Riviera Maya

Few places on earth cause as much amazement as the Riviera Maya. What makes the Riviera Maya so different from other coastlines around the world is that the Riviera Maya is full of magic, a place where you can completely escape from the outside world.

It is filled with natural wonders: ecological reserves, the emerald-green jungle, the incomparable turquoise blue sea and countless lost cities of the ancient Mayan civilization. Lying hidden amidst the intense green is a habitat with a rich variety of flora and fauna and geological formations that is impossible to find anywhere else in the world. It is also renowned for its cenotes, sweet-water deposits of capricious shapes and different sizes, produced by the subterranean rivers which emerged to the surface over the course of millions of years. Facing the Riviera Maya's coast is the world's largest coral reef in the northern hemisphere, making it the perfect place for scuba diving and snorkeling. Hundreds of marine species, including multi-colored tropical fishes, sponges, starfishes and various types of coral make up the spectacular and fragile Great Maya Reef.

ATTRACTIONS:
Tres Rios Ecopark- located 10 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Explore nature in this tropical reserve.

Xcaret- like an Eco Maya theme park. It is a paradise for children and you can spend the whole day there. Some of the attractions include a re-enactment of a traditional Maya ballcourt game, butterfly pavilion, traditional Mexican dance and music, small zoo and much more. The swimming here is excellent and the water theme parks rival Disney World.

Xel-Ha- a great place to snorkel or swim. It is a fresh water bay that meets the ocean. Many sea creatures make their home in the bay and its tributaries and a snorkel around the bay will simply amaze the eyes. It is well worth the price of admission and a great place for kids. There are many well-trained lifeguards on duty.

Aktun Chen- beautiful underground dry caves with stalactite and stalagmite formations and a spectacular fresh water cenote. You might even be lucky enough to see spider monkeys. Poisonous and non-poisonous snakes can be seen at the serpentarium. (Located in the jungle between Akumal and Xel-Ha)

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve- South of Tulum, the reserve has an abundant amount of flora and fauna and several distinct natural ecosystems. The reserve contains unexcavated Maya ruins, freshwater canals, cenotes, mangroves, lagoons and inlets. The fishing village of Boca Paila is within the reserve. The town of Punta Allen is the end of the Maya Riviera found at the southern tip of the reserve.

NOTE: The roads in and out of Sian Ka'an can sometimes be treacherous [road repairs are infrequent]. When you rent a car, quite often the clerk will ask you where you are planning on taking the car. Some car rental agencies will not let you take a car to Sian Ka'an because of the possibility of damage being inflicted on the car due to the rough road conditions.
The road is sometimes no worse than some country roads in the US or Canada. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, take food and water with you and leave your valuables at home. (Or take a tour)

Xaman-Ha Aviary- home to exotic birds including scarlet macaws, flamingos and herons. Xaman-Ha is in Playacar which is [south] right next to Playa del Carmen.

Punta Laguna- send time with spider monkeys and howler monkeys in their natural habitat. You can trek in the jungle and travel Punta Laguna by boat. Birds, deer, turtles and crocodiles are among the other wildlife to be seen. Punta Laguna, northwest of Coba  where you can also find a Mayan ruin site.

Nohoch Jungle Crossing- snorkel into one of world’s largest discovered subterranean river systems. In this ancient natural miracle, you will experience its spectacular geological formations and crystal clear fresh water.

Jardin Botanico del Dr. Alfredo Barrera- beautiful botanical gardens located a few minutes south of Puerto Morelos on the east side of highway 307. Experience exotic species of tropical fauna displayed in the natural settings of the tropical rainforest.

There are many ruin sites in the Mayan Riviera.  Nobody knows for sure how many Mayan ruin sites are out there. The majority of them are still under heavy brush and have yet to be excavated. However the Yucatan Peninsula is host to a number of spectacular sites and some are within driving range if you are staying anywhere along the Mayan Riviera.  A few of the ruin sites are listed below:

TULUM- Tulum Ruins is a small site. It has an excellent beach for swimming and sun bathing, shopping and food. This is an excellent half-day excursion and is easy to get to anywhere on the Mayan Riviera.

COBA- Coba is deep in the jungle.  It is a 45 minutes drive off of Hwy 307 just before Tulum. There is a lot more to see here than Tulum including large temples/pyramids.  The best way to get to this site is to rent a car and drive yourselve in or take a tour.

CHICHEN ITZA- The Granddaddy of Mayan ruin sites in the Yucatan Peninsula and one of the most grandiose in all the Mayan world is Chichen Itza. What also makes this a wonderful site to visit is there has been much restoration done, the grounds are manicured and there are tourist services including restaurants, small museum, and stores selling items not found in Playa del Carmen or Cozumel.

