A Journey Into Paradise

There are few places on Earth that can dazzle travelers like the idyllic beach towns of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula! Millions of visitors come here every year to enjoy an adventure like no other and relax on the picture-perfect white sand beaches of the Riviera Maya. From the big-city vibe of Cancun, all the way south to the eco-chic atmosphere of Tulum and beyond, here’s a quick guide to some of the best places to visit in Mexico’s Riviera Maya!

Whether you’re a local, a first-time or repeat visitor, here are a few of the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen to satisfy virtually any hunger cravings and quench your thirst! With a thriving foodie scene and a vibrant downtown that is home to one of the world’s longest pedestrian-only streets along much of Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida in Spanish), Playa - as the locals call it - offers endless opportunities for culinary exploration and adventure.

With endless white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters and ancient Mayan ruins, there’s never a shortage of amazing things to do in the Riviera Maya, Mexico! Still, these are just a few of the many unforgettable activities and attractions you will find in this beautiful and historic part of Mexico, which stretches south from Cancun for more than 80 miles along the Caribbean Sea and offers countless hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. 

When the decision was made in the late 1960’s to develop Cancun as a major beach vacation destination, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula became a major tourism hotspot, spurring even more development south of Cancun along the Caribbean coast in what is known today as the Riviera Maya. Conceived as a nature-lover’s paradise and eco-friendly destination to complement all the glitz and excitement of Cancun, the Riviera Maya stretches for more than 80 miles along the Mexican Caribbean Sea and includes idyllic beach towns like Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum.  

Nothing says “summer’s here!” like a relaxing beach vacation, and the Mexican Caribbean is the ultimate beach lover’s paradise! Most visitors reach Mexico’s Riviera Maya via the Cancun International Airport, which is ultra-modern and easy to navigate. Stretching for more than 80 miles south from Cancun along Mexico’s only Caribbean coast, the Riviera Maya lies on the Yucatan Peninsula and is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and exciting beach towns.

Popular vacation hotspots along the Mexican Caribbean coast in Cancun, throughout the Riviera Maya and all the way south to Mahahual are preparing for the annual influx of travelers that happens every year during the Easter holiday season and Holy Week in Mexico. 

The list of amazing things to do in Playa del Carmen and throughout the surrounding Riviera Maya region will blow your mind, so it can be hard to sort through the many incredible options to decide what’s best for you and your family. Here are seven of our favorite Playa del Carmen excursions to suit most travelers and give you a nice overview of what Mexico’s Riviera Maya has to offer!

State and local governments throughout Mexico are taking single-use plastic waste very seriously, including states on the Yucatan Peninsula that are home to popular tourist areas like Cancun and the Riviera Maya, which are hoping to ban single-use plastics to protect the environment and reduce plastic pollution. In fact, a variety of different measures have already been proposed or implemented in cities and towns in the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo - including Cancun, Isla Holbox and Merida. In addition, Bahia Principe’s four expansive resort properties in the Riviera Maya have also made significant changes to how they view - and use - disposable plastic items. Read on to see more! 

As two of the best new restaurants in Tulum, Arca and Nu are both making waves among international foodies by serving up contemporary Mayan fare that’s inspired by Mexico’s storied food history. Both situated on the jungle side of the Tulum beach road, these two new restaurants drill deep into the wonders of fire, smoke and Yucatecan food, offering two very unique dining experiences in one of the world’s most incredible vacation destinations.

There’s certainly no shortage of amazing activities in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and Tulum in Mexico’s Riviera Maya… And while the area’s various Experiences Xcaret adventure parks offer a dizzying array of exciting activities and entertainment options to suit virtually every skill level and budget, sometimes a nice long relaxing day at the beach simply sounds better than getting up early for a guided tour! 

Thousands of vacationers came to celebrate the 2019 Spring Equinox in Mexico’s Riviera Maya at the beachfront Tulum ruins this week, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). With a dramatic ancient Mayan pyramid perched above an idyllic white-sand beach overlooking the clear-turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean Sea, this magical place draws tens of thousands of people every year during the Spring Equinox celebration, which officially took place this week on Wednesday, March 20^th.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula has gained worldwide fame for its many ancient Mayan archaeological sites, which challenge the senses and instantly transport visitors to another time and place, but did you know that many of these structures are designed to communicate with the heavens? Read on to see how two of the ancient Mayan sites on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula can “speak” to the skies, and explore how the ancient Maya’s genius for astronomy is on full display during the Spring Equinox for visitors. 

Experience a relaxing Tulum spa day immersed in the lush tropical jungle of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, featuring mineral-rich Mayan clay and targeted massage techniques to detoxify the body and rejuvenate the soul. Designed to energize, hydrate and purify the skin, this Tulum spa resort incorporates healing Mayan clay, which has been used in bathing rituals since ancient times.

The ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula are extensive and easy to access from the Riviera Maya region along the coast, making it popular among both tourists and experts, who have been studying the site for decades. Still, the ruins reminded the world recently that they still have many secrets left to reveal, when tips from local residents uncovered a large unexplored cave on the site that is home to dozens of artifacts, bones and burned offerings to the ancient Mayan gods, which researchers plan to leave intact.

Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres in Mexico was ranked among the 10 best beaches in the world according to the TripAdvisor 2019 Traveler’s Choice Awards. Situated just off the coast of Cancun in the state of Quintana Roo, Isla Mujeres is a stunning Mexican Caribbean island with a laid-back vibe in one of the world’s top vacation destinations.