In short: the Riviera Maya is the 130 kilometres of coast between Cancún and Tulum, strung along a single road, federal highway 307. Everything happens along that axis: the beaches, the cenotes, the parks, the Maya sites and the ports for the islands. Here is how to spread out your days without spending your holiday in a car.
The Riviera Maya, north to south
Understanding the geography avoids three quarters of planning mistakes. North to south along the 307:
- Cancún: the international airport, the hotel zone, departures for Isla Mujeres and Contoy.
- Puerto Morelos: a fishing village thirty minutes south, in front of a protected marine park. The best accessible snorkelling on the coast.
- Playa del Carmen: an hour from Cancún, the centre of gravity of the region, the Cozumel ferry, the Xcaret parks.
- Puerto Aventuras and Akumal: the turtle bays, about thirty kilometres south of Playa.
- Tulum: ruins facing the sea, cenotes, the Sian Ka’an reserve. The end of the Riviera Maya in the strict sense.
Beyond that begins southern Quintana Roo, with Bacalar and Chetumal, and to the west the Yucatán peninsula with Valladolid, Chichén Itzá and Mérida.
What to do: the five families of activity
Cenotes. These natural freshwater shafts cut into the limestone connect to the largest underground river network in the world. Open, semi-open or in caves, there are dozens along the 307. This is what makes the region unique and it is often our travellers’ strongest memory. We compare them in our cenote guide.
Maya sites. Tulum for the setting, Cobá for the jungle, Chichén Itzá for the sheer scale, Ek Balam for the quiet. Each has a different character and it would be a shame to see only one.
The sea. The second largest coral reef in the world runs the whole length of the coast. Snorkelling at Puerto Morelos and Akumal, diving at Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, swimming with whale sharks off Isla Mujeres in summer.
The parks. Xcaret, Xel Há, Xplor and Xenses south of Playa, Xavage and Xoximilco in Cancún. Full days, well organised, expensive but effective with children.
Protected nature. Sian Ka’an south of Tulum, Isla Contoy to the north, the marine park at Puerto Morelos. These are the least crowded and most memorable outings.
How many days, and what itinerary
The commonest mistake is changing hotel every two days. The distances are real and days disappear fast on the 307.
One week: two bases are enough, for example Playa del Carmen then Tulum, with day trips from each. We set out a full framework in our one-week Riviera Maya itinerary.
Ten days to two weeks: add an island, Holbox or Cozumel, and possibly a run down to Bacalar. This is the format that really lets you breathe.
Under five days: stay on a single base, preferably Playa del Carmen, and accept that you will not see everything. A good trip is not an exhaustive one.
Our field rule: no more than one big excursion day in two. A day at Chichén Itzá is six hours of driving there and back. Followed by a park the next day, it leaves a family exhausted by day three. Always alternate with a nearby cenote or a beach day.
When to go
November to April is the dry season: ideal weather, high prices and maximum crowds over the year-end holidays and at Easter. May to October brings heat and humidity, late-afternoon showers and gentler rates. Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking in September and October.
Sargassum affects the whole east coast, roughly April to October, peaking between May and August. It affects neither the cenotes, nor the parks, nor Cozumel’s west coast, nor Holbox. It is the factor that should drive your dates more than rain does. Our sargassum briefing is updated regularly, and our weather guide breaks the region down month by month.
Getting between towns
Colectivos are white minibuses linking Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, stopping on request. A few dozen pesos, leaving when full: the local option par excellence for short hops and for reaching the cenotes or Akumal.
ADO is the long-distance bus network: comfortable, air-conditioned, punctual, with terminals in every town and a direct service from Cancún airport. It is what we recommend for journeys of an hour or more.
A rental car makes full sense if you want several cenotes in one day, a run up to Valladolid or down to Bacalar. There are pitfalls specific to Mexico around insurance and deposits: we go through them in our rental advice. And for everything else, our guide to getting around Mexico covers the ground.
Our trips in the Riviera Maya
These leave from Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum depending on the trip, with hotel pick-up and an English-speaking guide. Tell us where you are staying and how many days you have: we will build you a sequence that holds together.
Common questions
Riviera Maya or Yucatán, what is the difference?
The Riviera Maya is the coastal strip of Quintana Roo between Cancún and Tulum: beaches, cenotes, parks. Yucatán is the neighbouring state, inland, with Mérida, Valladolid, Chichén Itzá and the colonial villages. Many travellers combine the two over two weeks.
Where should you stay on a first trip?
Playa del Carmen, without hesitation. Central position, everything on foot, colectivos and ADO on hand, the Cozumel ferry at the end of the street. It is the base that keeps travel time down the most.
Do you need a visa for the Riviera Maya?
No visa for a tourist stay of under 180 days with a valid passport from most European countries, the United States, Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom. The Visitax, however, is compulsory in Quintana Roo. It is all set out in our formalities guide and in our Visitax guide.
Is the Riviera Maya good for families?
Very well suited: calm shallow sea, parks designed for children, accessible cenotes, reasonable distances and staff who are used to it. The real question is pace, not safety: plan fewer activities than you think.
How long does it take from Cancún to Tulum?
About two hours by car or ADO bus, a little more by colectivo with the stops. From Cancún airport, allow two to two and a half hours depending on traffic.
Let’s build your Riviera Maya itinerary
Transfers, group or private tours, car or boat rental, English-speaking guide, restaurant bookings: we live here and we assemble every piece with partners we know personally. Tell us your dates and how much time you have.