By Nom - 15 June 2024
Destination Guide: Best Things To Do In The Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya is a stunning stretch of coastline along the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, renowned for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and rich cultural heritage.
The Riviera Maya offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern amenities, making it a popular destination for travellers seeking relaxation, adventure, and exploration.
Here are the best things to do to do.
In this complete guide you will find all the best things to do in The Rivera Maya!
We'll guide you through the best things to do in Riviera Maya, ensuring you make the most of your visit to this stunning destination.
Best Things To Do In the Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya, located along the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is a tropical paradise that captivates the hearts of travellers from all around the world. With its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and lush green jungles, this destination offers a truly enchanting experience.
From exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba to snorkelling Cozumel's vibrant coral reefs, the Riviera Maya is a haven for adventure seekers and history buffs alike and here we'll show you the best things to do.
Indulge in the vibrant local cuisine, savouring the flavours of traditional Mexican dishes and freshly caught seafood.
Whether you're lounging on the beach, diving into the vibrant underwater world, or immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage, the Riviera Maya promises an unforgettable vacation experience. Get ready to be mesmerized by the beauty and charm of this Mexican gem.
Do you want to read this later? Save this PIN on your Mexico Board on Pinterest and read it later
About The Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya is a 120km (75 mile) stretch of coastline that’s located within the bigger Yucatan Peninsula. It starts to the South of Puerto Morelos and stretches to Punta Allen with the popular tourist towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum in between. Both these large towns are home to an abundance of tourist facilities like hotels, all-inclusive resorts, restaurants, and activities. It’s in these towns that most tourists decide to base themselves on vacation in the Riviera Maya.
As well as stunning beaches like Akumal Beach where you can snorkel with turtles, extreme adventure parks like Xplor, Xel-Ha and Xcaret there are also the Mayan Ruins at Tulum and Coba just waiting to be explored on this famed stretch of coastline! The Rivera Maya has something for everyone and here are our recommended best things to do.
How To Get To The Riviera Maya
The nearest airport to the Riviera Maya is Cancun International Airport. The easiest way to get to your hotel hassle free is booking your airport transfer beforehand. If you’re planning on making a road trip in Yucatan, then you can easily rent a car at the airport. Another option is to go by bus to the Riviera Maya.
To get around, taxis or colectivos (shared taxis) are readily available and can be hailed easily to reach different parts of the Riviera Maya and beyond, including the archaeological site, beaches and Playa Del Carmen or Tulum. For longer journeys or day trips to nearby attractions, such as cenotes or Mayan ruins, renting a car or hiring a local tour operator are viable options. Alternatively, many accommodations offer shuttle services or can assist in arranging transportation for their guests.
Best Time To Visit The Riviera Maya
The best time to go to Mexico is between December and April when there is almost no rain. But because this is high season, the prices for hotels will be (much) higher and it will be busier with tourists.
November or May can be good options if you want to avoid those crowds but take into account that you might have some rain and seaweed.
Where To Stay In The Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya has an array of great hotels and luxury resorts where you can stay. Of course it depends on your budget, logically the bigger resorts along the beach are much more expensive than, for example, hostels or apartments in Playa Del Carmen.
If you are looking for a spiritual glamping experience in a gorgeous natural setting have a look at Portal Xibalba. This family run place is highly rated and offers relaxation and recuperation in the jungle 20 minutes from Playa Del Carmen. The buildings are all natural and are a work of art themselves. They also offer all kinds of activities to connect with the community, for your wellbeing and to experience an authentic Mexican experience connecting with the land and ancient knowledge like temazcal, plant ceremonies and singing circles.
There are many luxury boutique hotels along the coast of the Riviera Maya, usually hotels near the beach are expensive. You can find more affordable apartments in Playa Del Carmen town and if you go in low season you can get great deals! Sometimes it even is 50% cheaper than during the peak season.
Glamping at Portal Xibala
Famous luxury hotels and resorts along the Riviera Maya include the Occidental at Xcaret Destination which offers all inclusive stays with access to the Xcaret Theme Park next door. We loved it here because the gardens are huge and there's lots of wildlife and small Mayan ruins to to be discovered and explored. Our kids loved seeing Igunanas, Coatis and Agoutis on the walk to the beach! They also loved the kids club and entertainment.
Another resort we love is the Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal which also offers all inclusive stays. The Bahia Scouts Kids Club here was amazing! This resort is already huge and it also forms part of a giant complex with three other Bahia Hotels (Bahia Principe Grand Coba, the Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Kaan (adults only) and the Bahia Principe Grand Tulum) and guests can use the facilities across all four resosts. Coba has a small water park for kids as well as family rooms.
You'll never get bored here!
