,regionOfInterest=(1728,1152))
,regionOfInterest=(1728,1152))
Best beaches in Mexico
,regionOfInterest=(1258,1408))
,regionOfInterest=(1258,1408))
Holidays
,regionOfInterest=(2150,1471))
,regionOfInterest=(2150,1471))
The Riviera Maya stretches along the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo and brings together very different places and atmospheres. That is why, before booking your accommodation, it is important to be clear about what you are looking for: atmosphere and nightlife, nature and cenotes, or simply disconnecting far from the most touristy and crowded areas.
Deciding where to stay in the Riviera Maya will define much of your trip, just as much as or more than planning which places you are going to visit or what activities you are going to do.
As a preview, you should know that, from north to south, the landscape and the type of tourism change significantly. In the far north, Puerto Morelos offers a quieter atmosphere, while Playa del Carmen concentrates a greater range of restaurants, shops, and leisure activities. Further south, the pace tends to be more relaxed and the natural environment takes on a greater role, especially in areas like Akumal and Tulum.
This guide reviews the best areas to stay in the Riviera Maya, with the main characteristics of each one so that you can make the right choice according to the type of trip you have in mind.
Holidays
,regionOfInterest=(500,500))
,regionOfInterest=(500,500))
All-terrain writer specialising in tourism, fashion and trends. A curious soul, traveller, reader and sports enthusiast, keen to discover every corner of the world.
,regionOfInterest=(2538,1573))
,regionOfInterest=(2538,1573))
,regionOfInterest=(3976,2652))
,regionOfInterest=(3976,2652))
|
Name |
Area |
Ideal for |
Strengths |
|
Puerto Morelos |
North |
Local atmosphere |
Tranquility and nearby reef |
|
Playa del Carmen |
Centre |
Atmosphere and leisure |
Fifth Avenue and nightlife |
|
Riviera Maya South (Xcaret) |
Centre-south |
Luxury and disconnection |
Exclusive resorts among mangroves |
|
Playacar |
Centre |
Relaxing holidays |
Residential area and golf |
|
Puerto Aventuras |
Centre-south |
Families |
Marina and gated community |
|
Akumal |
South |
Nature and snorkelling |
Sea turtles and reef |
|
Tulum |
South |
Design and wellness |
Boho atmosphere and nearby cenotes |
|
Bacalar |
South |
Relaxation by the lagoon |
Seven-coloured waters |
|
Mahahual |
South |
Total disconnection |
Costa Maya and virgin reef |
This selection aims to help you resolve the question of which area is best to stay in the Riviera Maya, and to do so, it includes both the liveliest areas near Playa del Carmen, as well as other more secluded options, designed for those who prefer a quieter trip.
A little over twenty minutes from Cancun, Puerto Morelos maintains a fishing village feel that has already disappeared in much of the coast. It is a very interesting alternative if you prefer to avoid the intense tourist pace of Playa del Carmen without having to go too far or give up being well connected.
Its reef is part of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park and is located very close to the coast. The area allows for activities such as snorkelling and diving, although access to certain areas of the reef is regulated to protect this ecosystem.
Best
What stands out most is the quiet and relaxed atmosphere, with a promenade facing the sea and a range of restaurants and small shops. It is a particularly interesting area if you are travelling by rental car and want to use it as a base to discover other parts of the Riviera Maya.
Location: North of the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo.
Playa del Carmen is one of the main tourist centres of the Riviera Maya and concentrates a wide range of restaurants, shops, and nightlife, with the Fifth Avenue as one of its main axes. This pedestrian street runs through a good part of the centre parallel to the coast and connects some of the busiest commercial and restaurant areas in the city.
It is a practical option if you do not want to depend on a car, as ferries to Cozumel depart from here and there is a wide range of excursions and transport to other parts of the Riviera Maya. In addition, its location makes it easy to travel both north and south along the coast.
Best
Its great advantage is having everything nearby: beach, varied restaurants, and plans for any time of the day. It is ideal for both couples and families looking for comfort without giving up a certain amount of movement.
South of Playa del Carmen, in the surroundings of Xcaret, several large resorts and tourist complexes are concentrated, integrated into an environment of jungle, mangroves, and coast. It is an area especially aimed at those looking for a resort experience, with services and activities that allow you to enjoy a good part of your holiday without having to move around constantly.
It is a very different area from the urban atmosphere of the centre, as here the pace is set by the hotel itself, with white sand beaches and a much better-kept natural environment.
Best
It stands out for the combination of privacy and nature, with resorts that offer a wide variety of services and experiences within the complex itself. It is a particularly suitable option for those looking for a holiday focused on accommodation, with access to beaches, gastronomy, swimming pools, and activities without the need to travel constantly to the centre of Playa del Carmen.
South of Playa del Carmen, Playacar offers a quieter and more residential atmosphere than the city centre, with accommodation, villas, green areas, and a golf course. Its proximity to the centre allows you to combine the tranquility of the area with relatively easy access to the Fifth Avenue and the rest of the services of Playa del Carmen.
Despite the proximity to the centre, the atmosphere changes completely, with a more residential and quiet area, less traffic, and access to nearby beaches. It is an interesting alternative for those who want to be close to Playa del Carmen without staying in the very centre.
