Riviera maya - Riviera Maya

The territory named as Riviera maya It is located in the Southeast of Mexico and is one of the main destinations of the Mexican Caribbean.

Understand

The Riviera maya It is one of the most beautiful destinations to vacation due to all the attractions and the enormous amount of activities that can be done here. With Cancun It is the tourist center par excellence of the Mexican Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a strategic point to explore the Mayan World and ranges from the small city of Puerto Morelos (36 km from Cancun), passing through Playa del Carmen (its most important tourist center), Tulum, a beautiful archaeological site built by the Mayan civilization on the tip of a cliff facing the impressive turquoise sea of ​​the Mexican Caribbean, reaching the small towns of José María Morelos and Carrillo Puerto, where you can breathe a very special Mayan-colonial air.

To get

By plane

You can get to Cancun International Airport by air, the second most important in the country, with roundtrip flights to the Mexico City, Miami and other capitals of the world.

By car

From Cancun, Chetumal Y Merida, by the highways that take you to the Riviera. From Chetumal, it is a single highway, with no toll. And from Mérida, there is the toll highway and the free highway.

By bus

The nearby cities of Chetumal and Mérida, from which you reach Cancun and Playa del Carmen by road, connect you with the rest of the country.

Boat

Through the cruise ships that arrive at the nearby island of Cozumel, or, to Progress, in the neighboring state of Yucatan, to continue by land until you get here. It is not the most common route, however, many international cruise ships dock in these ports near the city of Cancun as part of their journey through the Caribbean Sea. There is another Federal Pier, which is CALICA, where international cruise ships and local ferries dock that connect the continental massif with the islands of the Mexican Caribbean.

Travel

Boat

  • From Puerto Morelos (Federal Pier) the car ferry leaves for Cozumel 5 to 6 times a day.
  • From Playa del Carmen (Federal Pier) the ferries Playa /Cozumel/ Beach approximately every hour and a half.
  • To go from the Riviera Maya to Women Island, you have to move to Cancun and from the Hotel Zone, or from Puerto Juarez, you can take the ferry approximately every hour.

In taxi

To explore the surroundings and visit archaeological sites, taxi rates are high, but it is an efficient system and a good option for those who want to go comfortably and without driving. Always set the price with the driver before boarding.

By car

To rent a unit you must leave a voucher deposit and present a valid driver's license.

  • Cancun car rental Easyway[1]
  • Caribbean Rent a Car[2]
  • National Car Rental[3]
  • Zipp[4]
  • Elite Car Rentals[5]

In vans

To explore the surroundings and visit archaeological sites.

  • Aldebaran Tours[6]

Normally arrivals by plane are through the Cancun airport, where there are several companies with private transportation service, which offer service to Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and the rest of the Riviera Maya.

By bus

The buses provide impeccable service and the premium units are air-conditioned. These transport it through the micro-destinations of the Mexican Caribbean and connect with the rest of the country by land. In cities, public transport is cheap and efficient.

  • ADO[7]
  • Riviera Maya buses

Talk

The official language is Spanish, but in the Riviera Maya, as it is a top-level tourist destination, English is commonly spoken by service providers. Guides for tours or concierges can be found in hotels who also speak other languages, the most common being German, French, Italian and Portuguese.

In the Mayan area there are still communities that preserve their traditions intact, from the Mayan language, to their clothing and customs. Many sites include Mayan translations as a well-deserved tribute to the civilization that populated these lands in the past.

Watch

Archaeological sites

The Mexican Caribbean is part of the territory in which the Mayan culture developed, which left numerous archaeological sites with huge buildings and pyramids. The main deposits in the Riviera Maya region are Cobá, Tulum Y Muyil.

Natural parks

Theme "eco-parks" are located in the Riviera Maya, created by private initiative to conserve the flora and fauna of the region. In them you can enjoy Mexican culture and folklore, as well as diving and many other fun activities.