1. Xcaret Park
Xcaret Waterpark is one of the most fun days out on the Riviera Maya, and it’s a must-do for any families visiting the area. This eco-water amusement park boasts more than 50 different natural and cultural activites to experience. If you stay at the Occidental at Xcaret Destination it's right next door and your package may include unlimited access to Xcaret Waterpark.
Getting There
If you have a rental car you can drive to Xcaret yourself, or if you prefer, this full-day tour including round trip transportation is a great option too! This tour can be reserved now and paid for later with 24 hours free cancellation.
Opening hours: 08.30-21.30 daily.
You can observe an immense variety of species in the Aviary, the Butterfly Pavilion, and the Coral Reef Aquarium, prepare to be dazzled by the country's iconic biodiversity.
Enjoy delicious typical cuisine and experience the colourful folklore through the Xcaret México Espectacular evening presentation, a performance with more than 300 artists.
There are many water-based activities like exploring an underground river and snorkelling, but there are also plenty of activities that don’t require you to get wet, like watching one of the incredible live performances or visiting the Mayan pyramids here!
Our top recommendation for Xcaret is to book the Xcaret Plus Service, which includes transport, a lunch buffet as well as free access to handy services like dressing rooms, lockers, and snorkelling equipment (deposit required).
Don't forget to allow time to look at your photographs before you leave and purchase memories of your exciting day!
2. Snorkel with Turtles at Playa Akumal
Playa Akumal, aka Akumal Beach, is one of the best places in Mexico to snorkel with turtles. It’s also considered one of the prettiest beaches on the Yucatan Peninsula! Nestled between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, it’s an easy drive from either of these towns. If you’re renting a car in Playa del Carmen, then this is an easy day trip you can do!
This beach’s name literally means “place of the turtle,” and it’s aptly named – there are hundreds of turtles in the water here, and some come right up to the shore. The best way to guarantee to see these creatures on a swim here is by hiring a guide from the beach, as you can only access the sectioned-off area, which is where most of the turtles reside with a guide.
The prices for hiring a guide vary greatly, and if it’s quiet, you may be able to haggle. If you want to try to find the turtles on your own, you will need to swim to the East of the sectioned-off area for the best chance of spotting them!
Alternatively, instead of hiring a guide from the beach, you could book a highly recommended private turtle snorkelling tour at Playa Akumal with round trip transportation included. Reserve your space now and pay later with free 24 hour cancellation.
After all that swimming you’ll surely be hungry, and luckily you don’t have to travel far for a bite to eat, there are a few restaurants and beach bars nearby!
3. Xplor Adventure Park
Another fun-filled day out on the Riviera Maya can be found at Xplor Adventure Park, which is a gigantic theme park that’s part of the famed Xcaret Brand. This was our family's favourite day trip.
Visiting Xplor is a must-do for adventure and excitement. At Xplor, you can zipline, drive a 4-wheel buggy, and join a rafting adventure through caves.
Getting there: Xplor Adventure Park is located about a 15 minute drive from Playa del Carmen and 45 minutes from Tulum. It is open from 09.00 to 17.00 every day except Sunday.
Yep, at this adrenalin-fuelled park, you can zipline on 14 different ziplines and across two circuits which cover a whopping 2.4 miles. Afterwards, why not go rafting through the caves here and see stalactites up close as you paddle along? Additionally, you can whizz through the jungle and even through a flooded cave on a speedy 4-wheel buggy! A day at Xplor is definitely not for the faint-hearted!
A ticket to Xplor costs approximately $145 USD, which we think is great value for money, seeing as it includes all of the above activities and lunch!
To ensure you’re not disappointed, you should book this all-inclusive Xplor package in advance. It costs approximately $145 USD and includes your entrance ticket, lunch, and lots of other bonus extras. If you wish, you could try out Xplor Fuego, which is a fun night experience!
Don't forget to allow time to look at your photographs before you leave and purchase memories of your exciting day!
Xplor is not recommended for children under 5 years old. There are restrictions for height and weight on all activities for your safety.
4. Xel-Há Natural Water Park
Xel-Há is a natural water theme park and is one of the top tourist attractions on the Riviera Maya! This place is perfect for families and thrill seekers alike.
If you’re a water baby, then this is the theme park for you!!
Xel-Há means ''where water is born'' and several underground rivers flow into the inlet at this natural wonder.
Getting there: Xel-Há is just a 19-minute drive from Tulum and 37 minutes from Playa del Carmen. We took a taxi giving us flexibility over our arrival and departure times. These ticket options include transport or why not bundle Xel-Há with another top attraction to attract a discount. These tickets are available to reserve now and pay later with free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand.
Opening hours: 08.00-18.00 daily.
Xel-Há Archeological Ruins
Many tourists tend to overlook the Xel-Há Ruins in favor of more famous Mayan archeological sites like Chichen Itza, Coba and Tulum, which is a shame because Xel-Há has some beautiful murals as well as a cenote located on the western end of the site.
