Mayan Riviera, or Riviera Maya in Spanish, is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico. The Riviera Maya is the official name for a stretch of coastal land from the south of Cancún to Tulum. It includes the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. This area of the coast covers 130 km (81 mi), not including the Reserve. It includes many small towns and hideaways, plus nature parks and large resorts, among which are luxury resorts of 5 or more stars. The largest towns are Puerto Morelos and Puerto Aventuras. These are lesser known but equally worthy vacation spots. Hideaways include Punta Bete, Xpu-Ha, Paamul, and Punta Allen. Major cities in this stretch include Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and Tulum. Cancún and the island of Cozumel are only minutes away by car or ferry. As you can imagine there are plenty of things to do for vacationers of all preferences. Whether you want to relax on the beach, snorkel in the clear blue waters, shop for souvenirs, visit historical or nature preserves, or eat at a plethora of restaurants, Riviera Maya will more then fulfill your vacation desire.

Lots To Do

Swimming with the Dolphins - Dolphin Discovery (998/887-0207) is located at Treasure Island on the side of Isla Mujeres, facing Cancun. Up to six people can swim with two dolphins and one trainer. Another option is Xel-Ha (998/883-3293), a theme park in Puerto Juárez. For under $90 US per person, you can swim for 30 minutes in a natural habitat environment called dolphinaria.

Snorkeling - Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs, and the area is popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving. The most popular snorkeling area is El Garrafón National Park. Another popular spot is Bahía de Mujeres.

SCUBA Diving - By far, the most popular destination is Cozumel. It ranks among the top five dive destinations. But don't forget your dive card and dive log. Dive shops will rent you gear but won't take you out on a boat until you demonstrate some documentation. You can save money by getting a dive package together with hotel stay. Cozumel has a lot of diving locations. Some of the more famous are Palancar Reef, Santa Rosa Wall, San Francisco Reef, and Yucab Reef. The Great Maya coral reef is also breathtaking.

Wildlife - No, not the all night partying kind, but natural Reserves is what we're talking about here. South of Cancún, near the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, you will encounter the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Here you can enjoy wildlife in their natural habitat. Activities include kayaking, fly fishing, and educational programs. In Isla Mujeres you may want to visit the Turtle Sanctuary, a reserve dedicated to preserving Caribbean Sea turtles and educating the public about them.

Beaches - Playa del Carmen offers same quality of beaches as Cancun with fewer crowds, although it is growing in popularity. Few minutes by ferry will take you to the island of Cozumel which has wonderful beaches such as Playa San Francisco and Playa Palancar.

Swimming - If you're in Isla Mujeres, then we recommend Playa Norte. Anywhere there is a great beach in the Riviera Maya you'll find a great swimming experience.

Fishing - Riviera Maya offers great fishing experience. To arrange a day of fishing contact the Sociedad Cooperativa Turística. Alternatively your travel agent can arrange a fishing tour for you. Best months for fishing are April to September.

Museums and Maya Ruins - On rainy afternoons you may wish to check out a museum or two. In Cazumel, Museo de la Isla de Cozumel merits a visit. Mayan ruins are definitely worth a visit when you're in the Riviera Maya. One notable spot are the Ruins of Tulum, a Maya fortress-city overlooking the Caribbean. These are located thirteen kilometers (8 miles) south of Xel-ha.

There are way too many activities in the Riviera Maya to be able to list them all in a short article such as this one. In the near future look for more articles dedicated to one or few destinations in the Riviera Maya.

If you end up going to the Riviera Maya, we hope you have a fabulous time there.

To learn more about the Riviera Maya, Mexico, visit the Riviera Maya Travel Information site. For more on Playa del Carmen visit the Playa del Carmen Travel Information site. These free sites contain maps, travel tips and itinerary suggestions, and helps you find valuable services in the Riviera Maya.

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Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera have an exceptional variety of attractions and activities from the Mayan ruins at Tulum to the Playa del Carmen nightlife. You will love your Mexico vacation. Here is a listing of some of the popular attractions:

Beaches and sport activities

This area has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Most of the beaches have been manicured and have fine white sand. The water is a turquoise blue of the Caribbean Sea.

