Where to go

While in Cancun, in the hotel zone, the El Rey site is located at kilometer 18 of Kukulcan Boulevard. It only takes one hour to visit this archaeological vestige. North of Cancun, near Punta Sam, in a place known as Isla Blanca (though it is not an island) are the El Meco ruins, recently opened to the public. Any taxi can take you there.

Found north of Cancun, over the avenue leading to Punta Sam, is the archaeological zone of El Meco. From the top of one of its pyramids-the tallest archaeological structure in the north of the state-there is a breathtaking view of the Chacmochuc Lagoon, near the area known as Isla Blanca (the name is misleading since it is not an island). To get there, we suggest taking a taxi, since this site, recently open to the public, still does not receive many visitors.

Tulúm, Coba and Xcaret are the main archaeological zones of the Riviera Maya.

Tulum, Info and Reservations

At the entrance to the town of Tulum take the highway towards Coba, an ancient city located 26 miles within the jungle. Dispersed throughout this extensive zone are buildings, including various imposing pyramids. Aside from a few family restaurants, the archaeological villas of Club Med and handicraft stands outside of the zone, Coba does not offer standard tourist services. If preparing for an extensive visit we recommend taking lightweight and comfortable clothing, good shoes, a hat or cap, insect repellent and drinking water. The archaeological park can be toured on foot or by bicycle (rented at the entrance). We don¹t suggest straying off the main paths; remember that there are many small animals, unfamiliar to most tourists, residing within the tropical jungle. To reach Coba, sign up for a tour from your hotel or rent a car. Tulum is the best option for dining after your visit.

Xcaret, Info and Reservations

The archaeological zone of Xcaret is found within the eco-archaeological park of the same name. The archaeological vestiges are found scattered throughout the park and the museum houses scaled models of the most important Maya cities: Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tulum, Coba, Palenque. Aside from the wealth of activities that can be enjoyed here, a visit to the museum and the ancient temples are truly worthwhile.

In the Mexican Caribbean beaches are formed by sand of calcareous origin, accounting for its white color, its fine texture and temperature always cool regardless of the sun's strong rays.
In Cancun, two beach zones can be distinguished: the first is located in the north of the hotel zone, facing Isla Mujeres and is protected by its location within the bay. Due to its calm waves, it is ideal for children and to practice aquatic activities like jet skiing, water skiing or sailing. Cancun Hotels, Info and Reservations

Riviera Maya Hotels

Cozumel offers to its visitors miles of virginal beaches on its windward side (East Coast), numerous Beach Clubs are located on this area providing food and beverage service to its patrons, as well as a limited selection of water sports, this fact is due to the strong current and sea conditions prevailing on this side of the . San Miguel Town and all the Hotels are located on the rocky west coast of this island, strands of sandy beaches can be found to the south of town, where several Beach Clubs provide Food and Beverage Service, water sports, diving and snorkeling. North of San Miguel is Playa San Juan, considered one of the best beaches on Cozumel for swimmers and water-sports enthusiasts. Cozumel Hotels, Info and Reservations

By day, the boat trips travel to the nearby islands of Cozumel, Isla Mujeres or Contoy. Trips to Cozumel are one or two days and one day to Contoy. Because it is a protected natural preserve and resident and migratory sea bird sanctuary, overnight stays are not permitted in Contoy and access is restricted. Ask at your hotel for an authorized tour service.
In Cancun, as evening falls, board a local cruise that sails until midnight, either through the Nichupte Lagoon (east of the hotel zone) or through Mujeres Bay to Isla Mujeres. These trips include an excellent dinner, dancing and lots of fun while your children sleep safely under the care of a babysitter hired through your hotel.

Looking for diving options. If you would like to dive in shallow waters near the coast, the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, at the beginning town of the Riviera Maya, has some beautiful, perfectly conserved reefs housing a great diversity of species. Puerto Morelos has remained relatively unaffected by modern development, full of its old charm and an attractive tranquility. Head to the marinas near the main dock or in the hotels for more information.

Cavern Dive, Info and Reservations

One of the most important diving sites on the Riviera Maya’s coast is Akumal, known for its lessons taught at the marinas. If you have a bit more time, you may obtain a non-professional diver certification. The zone is characterized by its attractive reefs, ancient sunken ships and interesting caves and underwater caverns that offer exciting adventures.
Puerto Aventuras is another location with exceptional diving services. Generally, nearly all of the Riviera Maya¹s hotels provide attractive and safe alternatives for diving, whether for beginners or expert divers.
North of Cancun, Isla Mujeres also offers many options for shallow diving and snorkeling in its turquoise waters.
Cozumel is the diving capital of the Mexican Caribbean. World-famous, this island presents spectacular coral reefs with large walls that form one of the most privileged diving sites around. Shallow diving to deep diving is practiced here through the numerous diving services, all certified and renowned. In a few days you can obtain a sport diving certification allowing you to dive in any part of the world.
A unique experience you may enjoy in the region is cenote, cave and cavern diving. A large number of the Riviera Maya’s cenotes offer this specialized and uncommon activity. Dive shops lend their services from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras or your hotel. Make sure that the tour guide you hire is a highly-qualified expert cave diver and has been certified by international organizations.