  • Tres Ríos Natural Park[10]
  • Arrecifes de Pto. Morelos Park
  • Ya'ax Ché Botanical Garden
  • Venado Point

Beaches

  • Puerto Morelos
  • Punta Maroma
  • Secret Beach
  • Carmen beach - Mamitas Beach, Tucán Beach
  • Paamul
  • Chemuyil
  • Tulum
  • Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

Nature

Nature is wonderful along the Riviera Maya, an excellent climate, exuberant flora and fauna, so ecological tours, bird watching, excursions through the jungle, to cenotes and caverns, as well as extreme sports, they find here a privileged place.

  • Aktun Chen (caves and cenote), tel. 52 998 892-0662, [11].
  • Friends of Sian Ka’an, tel. 52 998 848-2136, [12].
  • Xaman Ha Aviary, tel. 52 984 873-0318, [13].
  • Bacalar Tours, tel. 52 983 832-3875.
  • Botanical Garden Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín, tel. 52 998 850-0940.
  • Mayan Adventures , tel. 52 984 80-32551, [14].

Galleries and Museums

  • Caste War Museum - It is located in Tihosuco, a town near Felipe Carrillo Puerto and refers to the armed uprising of the indigenous inhabitants of the region against the dominant white minority.
  • CEDAM Museum - In Puerto Aventuras, where pieces of pirate ships sunk in this area of ​​the Caribbean are exhibited.

Do

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Events (edit)

  • June - 2nd. Annual Gay pride - Cancun and Playa del Carmen
  • July 14 and 15 - "Tantra" Seminar The Mystery of Tantra, Magic and Love. (Tulum)
  • August 16 to 19 - Expo Tequila Playa del Carmen 2007
  • October 3 to 7 - Riviera Maya Underground Film Festival
  • November 29 to December 1 - Jazz festival[15]

Activities

The fun never ends! During the day you can enjoy the sun: swim and enjoy the most beautiful beaches in the world. Fishing, catamarans, snorkeling, jungle tours and diving.

Swimming with dolphins


One of the activities most demanded by tourists visiting the Riviera Maya is swimming with dolphins. The Mexican Caribbean has been offering innovative programs to live with dolphins for more than 15 years. Some places where you can live this unique experience are: Delphinus Xcaret[16], Delphinus Riviera Maya[17], Delphinus Xel-Há[18] Y Dolphin Discovery Puerto Aventuras[19]

Xcaret[20] - It is one of the most famous ecotourism parks in Mexico. It offers endless activities that range from swimming with dolphins, snorkeling in one of the sites with the greatest variety of marine flora and fauna in the Caribbean, to cultural activities that allow an approach to the most important cultural aspects of all of Mexico, such as the celebration of the Day of the Dead in the Mayan Cemetery; the spectacle-ritual of the flyers of Papantla, Veracruz; the ball game; the Sacred Mayan Journey, a pilgrimage from Xcaret to Cozumel to worship the Mayan goddess Ixchel; etc.

Golf

The golf courses of Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Cozumel form a challenging and interesting circuit for those who enjoy this sport.

  • Playacar Golf Club
  • Puerto Aventuras Golf Course
  • Mayan Palace Riviera Maya
  • Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club
  • El Camaleón Mayakobá Golf Course

Yachts

The blue, crystalline waters, the landscape, the islands, and all the wonders that we can find can be seen from another perspective as in the comfort of a yacht, the luxury that is worth it for an experience with family or friends, there are several places where you can get and live an experience full of tranquility and beauty, surrounded by natural wonders, you can go to Contoy, which is an ecological reserve, also called the island of birds, to Tulum and observe the ruins from another perspective. seashore.

  • Water Sports in Cancun [21]

Spa

The "saluti per aqua". Throughout the entire Riviera Maya, the spas are true oases of health and harmony of mind and body, where expert therapists combine natural products, ancient techniques and the most avant-garde treatments for your well-being.

Tranquility and beauty make the Mexican Caribbean an ideal place for venues dedicated to relaxation, beauty and health, through a wide catalog of methods in which professional therapists take advantage of the wisdom of pre-Hispanic cultures, flowers and endemic fruits and very modern techniques for health.

With magical settings, each spa has its own twist: holistic, ultra-modern or minimalist. The use of bamboo, regional woods, river stones, original ornaments, stucco columns, gardens, harmonious fountains, flowers and scented candles create an ideal atmosphere to let yourself go.

