Few places on earth cause as much amazement as the Riviera Maya. This is a 125-mile-Iong coastline that extends along the incredible turquoise blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean, on the eastern shores of the State of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula.

What makes the Riviera Maya so different from other coast­lines around the world? It has a large quantity of beaches with glistening white sand and mild surf. Near the shore, a low-ele­vation jungle, typical of the tropics, acts as a wall to the sea.

Practically impenetrable, it’s a habitat for a rich variety of flora and fauna and for geological formations. Here are the “cenotes”-deposits of capricious shapes and different sizes, produced by the subterranean rivers that emerged to the surface over the course of millions of years. Facing the Riviera Maya’s coast is the world’s second-largest coral reef, making it an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling.

The starting point of the Riviera Maya is Puerto Morelos. Just south is Playa Maroma, a 370-acre eco-park of tropical jungle, mangroves and cenotes, where travelers can enjoy biking, canoeing, kayaking, trekking and horseback riding. Playa del Carmen, the largest town in the Riviera Maya, offers the flavor of a small fishing village mixed with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Shopping, restaurants and nightlife center around Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida).

The resort area of Playacar is home to a number of upscale and all-inclusive resorts, more than 100 small archeological sites, the Xaman-Ha Aviary (home to more than 200 bird species)and Cavernas Sacbe, a rock cavern.

Xcaret is an eco-archaeological park offering a unique glimpse into the region’s natural surroundings and inter­active activities like snorkeling in under­ground rivers, swimming with dolphins, horseback riding and scuba diving. There’s also a natural aquarium, museum, botanical garden, Mayan village and unique folkloric shows at night.

The small bay and beach of Paamul, where turtles come to leave their eggs, offers visitors another of the region’s best spots for diving and snorkeling and is a great place for a picnic.

The upscale resort area of Puerto Aventuras offers the ideal location for visitors looking to relax in comfort and tranquility. Best known for the annual fish­ing tournament held here each May, this town centers around the Riviera Maya’s only full-service marina. The Cultural and Poly-Religious Center, the only one of its kind in the Riviera Maya, is also here. The 5 star Aventura Spa Palace is located adjecent to puerto Aventuras.

Continuing south, visitors will note Xpu-Ha, a large beautiful bay and beach with calm waters and great visibility, as well as Kantenah, another secluded beach area. Xpu-Ha is home to the Cenote Manatee, one of the largest cenotes in the region, and the Xpu-Ha Lagoon. Kantun Chi is a remarkable eco-park in the heart of the Riviera Maya that is excellent for snorkel­ing in freshwater cenotes and exploring the underground caverns. Its name means “yellow stone mouth” in Mayan.

Aktun­Chen features three caves filled with stalac­tite and stalagmite rocks, cenotes and an opportunity to see the Riviera Maya’s diverse wildlife.

The small town of Akumal, known as “the place of turtles,” is a favorite place of the endangered marine turtles, as well as for divers. It’s also well known for its eco­logical center, Ukana-I, which is used for both research and as a community center. Just north of Akumal is YaIku Lagoon, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

The beaches of Soliman Bay and Tankah are favorites for both locals and tourists. Further south is Xel-Ha (“the place where water was born”), a l50-acre eco-archeological park. An incredible nat­ural aquarium where the ocean combines with the freshwater springs and under­ground rivers, Xel-Ha is ideal for tubing, snorkeling and swimming. Xel-Ha is also home to macaws and is surrounded by a thick jungle, caves and cenotes. Archeological sites containing altars dedi­cated to Yum Chac are located nearby.

The archeological site of Tulum (“walled city”) offers some of the most impressive Mayan ruins anywhere. Built on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, this site contains more than 60 well-pre­served structures. Tulum also offers beauti­ful beaches and cenotes, including the well known Calavera, the Grand cenote and the Car Wash. Located inland, Coba is one of the most important archeological sites in the Riviera Maya. The main pyramid, Nohuch Mul, is 138 feet tall, the highest on the west side of the Peninsula.

