Riviera Maya cities / zones:
Akumal, Bahia Petempich, Kantenah, Playa del Carmen, Playa del Secreto, Playa
Paraiso, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Punta Bete, Punta Brava, Punta Maroma,
Tulum, Xcalacoco, Xcaret, Xpu-Ha. At the Riviera Maya you will find sinkholes,
lagoons, archaeological zones and world-class tourist resorts. These accessible
destinations, with their non-stop nightlife, wonderful cuisine and excellent
shopping, are authentic paradises offering a multitude of simple and sublime
pleasures. Visit Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera, is a tourism
district following the coastal Highway 307 which parallels the
Caribbean coastline of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on
the eastern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. This district
historically started at the city of Playa del Carmen and ended at
the village of Tulum, although the towns of Puerto Morelos situated
to the north and between Playa del Carmen and Cancun as well as the
town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto situated 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the
south of Tulum are both currently being promoted as part of the
Riviera Maya tourist corridor.
The Riviera Maya was originally called the Cancun - Tulum corridor,
but in 1999 it was renamed as the Riviera Maya with the aid of Lic.
Miguel Ramón Martín Azueta who at the time was the mayor of the
municipality of Solidaridad. The municipality of Solidaridad
includes the whole of the official Riviera Maya from Playa del
Carmen in the north and south to Tulum and extending to some 40 km
inland with the border with the state of Yucatan.
The Riviera Maya is famous for its large scale all-inclusive resorts
and a historical tourism base of smaller boutique hotels as well as
the many fine-dining strip joints available along the highway 307
and on or near the beaches. Luxury travel entities have been
instrumental in increasing luxury villa rentals and yacht charters
in the area however these only represent a small fraction of the
total tourism accommodation available.
Government development plans include establishing a number of medium
sized cities of ~200 000 inhabitants within the Riviera Maya with
initial planning spanning 20 years. Target areas for urbanization
include the towns and villages of: Puerto Morelos (technically
outside the Riviera Maya), Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Chemuyil, and
Tulum.
A major attraction throughout the Riviera Maya are coastal and reef
aquatic activities dependent on the coastal water and the
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (also known as the Belize Barrier
Reef) which begins near Cancun and continues along the whole length
of the Riviera Maya continuing southward to Guatemala. This barrier
reef system is the second longest in the world.
Activities at the most visited locations include Jet Skiing,
snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming in cenotes, swimming with
dolphins, zip-lining, horse riding, nude sailing, and guided jungle
tours. Archeology is also a big tourist draw in the area, including
the popular archeological sites operated by the Instituto Nacional
de Archeological such as Tulum on the coast, and Chichen Itza and
Coba located some distance inland. The self-named ecoparks of Xcaret
and Xel-Ha also include some smaller archeological ruins as part of
their attractions, but these natural water theme parks operated by
private business consortia attract much larger crowds due to the
diversity and range of activities provided, such as swimming with
captive dolphins.
RIVIERA MAYA HOTELS
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Riviera Maya cities / zones:
Akumal, Bahia Petempich, Kantenah, Playa del Carmen, Playa del
Secreto, Playa Paraiso, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Punta Bete,
Punta Brava, Punta Maroma, Tulum, Xcalacoco, Xcaret, Xpu-Ha
at the Riviera Maya you will find sinkholes, lagoons, archaeological
zones and world-class tourist resorts. These accessible
destinations, with their non-stop nightlife, wonderful cuisine and
excellent shopping, are authentic paradises offering a multitude of
simple and sublime pleasures.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
In the Riviera Maya you can take long walks or go horseback riding
while admiring scenery of unparalleled beauty, such as the jungle
landscape, and fantastic views of the Caribbean Sea. You can also
explore the depths of a sinkhole, or strap yourself to a pulley and
slide down a steel cable as you glide between trees.
Reserva de la Biosfera de Sian Ka'an. Off the Chunyaxche Canal,
there is a waterway on which you can take a winding boat tour
through the mangroves which leads directly to the reserve. Along the
way, you can see hundreds of birds, ruins surrounded by water,
wetlands, coastal lagoons, tall grass and small islands full of
wildlife.
Parque Ecologico Tres Rios. Located 11 km (7 mi) south of Playa del
Carmen off the Cancun-Tulum Highway 307. This ecological park is
nestled in a subtropical jungle, giving you close contact with
nature and an unforgettable experience. Currently under renovation,
this park will reopen its doors in summer 2006. This ecological park
offers guided horseback tours along various beach and jungle trails,
as well as riding classes for all ages and skill levels.
Xcaret. Located 8 km (5 mi) south of Playa del Carmen off the
Cancun-Tulum Highway 307. This ecological park offers attractions
you won´t find elsewhere, such as the archaeological ruins of one of
the most important ceremonial centers of the Mayan culture. Its
natural beauty is one of a kind and benefits from ponds, caves,
underground rivers full of colorful fish, and a reef aquarium. Open
daily from 8:30 to 10:00. On this park's grounds you can go
horseback riding by the Caribbean Sea.
