The Riviera Maya is a coastal corridor of more than one hundred and forty kilometers located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, and is among my favorite destinations. It is very difficult to find other destinations with the enormous amount of tourist attractions it has and the great offer of leisure and things to do that it offers.

The Riviera Maya will captivate you with  its natural beauty, its important cultural legacy and its great entertainment offer. It is one of those destinations that hooks and to which I personally like to return from time to time. It has so much to see and to do that you need several trips to know this area in depth.

Hallucinates with Chichen Itza

You can’t travel to the Riviera Maya and not visit Chichen Itza.  Chichen Itza is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is one of the most important Mayan vestiges, and contemplating  the Pyramid of Kukulkán and the rest of the numerous constructions that make up the enclosure are well worth a day trip.

Its spectacularity is worth a visit and that you put it among the priorities of things to do in the Riviera Maya. Although your priority is to enjoy its beaches, reserve a day to make an excursion to Chichen Itza.

In this link I explain how you can do it on your own. Or alternatively, if you do not want to complicate yourself you can also book a tour to Chichen Itza and that also includes a visit to a cenote.

Go scuba diving and enjoy its spectacular seabed

Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities to do in the Riviera Maya. On its coast is located the Mesoamerican reef which is the second largest on the planet.

Thanks to him it has a rich underwater life. Diving in its waters you will see sharks of various species, mantas, parrotfish, turtles, butterfly fish etc. In the area there are a good number of dive points. Some of the most recommended: the island of Cozumel, Mahahual or Banco Chinchorro.

If you like scuba diving you will enjoy as in few places in the world, and if you have never practiced this is your opportunity for it. In addition, it is a site that offers all the facilities and very good prices to get you an official degree.

Immerse yourself in one of the cenotes of the Riviera Maya

The cenotes of the Riviera Maya are a kind of caves or caves that abound in the area due to their karst morphology and that over time were flooded with water. There are several types of cenotes: open-air, semi-open and underground. In many of them it is possible to snorkel and even scuba diving.

Visiting one of these cenotes should be on your list of things to do in the Riviera Maya. There are a good number scattered throughout the region. Among the best known are the Cenote Dos Ojos, the cenote Ik Kil, the Gran Cenote, Chac Mool, Xkeken, the Sacred Cenote, or the Suytun cenote, among others.

Go out for drinks until dawn

The Riviera Maya is characterized by a lively nightlife. Here you will find restaurants of typical and international food open all night, bars with the best drinks and with an atmosphere typical of the Caribbean populations, nightclubs with first class shows, and discos to keep moving until dawn.

One of the liveliest places to party in the Riviera Maya is the 5th  Avenue of Playa del Carmen. Head to the Calle 12 area and its surroundings and you will find a good number of well-known bars and clubs such as  the Mandala, the Coco Bongo, or Blue Parrot.

Here is my personal selection of Playa del Carmen nightclubs: The best clubs in Playa del Carmen

Snorkel with whale sharks in Holbox

One of the most adventurous activities you can do in the Riviera Maya is snorkeling with the company of whale sharks on the island of Holbox. Do you dare?

For those looking for quieter experiences a visit to Holbox Island without sharks is also very worthwhile. It is one of the paradises that keeps the Riviera Maya. You can join this very complete excursion that I recommend here, and that is so successful.

Take a dip in one of its paradisiacal islands

In the Riviera Maya there are several islands of those that could appear in any postcard of paradisiacal sites. Isla  Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Holbox, Cozumel are some of these islands where you can disconnect and enjoy dream beaches.

One I wouldn’t miss is Isla Mujeres. Its turquoise waters are wonderful and it is an idyllic place to spend some nights. If you don’t have that much time, you can always catch a ferry from Cancun and spend the day, or hire an excursion.