Best
The best thing about Playacar is precisely the contrast of having the Fifth Avenue a short walk away by golf cart or taxi, but returning every night to a much calmer area, ideal for those travelling with children.
Location: South of Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya.
Organised around a marina, Puerto Aventuras is a gated residential and tourist community that offers a quiet atmosphere and services such as restaurants, water activities, and a golf course. Its design allows you to move around a good part of the complex easily on foot or by bicycle, which can be comfortable for families.
It has a space for interaction with dolphins, a nine-hole golf course, and a range of restaurants around the marina, as well as other sports and water activities. All this allows you to spend a good part of your stay within the community itself.
Best
The feeling of safety and tranquility is especially valued, as well as the proximity to cenotes such as Chikin-Ha or Kantun-Chi, perfect for a half-day excursion without moving too far from the accommodation.
Location: Centre-south of the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo.
,regionOfInterest=(3976,2652))
,regionOfInterest=(3976,2652))
Known for its sea turtles, Akumal is one of the most prominent places in the Riviera Maya for snorkelling and observing marine life. Akumal Bay is a refuge area for several species of turtles and has regulated observation activities to protect them, so swimming must be done following the rules and with authorised operators where applicable.
The tourist development here is much smaller than in Playa del Carmen, with boutique hotels and villas facing the sea instead of large resorts.
Best
The most special thing is precisely that combination of accessible nature and a quiet atmosphere, ideal for those who prioritise water activities over nightlife or shopping.
Location: South of the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo.
In recent years, Tulum has established itself as one of the best-known tourist destinations in the Riviera Maya, thanks to its combination of beaches, design accommodation, gastronomic offerings, and wellness proposals. Added to this is the proximity of numerous cenotes and the Tulum archaeological site.
The hotel zone, located next to the coast and separated from the centre of Tulum, concentrates numerous boutique hotels, restaurants, and wellness proposals, while the urban centre offers a wider and more varied range of accommodation, gastronomy, and leisure.
Best
Its main strong point is the aesthetic, with spectacular beaches, wood and stone architecture integrated into the jungle, and a yoga and wellness offering that is difficult to find in other areas of the Riviera Maya.
Location: South of the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo.
Although it is outside the main tourist corridor of the Riviera Maya, Bacalar deserves a mention if you are looking to extend your trip towards the south of Quintana Roo. Its main attraction is the Laguna de los Siete Colores, a large freshwater lagoon known for the different shades of blue it takes on depending on the depth and lighting conditions.
The atmosphere here is much quieter than in the main coastal destinations, with small hotels and accommodation next to the lagoon and a range of activities focused on kayaking, paddle surfing, and boat trips. You can also visit some of the cenotes and natural formations that are part of the lagoon system.
Best
What stands out most about Bacalar is precisely its lacustrine atmosphere and the possibility of enjoying a landscape very different from that of the coastal destinations. The Laguna de los Siete Colores allows for activities such as kayaking, paddle surfing, or boat trips, as well as enjoying its waters and a much quieter environment.
Location: South of Quintana Roo, next to the border with Belize.
In the far south of Quintana Roo, within the Grand Costa Maya, Mahahual is one of the options furthest from the Riviera Maya tourist corridor. Its coast and the proximity of important reef ecosystems make the area a particularly interesting destination for those looking for beach, snorkelling, and diving in a quieter environment than that of Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
The town remains small, with a short promenade and a much more modest hotel offering than that of Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
Best
What stands out most about Mahahual is the tranquility and relaxed atmosphere of its small coastal centre, very different from that of the large tourist destinations of Quintana Roo. Its promenade, the beaches, and the proximity of areas of great marine wealth make it a good option for those looking to combine rest and water activities.
Location: Costa Maya, south of Quintana Roo.
,regionOfInterest=(1728,1152))
,regionOfInterest=(1728,1152))
So that you can easily locate each of these locations and plan your getaway, check the following map with all the highlighted locations in the Riviera Maya.
If it is your first trip to the Riviera Maya and you want to have a wide range of services and good connections with other points on the coast, Playa del Carmen is a practical option, especially if you prefer to get around without a car.
If you are looking for an experience focused on a resort, with services and activities within the accommodation itself and a more natural environment, the Xcaret area, south of Playa del Carmen, is a particularly interesting alternative for couple's getaways.
And if you prefer a quieter trip, with fewer crowds and greater contact with nature, Akumal, Bacalar, and Mahahual offer experiences very different from those of Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Mind you, Bacalar and Mahahual are located outside the Riviera Maya corridor, in the area known as the Grand Costa Maya, so they are interesting options if you want to extend your tour towards the south of Quintana Roo.
,regionOfInterest=(1771.5,1200))
,regionOfInterest=(1771.5,1200))
,regionOfInterest=(2808,1872))
,regionOfInterest=(2808,1872))
,regionOfInterest=(707.5,1059.5))
,regionOfInterest=(707.5,1059.5))
,regionOfInterest=(1476.5,634.5))
,regionOfInterest=(1476.5,634.5))
,regionOfInterest=(1619.5,1121))
,regionOfInterest=(1619.5,1121))
,regionOfInterest=(2273,1523))
,regionOfInterest=(2273,1523))