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RIVIERA MAYA HOTELS AND LODGING

Regardless of where you are staying on the Mayan Riviera you will have to travel to any attraction you wish to visit. You can either use the services of a tour company [you can book tours on-line here] or you can travel to the attractions on your own. Scroll to the bottom of this page for transportation information.

We offer on-line booking for many of the attractions listed here. There are some smaller tour companies that do carry some of the destinations we do not, however if you are staying at a resort along the Mayan Riviera then you will only have access to the tours offered by what ever tour companies that are there, that rent space in the resort lobby.

In some cases you must provide your own transportation to some attraction destinations. These are generally the smaller venues and ones less traveled.

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E-mail:
infocancunriviera@prodigy.net.mx

Address: Calle Nogal Mza 16 Lote 1 Local 3 Smza 43. C.P. 77506. Cancún, Q. Roo. México.
Telephone: From USA and Canada: 011 52 (998) 848 17 80
From Mexico: 01 (998) 848 17 80
International: 52 (998) 848 17 80
Fax: (52-998) 848 14 83

General Information of Riviera Maya and FAQ's (Frequent Asked Questions)
 

Riviera Maya Tourist Board
The Riviera Maya is the moniker given to the beautiful coastline stretching south of Cancun toward Belize. Tropical conditions coupled with the Rivera Maya's geography yield some of the most abundant ecosystems on the planet.
The region features the tranquility of uncrowded beaches, a network of underground rivers, over 100 cenotes, eco-adventure sports including kayaking, mountain biking, scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, bird watching and deep sea fishing, proximity to Mexico's Mayan archeological sites, the varied activities of the eco-archeological parks, plus golf, shopping, gourmet dining and a range of accommodations to suit every lifestyle and budget.

 

Playa del Carmen
The small town of Playa del Carmen is the center of the Mayan Riviera... once a small sleepy fishing village, it has developed into a lively and charming town offering much to do for its guests. Come and explore!
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Cozumel
Another gem of the Caribbean, Cozumel, known for amazing scuba diving & snorkeling. Home to many lovely resorts and a charming small town. Only 45 minutes across from Playa del Carmen by Ferry.
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Tulum
If you are looking for a truly secluded getaway, head to Tulum. Stay at a beach cabana or a quaint small hotel... just minutes from the historic archeological sites. In Tulum you will find secluded beaches...
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Xcalak
Ready for an adventure? For those travelers contemplating a visit to the remote fishing village of Xcalak, we have several options. Located 4 hours south of Cancun...
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Akumal, Mexico
Akumal is for people who want to get away from the busy tourist resorts of Cancun and Cozumel and for those who want to see more of the real Mexican lifestyle of the Mayan Riviera.
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Swim With Dolphins
Our Swim with Dolphins program offers you the opportunity to swim and play with a beautiful Bottlenose Dolphin. During the Dolphin Swim, you will be able to experience the magic of swimming with dolphins...
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We are a complete source of travel information and a great option to make reservations when you are planning your next vacation in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya in Mexico: Hotel reservations, hotel reviews, tickets for parks and attractions such as Xcaret or Xel-Ha, book your tours to Chichen Itza, Swim with dolphins among many other tours and activities. Rent a car or book your transportation to your hotel from Cancun Mexico Airport.

Riviera Maya History

Would you ever forget a stunning shoreline where the untamed jungle meets the crystal-blue Caribbean Sea? Well that's exactly what happened to Riviera Maya during colonial times.
 

Originally the Riviera Maya region was an important trade and religious hub for the ancient Mayas between 1000-1550 AD. You can still see the remnants of this prosperous era at the ruins of Tulum and the towns of Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, and Xel-Ha.
 

This prosperity waned after many wars and invasions before the Spaniards' arrival. After their arrival, the colonial government didn't see any economic need to develop the area. Lucky for us, the inadequate roads discouraged development of the area.
 

Riviera Maya slowly developed into a vacation destination with the popularity of Cozumel. Initially, people only came here to catch the ferry to the beautiful island, but they were quick to discover the natural beauty of the gateway to Cozumel.
 

