Where Is Riviera Maya?
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If you’ve heard of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel, you’ve heard of the Riviera Maya. This 80-mile stretch of the Mexican Caribbean runs from south of Cancun down through Tulum to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and contains several resort areas, as well as some beautiful offshore islands, that make it such a perennially popular tourism destination.
On a larger scale, where the Riviera Maya region is part of Quintana Roo, which makes up the eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula. With jungles, white-sand beaches, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and all manner of accommodation, from eco-lodges to splashy oceanfront resorts, it’s one of the most enticing areas of Mexico.
Puerto Morelos
This small fishing village is about 40 minutes south of Cancun. The seaside section of town is just 4 blocks wide and 15 blocks long. It sees the most visitors during the summer months when the town is host to popular annual fishing tournaments. Like Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos offers access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which runs along the length of Quintana Roo and contains the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is located in the northern part of the Riviera Maya, about 45 minutes south of Cancun International Airport and one hour north of Tulum. It’s a bustling resort area with miles of beautiful beaches and a yearlong party atmosphere. There is so much to do with natural parks, theme parks, aquariums, museums, water sports, and access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System all nearby, it is a very popular spot on the Riviera Maya.
Cozumel
Cozumel is the Mexican Caribbean’s largest island and the third-largest in the country. It sits just off the tip of a peninsula along the Riviera Maya, close to Playa del Carmen. Isla Cozumel, which translates to “Island of the Swallows,” is about 30 miles long and 9 miles wide. It’s a common cruise destination and popular with divers, thanks to the incredibly deep reef walls of the Mesoamerican reef, the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
Akumal
The small, beachfront resort town of Akumal is 62 miles south of Cancun between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Like its neighbors, it fronts the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and is famous for swimming with turtles. Akumal is about 1.5 hours south of Cancun International Airport.
Tulum
Not only does Tulum boast gorgeous white sand and turquoise waters, but it features some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in the country. Visit the ruins in the morning before it’s too hot, then head over to the beach to cool off in the surf. It’s the best of both world. In addition to its world-class ruins and beaches, Tulum is also an excellent jumping-off point for visiting cenotes and bioreserves, not to mention its boho wellness scene.
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Is Cancun part of Riviera Maya?
No, Cancun is its own separate region of the Quintana Roo. The Riviera Maya region begins south of Cancun around Puerto Moreles.
In Cancun, the most popular area to visit is the Hotel Zone along the Boulevard Kukulkan. Numerous all-inclusive hotels and resorts, restaurants, shopping malls, and nightclubs are located along this 15-mile-long stretch of sandbar. Downtown, or El Centro, is at the end of the Hotel Zone and home to local markets and traditional restaurants, as well as business-style hotels.
The three main public Cancun beaches are Playa Gaviota Azul (known locally as Playa Forum) on the Caribbean side of the Hotel Zone, and Playa Delfines at the southern end of the Hotel Zone.
Where Are the Mayan Ruins in the Riviera Maya?
The Riviera Maya is home to hundreds of archaeological sites, as well as more than 2,500 cenotes. The Mayans believed that these limestone caves, or sinkholes, were a portal to the underworld. Today, you can swim, snorkel and dive in many of them.
The ancient Mayan towns of Tulum, Coba and Muyil are all in the Rivier Maya. Coba is one of the most pristine, largest and oldest Mayan cities in Quintana Roo. Surrounded by jungle and lakes, it dates back to the pre-Hispanic Mayan civilization.
Tulum’s well-preserved, oceanside Mayan sites sit about two hours south of Cancun International Airport. The coastline runs 10 miles to the UNESCO Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Three sections make up Tulum: the archaeological site itself, Downtown Tulum (“El Pueblo”) and the hotel zone, which is divided into north and south.
The Muyil Ruins, also known as the Chunyaxché Ruins, aren’t far from Tulum, and are just one of the 23 archaeological sites within the Biosphere Reserve.
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Comments
Riviera Maya seems like a dream destination for travelers seeking adventure, relaxation, and the chance to explore ancient history and natural wonders. I would love to visit someday and experience the beauty and excitement it has to offer!