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Just off the coast is the world's fifth-longest barrier reef. The reef, home to hundreds of species of marine life, is perfect for snorkeling. Scuba dive and snorkel in the magnificent Caribbean waters. Scuba lessons for beginners and diving tours for the pros are available. Most resorts offer scuba and snorkel tours and/or lessons. Most of the ecological parks have great areas for snorkeling. For more information visit sealifedivers.com

Cozumel - Only 45 minutes from Playa del Carmen by ferry, this diver's haven is well worth the trip across the ocean. Considered among the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world, Cozumel offers magnificent coral reefs, underwater caves, and shipwrecks sites to explore. There are over 30 kilometres of coral reef, including the world's second largest reef called the Gama Reef.

Golf Courses

Playacar Golf Club - This is an 18 hole, par 72-championship golf course designed by Robert Von Hagge. This course is carved through the lush Mayan jungle where it challenges any golfer to come and enjoy it. Also features a putting green.

Puerto Aventuras - Marina, Tennis and Golf Club. Features a par 36, 9 hole course designed by Thomas Leeman. Maximum length 3,236 yards. Also features a putting green. Rental clubs and carts are available. Located on the Cancun to Chetumal highway at Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen.

Puerto Aventuras also has swimming with dolphins. You can relax and watch the dolphin show while having lunch at the marina and restaurant. For more information visit dolphindiscovery.com

Mayan Jungle

Take a trip out of the ordinary and explore the wild exotic jungles of the Mexican Riviera. The ATV Explorer Jungle Tour is the original Playa del Carmen jungle tour. Ride an ATV through jungle paths, swim in a clear 60 foot deep cenote, explore caves, and climb ancient Mayan ruins on this 2 hour tour.

Located right next to Playa del Carmen and Playacar, just an hour south of Cancun. For more information visit atvexplorer.com

Mayan Ruins

Tulum - The smallest Mayan ruin site among the big three, Tulum only needs a day. These ruins overlook the ocean and are right on a beautiful beach. This is a perfect spot for a picnic, a short swim and sun bathing. Don't forget your camera!

Coba - Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and prepare for an hour and a half drive into the jungle before reaching these ruins. Well worth the drive as there are beautiful temples and pyramids to see.

Chichen Itza - This is the most famous and grandiose pyramid of them all. Bring plenty of film and enjoy the beautifully kept grounds and the new restoration work on the pyramid. A must see Mayan ruin for culture enthusiasts. There are also restaurants, a small museum, and tourist shops on the site. Plan for a day excursion.

Eco-Parks

Xcaret - An eco-Mayan theme park for the whole family. A must see if you visit the Mayan Riviera. Prepare to spend your entire day at Xcaret as there are a million and one things to do and see. You can swim with the dolphins, snorkel, tour underground rivers, do sea trekking, visit a butterfly park, a Mayan village, and much more. The is also an excellent light and sound show in the evening. For more information: http://www.xcaret.net

Xel-Ha - Xel Ha is an eco-park with a large lagoon for snorkeling. It is a great place for first time snorkellers. Inner tubes and life vests are free, and you can rent snorkel gear or bring your own. There is an amazing cave system, cenotes, lagoon, and great snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish. For more information visit XelHa.com

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve - The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of Mexico's largest parks, covers more than 1 million acres of coastal jungle or about 20 percent of the state of Quintana Roo's land. This virgin wilderness is home and sanctuary to wide number of species of tropical flora and fauna, of which, the jaguar found here is counted as one of the many protected species. Offers eco-trekking through mangroves, lagoons and rivers. Get a close-up look of the wildlife in the reserve in their natural habitat.

Aktun Chen - Witness spectacular geological formations and swim in crystal clear fresh water in the underground caves. Spider monkeys and a serpentarium (snakes) can be seen. For more information: http://www.aktunchen.com

Xaman-Ha Aviary - Located in Playacar, this exotic bird sanctuary is a wonderful natural habitat for some 60 species of tropical birds that populate the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula. Scarlet macaws, flamingos, herons and may other beautiful feathered creatures can be found here.