Today, this splendid coastline of the far eastern Yucatan peninsula is a living museum to Mexico's cultural and natural heritage. Hundreds of kilometers of sugary shoreline boarder the quaint villages and vibrant reefs that make the Riviera Maya region a laid-back vacation destination. Divers are drawn to The Great Maya Reef which is the world's second largest reef system. Would-be spelunkers discover its underground river system complete with caves and cenotes. Nature lovers venture to the Biosphere Reserve. While the Indian Jones in us all explores the hundreds of magnificent archaeological sites of the Mayas.
 

Just venture 68 kilometers south of Riviera Maya and explore the unique character and quiet beauty spanning from Punta Brava to Punta Allen

The Riviera Maya is one of the most fascinating destination spots in the world. Tropical beaches, ancient ruins, abundant marine and wildlife abound. The Great Mayan Reef is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. The Riviera Maya offers an unrivaled combination of high quality accommodations, relaxing beaches, and a wide diversity of shopping, dining, and nightlife. There are also a number of opportunities for travelers to learn about ancient cultures and visit timeless architectural ruins.



Playa Del Carmen, or "Playa" as the locals call it is about an hour's drive from the airport. Playa is the regional capital. It is a bustling beach town filled with excitement and unique experiences. You can enter one of the many beautiful restaurants for a healthy delicious sampling of Mexican or international cuisine. There are numerous jewelry stores and arts and crafts stores.



The beaches at Playa are excellent and perfect for children. You can catch the ferry to Cozumel where the snorkeling and diving is world famous. If you wish to snorkel there are some coral reefs just north of Contituyentes avenue.



Something not to be missed is the Xaman-Ha aviary. A colorful array of tropical birds including macaws, toucans, flamingos and parrots can be found here in their natural habitat. The botanical garden covers almost 4 acres and also contains cenotes. Cavernas Sache, a beautiful cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites is also located in Xaman-Ha.



Puerto Adventuras is an exclusive resort community boasting the only full-service marina between Cancun and Belize. Cozy restaurants and interesting shops line the marina's edge. Sailboats, fishing charters and yachts anchor in its deep blue water. There are also many beautiful restaurants for a delicious Mexican or international cuisine. There are all the beach activities one would expect like windsurfing, snorkeling and ski-jets. You can also visit the Cedam Museum, which houses various artifacts from sunken ships along the reefs.



Akumal has beautiful beaches and is a perfect place to either stay local or use to launch numerous adventures. Many of the beaches are natural beaches however many have white sand areas for children and swimmers. This is a great place for snorkelers especially if you want to see sea turtles. Activities in the area include diving, snorkeling, game fishing and the Akumal Ecological Center.



There are two important places with the same name, the Mayan ruins and the town of Tulum. The town is small but has many restaurants, bars and hotels. There are some nice hotels in the area and many miles of white sandy beaches. Also the beach resorts are secluded and not as busy as Playa del Carmen. Tulum town is also close to the ruin sites of Coba and Muyil.



There is a small market and many little shops located downtown Playa del Carmen where you can purchase Mexican garments, authentic silver or any other crafts. There are also many shops and markets located downtown Cancun. Main malls and shopping centers are Plaza Caracol, Plaza Kukulkan, and Plaza Flamingo. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes



There are discos located at some of the hotels on the Mayan Coast and in Playa del Carmen. There are many restaurants and bars located downtown Cancun that can be reached by taxi or bus from the Mayan Sun Coast. Some famous places to visit downtown Cancun include: All Star Café, Coco Bongo, Christine, Dady'o, Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood.



A Riviera Maya vacation would be your unique experience!

Riviera Maya—where is it?
The Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera is a 130 kilometer long stretch of Caribbean coastline that runs between the resort city of Cancun to the north, down to the Mayan ruins of Tulum at its southern end. The Riviera Maya is in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico's most eastern state on Mexico's most eastern body of land—the Yucatan Peninsula. The Riviera Maya is part of the Mexican Caribbean which describes the entire Caribbean coast of Mexico from Cancun down to Quintana Roo's capital city of Chetumal, and the southern border with Belize, Central America. The island of Cozumel, Mexico's largest island, is also part of the Mayan Riviera.
Getting around
Carretera (highway) 307 traverses the length of the Riviera Maya with roads shooting off at right angles to various beach side resorts, vacation communities, undeveloped beaches and lagoons. A few roads penetrate the jungle heading west to Mayan ruins, cenote freshwater pools and the state of Yucatan where Spanish Colonial towns wait to be discovered by the more adventurous traveler seeking the deeper culture of Mexico and the Maya. Yucatan state comprizes the western part of the Yucatan Peninsula and in many ways is a world apart from the Riviera Maya. The Riviera Maya~Mayan Riviera, together with the entire Yucatan Peninsula, are world class tropical destinations providing history, adventure and tropical luxury. And yet globaly, the Yucatan beyond Cancun, remains virtually unknown.


