Another name given to this beautiful Caribbean destiny is Mayan Riviera. Located at Quintana Roo, Mexico, -alongside the Highway 400 - (which extends along the line of the Caribbean coast) we found this amazing tourist Mexican district.

According to history, Riviera Maya starts at the city of Playa del Carmen all the way down to the village of Tulum but, despite of this historic description for Riviera Maya, at present the towns of  Puerto Morelos (located to the north, in the middle from Playa del Carmen to Cancun) and Felipe Carrillo Puerto (25 miles south from Tulum) are both being included as tourist destinations for Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya was originally called the Cancun - Tulum corridor, but in 1999 it was renamed as the Riviera Maya with the aid of Lic. Miguel Ramón Martín Azueta who at the time was the mayor of the municipality of Solidaridad. The municipality of Solidaridad includes the whole of the official Riviera Maya from Playa del Carmen in the north and south to Tulum and extending to some 25 miles inland with the border with the state of Yucatan.

The Riviera Maya is famous for its large scale all-inclusive resorts and a historical tourism base of smaller boutique hotels along the highway 307 and on or near the beaches. Luxury travel entities have been instrumental in increasing luxury villa rentals and yacht charters in the area however these only represent a small fraction of the total tourism accommodation available.

Government development plans include establishing a number of medium sized cities of ~200 000 inhabitants within the Riviera Maya with initial planning spanning 20 years. Target areas for urbanization include the towns and villages of: Puerto Morelos (technically outside the Riviera Maya), Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Chemuyil, and Tulum.

A major attraction throughout the Riviera Maya are coastal and reef aquatic activities dependent on the coastal water and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (also known as the Belize Barrier Reef) which begins near Cancun and continues along the whole length of the Riviera Maya continuing southward to Guatemala. This barrier reef system is the second longest in the world.

Activities at the most visited locations include Jet Skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming in cenotes, swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, horse riding, and guided jungle tours. Archeology is also a big tourist draw in the area, including the popular archeological sites operated by the Instituto Nacional de Archeological such as Tulum on the coast, and Chichen Itza and Coba located some distance inland. The self-named ecoparks of Xcaret, and Xel-Ha also include some smaller archeological ruins as part of their attractions, but these natural water theme parks operated by private business consortia attract much larger crowds due to the diversity and range of activities provided, such as swimming with captive dolphins.

Transportation

Most tourists to the Riviera Maya arrive through Cancun International Airport, approximately 30 miles north of Playa del Carmen.

A new international airport is to be built in the near future directly serving the Riviera Maya region. There is debate as to which airport group should be the owner of this tourist destination hot spot, as it is very close to Cancun and some feel that Aeropuertos del Sureste ASUR (the current operators of the Cancun airport) should not be granted the concession of this airport as it would not be good for competition. It is understood that the project of the new airport in the Riviera Maya has now been postponed due to the current economic crisis.

Destinations in the Mayan Riviera:

Playa del Carmen was a sleepy fishing-village but has grown into a cosmopolitan town, the largest in the Mayan Riviera, but still small enough to get around on foot. If you're interested in shopping, nightlife and fine dining, this is the place, but the beach is also alluring. Playacar is a nearby resort area offering upscale accommodations and some all-inclusive options.

Cozumel, Mexico's largest island, is a short ferry-ride from Playa del Carmen. It's a great spot for scuba diving and snorkeling, the clear water offering visibility of up to 200 feet. The center of the island is mostly undeveloped jungle and lagoons with many endemic species of small animals and birds. Chankanaab National Park has a botanical garden featuring tropical plants, and Chankanaab Lagoon, a natural aquarium with more than 60 species of tropical fish, crustaceans and corals.

Tulum was once a busy Mayan ceremonial center and trading port. The ruins are in a spectacular setting, on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The town of Tulum has some budget options for accommodation as well as some nice cabanas to rent along the beach.