Mayan Riveria Things To Do:
There are tons of activities to do in the Mayan Riveria and Yucatan area of Mexico. And these activities can be done with all sorts of budgets. From snorkling in Cosumel for only $12 US, to once in a lifetime opportunity to ride horses along the beach for about $100 US for an afternoon – we know you will not have time to be bored! And we hope this trip will leave an ever-lasting impression on you and your family!
On this special vacation, we recommend you take ample time to sit back and relax in Playa Del Carmen. The locals in Playa tend to walk really, really slow, and if you get in the right groove, you will find yourself wandering the boardwalk at a pace you and others can easily enjoy – fitting in with the locals.
If you want adventure, take a day trip to one of the many activities that are available and be sure to take loads of pictures as we will want to put them up on the website when we are done! We will be working with LiahonaQuest Adventure Travel while we are down there (the owner is a long time friend of ours), and we are hoping to put together some activities everyone can participate in over the week. Rest assured, you will have options to get out and enjoy this part of Mexico like you have never had before.
Here are some website links on the Mayan Riveria Area:
- PlayaReservations.com – Playa Del Carmen local links, things to do, local maps, and more.
- PlayaInfo – A very good website with links and stuff on the locals and rentals and what to do around Playa.
- Travel the Yucatan – A great guide and links about the whole Yucatan area of Mexico. You will find just about everything you need here including travel tips, maps, hotel rates, safety, etc.
- The Mayan Riviera Overview – 04/09 TravelAge West – Good overview on the historics of the area.
- Go 2 Playa – a website with an overview of Playa Del Carmen and the activities in the area
- Info-Tulum – information on the area and main attractions in and around Tulum
- LiahonaQuest Adventure Travel – this site has much information on the Yucatan and Central America areas.
History of the Mayan Riveria
The Riveria Maya has a stunning shoreline where the untamed jungle meets the crystal-blue Caribbean Sea. Originally the Riviera Maya region was an important trade and religious hub for the ancient Mayas between 1000-1550 AD. You can still see the remnants of this prosperous era at the ruins of Tulum and the towns of Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, and Xel-Ha.
This prosperity waned after many wars and invasions before the Spaniards’ arrival. After their arrival, the colonial government didn’t see any economic need to develop the area. Lucky for us, the inadequate roads discouraged development of the area.
Riviera Maya slowly developed into a vacation destination with the popularity of Cozumel for cruise ships. Initially, people only came to Playa Del Carmen to catch the ferry to the beautiful island, but they were quick to discover the natural beauty of this gateway to Cozumel.
The tranquil paradise of the Mayan Riviera stretches more than 100 km south of Cancun offering stunning beauty and with ruggedly beautiful beaches, lush vegetation and a charming Mexican atmosphere, the Mayan Riviera offers the perfect place to relax on a swaying hammock and enjoy the serenity of this beautiful tropical paradise.