The thing about the Riviera Maya, and presumably explains its great success as a vacation destination, is not just that it has beautiful beaches boasting fine, white sand and gorgeous translucent waters just begging you to dive in, but that there is just such a diverse range of things to do and so many great places to visit, and all in a relatively small area. Whether it’s the grand nightlife and vibrant atmosphere of the tourism mecca of Cancun or a little cabin on the beach in a laid-back hideaway somewhere near Tulum, it seems to be able to offer whatever it is you’re looking for. And then you have Playa del Carmen, right in the middle both geographically and in terms of what it has to offer, its ambiance, and size. You could be in the midst of the action surrounded by glitzy or luxury tourism heaven (or hell, depending on your tastes) or you could be in the middle of the countryside diving into one of those freshwater caverns they call ‘cenotes’ or strolling around Mayan ruins in the middle of the jungle or next the sea. And, of course, in an area that has become Mexico’s top tourist destination, there are plenty of tours to take you to and guide you around wherever it is that you want to go.
My favorite place to visit is perhaps Xcaret, just a little to the south of Playa del Carmen. It’s kind of a compromise between natural and man-made, so you get to experience the best of the natural beauty of the region along with modern conveniences and entertainment. It’s an eco-theme park with fabulous flora and fauna, gorgeous cenotes for swimming and diving, shows and presentations about Mayan and Mexican history and culture, butterfly farm, and you can even swim with dolphins. Xel-Ha is just as beautiful but a bit bigger on the nature side and without the shows – it’s more about jungle trails, cenotes, swimming and snorkeling, and just being surrounded by beautiful tropical nature. You can go on tours to the Mayan ruins at Tulum on the beach or Coba and Chichen-Itza in the jungle, also with their cenotes and jungle tours nearby. It seems there are canopy tours all over the place with a lot of pretty hairy zip-lining – if you’re looking for an adrenalin rush in beautiful natural surroundings you should definitely give it a go. Other adrenalin-related stuff includes the ATV tours through the jungle, the jet-skis, rally cars, and mountain biking. For something a bit calmer you might want to try the jungle trails on horseback.
The coral reef just off the coast is quite spectacular and is just perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving, with one of the top places for it being Cozumel – an island just off the coast – you can take a pleasant half-hour ferry trip there from Playa del Carmen. Puerto Morelos and Puerto Aventuras are also good for snorkeling and scuba, and in Puerto Aventuras you can also swim with the dolphins. In Cozumel there is a submarine that lets you see the best of the seabed without getting wet. There are cenotes all around the Yucatan Peninsula, and some of them are amazing, with their large caves and stalactites and stalagmites and enormous underground waterways – it’s a quite unique experience. The whole area is water, water, and more water, and also has plenty of boat trips, fishing trips, and mangrove tours. Just south of Tulum is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the most important in Mexico; if you’re into nature you’ll love Sian Ka’an – wonderful flora and fauna, lagoons, cenotes, mangroves, kayaking, and snorkeling – it’s probably best to see it on an all-inclusive tour. And, of course, there is golf. Where would a tourist destination be without it? If you prefer your venture into nature to be a little less challenging, there are wonderful courses in Cancun, Playacar, Playa Mujeres, Mayakoba, and Puerto Morelos. This exceptional area has a lot to offer, and amongst it all I’m pretty sure it has something really good for just about everyone.