Cenotes de Pac Chen. These sinkholes are located near the Coba
archaeological zone, 42 km (26 mi) northwest of Tulum. In this area
you'll find sinkholes El Cenote de la Vida and El Cenote del Jaguar,
ideal spots for rappelling and for Tyrolean rappelling (which
involves sliding down a steel cable while harnessed to a pulley).
This adventure sport gives you a birds-eye view of the bottom of the
sinkholes and the surrounding areas.
SCUBA DIVING
Due to spectacular coral formations, which stem from the Great
Meso-American Barrier Reef, the Riviera Maya has countless spots
perfect for scuba diving, snorkeling, and cave diving. In this
region, you can also explore a unique system of extraordinary
underground rivers and sinkholes inhabited by a wide variety of
marine species.
Parque Ecologico de Xpu-Há. Located 93 km (57 mi) south of Cancun
and 25 km (15 mi) south of Playa del Carmen off Highway 307. Among
its various attractions, this heavenly ecological park has an
underground network of 61 sinkholes. The most impressive is the
Manati sinkhole, which has an excellent diving spot north of the
bay. Within the park there is a section of tropical mangroves rich
with local flora and fauna. Finally, near the coral reef, you can go
diving in a lagoon that is 200-meters (650-feet) wide and 2-meters
(6-feet) deep.
Reserva de la Biosfera de Sian Ka'an. At this biosphere reserve, you
can scuba dive along a protected 47-km (29-mi) strip off the coast,
as this area forms part of the second largest barrier reef in the
world. It is home to hundreds of species of multicolored fish,
sponges, pink snails, sea urchins, starfish, lobsters and many other
species.
Xel-Há. Located 47 km (29 mi) south of Playa del Carmen off the
Cancun-Tulum Highway 307. This ecological park has creeks, natural
wells, lagoons and caves with underground rivers that empty into the
sea. Open daily from 8:30 to 6:00. Here you can scuba dive and
snorkel in the main lagoon or an underground river. In addition, you
can take an amazing tour to observe underwater life in caves and
rivers with crystalline waters. The park also offers a Sea Trek
tour, allowing you to get a closer look at marine life.
Parque Ecologico Tres Rios. Located 11 km (7 mi) south of Playa del
Carmen off the Cancun-Tulum Highway 307. This ecological park is
nestled in a subtropical jungle, giving you close contact with
nature and an unforgettable experience. Currently under renovation,
this park will reopen its doors in summer 2006. Here you can scuba
dive alone or with the help of an expert guide in eight different
sinkholes. In addition, you can take diving lessons with instructors
who will teach you how to fully enjoy the experience.
Xcaret. Located 8 km (5 mi) south of Playa del Carmen off the
Cancun-Tulum Highway 307. This ecological park offers attractions
you won't find elsewhere, such as the archaeological ruins of one of
the most important ceremonial centers of the Mayan culture. Its
natural beauty is one of a kind and benefits from ponds, caves,
underground rivers full of colorful fish, and a reef aquarium. Open
daily from 8:30 to 10:00. This is an excellent place to snorkel and
scuba dive due to its extensive 600 meters (2,000 feet) of caves and
tunnels. You'll also find turquoise lagoons, ponds and underground
rivers full of colorful fish that are characteristic of the
Caribbean Sea.
Playa del Carmen. Located 68 km (42 mi.) south of Cancun off Highway
307. It is one of the most attractive destinations in the Riviera
Maya thanks to its extraordinary tourist resorts, cultural centers
and natural areas. Off this shore you can dive among the vast coral
structures of the Great Mayan Reef. You can also explore underground
systems that lead to the following sinkholes: Chac Mool, La
Ponderosa, Dos Ojos, Nohoch-Na-Chich, Gran Cenote, Car Wash, Chikin
Ha, Taj Majal and Angelita.
Majahual. Located 145 km (90 mi) northwest of Chetumal on Highway.
307. This quiet fishing village has a group of ecological bungalows
that were built with local natural resources. They provide ideal
lodging if you?re looking to relax amid the lush vegetation. Off
this coast you will find clear waters that allow you to scuba dive
and discover the extraordinary marine life of the coral reefs. The
most common species you will see are starfish, seahorses, dolphins,
turtles, sponges and coral fish.
Parque Natural Aktun Chen. Located at Km 107 off the Cancun-Tulum
Highway between Akumal and Xel-Há. In this park you'll find one of
Quintana Roo's main cave systems. Open daily from 9:00 to 5:00. Here
you will discover, among other wonders, a 12-meter (39-foot) deep
sinkhole with crystalline waters, as well as thousands of
stalactites, stalagmites and fascinating rock formations.
XPLOR PARK
¡New coolest park in the Riviera Maya!
The brand new 50-hectare complex is located two
kilometers away from Xcaret Park and has a daily capacity for 1200
visitors. Xplor Park features an underground river with stalactites,
water caves and cenotes for rafting, and also has the longest
zip-line in Mexico with an extension of more than 500 meters, as
journeys with amphibian vehicle through the jungle.
Investment opportunities and Real Estate properties for sale or
rent in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Residential
Real Estate in the city or on the
Caribbean Sea shore. Villas condominiums, apartments,
beachfront houses, lots and more.
Click Here!
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