Overview
"Riviera Maya" is a marketing name for the stretch of Caribbean coast south of Cancún. This page covers the northern and middle part, from Puerto Morelos to Akumal, about 55 miles (90 km) of Highway 307. Tulum, at the southern end, has its own page: see Tulum.
It is a string of very different places along one highway. Puerto Morelos is a small fishing town on a protected reef. Playa del Carmen is a real city with a walking street, nightlife and the ferry to Cozumel. Between Playa and Akumal come big all-inclusives, the Xcaret parks and the turnoffs to dozens of cenotes.
The draws for Americans are easy logistics and warm water: Cancún has more US nonstops than any other Mexican airport (see Flights), the sea stays around 80–85°F (27–29°C) all year, and you can manage without Spanish. The trade-offs are crowds, prices quoted in dollars, and summer seaweed.
Different from home
Every beach in Mexico is federal public property, including the sand in front of the fanciest resort. A hotel can keep you out of its lobby; the beach itself stays open to you. See Beaches.
Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos is the first town south of Cancún airport, about 12 miles (20 km) and 20 minutes away. It is the quiet choice: a small square, a few blocks of restaurants, a famous leaning lighthouse knocked sideways by a 1967 hurricane, and a long beach backed by low-rise buildings.
The reason to come is the reef. The Parque Nacional Arrecife de Puerto Morelos protects a section of the Mesoamerican Reef that sits only a few hundred yards offshore. Cooperative snorkel boats leave from the beach by the town pier for trips of an hour or two; ask whether the national park wristband fee is included before you pay.
The reef breaks the swell, so the water inside is usually calm, good for families and weaker swimmers. The town is also the start of the Ruta de los Cenotes (see below) and has a Tren Maya station inland.
Insider tip
With a late flight home, stay your last night in Puerto Morelos. You can snorkel in the morning and still be at the airport in 20 minutes.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen ("Playa") is the center of the Riviera Maya, about 32 miles (52 km) and an hour south of Cancún airport.
Quinta Avenida
Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) is a pedestrian street that runs parallel to the beach for about 2 miles (3 km). The southern end, near the ferry docks and Parque Los Fundadores, is the most commercial, with chain stores and restaurant touts. North of about Calle 20 it relaxes, with better independent restaurants and cafés.
A main course on Quinta is typically $$ to $$$; two or three streets inland, tacos cost half as much. See Food.
Beaches
Playa's main beach is narrow in places and crowded near Calle 12, where Playa Mamitas has the big beach clubs. Punta Esmeralda, at the north end past Calle 88, is the local favorite: a public beach where a small cenote outflow forms a shallow pool, busy with Mexican families on weekends.
Ferry to Cozumel
Ferries leave from the docks at the southern end of Quinta Avenida. Winjet lists about nine departures a day from Playa, roughly every one to two hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., at about US$19 one way or US$36 round trip for adults, quoted in dollars and including a sanitation fee charged only on departures from Playa. Grupo Xcaret's Xailing also runs the route. The crossing takes under an hour and gets rough in wind. See Islands.
Watch out
The blocks around Calle 12 and Quinta Avenida are Playa's nightlife strip, and they have seen nightclub shootings in past years. Go out with friends, watch your drink, and take an app ride or hotel taxi home instead of walking the dark side streets.
Playacar
Playacar is a gated development just south of Playa's ferry docks. Phase 1, on the beach, is villas and large all-inclusives from chains such as Riu; Phase 2, inland, is golf, condos and houses. It suits people who want a resort with Playa's restaurants a 10–20 minute walk away, on wider, calmer beaches. The gate only controls cars; you can always walk onto Playacar's beach from Playa's.
Xpu-Ha and Akumal
Xpu-Ha
Xpu-Ha (say "shpoo-HA") is a long, wide, white-sand beach about 17 miles (27 km) south of Playa, between Puerto Aventuras and Akumal. Big resorts such as the Barceló Maya complex and the adults-only Catalonia Royal Tulum (which, despite the name, is here) front much of it, with beach clubs and public accesses between them. The water is shallow and usually calm.
Akumal and the turtles
Akumal, about 22 miles (36 km) south of Playa, is a small community built around a sheltered bay where green sea turtles graze on seagrass in shallow water. Seeing them is the main event, and it is heavily regulated because the bay is a federal refuge for marine species.
About 22 local cooperatives run turtle swims under federal Semarnat permits. Expect a licensed guide, a life vest, a designated snorkel zone and a strict distance rule: no touching, chasing or feeding. The permits require two rest periods a year, in February and September, when turtle swims stop and operators offer boat or lagoon trips instead.
