Spectacular Things to Do in Riviera Maya: Where Ancient Wonders Meet Turquoise Paradise

Unmissable Things To Do In Riviera Maya (Without Looking Like A Tourist)

The Riviera Maya offers such an embarrassment of riches that visitors often make the rookie mistake of trying to do everything, resulting in a vacation that requires another vacation to recover from. A strategic approach to the region’s attractions will help you experience the essential things to do in Riviera Maya without returning home looking like you’ve been dragged behind a tour bus for a week.

Ancient Wonders That Survived Both Time and Tourism

The Tulum Archaeological Site stands as the celebrity influencer of Mayan ruins—impossibly photogenic with its 13th-century structures perched dramatically on 39-foot limestone cliffs overlooking the Caribbean. For a mere $4 entrance fee, visitors can wander among temples where elite Mayans once worshipped, all while fighting the urge to post “Monday office views” on social media. Arrive before 10am to avoid both the crushing crowds and the heat that turns the exposed archaeological zone into Mexico’s largest natural sauna.

Chichen Itza, located about two hours inland, deserves its status as both a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. El Castillo pyramid serves as a massive stone calendar, with exactly 365 steps and precise astronomical alignment that creates the illusion of a serpent descending the stairs during equinoxes. The $30 entrance fee grants access to this marvel of ancient engineering, though spending an additional $45-60 on a guided tour provides context beyond “wow, old buildings!” that makes the experience substantially more meaningful.

For travelers seeking bragging rights, Coba offers the increasingly rare opportunity to actually climb an ancient Mayan pyramid. Nohoch Mul stands 137 feet tall, making it the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan—and possibly the most anxiety-inducing climb for anyone with a fear of heights. The site sprawls through jungle terrain, with bicycle rentals available for those who realize too late that “archaeological zone” is code for “more walking than your flip flops were designed for.”

Insider tip: Bring Mexican peso cash for these sites, as the credit card machines mysteriously “malfunction” with a frequency that would bankrupt any legitimate retail operation. This technological anomaly affects ATMs as well, typically on days ending in ‘y’.

Nature’s Swimming Pools: Cenotes and Underground Rivers

The Yucatan Peninsula resembles Swiss cheese, but instead of holes filled with dairy deliciousness, its limestone bedrock houses over 6,000 cenotes—natural sinkholes filled with groundwater so clear it seems like a Photoshop job. These cenotes once served as Mayan sacrificial sites but have been repurposed for tourists who prefer to sacrifice only their dignity when attempting underwater photography.

Cenote Dos Ojos (“Two Eyes”) features a pair of connected sinkholes with water so pristine it maintains a consistent 77°F temperature and visibility that makes snorkelers feel like they’re suspended in air rather than water. For $25, visitors can swim among dramatic stalactites while small catfish conduct what appears to be an underwater neighborhood watch program. Equipment rentals are available on-site, though bringing your own mask and snorkel saves money and the discomfort of wondering who used it before you.

Gran Cenote near Tulum strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and beauty, with its partially open-air setting and underwater cave connections. Resident turtles patrol the crystal waters, seemingly unimpressed by the humans awkwardly floating above them. Facilities include lockers ($2) and mandatory life vest rentals ($5), which prevent tourists from achieving their apparent goal of becoming archaeological discoveries for future generations.

For families, Cenote Azul offers shallow areas, natural platforms for jumping, and tiny fish that provide free pedicures by nibbling dead skin from feet—a service that would cost $50 at a spa but here comes included in the $5 entrance fee. The on-site restaurant serves surprisingly decent food, though prices increase proportionally with how wet and hungry you appear.

The more ambitious can explore Río Secreto, an underground river system where guided tours ($79-109) lead small groups through illuminated cave formations. Wading and swimming through this subterranean world feels like starring in your own National Geographic special, though with considerably less graceful movements and more accidental drinking of cave water.

