Riviera Maya & the Yucatan attractions

Escape from the crowds of Mexico’s second-busiest airport at Cancún Airport VIP Lounge. While you wait for boarding to begin, relax on comfortable seating, kick back with a magazine, and take advantage of an open bar replete with both soft and alcoholic drinks.

Officially called Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar, this fortress overlooking the Bacalar Lagoon was built in the late 18th century to protect Spanish colonists and Maya villagers from pirate attacks. Today, the fortress is a national historic monument—the canons, ramparts, and lagoon views remain, and an on-site museum exhibits period armaments and uniforms.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches just off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula all the way down to Honduras. It's the largest coral reef in the western hemisphere and half the length of the Great Barrier Reef (the world's largest). Also commonly referred to as the Great Maya Reef, it’s a must-see for nature and wildlife lovers.

Specifically designed for cruisers, Costa Maya Port sits on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, south of Riviera Maya and the Yucatan region, and just north of Belize. While the port’s resort–like atmosphere draws many tourists, visitors can also venture out on shore excursions if they would like to get out on the water or visit ancient Maya ruins.

Legend has it that sharks come to this underwater cave east of Isla Mujeres to sleep—and it’s true that sharks can sometimes be spotted on its sandy bottom. Today, it’s a popular dive site for scuba enthusiasts at Isla Mujeres, who come in hopes of seeing nurse sharks as well as other marine wildlife, including barracudas, leatherback turtles, and a wide range of reef fish.

Also called the Cenote Negro (Black Cenote) for its dark-blue waters, the cenote gets its name from a local legend about an old woman who cursed the land and all who stepped on it after being evicted from her home. The cenote has sheer drops of 100 meters (330 feet). It is the smallest, diameter-wise, of Bacalar's four cenotes.

A must-see site for archaeology lovers and architectural buffs, Labna boasts Maya ruins built in the ancient Puuc style, marked by the use of concrete and decorative elements. Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, near the larger Uxmal ruins, Labna is a compact structure hidden within the Puuc Hills.

This popular diving site is named after the nearby Villa Blanca Hotel. Part of Mexico’s Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (the largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia), Villa Blanca Wall is one of the best spots in Cozumel to catch the underwater scenery that the island is famous for: schools of tropical fish, candy-colored corals and sponges, sea turtles, and more.

Christ the King Church (Iglesia de Cristo Rey), a historic Catholic church located in the center of Cancún, is surrounded by peaceful gardens that are sometimes used for open-air religious services. This church is a popular stop for travelers seeking a Sunday Mass or a quiet moment of reflective contemplation in the middle of the bustling city.

El Caracol, or "The Snail” in Spanish, is an ancient Maya observatory in Chichen Itza that’s known for its spiral staircase and celestial alignment. This unique structure showcases the Mayans' advanced astronomical knowledge, as it helped them to track events such as solstices. With its rounded design and elevated position, El Caracol offers insight into the civilization's sophisticated scientific and architectural achievements.

One of the most impressive buildings within Chichen Itza, the Temple of the Warriors is a highlight of the UNESCO-listed archaeological site. Towering over the surrounding landscape, the pyramid-like structure is a testament to the ingenuity of Mayan architecture.

Sayil is a distinguished Maya site in the Puuc Hills of the Yucatan, located a short drive from the larger ruins of Uxmal. Sayil is a part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site as Uxmal and is significant due to its royal origins. It is believed that Sayil was once ruled by a royal dynasty, and the palace ruins remain impressive today.

Set along Cozumel’s gentle, turquoise-colored western coastline, Yucab Reef is one of the island’s most popular diving sites. Divers and snorkelers come here to admire this stretch of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System in all its glory. Angelfish, sea turtles, rays, barrel sponges, and a wide range of colorful corals are among the easiest to spot year-round.

Cozumel’s Royal Castle (Castillo Real) is a small Maya ruin on the island’s remote northeastern shore. Centuries ago, this stone outpost was likely a guard station to keep watch for enemy ships on the open sea. Today the structure is notable for its high vantage point, offering panoramic views of the coastline and the Caribbean Sea.

Part of the Chichen Itza complex on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Gran Juego de Pelota is an ancient Mesoamerican ball court. Visitors are drawn to this landmark to learn about the significance of the ball game, which was central to Maya culture. The impressive architecture and ruins of the archaeological site, as a whole, provide insight into the rituals and social structures of the ancient civilization.

Playacar is a gated community just south of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, which is known for its all-inclusive resorts and private beachfront villas. It's ideal for those who want to stay right on the sand and still be close to the excitement of Fifth Avenue. Playacar’s wide and not-too-crowded beaches are some of the nicest in Playa.

