Cancun and the Riviera Maya is a fabulous place for a vacation. The Riviera Maya has just about everything, starting at the top end, literally and geographically, in Cancun to the bottom end in Tulum and the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. Now, when I say ‘bottom end’ I don’t mean it disparagingly, I mean the end with less tourist infrastructure, fewer crowds, and more natural beauty. Cancun is great for its tourist-centered activities, vibrant nightlife, and pure accessibility, but if you want something a bit more ‘tranquilo’ you can go down the coast and explore Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, and Tulum. 
The thing about the Riviera Maya and Cancun is that wherever you go you’re always going to have the gorgeous white sands and translucent waters that epitomize the Caribbean. Playa del Carmen has a perfect location for visiting the ecological parks of Xcaret and Xel-Ha, or for taking a ferry or a tour across to the beautiful island of Cozumel. Just forty miles to the south of Playa del Carmen you’ll run into the laid-back palapa paradise of Tulum. This increasingly popular beach destination is mainly known for its majestic Mayan ruins overlooking the sea. Despite the crowds that can converge on the archeological site you really can’t go to the Mayan Riviera without visiting the ruins; it is a special sacred historical site perched above the gorgeous Caribbean.
Tulum is also the beach. There are so many lovely beaches in the area that offer great swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving that you’ll be spoilt for choice; there is even a beautiful beach right below the ruins. Just off the coast is the second longest coral reef in the world and you can swim right out to it or take a tour. Then there are the ‘cenotes’ – amazing freshwater caverns that have been sculptured over millennia by the rainwater seeping through the limestone that makes up the Yucatan Peninsula. They are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. You can visit them solo or go on a tour with guides, and around Tulum there are plenty of them.
Forty minutes inland from Tulum you’ll find the fabulous Mayan ruins of Cobá, nestled in the surrounding jungle. There is a superb cenote nearby and you might want to stop off on the way to visit the monkey sanctuary. Just to the south of Tulum is the remarkable biosphere reserve of Sian Kaan, where you can snorkel, swim, and kayak your way around the mangroves and enjoy the striking natural beauty. If you want someone to show you around there are plenty of tours. Meanwhile the town of Tulum itself is a pleasant hub of services for the area where you’ll find some great accommodations, restaurants, bars, and markets.
There are plenty of ways to get to Tulum from Cancun, which is a couple of hours away. The cheapest way is a regular bus, but there are also mini-vans, taxis, and hotel transfer shuttles. Around Tulum there are some lovely boutique hotels on the beach and, if you’re on a budget, some great deals in cabins, rooms, hostels, and hammocks on the beach. If you want some mystery, history, Caribbean beauty, and laid-back beach life, I can’t think of many better places to visit than Tulum.
