ACTIVITIES IN RIVIERA MAYA

Riviera Maya has many activities available from the adventurous to the serene. It’s widely considered one of the jewels of the Caribbean, where pan-African, Island, European and Latin influences converge to bring you a faraway experience close to home. Lounge on sugary white beaches, go exploring through the Mayan ruins at Tulum, and dance until dawn. Eco-tourism thrives here, with many different parks to choose from; ecological tourism is managed by private industry and run inside eco-parks, which are like national parks. You can take classes at the Little Mexican Cooking school and learn how to make mole, ceviche, and other Mexican fusion cuisine.

Fun in the Sun

If you’re looking for sun, you’ll find it with a Riviera Maya vacation. The region is great for swimming, but we recommend that you only swim in the lagoons at the ecological parks. The beaches are better for lounging and getting sun; they rarely have lifeguards on duty and the tides can be a little rough for swimming but fantastic for diving. Riviera Maya is known as the land of ten shades of blue, you’ll have to travel around to see them all!

Snorkeling is also great in Riviera Maya, and the best places are the rocky outcropping on the western coast. You can rent kit or equipment for two people for less than $20. By sticking to the rocky parts of the shore you can avoid the rougher seas and have a great time exploring the underwater wonderland.

Around Tulum in Paraiso Playa you can go kite surfing; check along the beach for different rental offices and don’t be afraid to shop around for the best rate! Kite surfing gives you a beautiful view of the Tulum Mayan ruins; try to go up around sunset or sunrise, it will transform the terrain into a golden mirage.

Date Night

For the ultimate date night in Riviera Maya you have to see Rio Secreto. Rio Secreto is hands down the most beautiful site in all of Riviera Maya; an underground cavern preserved for millions of years where you can explore the passageways with a guide on a boat and by foot.

If you’re looking for the best nightlife, take the Playacrawl. This helps you experience the best of the area’s nightlife all in a single night. Wear comfortable shoes and see it all for yourself!

Relax

A Riviera Maya vacation doesn’t just promise excitement, but relaxation as well! The Jungle Spa provides Mayan massages with exotic oils that believed to have healing properties. Sabai Spa gives facials and other typical spa treatments at good prices. The Akumal Beach is the best beach to relax in Riviera Maya; rarely crowded and always sunny it’s a great place to relax.

RIVIERA MAYA DINING

Dining out in Riviera Maya is, needless to say, a unique experience. From casual diner to foodie extraordinaire, you’ll find something delicious to eat day or night. Get tasty treats sent straight to your room or get out there and see what’s on offer. Since Riviera Maya is so close to the Caribbean, you’ll be able to taste island flavors, European food and familiar American and Mexican cuisine. While you might be tempted to eat just whatever seafood you can find, don’t! Make sure you try out the real authentic Mexican food that dots the coastline and helps you understand why Mexican food got so popular in the first place.

Mexican Delights

This far along the coast you’ll be able to get Argentinian beef spiced with a pan-Caribbean feel that can’t be missed! If you’ve never had Mexican style seafood barbeque, make sure you check it out. There’s something special, sweet, tangy, almost Jamaican about the sauces here… but there’s always real nachos with melted cheese (it’s not creamy like the cheese we’re used to back home, because Mexicans don’t really use milk in a lot of their dishes like we do in the US.) but it’s still fantastic and the salt always gives it a great kick.

Seafood Dining

Seafood in Riviera Maya is truly to die for. You’ll be able to get lobsters, shrimp, tilapia (with the skin on or off, so you know what kind of fish you’re getting) and many other delicious treats from the sea that are fresher than anything you’ve ever had before. Surf and turf in some of the more upscale restaurants isn’t hard to find, and you’ll love the Mexican take on shrimp sauce (or cocktail sauce) that gives it a whole new kick!

Resort Restaurants

Resort dining in Riviera Maya is a great way to sample a lot of different cuisines without having to spend a lot of money. When you’re a guest of one fo the resort hotels you’ll be able to eat for free and as much as you like! Each hotel will have different restaurants on offer, and you’ll be able to eat imaginative fusion dishes that will make your mouth water and hoping that you can get your hands on the recipes!

Check out what vegetables and fruits are fresh and local; if you can have a fresh lime tart from one of the local islands with its creamy decadent tastes and tartness makes the trip worth it. No matter where you end up eating, make sure that you really try the desserts. Hot sugary sopapillas are a great way to wind down after a big family style Mexican meal.

Dining in Riviera Maya is all about finding a good restaurant and trying something new. Ask the concierge what’s good and go from there; you can never go wrong with an adventurous spirit!

RIVIERA MAYA NIGHTLIFE

Each resort will have its own offerings, but you won’t have to travel far outside your hotel to find a great time! From world class live entertainment with acrobats, dancing girls and other colorful things that make the night pass by. Go salsa and merengue dancing until the sun rises in intimate bars with great live music, or you can go out and go on a pub crawl and see the best that Riviera Maya has to offer! If you’re hoping for a taste of home, you can find many American style clubs with rock, hip hop and dance music and delicious drinks; dance on glass dance floors watching the comings and goings on the floor below. Enjoy beautiful ocean views and the best music you can find just about anywhere, and get the all-star treatment.

Go Dancing

When you’re in Riviera Maya, you’ll want to get out there and get a taste of the local Latin flavor. If you don’t know how to salsa dance, you can learn at one of the many dance studios all over. If salsa isn’t your thing, you can go after the faster paced merengue music that has a hint of island influence that will keep you going all night long. The club Playa is one of the best places for fusion clubs and you’ll be able to go dancing all night long, under the stars or inside beautiful wooden bars with warm colors and warm people!

Go Drinking

There are two ways to drink in Riviera Maya; resort clubs where when you’re a guest you drink for free, or the fun party bars that dot the coast line. Make sure you check out your resort’s club, since you’ll be able to get out there and dance and drink for free in a familiar and comfortable environment. You can get out there and also go on a sponsored pub crawl so you can see all the best nightlife that Riviera Maya provides, with a free drink included in each stop! The party bars are great; where you can play beer pong, dance on the bars themselves or twirl about in tire swings instead of barstools.

Explore Riviera Maya

Nightlife isn’t just about drinking and dancing; here you’ll be able to get out there and watch a wealth of live entertainment like can-can dancers and even acrobats who zing through the air. Hit the bars where there are many different live music acts that range from hip hop, rock and even live DJs who spin live sets and unique mixes you won’t find anywhere else.

In Riviera Maya you’ll be able to enjoy yourself, and you’ll never have to worry finding something to do. Whether it’s fun a few steps from your door or out in the nightlife districts, all you have to do is get out there and enjoy yourself.