Top 10 Things To Do In Cancun And the Riviera Maya And Insider Tips For Your Mexico Holiday
This Mexico guide has the top things to do in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, and top tips for an unforgettable stay along the Caribbean coast.
There are so many things to do in Cancun and along the Riviera Maya. Do you want to party all night, explore the Mayan jungle, see an ancient wonder of the world, or simply kick back, relax, and explore some of the neighbouring islands? The choice is yours, and we have listed the top 10 things to do in Cancun and the Riviera Maya for your next trip to Mexico.
For this Mexico travel guide I needed to get an expert’s opinion on the best things to do in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Luckily I knew the very person! Award winning food, travel and lifestyle content creator Stephanie Buckley AKA @EatSleepChicBlog has been to the Riviera Maya resorts and Cancun numerous times – I was glued to her Instagram stories during her recent visit! Stephanie kindly agreed to write this post on the top things to do in the Riviera Maya.
But before we hear Stephanie’s top things to do, I think it is important that you understand the layout of the region so you can understand the difference between Riviera Maya, Cancun, Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula.
About Cancun and Riviera Maya
Mexico is undoubtedly one of the world’s top holiday destinations, and it is America’s favourite vacation spot. Like its neighbour, it is divided by states – 32 of them to be precise. Quintana Roo is one of these states, and it is located on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula where the much sought after Caribbean Sea laps its shores.
Read: Where To Stay In Mexico – 12 Of The Best Hotels In Cancun And Surrounding Areas
Within Quintana Roo you will find the popular resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, as well as the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. Where it tends to get confusing is that within Quintana Roo there are two main areas – Riviera Maya which is home to the resorts of Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Akumal and more; and Cancun which is home to the main airport in the region and also the first and largest tourism destination in the region.
The Riviera Maya is the region south of Cancun that starts in Puerto Moreolos and ends at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, just south of Tulum. This area was originally called the Cancun–Tulum corridor, but in 1999 it was renamed as the Riviera Maya.
Read: The Ultimate Mexico Resort Guide – The Best Resorts To Choose For A Holiday To Cancun
Top 10 Things to do in the Riviera Maya
1. Explore a wonder of the world – Chichén Itzá
The ancient archaeological site of Chichén Itzá is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is among the oldest and most well preserved Mayan heritage sites of the ancient world and one of Mexico’s top attractions.
This full day tour takes you on a Mayan adventure where you stroll through the archaeological site of Chichen Itza and learn about its ancient ruins and the Mayan history and local culture. It is an awe-inspiring experience and one of the top day trips from the Riviera Maya.
2. Dive into a cenote
There are many cenotes to explore in the Riviera Maya but Cenote Casa Tortuga Park has four different Cenotes to enjoy, each with a unique experience that you won’t want to miss.
You’ll spend approximately 1 hour 20 minutes at each Cenote. When the guided cenotes tour is complete you are free to enjoy the crystal-clear waters at your leisure.
See more here
Kaan Luum Lagoon is a stunning lagoon with a large cenote in the middle, just 15 minutes south of Tulum, surrounded by a lush jungle – this is another great place I urge you not to miss.
3. Swim with turtles at Akumal Beach, Tulum
Akumal Beach in Mexico is one of the best places in the world to swim with sea turtles. The nesting season for the Akumal bay turtles is from May to November, however it’s possible to see them all year-round.
4. Explore Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres, a former fishing village, is located just 13km off the coast from Cancun and 15 minutes by ferry. I suggest booking a catamaran tour for a whole day of snorkelling and cruising around this beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea. You will have some spare time on the island make sure to rent a golf cart to explore some beautiful beaches and ancient Mayan ruins. This is one of the top things to do in Riviera Maya for couples or families.
5. Day trip to Xcaret Park or Xplor Park
If you have time to do both, amazing. If not, do not worry and choose the one that suits you best.
Xplor Park is designed for adventurous adrenaline junkies who enjoy huge ziplines, driving jungle buggies through caves and underground rivers, rafting, and underground expeditions. It is ideal for adults or teenagers who want an adventurous day out.
Xcaret focuses more on nature and culture, with attractions such as a Coral Reef Aquarium, Butterfly Pavilion and Aviary, where you can see marine life and tropical birds. There are also live performances centred on Mayan culture and ancient history. It suits all ages, though it is especially good for families with younger children who enjoy animals and gentler experiences.
See more here Xcaret Tickets
See more here Xplor Tickets
6. Don’t miss Cozumel
Cozumel is just a 45 minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen and is a must do in Riviera Maya – our visit here was my favourite excursion. Watching my son Phoenix confidently jump off the side of the boat and swim with sting ray, was a highlight of our holiday. Plus the turquoise waters in Cozumel are simply breathtaking.