- Book with an established cooperative or dive shop at the bay. Skip anyone waving you over on the highway.
- Agree on the price and what it includes (guide, gear, life vest, time in the water) before you pay.
- Go early, before the tour vans arrive from Cancún and Playa, and expect to pay for parking near the arch at the bay entrance.
- Skip regular sunscreen. Wear a rash guard and use only mineral, biodegradable sunscreen, or none.
North of the main bay, Half Moon Bay and the Yal-Kú lagoon are calmer snorkeling spots; Yal-Kú charges admission. Akumal also has a nesting beach: the 2026 season ended with 922 nests, below the area's recent record.
Xcaret and the theme parks
Grupo Xcaret runs the region's big eco-themed parks: polished, expensive and very well run. Americans tend to love them or find them too managed. All quote prices in US dollars. The group also sells Xenotes, a guided cenote tour, though cenotes are far cheaper on your own.
Xcaret
The flagship: underground river swims, a reef aquarium, a butterfly pavilion and an evening show of Mexican music and dance that many people rate as the highlight. Open daily 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the "Plus" ticket adds a buffet lunch. Best for first-timers who want a sampler of Mexico.
Xel-Há
A large natural inlet where river meets sea, set up for easy snorkeling with life vests, plus slides, cliff jumps and bikes. The all-inclusive ticket covers food and drinks. Open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Best for families and nervous swimmers who want calm water and no boat.
Xplor and Xplor Fuego
Zip lines, amphibious vehicles, rafting and swimming through stalactite caves, with a buffet included. Xplor runs Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Xplor Fuego is the after-dark version. Best for active teens and adults. The minimum age is 5.
Xenses
A park of illusions and sensory tricks, from an upside-down "town" to a salt-water float and a mud bath. Usually the cheapest of the big parks; good for younger kids and a lighter day.
What they cost
Prices change by date and are set dynamically, so check the official price guide at xcaret.com. The big three (Xcaret, Xel-Há and Xplor) cost well over US$100 per adult at standard rates, and transport from your hotel is extra unless you buy a package. The rules that are stable:
- Children 0–4 enter free; children 5–11 generally pay 25 percent less than adults.
- Booking online in advance saves up to 15 percent (at Xplor, 10 percent at 7–20 days ahead and 15 percent at 21 days or more).
- Combining two or more parks, or a two-day package, takes about 20 percent off.
Save money
Do the math before you buy a park day for a family of four: tickets plus transport run to several hundred dollars. A rental car and three or four independent cenotes cost a fraction of that. Grupo Xcaret's own hotels include park admission, which pays off only if you plan several park days.
The parks ban regular sunscreen in the water; bring a mineral, biodegradable one and a rash guard.
Cenotes
Cenotes are limestone sinkholes filled with cool, clear groundwater. Nearly all charge entry, because they sit on private or ejido (communal) land.
Ruta de los Cenotes (Puerto Morelos)
The road that heads inland from Highway 307 at Puerto Morelos is lined with a dozen or so cenotes over about 20 miles (30 km). Well-known stops include Siete Bocas (seven openings into one cave pool), Boca del Puma (with zip lines), Verde Lucero, Las Mojarras and La Noria. Each is a separate small business with its own fee and hours, and several sell packages that add zip lines or kayaks.
Near Akumal and Xpu-Ha
Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Azul, both open-air swimming holes just off the highway near Puerto Aventuras and Xpu-Ha, are good for families; Cristalino has a small cliff jump. In Akumal, the community-run Cenote Balam Ha reopened in September 2026, charging international visitors MX$300 (about $16), with hours still to be announced. Dos Ojos, a famous cavern snorkel and dive site, is about 20 minutes farther south toward Tulum; see Tulum for it and the other Tulum cenotes.
Fees and rules
Expect most developed cenotes on this coast to charge roughly MX$200–500 (about $11–27) per adult, cash in pesos preferred.
- Shower before you get in. Most cenotes require it and have outdoor showers.
- No sunscreen, repellent or lotion; many cenotes ban even biodegradable products, because this groundwater is the region's drinking water.
- Life vests are available and sometimes mandatory; fresh water is less buoyant than the sea.
- Stay in the marked swimming area. Never enter a cave passage without a certified cave guide.
- Go at opening time, usually 8 or 9 a.m., to beat the tour vans.
