Riviera Maya holidays

Swoon at Paraiso Beach – the name of this paradisiacal stretch of sand is spot on, and it sits just south of Tulum, the most scenic Mayan ruin of all.

Go wild at Akumal Bay, the ‘place of the turtles’. These graceful creatures are drawn to the lagoon (see them with a snorkel) and haul up onto the beach to nest.

Party at Mamita’s – the beach fronting lively Playa del Carmen is the hipster’s Riviera Maya holiday spot of choice. Just inland from the sand are chic boutiques, while some of the world’s best DJs hit the decks here.

Mingle with locals at Xpu-Ha. Uncrowded and unhurried, it’s super for swimming, snorkelling or a game of beach footy, while the beach shacks serve a mean fresh fish taco. 

Snorkel the ‘Great Maya Reef’, just off the laid-back village of Puerto Morelos. Part of a marine park, it’s brimful of coral and underwater life – look for dolphins, turtles and gliding rays.

Every December, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival soothes and sways Playa del Carmen – three nights of world-class jazz performed on the beach, under starry skies, all for free. Nice.

Slip into a cenote – an essential element of all great holidays to Riviera Maya. The limestone Yucatan peninsula is riddled with these water-filled sinkholes and a network of caves and passageways. 

Stroll down Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue to shop for arts and crafts made in the Riviera Maya and Mexico, from bright embroidered shawls to traditional pottery. Visit on a Thursday night if you can, when the Caminarte art fair fills the streets. 

Watch sunrise at Tulum – this former fortress city is the only Mayan site built beside the Caribbean, teetering on a bluff above the sea. Arrive to see dawn break on the azure waters then explore the site, climbing up the towering Castilo for the best views.

Cycle around Cobá, one of the Riviera Maya’s most important sites. This vast, jungle-encroached complex is best seen by bike – pedal between the different areas via the ceremonial sacbé (‘white roads’) laid by the Maya centuries ago.

Have an Indiana Jones adventure in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Mexico and home to more than 300 species of birds, 23 known archaeological sites and a wealth of wildlife – including jaguar. Explore by taking a boat or kayak trip amid the mangroves.