Jardin Botanico del Dr. Alfredo Barrera - Beautiful botanical gardens sprawling with exotic species of tropical fauna in the lush Mayan rainforest. The gardens sit on 60 hectares of jungle and mangrove. A groomed loop trail provides easy walking to various collections of plants, all beautifully displayed in their natural environment. A scenic lookout tower is a bit of a challenge to climb but rewards the brave with a panoramic view from the mangrove to the sea, and out over the jungle.

Shopping

Playa del Carmen Shopping - Play del Carmen is a must for the best shopping in this area. The pedestrian street 5th Avenida in the heart of Playa del Carmen is lined with boutiques filled with goods from all over Mexico and the world. With handicrafts such as fine silver jewellery to hammocks there are shops that cater to every budget.

The stores that cater to tourists typically carry items such as carved wood and stone, hammocks, leather goods, paintings and sculptures. However, there are also high-end galleries featuring artworks from San Cristobal and Oaxaca for the serious Mexican art shopper.

If you'd prefer to venture off the main strip, there are interesting treasures to be found in the small plaza between 6th and 8th Ave.

Jolana Klobouk is a former travel agent who has traveled extensively for work and vacations with her family. For more travel information, visit her travel websites: http://www.best-family-beach-vacations.com and http://www.FlyFromCanada.com

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The Rivera Maya: Boasting the world's second largest barrier reef in the world, The Great Maya Reef, second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, makes the Rivera Maya a world wide destination for divers, and underwater adventurers. The Great Maya Reef stretches from Cabo Catoche, about 53 kilometers (33 miles) north of Cancun, to the Bay Islands of Honduras, 455 kilometers (285 miles) south of Playa del Carmen, and offers a myriad of dive sights, ranging in depth and difficulty.

This marvelous coral reef, also known as the Mesoamerican reef, which skirts the coasts of Belize, Guatemala on down to Honduras is home to multiple types of amazing corals, magnificent sea turtles and over 500 species of fish and other sea life. The part of the reef that stretches along the Mexican coastline is 300 kilometers (186 miles) long, and, in many parts, the reef is extremely deep with some marked dive sites reaching more then 30 meters or just under 100 feet. There are even deeper sights that can be explored, but these sites require more training and experience.

There are more than 70 named dive sites between Punta Maroma and Tulum right along the Rivera Maya. The majority of the marked dive sites located on the Rivera Maya are only a short boat ride away from such resort areas as Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum. Some of the more popular dive spots are Cerebros, Los Arcos, Pared Verde (Green Wall), Moc Che Deep, Moc Che, Chum Zumbal, Jardines, Sabatos, Tortugas, Barracuda, and Mama Vina.

Not only are there amazing coral, plant, and fish life in the warm waters of the Caribbean, but the underground caves and river system brings a whole other element to diving and exploration. With over 200 miles of underground caves and rivers the Riviera Maya has become a top destination, not only for open water ocean dives, but for cavern and cave diving as well. There are no rivers, or fresh water sources, that run above ground in the Riviera Maya so the cenotes, or sink holes, were the only way the Mayans got their fresh water. Because of this they were considered sacred to the ancient Maya, and still play a significant role in modern life and celebrations.

Divers and explorers can now enter this underwater world through the cenotes, which can be located right on the shores of the Caribbean, or deeper into the jungle flora. The Rivera Maya has more then 75 known cave systems which have been mapped and surveyed and they cover approximately 611 kilometers/ 380 miles. Even with that impressive number it is estimated that there is as much as 50% or more that has yet to be explored and documented. Discovered just a little over twenty years ago, the underground river system has very little current, temperate waters (25 degrees Celsius/ 78 degrees Fahrenheit), and the water is so clear that visibility is virtually unlimited. Add this to the fact that all you need is an open water certification to experience the exhilaration of cave diving, and it has become a major attraction to the Rivera Maya for divers from all parts of the globe.

Playa Maya News located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, updated daily with local news, tours, real estate and hotels in Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya.

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