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What to do in Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya is a great place for both active and relaxing holidays.
In the surrounding area, you can swim in cenotes and underground rivers, snorkel with sea turtles, visit Mayan cities, take a boat trip to nature reserves or spend a whole day at one of the theme parks.
If you’re spending a week in the area, choose two or three major paid activities. Full-day trips tend to be long, and if you try to fit in every cenote, island and archaeological site, you’ll spend a significant part of your holiday on a coach or in a car.
We travelled by hire car. When visiting the cenotes, Chichén Itzá or Valladolid, having our own transport gave us much greater freedom.
For activities that require a boat or a guide – such as Río Secreto, Sian Ka’an, Isla Contoy or swimming with whale sharks – an organised tour makes more sense.
Which activities are worth doing
| Activity | When to choose it | Best way |
|---|---|---|
| Tulum, Akumal and the cenote | First visit to the area | Car or combined tour |
| Sian Ka’an | Nature and wildlife watching | Organised trip |
| Cozumel | Snorkelling and diving | Ferry from Playa del Carmen and boat trip |
| Chichén Itzá | Mayan history | Car hire with an overnight stay in Valladolid or a day trip |
| Xcaret or Xel-Há | Families and a relaxing full-day programme | Ticket, or transfer from the hotel |
| Bacalar | Continuing the journey south | At least 2 nights in Bacalar |
How we’d organise the excursions
For a shorter stay, we’d opt for a combination of Tulum, Akumal and one cenote.
In a single day, you can explore Mayan ruins, marine life and the typical landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula.
For a week-long holiday, we’d add one more significant nature excursion – ideally to Sian Ka’an – and a day at sea. For snorkelling, we’d choose Cozumel; from Cancún, Isla Contoy would be a better option.
Chichén Itzá is well worth a visit for those interested in Mayan history, but it makes for an exceptionally long day from the coast. If travelling by car, we’d include it as part of a tour incorporating Valladolid, rather than as a day trip from a hotel resort.
Bacalar isn’t another full-day trip. We’d include it as a separate leg of a journey south and stay there for at least two nights.
Cenotes and underground rivers
Cenotes are among the most characteristic features of the entire Yucatán Peninsula. They are extremely varied and can be found everywhere.
Some resemble natural open-air swimming pools, whilst others are narrow caves with stalactites and underground rivers.
Open or partially open cenotes are best for swimming and a first visit. Cave cenotes have a more impressive atmosphere, but may not be suitable for people with claustrophobia.
With a hire car, you can visit, for example, Gran Cenote, the cenotes around Tulum or the Ruta de los Cenotes near Puerto Morelos. Set off first thing in the morning and choose no more than two cenotes in one area. Travelling around several similar sites in a single day can quickly become tiring.
If you’re staying at a remote resort and don’t have a car, a tour with hotel pick-up is a more practical option. When choosing a tour, check the number of cenotes visited, the group size, and whether the price includes transport, entrance fees, equipment and lunch.
Río Secreto
Río Secreto is better suited to travellers who don’t just want to swim in a single cenote. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll walk through – and in some places swim through – an underground cave system adorned with stalactites and stalagmites.
You cannot undertake the tour independently. The price usually includes a guide, a wetsuit, a helmet, a head torch and a life jacket. Cameras and mobile phones are generally not permitted inside the cave, and photographs taken by a local photographer are sold separately.
We particularly recommend Río Secreto in inclement weather or during periods when there is a greater amount of seaweed on the beaches. Before booking, please check any health restrictions, the minimum age for children and the availability of a transfer from your hotel.
Mayan ruins
Tulum
The archaeological site at Tulum is not the largest Mayan city, but thanks to its location on the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea, it is one of the most photogenic.
The tour itself takes around 2 hours. It therefore makes sense to combine a visit to Tulum with a swim in the sea or some snorkelling in Akumal.
A combined trip from Playa del Carmen or Cancún is more convenient, whilst from Tulum you can visit the individual sites separately.
Cobá
Cobá lies amidst lush greenery in the interior and has a more peaceful atmosphere than Tulum or Chichén Itzá.
The individual structures are scattered across a relatively large area, so you’ll need to get around on foot or by bike.
Cobá combines well with Gran Cenote or Cenote Suytun, or with a trip further inland.
If you only have time for one site, choose Tulum for its location or Chichén Itzá for its significance. Cobá is a better choice for a longer road trip.
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is a long way from the Caribbean coast, but it remains one of the most popular day trips from Cancún and the Riviera Maya.
