Caribbean Travel Magazine

The Riviera Maya Offers All the Right Ingredients for a Perfect Vacation

The Riviera Maya has lately become a magnet for those seeking for fun and exotic vacation together.  Famous for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Riviera Maya stretches 81 miles stretch along the coastline of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, offering a tropical paradise where travelers can create unforgettable memories.

Its turquoise waters, white sand beaches and warm sunshine create a picturesque background for fun and relaxation. Plentiful resort amenities facilitate this experience, if you choose to stay in all-inclusive resorts; they offer activities such as water sports and all-inclusive meals, drinks and snacks. However, yet another exciting world awaits outside of the resorts. Some of the greatest treasures of the Riviera Maya lie in its underwater world and in its ancient Mayan ruins.The Riviera Maya has the largest barrier coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere.  Snorkeling and diving are popular activities for travelers of all ages,  and allow for some incredible glimpses of colorful fish abundant  in the  warm, clear waters. The region also boasts a large collection of  "cenotes" – natural pools of clear water connecting to underground  bodies of water– that are ideal for swimming and diving.

Another unique attraction of the Riviera Maya is the heritage and history of the ancient Mayans that still can still  be seen throughout the region today through ancient ruins, such as  those found at Tulum and Coba. The white walls of Tulum, a Mayan  fortress, rise from a cliff overlooking the azure Carribean  Sea.  Visitors often bring their bathing suits, and then relax on the white  sand right below the ruins or refresh themselves by jumping into the  clear blue sea after their expedition is over. More Info on the Mayan World

For travelers seeking more active eco-adventures, there are plentiful options as well. Xel-Ha is an eco-archeological water park that has the most spectacular natural aquarium in the world. It offers natural and ecological attractions, such as diving or snorkeling in creeks, lagoons, natural wells and ancient caves fed by subterranean rivers flowing to the Caribbean Sea. Xcaret Eco Theme Park is another park that allows visitors to explore the Mayan culture, flora and fauna, and offers archaeological tours and water attractions, such as swimming with dolphins. More Info on the Water Activitys

For the true explorers, a company called  Alltournative offers such adventures as kayaking, zip-lining in the  jungle, and all-day jungle tours that are sure to get your adrenaline  flowing!  A jungle tour starts with a ride in an  all-terrain vehicle that takes visitors to Rancho San Felipe, a small  Mayan family community where the Nohoch Nah Chich Cenote system (one of the longest explored underground river systems in the world) is located.  This  expedition includes a traditional Mayan lunch prepared by women of this  community and then continues on to a sea-kayak trip to the reef system,  where the most spectacular corals, sponges and tropical fish of the  Mexican Caribbean are equally exciting to children and adults. More info on expeditions.