Xel-Há was a Mayan city and an important port for the Mayan people and is believed to have been inhabited as far back as 100 B.C. As the years passed, the city grew into a major and important city with many temples, luxurious homes, and a closed plaza the ruins of which you can see here today!
Interestingly, back then, Xel-Ha was the gateway to Cozumel, which is where the Mayans hosted fertility ceremonies before they got married.
Conveniently, the Xel-Há ruins are located across from Xel-Há Park so you can easily add this to your itinerary.
You can enjoy fun water-based activities such as snorkelling, tubing down a lazy river, and cliff-jumping. And as for non-water-based activities, you can try out the thrilling zip lines and rope games! Are you brave enough to try the waterslides on the lighthouse?
Snorkelling is the main attraction here, with a huge natural inlet snorkelling area which is often described as swimming in an aquarium because there are over 90 different species of fish!!
In short, Xel-Há is the ultimate water-based playground for both adults and kids, and a couple of hours spent here makes for a super fun day out on the Riviera Maya!
We loved the Xel-Há All Inclusive package which included all of the main attractions and activities as well as buffet breakfast and lunch, snacks and unlimited drinks throughout the day, with children this is so convenient.
There are four buffet restaurants to enjoy and you can also refresh yourself in any one of the bars. Why not try one of the tropical drinks or special cocktails, non-alcolholic of course!
Xel-Há is a natural wonder that awaits you to enjoy a family day full of fun, appetizing food, and spectacular natural settings.
5. Visit Tulum Archeological Site
The Tulum ruins are perched on towering cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. The archaeological ruins of Tulum are one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites in Mexico, as well as one of the most photogenic and popular spots among tourists. Visiting the Tulum ruins is a must due to their profound historical significance as they were a major trading and religious center between the 11th and 16th centuries.
Getting there: You can rent a car or go with a colectivo (shared taxi) to get to the ruins. Once you arrive at the site, you will need to walk about 500m from the site car park to the ticket booth. There is a small tram that shuttles visitors back and forth throughout the entire day if it’s too hot to walk. Getting a lift on the tram costs 50 MXN and is fun for kids (first ride 09.00)
You can also take a highly rated guided tour which also inludes Coba Archeological Ruins, an introduction to Mayan Bee Melipona honey, buffet lunch and a refreshing swim in a Cenote. This tour is available to book now and pay later with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Find out more here.
Opening hours: 08.00-17.00 daily. Last entrance 16.00.
Find out more in our Ultimate Guide To Visiting Tulum here
Photography Tips: It's best to arrive early as it's too hot at midday, there is no shade at the ruins. If you can, go as soon as the site opens at 08.00. Most tour buses arrive around 10.00-11.00, so you will be alone for hopefully an hour with some other early birds. This will also give you the opportunity to photograph the ruins without too many tourists in your shot. Also the light is still soft and there are no hard shadows.
Visiting the ancient Mayan Ruins of Cobá is an interesting day trip from the Riviera Maya. What makes the Coba ruins so different from Chichen Itza, Ek Balam or the Tulum ruins is that Cobá is not a single site but a large group of pyramids connected to the central pyramid. Archaeologists even believe that Cobá was one of the most important Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. You can climb the main pyramid at Coba, called Nohoch Mul (meaning large hill) and overlook the lush green jungle of the Yucatan. The 42m tall pyramid has 120 steps to the top.
6.Visit Cobá Archeological Zone
Getting there: You can rent a car and drive yourself to Coba or go with a colectivo (shared taxi) to get to the ruins and explore in your own time. Parking 50MXN.
Entrance fee: 100 MXN per person. If you’re planning on bringing a camera (even something as small as a GoPro), note that-you will need to pay an additional photography fee of 45 MXN at the ticket booth. Payment is by cash only in pesos. Opening hours: 08.00-17.00 daily. Last entrance 16.30.
You can also take a highly rated guided tour which also inludes Tulum Archeological Ruins, an introduction to Mayan Bee Melipona honey, buffet lunch and a refreshing swim in a Cenote. This tour is available to book now and pay later with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Find out more here.
Find out more in our Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cobá here.
Photography Tips: It's best to arrive early to avoid the midday heat especially if climbing the pyramid. If you can, go as soon as the site opens at 08.00. Most tour buses arrive around 10.00-11.00, so you will be alone for hopefully an hour with some other early birds. This will also give you the opportunity to photograph the ruins without too many tourists in your shot. Also the light is still soft and there are no hard shadows.
Getting there: Just a short drive outside of Valladolid, this cenote can be combined easily with the others around Valladolid. Drive all the way down the dirt road until you see a parking lot where you have to buy a ticket at the restaurant to enter the cenote.