Practically all of the Mexican Caribbean hotels have perfectly designed tennis courts rigorously maintained under the high standards of the sport' s rules.
Reserve the hours of your choice; you can even take a course. In Cancun, you may find fully-stocked sporting goods stores with tennis equipment to buy in case you didn't bring yours, but check first at your hotel, they may be able to provide what you need.
Playing Golf in the Mexican Caribbean is an excellent experience, since you can combine the pleasure of enjoying your favorite sport with the unparallel experience of being surrounded by natural wonders.

The Golf Course Mayan Palace - Riviera Maya, México More Info, Reservations Our creative, innovative and avant-garde personality is reflected in the Executive Golf Course of the Mayan Palace Riviera Maya, Nicklaus Design. Located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the 18-hole, par 54 golf course features traps of radiant, white sand, lakes surrounded by natural rocks and the intense color of the greens and the vegetation of the wastes.

In search of a commune with nature in general, a vacation in the Riviera Maya or in Cancun allows a direct and constant interaction with nature. Visit the crocodile farm located south of Cancun’s international airport, just prior to the Puerto Morelos exit. It takes an hour and a half to view the entirety of this enclosure that also houses other reptiles, deer and small local mammals. A guide service is recommended and is free of charge although a tip will be appreciated.

Further along, heading south past Puerto Morelos, the Juan de la Barrera Botanical Gardens contain a worthy collection of regional flowers. The trip, affordable, safe and quick, welcomes visitors into the tropical jungle and familiarizes them with the names and characteristics of native plants.

In Playacar, residential area is located an Aviary that will present you with the beauty of birds from the region.
Various options in eco tourism are available. These may be arranged from your hotel, especially if you are staying in the Riviera Maya, or from Playa del Carmen’s travel agencies, that promote ecological tourism, offering cenote (sinkhole) and cavern exploration, jungle walks to observe and learn about the flora and fauna, excursions to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and, in addition, the option of delving further into the Yucatan Peninsula to discover the Calakmul Reserve.
We recommend using reputable travel agencies. Take slacks and long-sleeved shirts, including shorts and a bathing suit, plenty of insect repellent and a hat or cap.

Xel-Ha, Info and Reservations

A visit to the local geological formations (cenotes and their caves) may be of particular interest to tourists.
Many are found near Xel-Ha Park, in the middle of the jungle. A three-hour tour offers interesting explanations about the origin and ecosystems of these unique bodies of water while enjoying the surrounding wildlife. Inquire at your hotel or in any travel agency for more information.

Cozumel has many attraction to offer to enjoy nature at its most, among them the newly park created at the Punta Sur Ecological Reserve has open its doors to the public. The main attraction in this park are de 52 endemic bird species, only seen in this part of the world, in other words Bird Watchers Nirvana. This Park has guided tours to all the place of interest, including the centenary Lighthouse, the crocodile habitat and the small archaeological Maya vestiges contained within its boundaries.

Nights in the Mexican Caribbean are an invitation to dancing and have fun. The entertainment scene is plentiful of options, from Discos for the more active to piano bars for those in a romantic mood.
Cancun offers a wide variety of Discos and Fun Bars, with an ample variety to ensure that you will find the right place to fulfill your expectations. The Dress Code in all of them is casual elegance, no T-Shirts nor Shorts or barefooted people is allowed.

La Riviera Maya has centered all its Night Life at Playa del Carmen’s 5th. Avenue and surrounding areas, where several Restaurants and Bars feature Live Bands. Discos that offer a medley of Rock, Reggae, Salsa and other Rhythms for all kinds of musical tastes. Be prepare to dance among the stars and on the beach since the discos are located at beachfront locations.

Cozumel’s Night Life caters to active people, many of them diving enthusiasts. Evenings begin early here; they also end earlier than in other Mexican resort destinations. In a comparatively compact area, Cozumel offers a selection of bars and discos. A favorite spot to unwind after a busy day is at one of the outdoor cafes that line the zocalo. These stay open late into the evening they are also popular spots in which to have a nightcap before beginning another active, sports-filled day on Cozumel.
Although Isla Mujeres is not a party town at night, some entertainment is available when the sun goes down on the Island. Some nice cozy bars and cafes feature live music, but recently a Disco was inaugurated, the newest attraction on the Island with great ambience, a mixed US/Latin soundtrack and the latest light and sound gadgets.

You are invited to discover beautiful aerial views of the Caribbean coast, with their islands and Cancun, offering the opportunity to take unique photographs. Likewise, small planes may be rented to visit remote sites. There are runways to accommodate small planes in Tulum (Riviera Maya), Chichen Itza (state of Yucatan) and the Mayan Coast (south of the state of Quintana Roo).
Other businesses offer regular charter-type flights to more distant important archaeological zones such as Palenque (state of Chiapas) or Tikal (Guatemala). Choose the services you wish to contract at your hotel's travel agency.