To the extreme south of the Riviera Maya on a small peninsula is Sian Ka’ an Biosphere Reserve, which offers an oppor­tunity to explore mangroves, ancient Mayan canals and the almost untouched wilderness of the jungle. Only a limited part of the reserve, a large protected area of 1.5 million acres with more than 62 miles of the Great Maya Reef, is open to tourists. Located within the Reserve are Boca Paila and Punta Allen, a village with only 600 inhabitants whose livelihood is dependent on spiny lobster fishing.

The southernmost point in the Riviera Maya is the town of Felipe Puerto Carillo, considered a central point for all Mayan communities of the area. It provides a glimpse into the past, as the town has pre­served much of its ancient Mayan culture. Its numerous historic and archaeological sites include The Temple de la Cruz Parlante (Temple of the Talking Cross) and a cultural center from the last century.

Travel Options While Vacationing in Mexico

Vacationing in Mexico is something that many individuals, families, and couples do. If you are interested in or you are planning on visiting Mexico, you may have to find ways to travel. Unless you are staying at a beach resort, spa resort, or golf resort, it is likely that you will want to get out and see everything that Mexico has to offer. If you plan on traveling while on vacation in Mexico, you have a number of different options.

Perhaps, the most preferred method of travel is driving. Most individuals fly into Mexico; however, some drive. If you drive into Mexico, it is likely that you would want to use you own car to travel. Driving in Mexico is not as hard as many people expect. The main thing that you need to be concerned with is the documents and insurance that is needed to drive in Mexico.

If you are planning on using your car to travel in or around Mexico, you will have to file for a vehicle import permit. These permits can be obtained before you leave for Mexico or your can obtain them as soon as you arrive. Vehicle import permits are important because without one you could be incarcerated, fined, or have your vehicle impounded.

In addition in acquiring a vehicle import permit, you will also need to have car insurance. Unfortunately, too many individuals believe that their current car insurance policy will cover their Mexico vacation. In most cases, this is not true. To obtain car insurance while in Mexico, you will have to find a Mexican auto insurance company or one that operates on an international level. When first scheduling your Mexico vacation, it is advised that you obtain auto insurance for your trip.

As previously mentioned, not all travelers enter Mexico by driving themselves.

If you choose to fly into Mexico, you can still use road travel to get around. A large number of tourist make the decision to rent a car. In Mexico, car rentals are a cheap and fairly easy way to travel.

Similar to car rental policies in the Untied States, you must be at least twenty-five years old to rent a vehicle. Other requirements may include, but are not limited to, having a valid driver’s license and a current auto insurance policy. As with driving your own vehicle, you may need to obtain auto insurance from a company in Mexico.

Traveling by train, in Mexico, can be an amazing experience. In addition to getting to your destination, you will find that a train ride is a great way to see all that Mexico has to offer. Traditional train rides can take you from one destination to another. In addition to traditional train rides, you will find that Mexico offers a number of train tours. Similar to boat tours, these tours are a great way for you to sightsee while traveling to another part of the country.

In addition to car rentals, driving yourself, or taking the train, you can also travel around Mexico by taking the bus. In many areas of Mexico, traveling by bus comes highly recommend. Buses depart from popular Mexico vacation destinations, often, on an hourly basis. Buses are available throughout Mexico, even in vacation destinations that are not as well-known or popular. No matter where you are located, it should be possible for you catch a bus.

Traveling by car, bus, or train is often viewed as the only ways to travel around Mexico. It may also be possible for you to travel by boat. The only downside to traveling by boat is that you are presented with a limited number of travel options. If you are interested in traveling from one coastal city to the next, boat travel may be a great way to get to your next destination.

Whichever method of travel you select, you should be able to get to your next stop. By selecting the proper method of travel, you may be able to see amazing historical sites along the way.

 San Jose del Cabo is a great place to spend a leisurely day of shopping in the historic downtown area. Most of the shops are located a short distance from the main plaza and church.  

