Just south of Cancún, you’ll find another popular tourist destination in the state of Quintana Roo, the region known as the Riviera Maya. It is comprised of several resort towns, including Playa del Carmen, as well as some notable archaeological sites. I’m a little biased as this is my second favorite place to visit in México, but I highly recommend this area if you’re looking for a more relaxed or cultural experience. Within driving distance of Playa, you’ll find the following attractions, all of which I first visited back in 2014 (excursion packages below were booked through Experiencias Xcaret).
Tours
- Xichén Deluxe Tour– I cannot say enough about this tour! It is a full-day tour which takes you across state lines into Yucatán, and includes a visit to the Zaci cenote (a natural swimming hole, pronounced seh-no-teh), lunch at a Yucatecan restaurant in the colonial city of Valladolid, and finally, the Chichén Itzá archaeological site (one of the new 7 Wonders of the World!).
- Xcaret Tour– Another full-day outing where you’ll spend the day at the beautiful eco-archaeological park, Xcaret (pronounced ish-kah-ret). The park is very unique in that it offers visitors a complete cultural experience in an almost theme park-like setting. Because Xcaret was home to a small Maya community, the park contains a few small temple ruins that visitors are free to explore. In addition, the park has a variety of water activities to choose from- you can tube your way through the underground rivers, swim with dolphins, snorkel or even hop on a boat for an exhilarating ride! The park’s main highlight is the México Espectacular show, which is a first class tribute to Mexico’s history and culture. It features hundreds of actors who take you on a journey of Mexico’s history, from the pre-Hispanic era all the way through modern times.
- Tulum & Xel Há Tour– A two-part tour. You’ll spend the first couple of hours at the archaeological site of Tulum where you’ll see El Castillo, the largest and most recognizable structure among the smaller temples. The structures at this site are not nearly as large as those at Chichén Itzá, but what is impressive is the site’s location- the turquoise waters and lush vegetation surrounding the area are picture-perfect. Following this, you’ll spend the rest of the day at another park, Xel Há (pronounced shell-ha). Xel Há is natural aquarium, centered around an inlet and lagoon. It is home to a variety of ocean wildlife, and like Xcaret, it offers several activities for visitors such as snorkeling, zip lines, dolphin swimming and bike rides.
Other Popular Sites
- Quinta Avenida– shopping/dining district in Playa. SO MANY souvenir shops and cute boutiques. Also a fun place to go at night for people-watching.
- Cobá– archaeological site boasting one of the tallest Maya pyramids on the Peninsula and a beautiful view when you get to the top!
- Cozumel– an island less than an hour away from Playa. If you’re not staying for the day, I recommend paying for a cab to take you for a quick ride around the whole island. Otherwise, enjoy beach-hopping!
- Isla Mujeres– an island off the coast of Cancún. Just like Cozumel, there’s no lack of beautiful beaches here.
- Isla Holbox– an island on the north tip of the Yucatán Peninsula that is far from the hustle and bustle of Playa.
- Bacalar– small town on southern end of Quintana Roo, close to border with Belize. Also has a quiet atmosphere, perfect for a relaxing couple of days.
- Akumal– small town between Playa and Tulum which makes another great addition to your itinerary.
- Las Coloradas– set of cotton-candy pink lakes on the northern coast of Yucatán.
Places to Stay
- Allegro Playacar– great hospitality, great food, and fun nightly shows.
- Occidental at Xcaret– beautiful resort, really nice rooms and conveniently located next to the Xcaret park.
