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Riviera Maya, Mexico

Holidays in Riviera Maya

Dive into the Riviera of the Tropics

Riviera Maya from £1420pp

A glorious stretch of coastline, the Riviera Maya is home to some of the best beaches – and best diving - in Mexico. From the stalagmites and stalactites of the limestone cenotes, to the perfect beaches and low-lying jungle - this region is a sight to behold.

Hotels in Riviera Maya

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Essential information for Riviera Maya

Local Time
-5hrs
Currently
Language
Flag of Mexico
Spanish
Currency
Mexican Peso
Official currency of Mexico
Flight information
10h 40m
Cancun (CUN)
Indirect flight
Flight schedule
Fly direct on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday with our partner airlines.
Indirect Virgin Atlantic flights are available from London Heathrow.
Mexico

Do I need a visa?

No, UK passport holders don't need a visa for Mexico. You'll just need to complete a tourist card on your flight to Cancun.

However, if you are travelling via the USA, then you will need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) no less than 72 hours prior to travelling.

Find out more about Travel Visas here »

Getting around

With roads in this region relatively new, it’s easy to hire a car and explore all that the area has to offer. The bus system in the peninsula is reliable and inexpensive to carry you comfortably between all the towns and sights. To travel further afield, catch the regular ferry from Playa del Carmen over to Cozumel for the day.

Tropical Paradise: Highlights of Riviera Maya Holidays

Dreamy Caribbean meets ancient culture and a cocktail (or two): welcome to Riviera Maya, Mexico.

This glorious sweep of swaying palms, dazzling sands and turquoise waters is THE place to combine a blissful beach break with something a bit more. As well as lazy, sun-soaked days by the sea, Riviera Maya holidays could see you snorkelling with sea turtles, zip-lining above bird-filled forest, cycling around Mayan ruins or diving into secret sinkholes hidden in the jungle. This is Caribbean paradise with Mexican zing: hot, hot, hot and super cool.

There’s a perfect retreat for everyone too: romantic honeymooners’ boltholes, family-friendly hotels and all-inclusive Riviera Maya resorts with their own water parks, rock-star spas and five-star restaurants.

  • Swoon at Paraiso Beach – the name of this paradisiacal stretch of sand is spot on, and it sits just south of Tulum, the most scenic Mayan ruin of all.
  • Go wild at Akumal Bay, the ‘place of the turtles’. These graceful creatures are drawn to the lagoon (see them with a snorkel) and haul up onto the beach to nest.
  • Party at Mamita’s – the beach fronting lively Playa del Carmen is the hipster’s Riviera Maya holiday spot of choice. Just inland from the sand are chic boutiques, while some of the world’s best DJs hit the decks here.
  • Chill out at Punta Bete, the laid-back alternative. Follow the jungle road here to enjoy a Riviera Maya holiday’s simple pleasures: lolling under palm trees, listening to the gentle waves and squidging snow-white sand between your toes.
  • Mingle with locals at Xpu-Ha. Uncrowded and unhurried, it’s super for swimming, snorkelling or a game of beach footy, while the beach shacks serve a mean fresh fish taco. 
  • Watch sunrise at Tulum – this former fortress city is the only Mayan site built beside the Caribbean, teetering on a bluff above the sea. Arrive to see dawn break on the azure waters then explore the site, climbing up the towering Castilo for the best views.
  • Stroll down Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue to shop for arts and crafts made in the Riviera Maya and Mexico, from bright embroidered shawls to traditional pottery. Visit on a Thursday night if you can, when the Caminarte art fair fills the streets. 
  • Cycle around Cobá, one of the Riviera Maya’s most important sites. This vast, jungle-encroached complex is best seen by bike – pedal between the different areas via the ceremonial sacbé (‘white roads’) laid by the Maya centuries ago.
  • Every December, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival soothes and sways Playa del Carmen – three nights of world-class jazz performed on the beach, under starry skies, all for free. Nice.
  • Delve into the Riviera Maya hinterland for a cultural wallop: massive Mayan sites such as Chichen Itza are doable on day-trips from the coast. Uxmal in particular is a magical mix of carvings, temples, toucans and forest – climb the great pyramid for sweeping views.
  • Slip into a cenote – an essential element of all great holidays to Riviera Maya. The limestone Yucatan peninsula is riddled with these water-filled sinkholes and a network of caves and passageways. Head for Xel-Ha park to snorkel on some of these surreal spots.
  • Do it all at Xcaret, a marvellous eco-park/museum/theme-park mash-up where you can learn about Mayan life, swim (safely!) with sharks, walk through butterfly-flittered jungle, whizz down water shoots and more.
  • Snorkel the ‘Great Maya Reef’, just off the laid-back village of Puerto Morelos. Part of a marine park, it’s brimful of coral and underwater life – look for dolphins, turtles and gliding rays.
  • Have an Indiana Jones adventure in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Mexico and home to more than 300 species of birds, 23 known archaeological sites and a wealth of wildlife – including jaguar. Explore by taking a boat or kayak trip amid the mangroves.
  • Whizz above pristine jungle by zip-wire. There are plenty of chances to get a bird’s eye view on Riviera Maya holidays – try the Selvatica Extreme Zip Line, a two-mile course between the trees which you can experience upside down, if you dare.

Home to some of Mexico’s best beaches and diving, Riviera Maya is a tropical paradise waiting to be discovered. To plan your holiday to this idyllic region, browse our Riviera Maya resorts and hotels today.

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