Entrance fee: Approx 250 MXN per person. Opening times 09.00-17.00 last entrance 16.00.
Photography Tips: If you want to catch the light ray in your shot you have to come in between 11.00-13.00 when the sun is at its highest point and will shine straight down through the roof. If it is even a little bit cloudy unfortunately there will be no light ray.
7. Suytun Cenote
There are over 6000 different cenotes in Yucatan alone. But Suytun Cenote was our favorite one for several reasons. The first reason is the magical light ray shining through a hole from the roof at a specific time. Also, the impressive stalagmites and stalactites are amazing to see and interesting for photography. Last but not least, it looks like this cenote is not that overrun by tourists as the others we went to. We were the only ones there which gave an extra magical feeling to the experience. This was for sure one of our most exciting things to do!
You can also stay in an overnight cabin here which gives you free entry to the cenotes.
Interested in Scuba Diving in a Cenote?
Read our Ultimate Guide to Diving Chac Mool Cenote here
Cenote Dos Ojos is a perfect day trip from anywhere on the Riviera Maya. You can add this cenote as a stop off on your way to or from Tulum. Dos Ojos Cenote is located inside the Dos Ojos Cenote Park where you can also find other cool cenotes. The incredible rock formations, crystal clear blue water and many opportunities for scuba diving or snorkelling makes it one of the best Riviera Maya cenotes. Visibility can reach up to 100m on a good day!
Dos Ojos means two eyes in Spanish because it’s actually two cenotes (Bat Cave and Barbie Line) which are connected by a 400m long underwater cave system.
8. Cool off at Cenote Dos Ojos
Getting there: You can easily get to Dos Ojos with your own transport or a colectivo (shared taxi). Tell the driver your destination when you get on and pay when you get off, it’s usually around 40 pesos. Careful though, from the entrance it takes about 30 minutes walking on a 2km dirt path without transportation possibilities. So make sure you wear comfortable shoes.
Entrance fee: 350 mxn per person. Opening hours 08.00-17.00 daily.
Photography Tips: The best timing to get to Dos Ojos and have some time alone is right after it opens at 08.00. Also one of the two Ojos gets direct light in the morning which contributes to even more crystal clear water!
Interested in Scuba Diving in a Cenote?
Read our Ultimate Guide to Diving Chac Mool Cenote here
You cannot miss one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the famous ancient Mayan city, Chichen Itza, a must visit if you are in Yucatan.
It is amazing that the Mayan people build this site thousands of years ago. When visiting the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Chichen Itza you have to take into account that it might be very busy, depending on the season, the day of the week and the time.
If you are not interested in archaeological sites or photographing them, and you don't like to be surrounded by tourists, then don’t go! For us it was a ‘must visit’ on our Riviera Maya itinerary.
9. Chichen Itza
Getting there: Very easily with a bus, tour or your rental car.
Entrance fee: 614 MXN per person. Please check this before you go, because ATM machines might not work there, so take enough cash with you. Opening hours 08.00-17.00 last entrance 16.00.
Photography Tips: The best time for photos is also the best time of the day to visit this site because of the heat, being early in the morning. Of course, the afternoon is great when the light gets softer before sunset. Be aware that you can’t bring a tripod or gimbal inside!! You even have to pay extra if you have ‘professional camera gear’. So be sure to put everything in your backpack so you’re not attracting attention to your gear from the security. Of course a drone is strictly forbidden!
If you want to relax on a paradise island pretty close to the Riviera Maya, there are two options - Cozumel or Isla Holbox.
Cozumel is the perfect island for divers.
If you just want to relax, and maybe go snorkelling with whale sharks (seasonal May - September), then Isla Holbox is your place to go! We choose to go to Isla Holbox as we’d heard it is such a tranquil island without many tourists. If you want to get away from the busier tourist areas as Cancun, Playa del Carmen or even Tulum, then you definitely need to go to Holbox Island!
10. Visit Holbox Island
Getting there: You can only get to Holbox Island with the ferry from Chiquila. It’s a short 15 min ride away from the mainland and you can buy tickets at the harbor counter. Find the time schedule and up to date prices here.
Laguna Kaan Luum is a lesser known Tulum Cenote but absolutely worth a visit. Because it’s not as popular as the Gran Cenote or other cenotes in the area, it will be much quieter and perfect for peace seekers. Another great thing about Kaan Luum lagoon is that the water is super calm and the color beautifully crystal clear making it a great spot to go kayaking or paddle boarding.
Check out the tour options for Laguna Kaan Luum here. Reserve your spot today and pay later.
11. Visit Laguna Kaan Luum
Read Our
Travel Blogs
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to our newsletter to always be the first to hear about recent Blogs and adventures.
