This Riviera Maya mini-guide will be a life saver for your trip! This place is one of the best-known tourist areas in Mexico and even worldwide since many tourists love this place to vacation for its beautiful beaches. Its fame transcends so much that sometimes this stretch of coast is better known than the state where it is located, in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula.
To plan the perfect trip to the Riviera Maya, we recommend that you take into account the time of your stay and the season in which you visit this place since this can lead to more situations, for example, the availability of rooms.
As the Riviera Maya is one of the most iconic destinations in Mexico, many tourists want to visit its impressive beaches, cenotes, and surroundings. Therefore, we invite you to take a look at this small guide about the Riviera Maya to plan your trip.
The Best Season
In general, Mexico has good weather. It is temperate, so there will be plenty of sunshine and some clouds. If you are very demanding with the weather, you should keep in mind that the climate does vary depending on the month and place where you travel, for example:
From January to March, you can expect a milder climate with temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Without a doubt, it is an excellent time to visit Mexico.
From April to May, in these months, the weather is a bit hotter with warmer temperatures, which is ideal for the beaches. However, most of the sargassum concentrates in these months on the coasts.
From June to August, the weather is much more sweltering and humid.
September is the month with the heaviest rains and hurricanes. This season ends between October and November to give way to better weather.
In November and December, the weather drops again to have something more comfortable as the winter season is coming, still +25 Celcius.
In conclusion, the best time to visit the Riviera Maya is when you feel ready to enjoy this great destination.
What To Do
In the Riviera Maya, you can do an endless number of activities. There is something for all ages and tastes.
In this region, there is a lot of fun of all kinds. Typically people are looking for nightlife to go to nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. You can also go shopping in huge malls.
Plan a series of day trips along the Riviera Maya, including excursions to Cozumel and Tulum with snorkeling and diving adventures that fascinate you. You can visit the Mayan ruins Coba and Chichen Itza, which are great for day tours. The former has a 120-step pyramid called Nohoch Mul, where you can have beautiful jungle views. Both are fascinating sites.
Suppose you are looking for an adventure surrounded by nature. In that case, you can go swimming with marine species or do activities such as paddling, kayaking, swimming, and hiking through 2,000 square miles of lagoons, virgin rainforests, beaches, cenotes, and wetlands full of wildlife.
Top Destinations
Among all the destinations in Latin America, the Riviera Maya in Mexico is one of the most visited. It is a dream destination for its beaches, parks, resorts, hotels, nature reserves, Mayan archeological sites, and more. The amount of places to visit during a trip to this destination is enormous, and here we tell you which are the must-sees for your visit.
Muyil Lagoon
Muyil is the gateway to the Sian Ka’an reserve. Here you can take a boat tour through its mangroves where you can contemplate its flora and fauna and even visit the archaeological site. It is a natural place full of adventure and history.
Tulum
It is one of the jewels of the Riviera Maya. In this destination, nature is present in all its splendor through places like lagoons, cenotes, and a Mayan archaeological site on the seashore. In its time, it was used as a ceremonial, astrological and commercial center of the Mayas.
Coba
Coba is an archaeological settlement that has remained in the middle of the Mayan jungle of Quintana Roo. This place is the largest pre-Hispanic settlement in the Yucatan Peninsula. Due to its importance and size, it can be compared to Chichen Itza.
When visiting this place, you can climb the Nohoch Mul pyramid, considered the highest in the whole peninsula, where you can admire the best landscapes.
Cenotes
Beautiful but full of mystery and magic, cenotes are the most beautiful jewels of the Riviera Maya area due to the great stories told about them by the Mayan culture.
Cenotes are deep water wells. They receive water by the filtration of the rain and the currents of the rivers born in the earth’s heart. In them, you can practice scuba diving or snorkeling.
These aquatic activities are the most popular since it is a unique experience and only possible in this region.
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is a place known for its relaxed atmosphere and Caribbean vibe, where travelers can enjoy a true disconnection and a pleasant trip.
Due to its size, the island does not have many cars, so the primary means of transportation are golf carts. It is an experience you have to live. In addition, you can visit its beautiful beaches and national parks surrounded by nature.
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island located off the coast of Playa del Carmen. It is a place rich in Mayan vestiges, history, and natural wonders. Undoubtedly, an incredible paradise in the middle of the sea with white sand beaches, beautiful sunsets, and coral reefs. It is a destination for adventure and relaxation in nature where all kinds of activities are available.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is the heart of the Riviera Maya, being its main city. The Mayan jungle wraps cenotes, beaches, adventure parks, and exclusive resorts in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Fifth Avenue. In this city, you will be able to discover different places of entertainment where you can have fun.
Where To Stay
The Riviera Maya is an excellent Mexican travel destination offering different types of accommodations for all preferences and budgets. From 5-star hotels and resorts to pet-friendly places as well as three and 4-stars. Here are some options for a comfortable stay:
Viceroy Hotel Riviera Maya
It is a luxury resort in Mexico located in the exotic jungle of the Riviera Maya near Playa del Carmen. It is one of the best places to stay without a doubt. Also, it offers ALL-INCLUSIVE services to enjoy a complete stay without worries.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
This place offers an ALL-INCLUSIVE stay where you will spend moments of pure relaxation surrounded by the nature of the Mayan jungle. This place has one of the most exclusive spas in the world for you to enjoy moments of peace and tranquility.
Hotel Xcaret
If you are looking for fun in the Riviera Maya, don’t hesitate to stay at Xcaret hotels. They have ALL FUN INCLUSIVE plans where you can access their adventure parks and tours and arrival and departure transfers.
Airbnb
There are also good Ideas for Airbnb. See our article on the best Airbnb in Mexico.
The Riviera Maya region has thousands of options to stay. It all depends on your travel plan. We still recommend you look for accommodation in one of the largest cities of the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, where you can quickly move anywhere.
How To Get To Riviera Maya
Flights to the Riviera Maya from the U.S. are very common, even considered by many a Domestic Flight from the United States.
The most important airlines have direct flights from major cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Dallas, and Chicago. Cancun International Airport (CUN), Mexico’s second-largest airport, is the gateway to Riviera Maya adventures with daily direct flights to Mexico’s major cities and international flights. The island of Cozumel also has a small airport (CZM), which serves both international and domestic airlines.
You can rent a car from the airport with a transfer company, take a cab or hop on the low-cost ADO bus that goes directly to Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Complete Guide of Riviera Maya
There are always new things to discover in Riviera Maya, and an excellent way to be updated is by following the official page of the destination. They have handy information and tips that you can use when you visit The Riviera Maya.
