A Coastline of Beaches, Cenotes and Ruins
The Riviera Maya is a tourist corridor on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Quintana Roo, running south from Cancun through Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen to Tulum, a distance of roughly 120 kilometres. It is known for its white sand beaches, warm turquoise water, cenotes and Maya ruins, all within easy reach of each other. Offshore, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs parallel to the coast, giving snorkellers and divers easy access to coral gardens just a short boat ride from the sand.
The coast has a distinctive character, shaped by the Yucatan's flat limestone landscape. Inland, the jungle is dotted with cenotes, natural freshwater sinkholes that the Maya considered sacred and that today provide some of the most memorable swims and dives in the region. Along the shore, towns and resorts offer everything from all-inclusive family beach holidays to small eco-lodges and boutique hotels, so travellers can choose the pace that suits them.
Playa del Carmen, Akumal and the Eco-Parks
Playa del Carmen is the main hub, with its pedestrian Fifth Avenue, lined with restaurants, boutiques and live music, and ferries that cross to Cozumel. Further south, Akumal Bay is known for green turtles that graze on seagrass in the shallows, while Puerto Morelos keeps a quieter village feel with a reef close to shore. Family-friendly eco-parks such as Xcaret and Xel-Ha combine snorkelling, cenotes and cultural shows, and Xcaret's evening performance is a long-standing highlight.
Heritage rounds out the offer. Tulum is the best-known Maya site on the coast, with its temples above the sea, while Coba and Chichen Itza lie within a day's reach inland. The wider Mexico story is easy to extend by combining a beach week here with a few days in Mexico City. For a booking platform, the Riviera Maya's range of resorts and activities makes it a strong, flexible product.
Read the full Riviera Maya guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitGrandCostaMaya.com on Visit Travel Group.