La Riviera Maya
7 days
Along the Caribbean coast in Quintana Roo, Mexico, you’ll find La Riviera Maya. It’s a popular vacation spot due to hosting the second largest coral reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and three of the biggest underwater cave systems globally, Ox Bel Ha and Sac Actun being two.
The tropical climate and crystal clear seas of La Riviera Maya make the area the perfect destination for anyone looking for adventure. If you prefer history to ocean views, Mayan ruins including Coba, Chichen Itza, and Tulum are all nearby and can be visited easily.
Bacalar Lagoon
The Lagoon of Seven Colors
Cenotes in Tulum
Amazing sinkholes
Akumal Beach
Snorkeling in amazing coral reefs
Sian Ka’an
Biosphere Reserve
Highlights
La Riviera Maya has a lot to offer to the curious explorer. You’ll have the chance to swim in several incredible cenotes, with their crystal clear water, and explore the attached cave systems. We’ll visit the Mayan ruins at Tulum, and Coba, climb ancient pyramids, and take a boat trip down a Mayan canal. You’ll enjoy exploring quaint towns and hiking in the jungle, where you can see dozens of bird species and may even spot a jaguar. All this takes place along the Caribbean coast, so you’ll have incredible ocean views while visiting lush jungle locations. From sailing on Bacalar Lagoon to visiting a Spanish castle at the Castle of San Felipe, your trip is a nonstop adventure.
Itinerary
Upon your arrival at the international airport in Cancun (CUN), you’ll be met by a guide and taken to your hotel in Tulum.
-Two nights in Tulum.
Wake up early for a day of adventure in Tulum! We’ll pick you up at your hotel and head to the Tulum ruins, one of the last occupied Mayan cities. This port city was a vital trading port for the Mayans and peaked during the 13th and 15th centuries. The view from the city is stunning since it sits 12 meters above the Caribbean Sea.
Once you’ve enjoyed exploring Tulum and appreciating its well-preserved structures, it’s time to head to Tankah Park, just half an hour away. This is where the real fun begins!
Park Tankah offers a range of fun activities including swimming and snorkeling in the local cenote (underground pool or sinkhole), ziplining, canoeing, exploring a tropical lagoon, and taking a jungle hike.
You’ll also have a chance to learn more about the Mayan culture and its cuisine, then enjoy a delicious lunch made up of Mayan dishes. This is a good time to relax and appreciate the nature surrounding you, as well as talk with the guide and other staff members who can answer your questions. We’ll return to the hotel after a leisurely lunch and you have the remainder of the day free.
Today, you’ll be driven to the Bacalar Lagoon or the “Lake of Seven Colors.” It’s the second largest lake in Mexico at 60 km long and 2 km wide. Its nickname comes from the unique coloring created by the white limestone that lines it and the cenotes and underground rivers feeding into it. Several shades of green and blue make it a beautiful place to take photos.
You’ll board a boat and take a tour of this amazing lake, learning more about the ecosystem that thrives here. On the boat ride, we’ll take you by the Island of Birds, a small island that is uninhabited except for vast numbers of birds. It serves as an important resting and breeding place for birds and sea turtles. You will also visit one of several cenotes, including the Esmeralda, La Bruja, and Cocalitos, or Cenote Negro. These cenotes are unique in that they’re all found within the lagoon.
We’ll stop at a local restaurant where you may purchase lunch from a menu of regional cuisine.
The town of Bacalar is yours to explore for a few hours once you’ve finished eating. Go ahead and take a dip in the warm waters of the lagoon or visit the Fort of San Felipe, built in the early 1700s to prevent pirates from attacking. Here you’ll see the Pirates Channel, which connects the Caribbean Sea to the lagoon.
You’ll return to your hotel in Bacalar for the evening.
Today, we’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sian Ka’an in Quintana Roo. The biosphere reserve was set up in 1986 and covers around 1.3 million acres, which include everything from coral reefs and mangroves to tropical jungles and wetlands.
You’ll enjoy a relaxing boat ride through an ancient Mayan canal where you can see many of the 300 species of birds that live here. It’s a less transited area, so bask in the peace and quiet.
For the afternoon, you’ll take a guided tour along a beautiful road rich with history to a cenote where you can snorkel and swim. This is a nice refreshing spot to cool off in the pure water and take a little time to explore some underground caves. After this, we’ll stop at a restaurant where you can purchase local food for lunch before enjoying a scenic drive back to Tulum.
Optional: Sian Ka’an is home to Muyil, a culturally valuable Mayan civilization. The ruins include several structures, including El Castillo, a 57-foot tall pyramid you can climb, King’s Castle, and the Priest’s Temple. The remains of the local public market are still visible, as well and you can choose to visit here if you like during the day.
