Riviera maya holidays - Mexico

Mile upon mile of glorious fine, white sand

Facing the Caribbean Sea, the Riviera Maya offers everything you need for a perfect beach holiday, with those beautiful stretches of sand, a great choice of watersports, and accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets.

The resorts on this favoured stretch of coast range from lively Cancun, through perfect sporting spots such as Playacar and Puerto Aventuras, to chilled-out locations such as Playa del Secreto.

You’ll have a wide variety of accommodation to choose from on a package holiday or all-inclusive holiday, ranging from small bed and breakfast establishments to luxury hotels from some of the most renowned chains in the world.

Beaches on the Riviera Maya look just as you’d picture them in a dream – mile upon mile of glorious fine, white sand washed by crystal clear water. And just off the coast, the world’s second largest barrier reef entices scuba divers the world over to explore its rainbow of colour.

Playa del Carmen is known as the capital of the Riviera Maya, and is an extensive, lively resort which nevertheless leaves the serious partying to neighbouring Cancun.

To discover the secrets of a civilisation thousands of years old, you can take a tour of the ancient town of Tulum, or follow the well-trodden trail to Chichen Itza to see the outstanding relics of the Mayans. This is usually a full-day excursion with quite a bit of climbing involved, so be sure to wear strong shoes and take some drinking water!

dining out in riviera maya

There is a huge variety of restaurants on the Riviera Maya especially in the busier beach resorts. The hotel restaurants offer a wide selection of dishes including some of the freshest seafood available. Mexican specialities in the local restaurants and cafes are recommended.

The Riviera Maya’s nightlife is very varied, and you can make it as loud or as leisurely as you wish. Nightclubs and beach parties keep going through to dawn, while a relaxed open air beach-front bar will give you fabulous views of the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea with little but the sounds of lively conversation to disturb the idyll.

The beautiful Riviera Maya is a popular holiday paradise, offering equal opportunities to go wild, or just completely relax. Whichever end of the spectrum you opt for, check first for availability of deals and offers on last-minute holidays from The Co-operative Travel which could mean big savings.