Mayan Riviera-Maya Vacations

Important Travel Information for Mayan Riviera

• ATMLimited access in Playa Del Carmen
• Bars and Night LifeLimited mostly to hotels, some in Playa Del Carmen
• Car RentalsRight-hand drive - good roads for self exploration
• CasinosNone
• Credit CardsWidely Accepted
• DivingGood - Strong Current
• Golf1 - 18 hole championship course, 1 - 9 hole in Puerto Aventuras
• RestaurantsLimited mostly to hotels, some in Playa Del Carmen
• Sight SeeingExcellent - Mayan Ruins, historic sites
• Time ZoneCentral
• VegetationPalm fringed beaches, lush
• WaterWater mains chlorinated / bottled water still recommended for drinking
• Water SportsGood

Mayan Riviera Vacations: Package Holidays Offering Something for Everyone

General Information About Mayan Riviera Vacations

The Mayan Riviera (also properly referred to as "Riviera Maya"), an area that begins approximately one and a half hours south of Cancun airport, includes smaller developments along the Yucatan Peninsula coastline, such as Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Calica, Puerto Aventuras, and Tulum. In addition to the many wonderful resort hotels and white sand beaches situated along the coast, this area is steeped in Mayan culture, as the nearby Mayan ruins certainly indicate. Compared with Cancun, Mayan Riviera vacations offer a more relaxed pace for those in search of an all-inclusive package holiday with a bit more serenity, while still providing all of the great options you could want. Riviera Maya Hotels tend to be large, all-inclusive complexes, providing for all of their guests' needs. Considering the relative isolation of most Mayan Riviera resorts, all-inclusive vacation packages are not only great value, but somewhat necessary.

All-inclusive Mayan Riviera vacation packages generally appeal to families, couples, and groups due to the relatively limited nightlife at most resorts, calmer beaches, and more relaxed pace. If you are looking for a Riviera Maya vacation package with great nightlife, you need to be in Playa del Carmen and Playacar. We recommend that you book your Mayan Riviera vacation package at one of the larger resort complexes that invites outside guests to participate in shared nightlife festivities. For those wishing to explore off of the resort during their Riviera Maya holiday, a rental car is the best option, and the driving is easy. Otherwise, the relative isolation can make mobility difficult. Taxis offer another option, but distances to desired destinations can be considerable, and fares may add up. As always, when on vacation, remember that there is safety in numbers. Also, although the drinking water is designated as safe to drink, we recommend that you stick with bottled water.

Sand and Sun on Your Riviera Maya Vacation

Generally speaking, the beaches along the Riviera Maya are good and wide, calm, and swimmer friendly – certainly not as rough as Cancun – a consideration when searching for the "right" all-inclusive holiday vacation package. Those returning from Mayan Riviera vacations seldom complain about the magnificent beaches. However, beach conditions are Hotel dependent, and may vary to some degree. The beach at Playacar may be affected by tidal activity, but when conditions are good, they are really good. The beaches in Tulum tend to be the best of all the Mayan Riviera package holiday locations. Seaweed can occasionally affect the beaches in Puerto Morelos.

The Riviera Maya is blessed with warm tropical weather, making it a great destination for your package holiday. The landscape is generally flat and dry, with thick vegetation near the beach that is either preserved or cleared away completely, at the discretion of each hotel. Maximum temperatures typically range between 26°C (78.8°F) and 33°C (91.4°F) in the day, and between 18°C (64.4°F) and 25°C(77°F) at night, with the greatest rainfall typically peaking in the months of July-August. Hurricane season, with its unpredictability of storm events, typically lasts from July through December, peaking from mid-August to mid-December. Although the Riviera Maya is generally less impacted by hurricanes when compared with some Caribbean destinations, the possibility remains. However, when booking your Mayan Riviera package holiday, you can rest assured that tour operators will not fly you into a hurricane, will act fast to get you out in the event of any development, and will offer an alternative destination or travel credit by way of compensation if your holiday plans are affected. You can find great Riviera Maya vacation package deals during hurricane season, and the economic advantage is well worth considering. We recommend that you speak with one of our tripcentral agents to fully understand the great value benefit vs. limited risk associated with travel to this region during hurricane season.