The sites listed below are for those looking to spend more in-depth time touring sites:

PUNTA LAGUNA- If you are going to Coba via rental car then you can also explore Punta Laguna, which is in the vicinity. They also have a small museum of things they have found in the area and there is swimming at the Laguna.

MUYIL- South of Tulum on Hwy 307 lies Muyil, a small site but worth a visit. You can do this site in half a day so you can actually visit Muyil and Tulum in one day if you wish. Muyil will more than likely be deserted except for you and the guard at the entrance. There is a path that you follow that leads you around to the various structures then takes you back to the entrance. No maps are available for this site but it is easy to get around.

COZUMEL- There are a number of very small sites located around the island. The best thing to do is take the ferry early in the morning and take a taxi around to each ruin site. The taxi driver will wait for you. Cost for the taxi is negotiable around $20.00+ USD.   

EK BALAM- This is a good site to visit as restorations have just recently begun and are in the on-going process. There are a number of structures here.  You have to either take a bus from Playa del Carmen or Tulum or rent a car to get there. If you take the bus you still have to take a taxi to get to the ruins from Valladolid. Take the taxi from the bus station, as it is much quicker.
Other great attractions include diving, snorkeling, sky diving, golf, deep sea fishing, the zoo and museums.  There is also a large assortment of nightlife and dining choices. 

HOW TO GET THERE:

The main point of arrival is Cancun International Airport.

Aeromexico Tel: 800-237-6639
Aeromexico's US-Mexico service originates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Ontario CA, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego and Tucson. Cities in Mexico with direct Aeromexico service include Loreto, Hermosillo, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Cancun, Leon (Bajio Airport) and others.

Air Canada Tel: 1 888 247 2262;
Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Air Canada is Canada's premiere airline. Mexico destinations include Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Cancun and Cozumel. Canadian gateways include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

Alaska Tel: 800-426-0333
Alaska's non-stop Mexico service originates from San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Phoenix. Mexico destinations currently served include Cancun, Guadalajara, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Manzanillo/Costa Alegre, and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. One stop service is offered from Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, BC to various cities in Mexico with daily connections from over 70 cities throughout the West.

American Tel: 800-433-7300
Four daily non-stop flights from Dallas/Fort Worth (terminal 2E). Four daily non-stop flights from Miami and serve Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Cancun, Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Leon. Through its regional affiliate, American Eagle, American also serves Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Torreon and San Luis Potosi, Tampico. Seasonal service includes departures from Chicago, St. Louis, Boston and New York gateways and Cozumel destinations.

Aviacsa Tel: 800-735-5396
Las Vegas is the only U.S. gateway.

Continental Tel: 800-231-0856
Continental's routes into Mexico originate in its Houston, TX and Newark, NJ hubs. Daily service to Mexico City from San Antonio and McAllen, Texas.

Delta Tel: 800-221-1212
Delta currently serves Mexico City, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Cancun. US gateways include Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta.

Frontier Airlines Tel: 800-432-1359
Based in Denver, Colorado, Frontier Airlines has daily service from Denver to Cancun, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo.

Mexicana Tel: 800-531-7921
Mexicana's gateways in the US include Baltimore, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, San Antonio, New York (JFK), Miami, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Portland and Denver. Canadian gateways include Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Latin American gateways include Bogota, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Guatemala, San Jose Costa Rica, Panama City Guayaquil and Havana. Some routes are operated under code-share agreements with other airlines. Destinations in Mexico with direct service from the US include Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Morelia, Leon, Zacatecas, Cancun, Mazatlan and Los Cabos. Mexicana was the first international carrier to serve Los Angeles when flights were inaugurated in the 1930's. Mexicana holds one of the best safety and on-time performance records among international carriers and has received prestigious travel industry awards for its customer service.

Northwest Tel: 800-225-2525
Northwest flies to Cancun from Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Memphis, & Tampa/St.Petersburg.

United Tel: 800-241-6522
Cities in Mexico served by United Airlines include Cancun, Cozumel, Mexico City, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. US gateways include Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington-Dulles to one or all of the destinations. Service is seasonal to some Mexico destinations. Connecting service available from Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham and other cities throughout the country.

USAir Tel: 800-428-4322
USAir serves cities in Mexico from its hubs in Charlotte, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Las Vegas connecting to an extensive secondary regional city route system in the US. Cities in Mexico include Los Cabos, Hermosillo, Guaymas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Manzanillo, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Mexico City, Cancun and Cozumel.

ATTIRE:

Wear casual, lightweight clothing, natural fibers are better because they are breathable.  Wear sandal-type shoes on the beach and around the pool, and tennis shoes or other comfortable shoes to walk in the jungle or in archaeological zones, reserves or parks.  Don't forget to pack an elegant casual outfit to dine in exclusive restaurants.  Bring lightweight pants and a sweater during the winter months.  We also suggest that you bring sunglasses and use sun block.  The use of insect repellent is also recommended.