Getting there and around
From Cancún airport
Almost everyone arrives at Cancún International Airport (CUN). From cheapest to most expensive:
- ADO bus. ADO's airport buses leave from outside arrivals at Terminals 2, 3 and 4, roughly every 30–60 minutes during the day, and go direct to the bus stations in downtown Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Playa takes about 1 hour and costs roughly MX$220–300 (about $12–16). Buy at the ADO counter or at ado.com.mx; buses do not run all night.
- Shared shuttle. About US$25 per person to Puerto Morelos and US$36 to Playa, quoted in dollars, with stops at other hotels on the way.
- Private transfer or official taxi. Booked online in advance, official transfers start around US$33 to Puerto Morelos, US$44 to Playa and US$65 to Tulum per vehicle; at the airport counters the same trips start around US$45, US$70 and US$124.
Watch out
The arrivals hall at Cancún is notorious for touts. In October 2026 a viral video showed unlicensed operators quoting MX$1,200–1,700 (about $65–92) for a ride to Cancún's Hotel Zone, far above official rates, which start around US$25 booked online or US$45 at the counter. Book your transfer before you land or walk straight out to the ADO counter. Offers of "free" rides in the hall are usually timeshare pitches; see Where to stay.
Tren Maya
The Tren Maya has five stations on this coast: Cancún Aeropuerto, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Tulum Aeropuerto. The fare category for foreign tourists ("Internacional") in October 2026 was MX$232 (about $13) from Cancún to Playa del Carmen and MX$246 (about $13) from Playa to Tulum. A pricier Premier class adds wider seats.
There are catches. The Cancún Aeropuerto station is separate from the passenger terminals, so you need a shuttle or taxi to reach it. The Playa del Carmen station is on the city's western outskirts, a taxi ride from Quinta Avenida. And trains on this stretch run only a few times a day. The train is a pleasant, cheap option if the timetable fits; check it and buy at the official Tren Maya booking site. Luggage allowances are generous: up to three bags totaling 110 lb (50 kg), plus a cabin bag. See Getting around for the full network.
Rental cars
A car is the best way to reach cenotes and small beaches. Highway 307 is a divided four-lane road and distances are short: Playa to Akumal takes about 30 minutes. Rentals look cheap online and cost more at the counter, because Mexican liability insurance is mandatory and your US policy does not cover you; read Driving in Mexico first. Drive defensively: 307 sees serious crashes, including at the Paamul curve, and speed bumps (topes) appear without warning. At gas stations, check the pump starts at zero.
Colectivos, taxis and apps
White colectivo vans run up and down Highway 307 between Playa del Carmen and Tulum all day, stopping anywhere on request. They cost a few dollars in cash pesos; flag one from the roadside and say where you want to get off. Taxis in Playa are unmetered: agree on the fare before you get in. Uber launched in Playa and Tulum on October 20, 2026, joining apps such as DiDi; taxi unions oppose it, so have a backup plan.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Visitax state tourist tax | About MX$290 (about $16) per foreign visitor; pay online at visitax.gob.mx |
| ADO bus, Cancún airport to Playa del Carmen | About MX$220–300 ($12–16) |
| Tren Maya, Cancún to Playa del Carmen (foreigners) | MX$232 (about $13) |
| Private transfer, airport to Playa, per vehicle | From about US$44 booked ahead (quoted in dollars) |
| Ferry, Playa del Carmen to Cozumel | About US$19 one way, US$36 round trip (quoted in dollars) |
| Cenote entry | Roughly MX$200–500 ($11–27) |
| Xcaret-group park ticket | Well over US$100 per adult for the big three (quoted in dollars) |
Every foreign tourist in Quintana Roo must pay the Visitax; pay online and keep the QR receipt. See Entry requirements, and Money on why pesos beat dollars.
Where to stay
Hotel price tiers below are per night for two: $ under MX$1,500, $$ MX$1,500–3,500, $$$ MX$3,500–8,000, $$$$ over MX$8,000. Rates swing a lot by season; Christmas, New Year and Easter week cost the most.
Playa del Carmen, Centro
The widest choice on the coast, from hostels a few blocks inland to boutique hotels near the beach. Best for walking to restaurants, buses and ferries. The north end (Calles 30–50) is quieter than Calle 12.
Puerto Morelos town
Guesthouses, small hotels and vacation rentals within walking distance of the square and the snorkel boats. Best for couples and families who want calm water and quiet evenings, and for short trips close to the airport.
Playacar and Xpu-Ha resorts
Large all-inclusives on wide, calm beaches. Playacar puts you within walking distance of Playa's restaurants; Xpu-Ha is more isolated and better for staying put.