 Many of the shops in San Jose are smaller specialty shops that sell gifts, crafts and clothing from all over México along with some that specialize in local creations. The shopping atmosphere around the plaza is casual and relaxed, allowing you to fully enjoy the old town ambience of downtown San Jose.  

There are a few shopping plazas in the town that are (sometimes) more modern, but you can most likely find just about anything you may need within walking distance of the main plaza. Mixed in among the shops you will find enough small cafes and restaurants to keep you alert for your shopping expedition.

The sport fishing in the Los Cabos area is unparalleled in the world.  Marlin of the blue, black and striped variety. Sailfish, Dorado (also known as mahi mahi or dolphin fish), Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish and endless varieties of bottom fish and surf fish. Los Cabos is, by far, the world’s very best all around location for sport fishing. Even if you are not an avid fisherman, you should try your hand at  fishing while visiting.

The local “PANGAS” of La Playita are the specialty here in San Jose.  The panga fleet offers a relatively inexpensive way to catch your trophy fish while having a lot of fun on the water.  Surf fishing also can be very productive here and can be great fun for the whole family.  The beaches of La Playita, near the panga fleet, and all of shoreline east of La Playita are very productive fisheries, even from the beach.  Pack a lunch, have a picnic on the beach and most importantly, relax and enjoy yourself.

Los Cabos has long been one of Mexico’s most popular Sportfishing destinations. You can go after the many favorites of sport fishermen, Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Grouper and Yellow Fin Tuna.   San Jose del Cabo has it’s own panga fleet located In La Playita. The panga fleet offers a relatively inexpensive way to catch your trophy fish while having a lot of fun on the water.  Surf fishing also can be very productive here and can be great fun for the whole family. 

The beaches of La Playita, near the panga fleet, and all of shoreline east of La Playita are very productive fisheries, even from the beach.   This is one of the most successful panga fleet operations in the entire world.  Just because the pangas are small in size (when compared to some of the cruisers), don’t think for a minute that these boats aren’t capable of catching “the big one”. The San Jose panga fleet is just a short distance away from some of the richest fishing grounds in the entire world. These fishermen are some of the most experienced in México, and their daily catch ratio is among the best. Although they generally specialize in the smaller species of game fish, they regularly catch striped or blue marlin and some very sizeable Yellow Fin Tuna.

We are also listing some of the fishing fleets that are located in Cabo San Lucas, for your convenience, as we realize that panga fishing is not for everybody. Cabo San Lucas has a large, modern marina and some of the finest charter boats in the world call this marina home.  The comfort of an enclosed cruiser is often called for, depending on the weather and the wife or girlfriend.

If you should happen to catch Dorado, Wahoo, Tuna or Grouper, ask your captain about having your fish prepared, while it is still fresh, at one of the local restaurants. If you wish to bring you fish back with you, have it frozen by your charter operator. Make sure to check with your airline as rules regarding the types of acceptable coolers, used to transport your catch, vary by airline.

Pack a lunch, have a picnic on the beach and most importantly, relax and enjoy yourself.

Stay in this charming, relaxing environment, we recommend the Cabo San Lucas Playa del Sol Resort. 

Our Playa del Sol time share rental is available for your use at a very affordable vacation rates.

San Jose del Cabo is laid out differently than most beach resorts. 

The downtown area is actually about a mile away from the beach.  What most would consider the main beach, in the hotel zone, is really not very popular and not really safe for swimming much of the year. 

Costa Azul, an area of resort condos, is probably the most popular beach in San Jose del Cabo.  The very west end of this long stretch of beach is home to San Jose’s popular surfing breaks.  

To the east of San Jose is La Playita, the popular starting point for the areas panga fleet.  To the east of La Playita lie miles and miles of deserted beaches, in an area known as the East Cape. 

This stretch of the shoreline of the Sea of Cortez is getting more popular yearly and for good reason.  The dirt road that lingers along this stretch of beach is famous for being in terrible shape, although the government has been promising to pave it for years.  A trip along the East Cape can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a bit rough on your tailbone. 

There are also many quiet beaches and coves located in the Corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas if you want to explore on your own.