As its name suggests, this water park is modeled after a fabled Maya kingdom—and an explorer’s quest to find it. Located in the otherwise sleepy fishing village of Mahahual along the Costa Maya, the park is a riot of themed rides where visitors can live out adventure dreams on everything from large water slides to ziplines and lazy rivers.

Located within the Mayaland resort, the Viator Hospitality Suite at Chichén Itzá is an exclusive space for Viator travelers embarking on selected tours to the ancient site. Depending on the type of tour, freshen up in the air-conditioned suite before and after your visit to the famous Mayan ruins, enjoy complimentary concierge service, and benefit from free use of the resort facilities.

Visit the Mexican Folk Art Museum, located in Xcaret Park, to see its colorful collection of art and handicrafts from throughout Mexico. Its exhibits provide a window into Mexican culture and history through traditional artwork. Don’t miss its famed collection of Los Dias De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) dolls.

Cozumel’s Corona Beach (Playa Corona) is a snorkeler’s paradise, with an outstanding reef that starts right offshore. There’s not much of a beach scene, as the small stretch of fine white sand ends almost at the shoreline. The shallow waters are ideal for kids, beginners, and new snorkelers, while those more adventurous can swim out to explore the reef.

The Santa Rosa Wall is one of Cozumel’s most famous dive sites, with coral formations up to 40 feet (13 meters) high, massive rock overhangs, a deep drop-off, narrow tunnels full of sea creatures, and hundreds of species of tropical fish—including nurse sharks, sea turtles, angelfish, manta rays, and barracuda.

The MACAY Museum, the only museum dedicated to the promotion and diffusion of contemporary art on the Yucatán Peninsula, is a landmark of downtown Mérida. Originally built in the 16th century, the grand edifice now houses over 20 permanent and temporary art exhibits, which feature sculpture, painting, and other mixed media works, as well as a newspaper archive and garden.

Located on the Yucatán peninsula where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea, the Progreso Cruise Port is home to one of the longest piers in the world. Regularly frequented by cruise liners, this port is a jumping-off point for tours to the archaeological sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun, as well as Mérida city.

The Plataforma de Venus, within the Chichen Itza archaeological site in Mexico, is a platform adorned with intricate carvings of Venus—the planet associated with warfare and sacrifice in Mesoamerican culture. Admire its detailed artwork and learn about its role in ancient rituals. The platform provides insight into the Maya people’s astronomical knowledge and religious practices, making it a must-see for history and archaeology enthusiasts.

The Yucatan’s Balankanche Caves (Grutas de Balancanché), not far from Chichen Itza, are some of the most famous Maya cave sites in Mexico. This vast underground network of grottoes was originally used as a water source by the Maya, who believed it to be the gateway to the underworld and a sacred place to worship the god of rain, Chaac.

The Ossuary at Chichen Itza—also known as the Temple of the High Priest—is a step pyramid that houses ancient tombs, featuring intricate carvings and a deep cave below. Visitors are drawn to its archaeological significance, mysterious history, and connection to the sacred landscape of one of Mexico's most significant ancient cities.

The Red House (Chichanchob) at Chichen Itza is an ancient residential structure with remnants of red paint that decorated the inner walls. It’s believed to have been the former residence of high-ranking Maya and features intricate carvings and murals that provide insight into the culture and daily practices of this ancient civilization.

Originally built as a World War II warship, the Felipe Xicotencatl was part of Mexico’s naval fleet for decades. It sunk off the Caribbean coast in 1999, and was later donated to Cozumel’s marine park as an artificial reef. Today, the Felipe Xicotencatl is part of a popular dive site and is home to corals and other marine life.

One of the Riviera Maya’s premier scuba diving sites, Tormentos Reef is located off the coast of Cozumel and houses a rich variety of marine life. Here you can find purple and orange coral structures upward of 30 feet (9 meters) in height, tunnels hiding nurse sharks and sea turtles, and huge manta rays nestled in the sand.

If you’re looking for guaranteed pink flamingo sightings, a trip out to Celustun is your best bet. There’s a pleasant enough beach where you can spread out a blanket, look for shells, or go swimming, but the main reason to visit is to hire a boat captain to take your party out on a flamingo tour. You head into a lagoon area where the big pink birds hang out each day, flying around and settling down in shallow areas in large groups to look for food. It’s rare to come here and not see a few dozen flamingoes in bunches as you troll around on the boat. The tour also usually includes a “petrified forest” with mangrove stumps sticking out of the mud and a visit to a swimming hole on land filled by cool, clear spring water. It’s a great place to cool off from the viewing time in the hot sun. Afterwards there are a variety of inexpensive seafood restaurants near the beach and town square, all serving shrimp ceviche, fresh-caught fish from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold beer or margaritas.