Akumal
Condo rentals and small hotels around the bays, plus resorts such as Secrets Akumal, Bahía Príncipe and Grand Sirenis nearby. Best for snorkelers and people who want a slow, nature-focused week. You will want a car.
Hotel Xcaret properties
Grupo Xcaret's own resorts include park admission and transport. Good value only if you plan several park days.
Ask for the total price including taxes and any resort or environmental fees, and treat "free" dinners or tours offered in the lobby as likely timeshare bait. See Where to stay.
Safety
The State Department's Mexico advisory, reissued May 29, 2026, rates Quintana Roo Level 2, "Exercise increased caution," citing terrorism and crime, with no restrictions on US government employees. It notes that gang shootings have killed and injured bystanders and that US citizens have been crime victims in tourist areas, and it advises sticking to well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones after dark.
In practice, most of the violence involves criminal groups fighting over local drug sales, much of it tied to the nightlife scene. That is why the sensible precautions are about nights out:
- Do not buy drugs. Possession is illegal in Mexico, including marijuana legal in your state, and buyers step into the very business the gangs fight over.
- Watch your drink, go out in a group, and use an app ride, hotel taxi or official taxi stand to get home.
- Do not wear expensive jewelry or watches out at night, and use ATMs inside banks or malls in daytime.
- Dial 911 for emergencies and 078 for tourist help. Playa has a multilingual tourist assistance center, and the state's Guest Assist app covers Playa, Cancún, Tulum and Cozumel.
More common dangers are ordinary: rip currents, sunburn, dehydration and Highway 307 traffic. Respect red and black beach flags, drink bottled or filtered water, and use repellent against dengue-carrying mosquitoes. See Safety and Health for details.
Sargassum
Sargassum is a floating seaweed that drifts in from the Atlantic and piles up on the beaches, smelling of rotten eggs as it decays. It is the biggest variable in a beach trip here.
The season usually builds in spring and peaks in summer. The 2026 season was heavy: the largest volumes arrived in June and July, arrivals continued into October, and by late October the Mexican navy alone had collected about 123,000 metric tons in Quintana Roo, against about 92,000 in all of 2025. Puerto Morelos runs weekly monitoring through December 10, 2026, and barriers have been installed off places such as Puerto Aventuras.
Wind and currents decide where it lands, so beaches differ day to day; resorts rake every morning. From May through September, check the latest map from the Quintana Roo sargassum monitoring network (Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo) before you pick a beach, and have a cenote day or a trip to Isla Mujeres or Cozumel's west coast as backup. See Beaches and When to go.
Itineraries
Four days without a car
- Day 1
Arrive and settle in Playa
Take the ADO bus from Cancún airport to Playa del Carmen. Check in, walk the northern half of Quinta Avenida, and eat tacos a few blocks inland.
- Day 2
Cozumel
Take a morning ferry to Cozumel and book a snorkel boat on the island's calm west side, or rent a scooter and see the wild east coast. Ferry back in the late afternoon.
- Day 3
Akumal and a cenote
Ride a colectivo south to Akumal early, swim with the turtles with a cooperative guide, then flag a colectivo back toward Puerto Aventuras for a swim at Cenote Azul or Cristalino.
- Day 4
Punta Esmeralda and home
Morning swim at Punta Esmeralda, then the bus or a pre-booked transfer to the airport. Allow at least 3 hours before an international flight.
A week by car
- Days 1–2
Puerto Morelos
Drive 20 minutes from the airport. Next morning, snorkel the reef from the pier, then laze on the calm beach.
- Day 3
Ruta de los Cenotes
Two or three cenotes inland, starting at opening time.
- Day 4
Move to Akumal
About an hour south, with lunch in Playa del Carmen on the way.
- Day 5
Turtles and Yal-Kú
Turtle swim at Akumal Bay first thing, then calmer snorkeling at Yal-Kú lagoon.
- Day 6
Tulum or Xel-Há
Drive 25 minutes to the Tulum ruins and a cenote (see Tulum), or spend the day at Xel-Há.
- Day 7
Xpu-Ha and home
A last swim, then about 1 hour 15 minutes to the airport. Photograph the car when you return it.
Family week with the parks
Base yourselves at a Playacar or Xpu-Ha all-inclusive and pick two parks at most: Xel-Há for easy snorkeling and Xcaret for the evening show suit mixed ages. Fill other days with the pool, Cenote Cristalino and the Akumal turtles. Buy park tickets three weeks ahead for the biggest discount. See Travel by interest for more on kids.
Add it to a route in the trip builder, or ask us to plan the hotels, trains and guides for you.