-Overnight in Tulum
We’ll leave Tulum and move onward to Coba today. This ancient Mayan city was one of the most expansive cities during the Mayan empire. It was an essential site for both trade and politics and today, its ruined buildings still stand tall. You can walk through the ruins or rent a bike to pedal along ancient roads and paths. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring a variety of structures, including the Nohoch Mul Pyramid. At 42 meters tall, this pyramid is the tallest on the Yucatan Peninsula and you are permitted to climb it for a wonderful view of the surrounding jungle.
Exploring ancient cities is hard work, so we’ll stop for a lunch break and a little rest before we head to the Monkey Sanctuary. You’ll have a chance to zipline or go on a short canoe trip if you like.
At the Monkey Sanctuary, we’ll have a guided tour of the sanctuary and learn more about the important work done to rehabilitate rescued primates. You’ll even have a chance to interact with spider monkeys and capuchins while making a difference in their lives.
You can now return to the hotel and spend the evening at your leisure.
-Two nights in Playa del Carmen
Start the day with a quick breakfast before we head to a private cenote cave. We’ll tour the secretive cave with its crystalline waters before taking a refreshing swim. The cave is full of geological formations, so you’ll want to get some photos. From here, we’ll depart for the town of Akumal.
In Mayan, Akumal means “place of the turtles” and, as you’ll see, this is very accurate. Akumal is a valuable nesting site for many sea turtles. The seaside town has stunning beaches where the turtles lay their eggs, but you’re likely to see turtles out in the water, too. You’ll grab some snorkeling gear and head into the water to swim alongside the sea turtles, getting an up close and personal look at these amazing creatures. The reef is also full of brightly colored fish and rays, among other sea creatures.
After your swim, you can grab lunch and relax a bit before we return to Playa del Carmen.
All good things must end and today, you’ll head to the airport to fly home. So long, Mexico!
map, expenses & price
La Rivier Maya
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Six nights of hotel accommodations.
-Professional certified guides.
-All park entrance fees.
-Tours and excursions as listed.
-Daily breakfast.
Extensions
la riviera maya
If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with whale sharks, you have the perfect opportunity. We’ll pick you up from your hotel or another agreed-upon spot and transfer you to the Maritime Terminal. Enjoy a light breakfast before boarding the boat, where you’ll be briefed on swimming with whale sharks.
These gentle giants gather in the area to feed on plankton, making it the perfect time to join them in the water. Whale sharks pose no threat to humans and are content to swim slowly around the tour boats.
It takes up to an hour to reach the whale shark sighting area, depending on where they swim. Once we’ve spotted the sharks, it’s time to get in the water. Be sure to follow instructions for a seamless snorkeling experience with whale sharks.
Out of the water, we’ll head to Playa Norte, a white sand beach on Isla Mujeres where the crew will serve fresh ceviche and a delicious drink or two. You’ll have time to sunbathe, snorkel, or just sit in the shade and enjoy nature before we return to the Maritime Terminal and your hotel. The season is from mid-June through August.
La riviera maya
If you haven’t had enough of the beautiful cenotes in La Riviera Maya, this trip extension is perfect for you. These two cenotes are some of the most distinctive in the area.Dos Ojos or Two Eyes Cenote is a pair of sinkholes that resemble two eyes. The cenotes are part of a full underwater cave system.
The bright blue waters and interesting rock formations make this the ideal place to swim and, for divers, explore the cave system. Turtles and fish live in the cenote and a rich jungle flourishes around the edges.
Sac Actun Cenote is worth seeing since it is part of a cave system that covers 216 kilometers, making it the largest underwater cave network. Snorkeling is a lot of fun here, since the water is very clear and allows you to see the geological formations deep in the pool, as well as the flora and fauna that abounds here. This cenote is connected to Dos Ojos via underground tunnels.
la riviera maya
Rio Secreto or Secret River is located near Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. It refers to a limestone cave system originally carved out by a river. Today, it’s a fascinating place to spelunk with unique rock structures, stalactites, and stalagmites to admire. Rio Secreto is still partially filled with water and is a protected nature reserve.
You’ll head into the cave with an experienced guide and explore the beautiful channels and underground passages. The caves were once used for rituals by Mayan people. They left altars and cave paintings behind, which you may see as you walk, swim, and climb through the passages. Rio Secreto is a culturally and ecologically important site for Mexico and worth a visit.
la riviera maya
Near Playa del Carmen, you’ll find the Xcaret Eco-Park. This park is designed to promote environmental sustainability and conservation but it’s full of cultural activities. If you’re interested in learning more about the Mayan culture, you can visit several archeological sites here, watch traditional dances, visit the recreated Mayan village, or listen to Mayan music.
The park is a nature reserve, so don’t be surprised if you get to spot some local wildlife, including jaguars, turtles, and flamingos. Whether you want to hike a jungle trail, snorkel over coral reefs, or learn a traditional dance, there’s something for everyone here.