There are many more excursions in the Riviera Maya to choose from, I have listed some of my favourites here:
Day trip to Cozumel – Private Dune Buggy and Snorkel Tour
After your snorkelling experience along the world famous vibrant coral reefs travel through Cozumel’s rugged terrain at your own pace, grab a map and do a beach crawl, then stop along the coast for a seafood lunch.
Cozumel Snorkelling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs
Visit three of the island’s hottest snorkelling spots: Palancar Reef, Columbia Reef and Playa el Cielo, known for the starfish that decorate its powdery white sands.
See more here
Invisible Boat Trip Snorkelling Adventure in Cozumel
This unique, family-friendly activity will let you explore Cozumel’s world-class sea life and Caribbean waters. The glass boat excursion is a small group tour so everyone gets a great seat and a spectacular view or the ocean below.
Guests will see marine life, coral formations, ship wrecks and also have a chance to jump into the water and cool off.
7. Splash out at Xel-Há Water Park, Tulum
Xel-Há in Tulum is not your typical water park – it is completely natural with unlimited snorkelling, delicious food, and beverages! This is an excellent day out and one of the top things to do in Riviera Maya with kids. It is located in Tulum but can be visited from Cancun and Playa del Carmen too – some tours include hotel pick up.
8. Swim with Whale Sharks
Snorkel or scuba dive with the largest sharks in the ocean on a full-day group snorkelling tour. The enormous fish are found in the Mexican Caribbean waters between May and September. Take a speedboat to their location then hop into the water and enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.
9. Go off road at Maya Adrenaline Excursion
The Maya Adrenaline excursion includes an ATV tour through the jungle; a circuit of four zip lines, including the ‘Evolution’ zip line, the fastest and longest on the Riviera Maya – 1 km long.
You can also enjoy a wall of rappelling, swimming and exploration in a cave cenote. Located close to Tulum, and a one hour drive from Playa del Carmen, this is a great fun thing to do in Riviera Maya.
10. Party at a beach club or Coco Bongos or both!
If you are looking for a luxurious beach club there is only one place to go – Amansala Beach Club & Spa in Tulum. Spend a day at the beach with the added luxury of delicious fresh cuisine, refreshing cocktails, cool tunes and authentic Tulum vibes! Oh it has good, complimentary WiFi too, and it’s child friendly!
Don’t miss Señor Frogs (Playa del Carmen, Cozumel & Cancun). You will find foam parties, paint parties, dance competitions and staff that go above and beyond to ensure that you’re having an absolute blast! Even if you pop in here during the day for lunch you cant help but feel the party atmosphere.
Coco Bongo (Playa del Carmen & Cancun) is arguably Mexico’s most popular night club, first seen in the movie The Mask in 1994 (a then made-up club in Cancun). Inspired by the movie, Coco Bongo opened up for business in 1997 and has gone from strength to strength since then.
Spend a night at Coco Bongo and experience flying acrobats, live music and entertainment. Some guests are even plucked from the crowd to interact with the entertainers. I’d recommend upgrading your tickets to either Gold member or Front Row for some extra special perks.
Top Tips for visiting the Riviera Maya and Cancun
Top Tip for visiting Playa del Carmen:
Having pesos is the way to go! Nearly everywhere we went accepted US dollars, but paying in pesos is preferred and you get a better exchange rate.
If you’re wearing a hotel wristband especially on Fifth avenue, you’re an easy target. We noticed that a lot of the small shop owners and excursion reps will tell you that they work in your hotel. They will look at your hotel wristband, then name your hotel and say that they met you there. This clever act will spark up a conversation and possibly get you into their shop or stand.
We did fall for this tactic last year and ended up in a diamond shop. We quickly realised what had happened and needless to say, we didn’t fall for it again.
In saying that it was no harm, from then on we just smiled and laughed when we heard the locals calling out our hotel name. This happened nearly every time we walked along 5th avenue and we saw other people fall for it too, but as I mentioned before we didn’t feel intimidated or pressured at all.
Top tip for going out in Cancun:
If you want a prompt and attentive service in the nightclubs, make sure you have plenty of one dollar bills for tips – otherwise you could be waiting a while for a drink! We found that if we tipped just a few dollars each time we never had an empty glass in front of us!
I hope you enjoyed Stephanie’s travel guide to Mexico’s resorts as well as her personal recommendations for the top things to do in Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, it is important to note that resort amenities and tours are subject to change. Some of the links in this post contact affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.