Coastal Activities from Playa del Carmen to Akumal

Playa del Carmen’s La Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) serves as the region’s main pedestrian shopping street, a mile-long gauntlet of everything from authentic crafts to mass-produced tchotchkes featuring sombreros and questionable Spanish phrases. Venture three blocks inland, however, and the tourist tax mysteriously disappears—restaurants where actual Mexicans eat serve identical dishes at half the price, without the mandatory mariachi soundtrack.

Akumal Bay provides one of the most accessible natural wildlife encounters in the region, with resident green sea turtles that have clearly not read the memo about maintaining a safe distance from humans. Recent regulations now require guides ($40 per person) to protect both the environment and tourists who might otherwise attempt to ride these endangered creatures like aquatic ponies. The experience of swimming alongside these gentle reptiles as they graze on seagrass remains one of the most magical things to do in Riviera Maya.

The sleepy fishing village of Puerto Morelos offers access to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, located conveniently close to shore. Guided snorkeling tours ($45-60) reveal a kaleidoscope of coral formations and tropical fish that make Finding Nemo look like amateur hour. The town itself maintains a refreshingly authentic vibe, with seafood restaurants where your dinner was likely swimming that morning and prices that don’t require a second mortgage.

For beach purists seeking sand without salespeople offering beach braids every five minutes, Xpu-Ha Beach represents pristine paradise. Less crowded than its famous neighbors, this stretch of powdery white sand hosts affordable beach clubs (typically $15 minimum consumption) and swimming conditions unblemished by seaweed that occasionally plagues other beaches. The absence of high-rise hotels creates the increasingly rare “I discovered this place” feeling, even though you definitely didn’t.

Eco-Parks and Nature Reserves: The Commercialized and the Authentic

Xcaret has perfected the art of packaging Mexican culture and natural beauty into a theme park experience that somehow justifies its steep $120-150 admission. This sprawling “eco-archaeological park” features underground rivers, cultural performances, and animal exhibits that manage to be simultaneously educational and entertaining. The evening spectacular summarizing Mexico’s history through music and dance actually manages to be non-cheesy, a feat more impressive than the pyramids themselves.

Xel-Ha focuses more exclusively on water activities, essentially functioning as Mother Nature’s aquatic playground. The all-inclusive food and drink package included in the $100-130 admission helps ease the sticker shock, as does floating down a lazy river through mangroves with unlimited nachos awaiting at the end. The park’s commitment to sustainability feels genuine, even if the commercial aspects occasionally make environmentalists twitch.

For those seeking nature without synchronized swimming shows, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve offers 1.3 million acres of protected ecosystems just south of Tulum. Guided boat tours ($100-150) navigate through mangrove channels, revealing manatees, dolphins, and hundreds of bird species going about their business without spotlights or background music. The absence of gift shops and buffet restaurants is either a feature or a bug, depending on your wilderness tolerance.

Aktun Chen provides a less polished but more authentic nature experience for around $45. This park features a 5-million-year-old cave, modest ziplines, and wildlife that hasn’t learned to pose for photos, including spider monkeys, coatis, and deer that retain their natural wariness of humans taking selfies. The cenote here lacks the professional lighting of commercial parks but compensates with a profound silence broken only by the occasional “wow” echoing off ancient limestone.

Where to Rest Your Sunburned Body: Accommodations for All Budgets

Budget travelers can find surprisingly comfortable hostels in Tulum and Playa del Carmen for $15-30 per night, though the term “budget” in the Riviera Maya still exceeds what you’d pay in many other Mexican regions. Small hotels like Hotel Cielo in Playa del Carmen offer private rooms with character for $60-80 nightly, while vacation rentals in residential areas provide apartment-style accommodations with kitchenettes for $50-100, allowing visitors to cook meals and pretend they’re not secretly eating tacos for breakfast.

