Riviera Maya

White-sand beaches, ancient Mayan ruins and one of the world’s biggest coral reefs. Holidays to the Riviera Maya don’t exactly stint on the attractions.

A resort that keeps on giving

Riviera Maya doesn’t mess about. Set on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, this place has carved itself a big slice of the action with a whopping 30 kilometres of coastline. And it’s staked out its territory well, taking in lively Playa del Carmen and quieter Punta Allen as its own. Whatever patch you’re on, you’ll get world-class beaches and as many Mayan ruins as you can handle.

Paradise beaches

No kidding, the beaches here are the real deal – backdropped by low-lying jungle, they’ve got white sands shelving into turquoise waters. They also happen to have the world’s second biggest reef, so you won’t go short on tropical fish. And the cenotes make it a hat trick – these are super-sized rock pools that you can swim in.

Post-sand fun

The beaches might take all the applause during the day, but the nightlife is quite a crowd-pleaser, too. If you’re up for a party, then Playa del Carmen will sort you out with bars and clubs. At the smaller resorts, the hotels are more likely to take care of things with theme nights, casinos and discos.

Easy day trips

At Tulum, you’ve got the ruins of a Mayan city perched on a cliff above the beach. There’s also a castle-like shrine and the Temple of Frescoes to get round. In fact, this place ticks so many boxes it’s the most photographed spot in Mexico. While you’re out and about, you could also pop into an eco park – there are 4 of them around these parts.