Cancun's hotel zone offers a wide variety of restaurants with all types of food: international, Italian, Mexican, North American fast food, fish and seafood, and much more. Cancun restaurants such a wide variety allows a different option every night, whether at a shopping center or along the very same Kukulcan Boulevard, in addition to the selections provided by your hotel.

We suggest trying the Mexican food served in the restaurants downtown Cancun. Make sure to stop by any one of the popular taco stands (taquerias) serving traditional meat and cheese tacos, accompanied by spicy sauces and famous Mexican beer. Your hotel concierge or any taxi driver can provide recommendations.
Playa del Carmen is the heart of the Riviera Maya’s Gastronomy, a collection of Mexican and International Restaurants can be found at its famous Fifth Avenue, Side-walk Cafes, Bars and coffee shops sums up the dinning set of choices in this cosmopolitan town.

From North to South Playa’s dinning experience is something to be remembered you can try authentic Maya Cuisine, live Jazz Music on weekends or a taste of German and International Cuisine or for the homesick or choice for burgers, steaks and all the classics of the American food.
Small cafes and restaurants feature authentic Italian Food, Japanese Sushi food and other exotic cuisines, making Playa del Carmen a place to go through a superb gastronomic experience.

It doesn´t matter where you stay, The Mexican Caribbean is an exceptional location to shop. From big shopping Malls to Street vendors, from Mexican Handcrafts to Diamonds.
In Cancun, stroll the Tulum Avenue or visit the three most important malls, ranging stores from small boutiques to big Department Stores.
In the Riviera Maya a visit to the famous 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen is a must, walk from one end to the other discovering a multicolored variety of shops, boutiques and jewelry.
Since Cozumel is a world famous Port of Call in the Caribbean, innumerous Duty Free Shops have established in this island, providing its visitors a unique opportunity to buy silver, gold, gem stones, perfumes and more, some times at bargain prices. All kinds of handcrafts can be found in this amazing island of Cozumel.

Over the last few years, the SPA concepts popularity has blossomed. An acronym for ‘Salud por agua’, or ‘health by water’, the SPA concept dates back to the Romans and pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas.

Many ancestral techniques have returned to favor, including the use of natural ingredients in cosmetics and treatments for body and spirit. Hydro therapies and massage, exercise and nutrition help relax, detoxify, hydrate and purify the body while shoring up it’s natural strengths to fortify it against illness.

There are many SPA oriented vacation plans available, in a variety of formats. SPA hotels feature holiday stays based on SPA itineraries, while many hotels now offer sophisticated SPA facilities that guests may use ‘a la carte’. To get the best effect at either, we suggest you dedicate a full day to your SPA. Relax by the brilliant Caribbean and treat yourself to the ‘full treatment’. A full week or a weekend in Cancun or in the Riviera Maya are full of wonderfully restorative possibilities.

Leave your work at the your office, forget your cell phone, computer, pagers and worries. Your only task is to prepare yourself for the delightfully different treatments available to you — whether you choose an exclusive SPA hotel, or a hotel with SPA services. Among the Spa services you can find in the Mexican Caribbean are: Temazcal, Dry and wet saunas, Thalassic theraphy, float, body wrap,facials. Massages: Shiatsu, Reductive, Therapeutic, Swiss, Reflexology, Vichy

Bordered on one side by the vast Caribbean Sea and by extensive lagoons on the other, Cancun's hotel zone is a paradise for aquatic activities. The numerous marinas offer from an entire day of fishing in the high seas to diving classes and deep-sea diving, including a visit to sharks' caves or the zones inhabited by whale sharks and sting rays.
Likewise, one may choose to simply practice snorkeling on the reefs near the coast or in Isla Mujeres. For more information, we suggest checking with your hotel's travel agency.
Generally hotels have dive centers with aquatic activities like snorkeling, jet skis, sailboats and kayaks. Parasailing can be found on some beaches.

Jungle Tour, Info and Reservations

Don't forget to try a Jungle Tour --a trip on a jet ski or individual boat-- through the lagoon and canals that wind between the mangroves. This marvelous excursion, offered at many of the marinas, will take you to see the freshwater springs in the lagoon.
If sport fishing is your passion, head to a marina. The majority rent boats for large-scale fishing with a specialized crew. The best season is between April and September, when the species abound. In the waters of the Mexican Caribbean marlin, sailfish, swordfish and barracuda are fished. With a little luck, fishermen will prepare a "ceviche" (traditional dish of the Mexican coast, made with fresh fish, lemon, spices, olive oil and herbs) with the fruits of your fishing trip, while you rest on one of the calm beaches of Isla Mujeres' tranquil beaches. Sport fishing tours last between four and eight hours, departing early, just after sunrise.
Less intense but not less fun are boat, semi submarine or trips on glass-bottomed boats that allow you to view the underwater delights of Cancun and Isla Mujeres' waters. Consult your hotel's guest service's desk.