Riviera Maya

Travel Guide

A tropical beach with clear turquoise waters, numerous boats, and a resort area with thatched-roof buildings.
Ancient stone ruins with a pyramid-like structure, a stone wall, and a sign indicating no photography.
A cave with clear blue water and stalactites.
An aerial view of a historical site with ruins, pathways, and a beach.
A pyramid with stone steps and two stone heads at the top.

Riviera Maya Travel Guide Video

Enjoy this sunny piece Mexican coastline, enjoy thenatural wonders of the Yucatán Peninsula and gaze upon the Mayan ruins.

The Riviera Maya,located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's YucatánPeninsula, is the ultimate destination for relaxation. Here you’llfind beautiful tropical beaches, elegant resorts and breathtaking naturalwonders, as well as some of the most popular archaeological sites in Mexico.

The resort of Playadel Carmen, with its fantastic beaches, fine dining and entertainmentvenues, is an excellent place to start your visit. From there take a ferry toCozumel, an island with a rich history, world-famous dive sites and lushjungles.

Check out San Miguel de Cozumel where you'll findthe Museo de la Isla de Cozumel (Cozumel's museum). Here you’ll not only learneverything about the Olmeken and Mayan history of the island, but also thearea’s marine fauna.

In the south of the island you’ll find the greatbotanical gardens of the Chankanaab National Park. Here you can swim withdolphins at Dolphin Discovery or unwind at one of the many spas. Around hereyou’ll also find Palancar Beach, where the water is so clear and calm you cansee the fish swimming about from the beach.

On the southernmost tip of the island you’ll findthe stunning ecological reserve, Punta Sur Ecological Park, with more than 200species of birds, crocodiles, giant tortoises and an ancient Mayan watchtower-a great place to see animals in their own habitat. Swim, snorkel and dive inthe ecological park of Kantun-Chi in, with its spectacular sinkholes andexplore its tropical gardens.

Looking for some impressive archaeological sites tolearn more about the Mayans? Visit Chichen Itza and the ruins of the Mayan cityof Tulumon the mainland. The miraculous ruins of Chichen Itza are more than a thousandyears old and a fine example of the architectural style of the Mayans and Toltekenculturen.

Sun, sea, sand and culture all in one place betterbook your trip to Riviera Maya with Expedia today.

Occidental at Xcaret Destination - All Inclusive

Occidental at Xcaret Destination - All Inclusive

4 out of 5
Carretera Federal 307, KM 282 Playa del Carmen QROO
The price is €206 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
€206
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach resort in Playa del Carmen. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and 7 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very good! (5,665 reviews)
"The property is amazing and the staff as well"

Reviewed on 12 Aug 2026

Occidental at Xcaret Destination - All Inclusive
Hotel Xcaret Mexico - All Parks / All Fun Inclusive - All inclusive

Hotel Xcaret Mexico - All Parks / All Fun Inclusive - All inclusive

5 out of 5
Carr. Chetumal - Puerto Juarez Km. 282 Playa del Carmen QROO
The price is €1,020 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
€1,020
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury resort in Playa del Carmen. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and 15 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
Hotel Xcaret Mexico - All Parks / All Fun Inclusive - All inclusive
Hotel Xcaret Arte - All Parks / All Fun Inclusive, Adults Only - All inclusive

Hotel Xcaret Arte - All Parks / All Fun Inclusive, Adults Only - All inclusive

5 out of 5
Carr. Chetumal - Puerto Juárez Km. 282 Playa del Carmen QROO
The price is €944 per night from 30 Aug to 31 Aug
€944
30 Aug - 31 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury resort in Playa del Carmen. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
Hotel Xcaret Arte - All Parks / All Fun Inclusive, Adults Only - All inclusive
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Xambé

Xambé

4 out of 5
Avenida Central, Aldea Zama Tulum QROO
Stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Tulum. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (128 reviews)
"Booked this property for my birthday getaway based on the reviews, and unfortunately I can't recommend it. The property itself is beautiful and clean, but the host's lack of organization led to serious safety issues during our stay. We were first given the door code to a room that wasn't ready (unmade ..."

Reviewed on 10 Aug 2026

Xambé
Irie Tulum

Irie Tulum

4 out of 5
Av. Central Tulum QROO
Stay at this aparthotel in Tulum. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9/10 Wonderful! (146 reviews)
"This property is beautiful but hard to find. No food areas around, especially at night."

Reviewed on 10 Aug 2026

Irie Tulum
MIO Tulum Hotel Boutique

MIO Tulum Hotel Boutique

3 out of 5
Avenida Satelite Tulum QROO
Stay at this apartment in Tulum. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, airport pick-up service (surcharge) and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Tulum Mayan Ruins and Tulum ...
7.2/10 Good! (72 reviews)
"There is hair on my bed sheets that is not mine. The place is old and basic with a lot of mosquitoes and a dead cockroach. Room is dim and aircon is not cold. The link from the booking is also wrong. There is no “boutique” word on the actual site so it’s quite confusing. Oh yes, the band next door ..."

Reviewed on 27 Apr 2026

MIO Tulum Hotel Boutique
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Riviera Maya attractions

Things to do