 attractions, a beautiful beach, a butterfly pavilion, giant turtles, various birds, live entertainment, dolphins, food, and drinks; I mean, the list can go on and on. You’ll need at least a day, and I’d recommend staying for the evening show. I’ve been to this site twice and will go back again in a heartbeat. I have now been a couple of times and still love discovering new things.

Book directly on xcaret.com in advance or combine Xcaret and Xel-Há for an additional offer when booking directly. If you are staying at the Occidental Xcaret, your park entrée is discounted. Find Xcaret tours on Viator and GetYourGuide.

Ek’ Balam

One of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Yucatan. Unlike the more popular archaeological sites (such as Chichen Itza) Ek’ Balam is fairly small, very green, and very accessible. Visitors are invited to hike up the ruins (with enough warnings) to observe their beauty up close and from up top. This site was populated from roughly 1200 BC to 1000 AD – a long period of time to keep a city occupied, so the history is rich. There are many theories as to why the city was abandoned, but it was rediscovered in 1800, actively excavated by the 1980s, and is still subject to ongoing preservation. There is a lot to see, a lot to climb, and a lot to wander about as you explore the many rooms of the many structures.

Find a selection of tours to this site along with multiple adventures here on Viator and GetYourGuide. Although generally speaking, I wouldn’t recommend hitting two historic sites on the same day, very time-restricting.

Tulum Ruins

Located near the town of Tulum, also a nice area to spend a few hours in. A fairly large, tightly situated complex of ruins and one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast. During the post-classic period, Tulum served as a seaport, trading mainly in turquoise and jade. As you explore the area, you might come across an archaeologist or two working away on the ruin preservation, and if you pay attention, you might spot a four-legged structure that looks a bit like a horse in the centre of the living area, whether or not it is a horse, no one is fully sure. There is also an amazing small beach in the park, so make sure to bring your suit and a towel.

Tours:

• Tulum Ruins and Cenote Guided Tour from Cancun
• Tulum Ruins Tour (Private, Half Day)
• Full-Day Tour of Tulum Ruins and Cenotes with Lunch
• VIP Guided Tour with Lunch, Tequila Tasting, and Chocolate
• Riviera Maya: Tulum Ruins, Mariposa & Chen-Ha Half-Day Tour

Valladolid

A small Spanish colonial town not too far from Ek’ Balam. The interesting bit of history is that the town was built near a lagoon in 1543 by the Spanish settlers (hence the name), but the locals complained about the mosquitoes, so it was moved to where it is now, in place of an older town that was broken down and used as the brick foundation for what is Valladolid now. The town is colourful, with interesting architecture and surprisingly subtle attention to detail (such as doors). The centre square is near a beautiful cathedral, and everything around it is on a grid. There is an old library, plenty of restaurants and shopping, and a Convent of San Bernardino de Siena a bit out of the centre (open only on Tuesdays).

Must try: Choco story chocolate shop, won’t lie I tried everything and left way more money behind than I’ve ever spent on chocolate. I will eat it slowly, to preserve and cherish the flavour for as long as I can. Located near the city square on the corner of Calle 39 and Calle 40, it might be called something else on the outside; just look for the word Chocolate.

Tip:  If you are shopping, the quality of products in Valladolid is significantly better than in tourist-heavy areas near resorts. Yalat Arte Mexicano is a neatly curated shop with a beautiful yard in the back with small huts dedicated to specific products (such as honey). A portion of their profits is donated to the community.

Find a range of tours to Valladolid on Viator and GetYourGuide.

Chichen Itza

One of the more popular destinations that most people visit during their vacation is the Riviera. A large and spacious complex of Mayan ruins with wonderful graphic stone carvings and the best-preserved Mayan ball court, among many other structures. Definitely worth a visit and is usually paired with a cenote stop as a tour.

Find a wide range of tours on Viator and GetYourGuide, quite a few already include a cenote visit.

Tip:  Bring a hat, the area is very open and gets a lot of sun, like hot, scorching, direct sun.

Cenotes & Adventure travel

Without a doubt, visit at least one cenote, which Mexico is well known for. A cenote is a natural pit – a sinkhole if you wish – that came about after a collapse of limestone bedrock, which in turn exposed groundwater. Some of these wonders of nature can be wide open to the human eye. Others you might need to repel down into for the full effect.

There are also many active adventure opportunities, such as zip lining through a jungle. There are a lot of options to suit your activity level, swimming skills, or tolerance to cold (some cenotes are quite cold) so it’s more of a choose-your-own adventure. You can book and drive to any of the adventures on your own.

Tours:

• Private Tour with Sea Turtles + 1 Cenote
• 4 Private Cenotes, Zip-Lines, Canoes & Mayan Village with Delicious Lunch
• Cancun: Jungle ATV 3 Ziplines & 2 Cenotes with Lunch
• Private Tour The Best Cenotes in Tulum Riviera Maya
• Extreme Zip-Line in Tulum + ATV and Cenote Swim
• Cenotes Casa Tortugas and Tulum Ruins Adventure from Riviera Maya

Cobá Ruins

A smaller complex but with a tall pyramid, Nohuch Mul, you can actually climb, all 130 feet of it, to the tiny temple at the top. The stairs are steep and uneven, and the trip down is more challenging than the hike up. At its peak, Coba was one of the biggest and most powerful city-states in the northern Yucatán area, and as you walk around, you will notice that glory shows throughout the site. I am not 100% if you are still able to climb the stairs, but even without it, the site is worth a visit.

See a handful of tours to Cobá here on Viator and on GetYourGuide.

Playa Del Carmen

A seaport and cultural hub for those who wander off the resort. The shopping area is filled with local goods and all sorts of more common shops, from Zara to Häagen-Daz, though if you walk a bit out of the store centre you will come across much more interesting and natural ice cream flavours in smaller booths. There is also a handful of bars, including the legendary Señor Frog’s, a public beach, and a city square from which you can peacefully people-watch. Easily accessible by taxi from nearby resort areas.

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