If travelling by car, we recommend staying overnight in Valladolid, arriving at the site in the morning and then continuing on to one of the nearby cenotes. This way, you’ll avoid the worst of the heat, some of the crowds and an excessively long day’s journey.
If you don’t have a car, opt for an organised tour or the Tren Maya train. However, be prepared for a very long day and check carefully how much time the itinerary actually allocates to Chichén Itzá.
Some packages include a visit to Valladolid, a cenote, lunch and shopping stops, so the site itself is only part of the programme. Also check that all entrance fees and local charges are included in the quoted price.
Snorkelling and diving
Turtles in Akumal
Akumal is one of the best places to spot sea turtles. The turtles come here to feed on the seagrass growing in the shallow bay.
You can visit the public part of the beach on your own, but access to the main marked observation trails is regulated and must be undertaken with an authorised guide.
Life jackets must be worn, and you must keep your distance from the turtles. Do not touch the animals, do not chase them, and do not block their path to the surface.
If you’re primarily interested in the turtles, opt for a smaller group and a shorter tour. The combination of Tulum, Akumal and the cenote is practical without a car, but allows less time at each individual site.
The coral reef at Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is a good choice for a shorter snorkelling trip without a full day’s travel. The coral reef lies close to the coast, but is accessed by boat with a local operator.
The trip usually takes only part of the day and can be combined with lunch and a stroll around Puerto Morelos. It is particularly suitable for visitors staying between Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
Cozumel
We recommend the island of Cozumel primarily for snorkelling and diving, rather than as a standard sightseeing trip around the island.
The most famous sites are on the southern and western sides of the island and are reached by boat.
From Playa del Carmen, you’ll first take a ferry and then continue to the harbour of your chosen operator. Although the snorkelling itself only takes a few hours, you should allow practically a whole day for the trip.
When booking, check whether the price includes the ferry from Playa del Carmen, transport around Cozumel and the marine park entrance fee. With cheaper offers, these items often incur an additional charge.
The MUSA Underwater Museum
MUSA consists of hundreds of sculptures situated beneath the surface between Cancún and Isla Mujeres. The individual galleries lie at various depths.
Divers will have the best experience, but some trips are also available for snorkelling or glass-bottom boat tours. The starting point is usually Cancún or Isla Mujeres.
Sian Ka’an
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve offers two distinctly different types of excursion.
Shorter trips from the Mayan ruins of Muyil take you through lagoons, mangroves and historic waterways. These are more leisurely, take about half a day and are also suitable for visitors who do not wish to undertake a long journey along a rough road.
Full-day trips via Punta Allen head deeper into the coastal part of the reserve. The main focus is on boat trips and wildlife watching. The journey is usually long and, depending on the condition of the road, can be uncomfortable. Sightings of dolphins, turtles or other animals are not guaranteed.
We recommend visiting Sian Ka’an with a guide. A private car will only help with the journey to the starting point, but the main part of the programme takes place by boat anyway.
Isla Contoy or Isla Mujeres
Both islands lie north of Cancún, but offer a completely different kind of day trip.
| Isla Contoy | Isla Mujeres | |
|---|---|---|
| Main reason to visit | Nature, beaches, birds and snorkelling | Beaches, restaurants, the town and trips around the island |
| Means of transport | Organised trip with an authorised operator | Regular ferry or organised catamaran |
| Atmosphere | Quieter and more controlled | Busy and touristy |
| Who is it for | Nature lovers | Anyone who wants to combine the beach with entertainment |
| Time required | A whole day | Half a day to a full day |
- ChooseIsla Contoy if you’re looking for a nature trip and don’t mind a fixed itinerary. Visitor numbers are limited, and you can only reach the island with an authorised operator.
- Isla Mujeres is better suited to an independent trip. You’ll take a regular ferry straight into the town and organise your day yourself. Catamaran trips are better suited to those interested in music, drinks and a sociable atmosphere rather than for exploring the island in depth.
- 👉Choose a boat trip to Isla Contoy
Swimming with whale sharks
Whale sharks are found in the northern part of the Mexican Caribbean from around May to September.
Trips mainly depart from the north of Cancún and the areas around Isla Mujeres or Isla Contoy. If you’re travelling from Playa del Carmen, you should also allow for a long morning transfer.
As these are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed. The boat trip on the open sea can be very unpleasant for those prone to seasickness. Choose only an authorised operator and check that the price includes transfer, harbour fees and conservation charges.
Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor and other parks
Amusement and nature parks are among the most expensive activities on the Riviera Maya, but thanks to their full-day programmes, they can be a good option for families or visitors without a car.
It’s usually enough to choose just one park during a single holiday.
| Park | What it offers | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Xcaret | Nature, Mexican culture, underground rivers and evening shows | First-time visitors and families |
| Xel-Há | Swimming, snorkelling and water activities | Families and less experienced swimmers |
| Xplor | Rope courses, amphibious vehicles and underground rivers | Active visitors |
| Xenses | Optical illusions and shorter interactive attractions | Families and half-day programmes |
| Xoximilco | Evening cruise with music, food and drinks | Groups and social evenings |
Xcaret offers the most varied programme and the best evening shows. Xel-Há is a better choice if you want to spend most of the day in the water. Choose Xplor for its adrenaline-fuelled attractions.
When buying tickets, compare the standard and extended options. Food, transport, lockers and some activities are not automatically included with every ticket.
Quad bikes, cable cars and adrenaline-fuelled excursions
A combination of quad bikes, cable cars and swimming in a cenote is available from virtually all the larger resorts.
It’s a fun half-day activity, but it’s not unique to the Riviera Maya. If you’re short on time, we’d recommend a cenote, a sea excursion or a Mayan archaeological site instead.
Before booking, check whether the price is per quad bike or per pair, and whether it includes transfer, insurance, a locker and entry to the cenote. Photos are almost always charged separately.
Bacalar and the south coast
We includeBacalar in our overview of the Mexican Caribbean coast, but we do not recommend it as a day trip from Cancún or Playa del Carmen. The journey is too long, and the lagoon deserves at least two nights’ stay.
The main activity is a boat trip on the Lagoon of Seven Colours. You can choose between a traditional motorboat, a more peaceful sailing boat or a kayak. The trip usually includes several spots for swimming and views of the cenotes connected to the lagoon.
On the south coast, snorkelling and diving near Mahahual or Xcalak are also worth considering.
Both places are quieter than the northern Riviera Maya, but require more time and your own travel plans. Neither makes sense as a day trip from Playa del Carmen.
Which activities to choose depending on where you’re staying
| Where you’re staying | The most practical activities |
|---|---|
| Costa Mujeres and Cancún | Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy, MUSA, whale sharks and Chichén Itzá |
| Puerto Morelos | The coral reef, the Ruta de los Cenotes and trips to Cancún |
| Playa del Carmen and Playacar | Cozumel, Río Secreto, Xcaret, Xplor and nightlife |
| Puerto Aventuras and Akumal | Turtles, cenotes, Xel-Há and Tulum |
| Tulum | Ruins, cenotes, Kaan Luum Lagoon and Sian Ka’an |
| Mahahual, Xcalak and Bacalar | Snorkelling, diving and lagoon activities |
Always check your specific pick-up location before booking. The term ‘Riviera Maya’ does not automatically mean a transfer from all hotels between Cancún and Tulum. At some resorts, there is an additional charge, or you may need to make your own way to a designated meeting point on the main road.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an organised tour for the activities?
Not always. If you have a car, you can visit Tulum, Cobá, Chichén Itzá, most cenotes and beaches on your own.
We recommend an organised tour where a boat or authorised guide is required, for example in Sian Ka’an, Río Secreto, on Isla Contoy or when swimming with whale sharks.
Which activity should I choose on my first visit?
The most versatile combination is Tulum, Akumal and one cenote. In a single day, you’ll see a Mayan ruin, marine life and the typical natural landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula.
However, the itinerary is quite packed.
What to do during the algal bloom season?
Sargassum seaweed affects the coastline, not the cenotes.
Good alternatives include Río Secreto, cenotes, Mayan ruins, theme parks or Bacalar. The situation can vary significantly even between different beaches on the same day.
What to do when it rains?
A brief tropical downpour does not usually mean the whole programme has to be cancelled.
Cenotes, Río Secreto or a visit to Valladolid are suitable alternatives. Boat trips may be cancelled due to wind and sea conditions, not just because of rain.
Which activities are suitable for children?
The easiest options are Xcaret, Xel-Há, open cenotes and shorter snorkelling trips in Puerto Morelos. For cable cars, quad bikes, Río Secreto and boat trips, please check the minimum age, height and health restrictions.
How far in advance should I book excursions?
Standard excursions can usually be booked a few days in advance. We recommend booking Isla Contoy, smaller groups in Sian Ka’an and seasonal swimming with whale sharks further in advance, particularly during the peak season.
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