Mid-range options include boutique hotels like La Pasion Hotel in Playa del Carmen ($100-150/night) with rooftop pools and included breakfast that extends beyond the sad continental offerings at chain hotels. In Tulum, Hotel Esencia ($180-250/night) delivers bohemian-chic aesthetics with the outdoor showers that seem mandatory in this region, despite the practical challenges they present to modest bathers.

Luxury seekers gravitate toward properties like Rosewood Mayakoba ($500-800/night), where private lagoon suites come with dedicated butlers who somehow anticipate needs before guests realize they have them. Banyan Tree Mayakoba ($600-900/night) offers private pool villas where clothing remains largely optional and the term “indoor/outdoor living” reaches its logical conclusion with bathroom facilities that blur the line between privacy and exhibitionism.

All-inclusive resorts vary dramatically in quality, from the value-oriented The Fives Beach Hotel ($300-450/night for two people) to the adults-only luxury of Unico 20°87° ($500-700/night), where even the most jaded travelers admit the food actually tastes like food instead of the mass-produced buffet items typically associated with wristband resorts. Direct bookings often include extras like spa credits or free breakfasts, while summer months (June-October) offer 30-40% lower rates for those willing to brave occasional afternoon showers and higher humidity.

Practical Matters: Getting Around, Staying Safe, and Not Going Broke

Transportation options include ADO buses connecting major destinations (Cancun to Playa del Carmen costs $8-12) with surprisingly comfortable seats and functional air conditioning. For budget travelers, colectivos (shared vans) charge $2-5 between towns and operate with a loosely organized system that somehow works despite appearing completely chaotic to newcomers. Rental cars ($40-60/day plus mandatory insurance) provide independence but come with challenges like speed bumps capable of removing vehicle undercarriages and police officers with creative interpretations of traffic laws.

Money matters require planning, as many smaller vendors and cenotes accept only cash. While dollars are widely accepted, the exchange rates offered make airport currency exchanges look generous by comparison. ATMs generally provide better rates than cambios (exchange offices), though they compensate with convenience fees that would make bank executives blush. The tipping culture resembles the U.S., with 15-20% standard for restaurants and tours.

Safety in tourist areas remains generally good, though standard precautions apply. The main dangers tourists face include sunburn capable of triggering international radiation alerts, tequila sold without warning labels about morning regret, and rental car agencies claiming “broken” gas gauges that miraculously heal after charging hefty refueling fees. For transportation between destinations, private transfers ($80-120 from Cancun Airport to Tulum) offer peace of mind for those uncomfortable with public transit or driving in a foreign country.

Local Cuisine Beyond Tacos and Margaritas

Yucatecan cuisine stands distinct from generic “Mexican food,” with specialties like cochinita pibil (pork marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaves and slow-roasted underground) appearing on menus throughout the region. Sopa de lima delivers a tangy chicken soup that somehow refreshes despite the tropical heat, while panuchos (stuffed tortillas topped with turkey or chicken, lettuce, avocado, and pickled onions) provide the perfect handheld meal between adventures.

Seafood naturally dominates coastal menus, with fresh ceviche “cooked” in lime juice and pescado a la Tikin Xic (fish marinated in achiote and citrus, grilled in banana leaves) offering flavors unique to the peninsula. Adventurous eaters should try pulpo en su tinta (octopus in its ink), a dramatic black dish that tastes infinitely better than it photographs. To find these authentic flavors at reasonable prices, follow locals to small restaurants away from tourist zones where meals cost $5-10 instead of $20-30 for identical dishes served on whiter plates.

Beyond the omnipresent margarita, the region offers distinctive drinks including micheladas (beer mixed with lime, salt, spices, and often tomato juice), xtabentún (a honey-anise liqueur that dates back to Mayan times), and an emerging craft beer scene that proves Mexico’s brewing talents extend far beyond Corona. Markets in Playa del Carmen’s less touristy sections provide both affordable meals and authentic flavors, with vendors who appear genuinely surprised to see non-Mexican faces but welcome curious eaters with patient explanations and generous portions.