Exploring Cancun & Riviera Maya Mexico

If crystal clear water, a warm breeze blowing through palm trees and sipping a margarita with your toes in the sand isn’t enough to entice you, well, you are crazy! Ha! Only kidding. However, these are just a few of the reasons I LOVE going to the Riviera Maya of Mexico. Although Cancun is the more popular destination around the Riviera Maya, there is SO much more to see and do than people realize.

Map of the Maya Riviera in Mexico

No one describes the area like the Mexico Tourism Board:

“The Riviera Maya extends along the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Morelos to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Once home to small fishing villages, the Riviera Maya coastline has since been developed into a modern tourist corridor offering the very best of high-end luxury resorts, fine dining, nightlife, spa retreats, shopping and golf in Mexico. An ideal vacation destination, the Riviera Maya is home to some of the most stunningly beautiful beaches in all of Mexico with expansive stretches of powdery white sand lapped by the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.” (Visit Mexico)

Visit Mexico Website – www.visitmexico.com

The overall travel experience to this area of Mexico is fairly easy as a popular tourism destination. You can reach it by air or by cruise ship. Most of the accommodations are large resorts, but intimate bungalows are available as well.

Hyatt Zilara Cancun

One of my favorite resorts is the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cancun because of the amazing views and terrific amenities! They offer many dining options with fabulous food, extremely friendly service, and a great location to boot. Their sister property, the Hyatt Ziva Cancun, is their fabulous family-friendly location.

Hyatt Ziva Cancun

A short-ish car ride from the Cancun airport is an amazing little gem of a city called Playa del Carmen. This historic little town is quintessential Mexico. Be it upscale or laid-back, the option is there. This vibrant town is quirky, fun and full of culture. Bustling with locals and tourists, this town is easy to walk or bike around. There is something to discover in every nook and cranny of this town. There are a plethora of restaurants serving delicious Mexican fare. Luxury resorts are flanked by small oceanfront hotels and Inns. Plus, there is seriously fabulous shopping!

Chichen Itza – Photo by Daniel Schwen

Some of my “Must Sees” are the Mayan Ruins at Chichen Itza (which just happens to be one of the NEW 7 wonders of the world) and the snorkeling!
Oh, and did I mention the amazing deals on duty-free tequila and vanilla? Yum! Although, maybe not together. Ha! If I’ve convinced you that THIS is the destination for you, I’d love to assist you with your planning. I know you’ll love it!

Your Fun Travel Chick,
Pam xo


This blog post was written on Dec 7, 2015 by one of our previous Travel Agents, Pam Taylor, who has now moved on from our company. We can help you plan a similar trip as we have Mexico Travel Experts on our staff. Contact us to get started!