Riviera Maya & the Yucatan attractions

Stretching from the Yucatan to Honduras, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (also called the Great Maya Reef) is the world’s second-largest coral reef system. Located off laid-back Puerto Morelos, the protected section of the reef forms Puerto Morelos Reef National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecife de Puerto Morelos). It has spectacular coral that’s unusually close to shore, making it easily accessible for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Flat-bottomed trajinera boats decked with bright lights set the festive atmosphere at Xoximilco Cancun in Xcaret Park, where revelers enjoy traditional music, drinks, and cuisine from across Mexico. It’s an experience inspired by the beloved boat parties in Mexico City’s canal-lined Xochimilco neighborhood—complete with hosts and an energetic soundtrack of live music provided by mariachi, marimba, and norteño musicians in colorful garb.

The star attraction of Cozumel Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel), Palancar Reef is a rich underwater landscape ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Aquatic species thrive amidst these colorful corals, including sea turtles, rays, nurse sharks, barracudas, moray eels, and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish.

Set within Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, Chanakanaab Adventure Park offers a touch of nature with the amenities, convenience, and safety features of an aqua park. While it’s open to anyone who pays entry, it’s especially popular with Cozumel’s cruise ship crowd, given its location just south of the terminal. The park’s things-to-do list is lengthy, from basking on a beach with a cocktail, to discovering replica Maya ruins, to snorkeling in sandy shallows and learning to scuba dive.

With postcard views across the Caribbean, Playa Delfines is among Cancun’s most beloved beaches. And, since it’s just beyond the gleaming high rises of the city’s hotel zone, it’s a chance to experience the area’s less commercialized side. Here, you’ll find travelers sunbathing alongside locals and families lounging in the shade of palapas planted in the sand—plus iguanas soaking up the rays and occasional dolphin sightings just offshore.

Known as a top diving site in the Yucatán Peninsula, Cenote Dos Ojos (Two Eyes Cenote) boasts 37 miles (60 kilometers) of connected passageways that are part of Sac Actun, the longest underwater cave on the planet. Divers can explore its nearly 7,000-year-old caves and underground rivers, whose crystal-clear waters and light effects make diving here a magical experience.

Mostly unexcavated, the Chacchoben ruins (Zona Arqueológica de Chacchoben) make up the largest and most visited Maya archaeological site in Costa Maya. Here moss-covered temples sprout from a lush jungle, attracting visitors who want to learn about Maya history, including the collapse of the ancient civilization.

Once an ancient Maya town, Ek Balam (translating from Maya language as “black jaguar”) is famous for its 104-foot (32-meter) Acropolis—a stone temple that offers panoramic jungle views from its peak. Unlike other big hitters in the area (Chichen Itza, anyone?), these 3rd-century BC ruins draw a fraction of the crowds and offer a much more peaceful sightseeing experience.

Located on Cozumel’s southernmost tip, Punta Sur Eco Beach Park (Faro Celerain Ecological Reserve) spans 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of coastal wilderness, coral reefs, and Caribbean ocean. Here you can find ancient Maya ruins, a picturesque lighthouse, and sandy beaches—plus exotic birds, crocodiles, and sea turtles.

The well-preserved Maya ruins at Uxmal are considered some of the most beautiful in the Yucatan. Temple-pyramids, quadrangles, and a large ball court dot the archaeological site. Highlights include the Great Pyramid and the unusually rounded Pyramid of the Magician. A nightly light and sound show brings the magic of Uxmal to life.

Stretching along the banks of a coastal lagoon, the Maya ruins of Muyil are undeniably photogenic and less visited than the nearby sites of Tulum and Coba. Dominated by the steep-walled, 56-foot-tall (17-meter-tall) El Castillo, one of the region’s tallest pyramids, the Muyil ruins are an example of Peten architecture, similar to Tikal in Guatemala.

The highlight of this protected, private reserve is the extensive cave system. With underground pools of clear blue water, cave fish, and intricate rock formations, Rio Secreto feels like a place where nature took its time. The cave system is surrounded by swathes of bright green jungle and rugged bike trails, offering peaceful immersion in the region’s natural beauty.

Named after the Mayan word for “the place where the waters are born,” the Xel-Há aquatic park encompasses 14 acres (5.7 hectares) of jungle and ocean just south of Playa del Carmen. A must-visit family-friendly attraction, Xel-Há is home to cenotes, a lazy river, fish-filled lagoons, and other natural attractions where you can see the area’s biodiversity. It is a fun day trip for those looking for a break from the beach.

Located on Cozumel’s rugged eastern coast, El Mirador lookout is a rocky seascape dotted with natural bridges, tide pools, and stone spires. This wild, undeveloped area looks out onto the open Caribbean Sea and offers a breezy escape from Cozumel’s more touristy areas.

Deep within a mangrove forest just 20 minutes from Tulum, Casa Cenote is a freshwater sinkhole perfect for paddle boarding, swimming, and snorkeling. Look out for freshwater fish such as guppies and platys; take a dip in the refreshingly cool water; and explore Casa Cenote’s numerous underwater caverns.

Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park encompasses the island’s best-known diving and snorkeling spots, including the Palancar, Colombia, and Paradise reefs, as well as the Devil’s Throat at Punta Sur and the shipwreck of Felipe Xicoténcatl, a minesweeper ship used during World War II. The park boasts up to 105 species of coral and 262 species of fish, so it's a hot spot for those looking to discover its underwater wonderlands.

Columbia Reef is famous for its complex architecture of caves, arches, and coral spires. Here, you can find schools of snapper, barracudas, sea turtles, scorpion fish, and even the rare passing nurse shark. With both shallow coral gardens and deep ocean-floor caverns, the reef is accessible to snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

Optical illusions and other sense-inspired experiences bring visitors to the family-friendly Xenses Park. It all unfolds in a series of 50 “scenes,” ranging from a soaring zipline, a cave waterslide, a warm clay river, and a village where everything is just a little bit off kilter. In the cavern-like Xensatorium, you can explore a series of world ecosystems in total darkness.

Take a break from the beaches to explore Mexico’s ancient past at the Museo Maya de Cancún (Maya Museum of Cancún), home to one of the Yucatán’s most significant collections of Maya artifacts. Here, you can see incredible items recovered from sites such as Chichen Itza, or visit the adjacent archaeological site, San Miguelito, to stroll among the ruins of what was once a vibrant Maya settlement.

Aboard a Cancun-based Captain Hook pirate ship, spend a family-friendly evening that includes a buffet dinner served by salty seamen, dancing on the deck, and imbibing at an open bar. The 18th-century Spanish galleon replicas cruise the Caribbean while “pirates” entertain the crowd with tales of past escapades and dramatic sword fights.

Set along Nichupte Lagoon in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, La Isla Shopping Village is lined with boutique shops, waterfront dining, and luxury shopping. Stroll along winding canals that create a Venice-like atmosphere, sip cocktails in outdoor courtyards, and buy artisan souvenirs. Designer names here include Burberry, Prada, and Gucci, while entertainment options range from a casino to a movie theater and an aquarium.

Centuries ago, Maya women paddled across the Caribbean Sea from the mainland to pay tribute here to Ixchel, their goddess of love, fertility, and healing. Today, the San Gervasio Ruins are one of Cozumel’s largest archaeological sites, with a main temple, a central plaza, and low stone structures scattered throughout the jungle. Not only a historical highlight, the location is also a hub for birds, butterflies, and lizards.

El Cedral is a village on the southwest side of Cozumel. It is also the site of the island’s oldest Mayan ruins, which date to AD 800. Spanish explorers first discovered El Cedral in 1518, and it became the island’s first official city in 1847. Today it’s home to a small community of quaint houses and farms, as well as an annual festival.

One of Cozumel’s most popular dive sites, Paradise Reef (Paraíso Reef) is famous for its clear water, diverse coral structures, and teeming schools of colorful fish. Here you can spot large sea species such as eels, rays, and nurse sharks in addition to smaller creatures such as seahorses, boxfish, and delicate pipefish.

The second oldest cathedral in the Americas, the Mérida Cathedral (Catedral de San Ildefonso) was built atop a Mayan temple in the 16th century. Notable for its relatively austere façade and surprisingly stark Moorish interior, Mérida Cathedral also houses some of Mérida’s most significant religious artifacts, including the Christ of Blisters statue.

Avenida Kukulkan, also known as Cancun’s Hotel Zone, is a pulsing 14-mile (22-kilometer) thoroughfare lined with oceanfront resorts that separate the Caribbean Sea from the Nichupte Lagoon. This long, flat strip is home to some of Cancun’s best shopping, dining, and nightlife. From Avenida Kukulkan, various paths lead out to a stretch of white sand lapped by the Caribbean Sea, making this area a favorite among travelers looking to kick back in the Yucatan’s vacation epicenter.

Cenotes Sac Actun is one of the world’s largest known underwater cave systems. Filled with crystal-clear water and lined with limestone stalactites, the freshwater cave is home to colorful fish, bats, and animal fossils. Sac Actun is simultaneously one of the most impressive and least crowded cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Set in the middle of the Yucatán jungle, Xplor Park allows visitors to experience Mexico’s environmental treasures firsthand. Here, you can raft down a stalactite-filled underground river, swim in cenotes, ride in an amphibious vehicle, zipline above the canopy, or brave a five-in-one waterslide. There’s also a nighttime option, Xplor Fuego, for those who’d like to explore the park after dark.

With miles of untamed jungle, the Punta Laguna Nature Reserve (Otoch Ma'ax Yetel Kooh) is one of the best places to get up close to the Yucatan’s varied wildlife. The 12,355-acre (5,000-hectare) reserve is home to more than 600 spider and howler monkeys, as well as pumas, crocodiles, coatimundi, white-tailed deer, and a large variety of tropical birds.

Playa Mia Grand Beach Park offers myriad options for enjoying the Caribbean Sea, whether you want to swim in the warm ocean, enjoy a massage, zip down water slides, or float in one of the park’s many pools. Here you can find beachfront lounge chairs and hammocks, a buffet and full bar, and even an underwater Maya city to explore.