Riviera Maya, Mexico Hotels
Dive into a dazzling array of Cancun hotel deals on everything from all-inclusive resorts to adults-only getaways. Those glistening white sands of the Yucatan are lined with cheap Cancun hotels with sensational swimming pools to tempt you into this tropical playground of south-of-the-border delights.



Mayan Riviera and Yucatan destinations/resort towns—Mexican Caribbean

Akumal: town center, Yal-ku lagoon, Half Moon Bay, Jade Bay, South Akumal and Aventuras Akumal: Akumal is known as The Place of Turtles, but could just as easily be called The Place of Magic because of its ability to make all your worries and stress disappear. "Las Bahías de Akumal" or "The Akumal Bays" are a series of six bays starting at Yal-Ku Lagoon to the north and ending at Aventuras Akumal to the south.
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Cozumel Island: SCUBA diving and snorkeling on world class coral reefs, deserted beaches, marine parks, nature reserves; plus, shopping, restaurants and night life, tropical Isla Cozumel has it all.
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Isla Holbox: Shake off society's restraints and set your sail for the Gulf of Mexico, if you dare. Travel light because Isla Holbox is a little tricky to get to. Isla Holbox harkens back to the old days of sandy streets, cool accommodations (a few with AC) and warm people. It's not for everybody and that's just fine. But for the adventurous, this could be paradise found. Don't miss the seasonal trips to see the whales sharks!
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Mahahual: No, Mahahual is not in the Riviera Maya. It is the Costa Maya's newest tourist town on the Mexican Caribbean. Mahahual is at a fledgling stage of development but growing rapidly as more interest is focused on nearby natural assets. The center of town is actually quite small but beaches stretch north to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and south to the coastal town of Xcalak, last stop before Belize, C.A.
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Playa del Carmen & Playacar: Playa del Carmen is one of the fasrmaya growing, most fun towns in the Caribbean. An international mix of fun loving travelers come here to party, enjoy the beach and just generally immerse themselves in the tropical splendor. To the south of Playa and right next door is Playacar, with beach houses, all-inclusive resorts, golf, Xaman-Ha Aviary & Plaza Playacar.
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Riviera Maya: Riviera Maya is a gated luxury marina community offering condominiums, hotels and luxury Caribbean front villas to vacationers. It has a wonderful beach and a wide selection of restaurants, gift shops, several dive centers, fishing boats, a couple sailboat tours and day adventure land tour operators.
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Puerto Morelos: This little fishing town is convenient to the Cancun airport and is changing to accommodate vacationers more every day. Enjoy a town that still remembers the old days of the Mexican Caribbean. Great restaurants and some interesting shopping too.
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Soliman Bay & Tankah Bay: People like Soliman Bay & Tankah because they're a step back in time, away from mainstream tourism and back to the roots of the tropical experience. Soliman Bay is a place to kick back and chill-out, purge all your stress and absorb the cool blue Caribbean seascape.
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Southern Quintana Roo: Laguna Bacalar, a turquoise ribbon winding through the jungle, is a gateway to some of the Yucatan's most fantastic archaeological sites.
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Tulum: There's more to Tulum than just the famous ruins! Tourists from around the globe are discovering Tulum for its sand swept beaches & turquoise sea. This is coconut heaven!
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Xcalak: Just north of Belize on the Caribbean, Xcalak Mexico is serene and natural, and has great coral reefs, snorkeling, diving, bone fishing and sea kayaking.
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e-mail:
 infocancunriviera@prodigy.net.mx

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More sites we recommned to visit:

www.magictourscancun.com
www.cancunhotelesyexcursiones.com
www.cancunhotelsandtours.com
www.mexicohotelsandtours.com
www.rivieramayahotelsandtours.com
www.yucatanhotelsandtours.com
www.cancunalltours.mx
www.rivieramayatours.mx
www.playadelcarmentours.mx
www.xcarettours.mx