Things to See and Do on Your Mayan Riviera Package Vacation

One of the main reasons to choose an all-inclusive Mayan Riviera vacation package is the great variety of available options that appeal to all tastes. Whether you prefer isolation and serenity, action-packed sporting activities, or discovering a world of Mayan Kings and culture, there’s a Mayan Riviera vacation package to suit your needs. If nightlife is a priority, every weekend is a party in Playa del Carmen and Cirque de Mayo, with beachfront bars and all the excitement you can handle. But nightlife at the more remote resorts is certainly limited, catering to those families, couples, and groups in search of more serenity. If casinos are your thing, you may wish to look at other destinations – although Riviera Maya packages offer just about everything, there are no casinos here.

For shopping and restaurants, again, Playa del Carmen is the place to be. There's quite a diverse selection of restaurants in Playa del Carmen – popular chain, local, themed, gourmet, and more. Among them, you will find Senior Frogs, Carlos & Charlies, Blue Parrot, and Coco Bongos, to name a few. Fifth Avenue, in Playa del Carmen, is your main destination for a vibrant shopping district – a one-mile-long cobblestone road, loaded with shops, restaurants, and attractions. Playa del Carmen is definitely the place to shop on your Riviera Maya package holiday, where you'll find small shops, markets, high-end stores, and all of the big brands available for browsing. Banking in Playa del Carmen is widely available and convenient, and not otherwise readily available along the coast, other than at the resorts.

If you are looking for sports activity options, Mayan Riviera vacations have a lot to offer. For scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts, there are plenty of reefs, making the Riviera Maya a great destination, but you may need to travel a bit to get to your dive/snorkelling location. Most other water sports are available to enhance your Mayan Riviera package holiday, including fishing, parasailing, waterskiing, and more. For the golfing aficionado, Riviera Maya vacations offer reasonably-priced golf at the Iberostar and Riu in Playacar. Your tripcentral agent can provide you with all of the information that you need to ensure that your Mayan Riviera vacation package includes all of the golfing opportunities you desire.

Riviera Maya offers plenty of day trip opportunities for those wishing to enhance their package vacation with great sightseeing and cultural experiences. Major sightseeing attractions include the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, Xcaret, Tulum, and Xel-ha, where you can walk in the footsteps of Mayan Kings and marvel at ancient pyramids on your holiday. Playa del Carmen is definitely worth exploring, and from there, a ferry ride to Cozumel opens up even greater opportunities for discovery. Many tourists who choose all-inclusive Mayan Riviera packages opt to enhance their vacation with a day trip to Cancun, one to two hours away, depending on the hotel location for a taste of the faster-pace and vibrant nightlife.

All-Inclusive Mayan Riviera Vacation Package Availability, Accommodations, and Value

You have many hotel resort options available to you when booking your all-inclusive Mayan Riviera vacation package, and year round flights are widely available from all major gateways across Canada, with the exception of certain seasonal limitations out of Atlantic Canada. A 20 to 90 minute drive from the airport will take you to one of the great selection of major-brand hotels that stretch along a 90-minute drive of coastline. The majority of the all-inclusive Riviera Maya hotels are large, low-rise complexes, constructed in the 1990s, and amply spaced apart. Due to the relative isolation of most hotels, Mayan Riviera vacations are offered as all-inclusive packages, which also limits mingling between guests from nearby resorts. Other than Playa del Carmen, most resorts are rather quiet, catering to those in search of a more relaxing holiday experience. For those who want to enjoy a Mayan Riviera vacation package that offers a bit more excitement, the Royal Playa del Carmen and Gran Porto Real are located at the end of 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen. Some boutique hotels are also available along 5th Avenue, placing you right in the middle of all the action.

For those planning a wedding in the sun, Mayan Riviera vacations can be customized with this in mind, and are a great option. Wedding ceremonies are generally conducted at the resorts, and not at chapels. Due to the popularity of holiday weddings in this region, availability may be an issue. Speak with one of our tripcentral agents to start planning your dream wedding in the sun, and be sure to book early.

Mayan Riviera vacations are relatively more expensive than holiday travel to the Dominican Republic or Cuba, due to the greater development of infrastructure. Generally, Riviera Maya packages offer better quality and stability over other designated "value" destinations. If you have never visited the Mayan Riviera, you owe it to yourself to discover this great holiday destination. Speak with one of our tripcentral agents about booking your Mayan Riviera vacation package today.

Mayan Riviera-Maya Vacations Video

Mayan Riviera-Maya Vacations Pictures

Tulum Ruins - Riviera Maya, Mexico