Mayan Riviera

The Mayan Riviera is part of the Yucatan Peninsula located on its eastern coastline. It stretches from Puerto Morelos in the north to Sian Ka’an in the south. A major attraction on a Mexico vacation package throughout the Riviera Maya is the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System which begins near Cancun and continues along the whole length of the Mayan Riviera continuing southward to Guatemala. This barrier reef system is the second-longest in the world.

It contains two major resorts, the island of Cozumel which offers clear blue waters with wonderful coral reefs perfect for scuba diving or snorkeling and the trendy Playa del Carmen, originally a small fishing village, now developed into a sophisticated resort with a distinctly European feel. 

A major attraction on a Mexico vacation is the archaeological site of Tulum, a pre-Columbian Maya walled city which has the honour of being the most picturesque archaeological site on the Mayan Riviera. It was built overlooking the sea and is located on a series of high cliffs. 

An interesting site is Xcaret Theme Park, nature-based and offers the visitor on a Mexico vacation package a selection of attractions such as a replica of a Mayan village and the ability to go swimming with dolphins.

Sian Ka’an, “the place where the sky is born”, is a World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve in a sparsely populated region sprawling along the coast south of Tulum. It is one of the largest protected areas in Mexico and covers 1.3 million acres. The area is approximately one-third tropical forest, one-third fresh and saltwater marshes and mangroves and one-third marine environment including a section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.