To buy

In the cities and towns that make up the Riviera Maya, you can of course buy the beautiful Mexican atresanías from all over the country. The Fifth Avenue of Playa del Carmen, as well as the commercial centers of the city, host important and well-known boutiques, jewelers and perfumeries. There are stores that offer thousands of items made with seashells and sand. You will also find the latest in scents, cosmetology and fashion.

Carmen beach

  • The fifth Avenue in the center of Playa del Carmen
  • Paseo del Carmen Mall
  • Pelicanos Shopping Mall
  • Mayan Center
  • Plaza las Americas

To eat

The Mexican Caribbean offers delicious surprises for lunch or dinner, as the gastronomy is of an excellent standard and many restaurants have been awarded by important institutions, such as the AAA (American Automobile Association) and the famous Michelin Guide.

In the Riviera Maya you can eat deliciously and all the options are available: the colorful and exquisite Mexican food, dishes of Mayan and Yucatecan origin; international cuisine, Caribbean, Italian or Argentine cuts, and exotic oriental, Chinese and Thai flavors.

For the most practical, hamburgers and all varieties of fast food. In a beach resort, you will find the best fish and seafood, shrimp, crab, lobster, octopus, snail and other rich specialties.

Puerto Aventuras

  • Two chili peppers, in front of the marina. Mexican food.
  • Arigato Sushi Bar, Local 5 of the marina. Japanese food.
  • The Pub, Locals 5 and 6 of the marina. International food.

Drink and go out

Walk at ease to the Fifth Avenue of Playa del Carmen. Its Mexican-Caribbean-universal atmosphere will enchant you. There are restaurants, bars, small discotheques, shops, boutiques, handicrafts. Fifth Avenue is, without any doubt, "the place" to visit and get to know during your visit to the Riviera Maya.

Blue Parrot and Captain Tutix are two sensational discos in downtown Playa del Carmen.

Mamitas Beach is the most "nice" area to enjoy raves by the sea and electronic parties with the best DJ's.

Tulum also has its area of ​​cheerful bars to live together at night listening to good music and spending time with locals and other tourists.

Sleep

In this luxury destination, there are splendid hotels with the most sophisticated services. However, the hotel offer of the Riviera Maya covers all categories and budgets, from the all-inclusive, through the small hotels, where they take care of even the smallest detail, reaching rustic ecological cabins, without television or telephone, to be in full contact with nature.

Economic

  • Coco Rio
  • Hotel Kinbe
  • Sea coast
  • Banana Party
  • Caribbean jungle
  • Posada d Margo
  • Waterhole[26], in the small town of Puerto Morelos, with a beautiful beach and the best ceviche in the Riviera Maya
  • Maya inn[27], in the heart of Playa del Carmen, a few steps from the beach and Fifth Avenue.

Half

Waste

Keep in touch

Tourist assistance

  • Riviera Maya Hotel Association, Calle 28 esq. Federal Carr.
  • Riviera Maya Trust, Calle 28 esq. Federal Carr.
  • Tourist information, 10ª Av. Between Calle 12 and 14.

Security

Emergency numbers

  • Red Cross, 984 873 1233.
  • Firemen, 984 879 3670.
  • Policeman, 984 873 0291.
  • Playa del Carmen airport, 984 873 0804.
  • Ferry, 984 873 0067.
  • Hospital, 984 873 0493.
  • Puerto Morelos Ferry, 984 871 0008.

Health

Although many hotels and restaurants operate their own water purification plants, it is recommended to always drink bottled water, which is a guarantee of purity and can be found anywhere.

It is advisable to use sunscreen due to the high temperatures of the Mexican Caribbean. Lotions must always be biodegradable, in order to protect the natural environment.

It may also be convenient to use insect repellants, especially mosquitoes, especially at dusk.

Surroundings

Archaeological sites

In addition to the archaeological sites located in the Riviera Maya itself, the nearby regions are home to the ruins of many other cities of the great Mayan civilization.

  • In the south of the state of Quintana Roo: Kohunlich, Kinichná, Dzibanché, Oxtankah, Chacchoben.
  • In the neighboring state of Yucatan: the famous city of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Dzibilchaltún, Ek Balam.