POPULAR DESTINATIONS

About Riviera Maya

Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum

The Riviera Maya's principal quality is its diversity. Here one can choose everything from adventure sports, golf and tennis to jungle tours on foot or horseback, water and nautical sports, and touring the indescribable cultural and archaeological treasures of the Maya world. One of the favorite activities for visitors is scuba diving on the Great Maya Reef, the second-largest in the world, located along the Riviera Maya's coastline and experiencing cavern diving in the region´s ubderground rivers. The spectacular tropical marine life here is unique and unforgettable.

From the new chic destination of Playa del Carmen with it's hip 200,000 population of fine dining, boutique hotels, and outstanding shopping to the quiet caribe retreats all along the coast, the Riviera Maya will light your fire - Maya Style.

For some, the words dive travel and Mexico are synonymous with great wall diving, giant neon Corona signs and late-night parties at frog-themed restaurants. But just ust just a two-hour drive south along the Yucatan coast is a different Mexico, one that European dive travelers have known about for a long time but kept as their little secret. Once called the Cancun-Tulum Corridor, this 75-mile (121-km) stretch of pristine beaches and lush jungles is a hotbed of natural and cultural splendor — and diving diversity — known today as the Riviera Maya. The new name works, since in Spanish "Riviera" means coastline and "Maya" is the name for the Mayan people.

For savvy dive travelers, the region’s major draw is its cenotes — freshwater sinkholes. Once dry underground caverns dripping with stalactites and stalagmites that were likely a haven for bats, today they’re a diver’s dream come true — endless underwater labyrinths flooded with crystal-clear water.

For divers with a taste for saltier water, the world’s second-largest barrier reef lies just offshore. And when the diving day is done, you can watch a spectacular sunset from high atop an ancient Mayan monument.

The Maya are probably the best known of the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., they rose to prominence around A.D. 250 in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras. The Maya were noted for elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial architecture, including temple pyramids, palaces and observatories that rival the craftsmanship of ancient Egyptians. They developed an intricate hieroglyphic writing system and were also skilled farmers, weavers and potters.

The early Maya were astronomers and mathematicians. Of all the world’s ancient calendar systems, the Maya systems are the most complex, intricate and accurate; one model is almost exactly equal to the actual solar year in the tropics, with only a 19-minute margin of error. They developed calendars to keep track of the celestial movements and the passage of time.

Around 300 B.C. the Maya adopted a hierarchical system of government, with rule by nobles and kings who looked to the heavens for guidance. Their society consisted of many independent states, each with a rural farming community and large urban sites built around ceremonial centers. Trade — and warfare — with other kingdoms appears to have been governed by practical and ritual needs. Battles were scheduled during dry seasons, when they had the least effect on the farmers, and according to the position of the planet Venus in the night sky. Enemy warriors were routinely used as human sacrifices, offered to the gods in hopes of blessings such as a bountiful corn harvest.

Maya history reflects cycles of rise and fall. City-states rose, then fell into decline, only to be replaced by others. Mayan civilization started to decline around A.D. 900 when — for reasons that still remain a mystery — the record of life in the region goes silent. Spanish conquistadors arrived in the late 16th century and controlled the region for 300 years.

The Maya living throughout Central America today number about 6 million people, making them the largest single block of indigenous peoples north of Peru. Many remain close to their ancestral roots, working as farmers and craftsmen.

Because of the dense and formidable jungle and scarcity of suitable roads for land travel, the Riviera Maya region remained largely undeveloped until recently. Several years ago Mexico’s Department of Tourism (DOT) began crafting a tourism policy dedicated to what it refers to as sustainable tourism development. Having learned a lesson or two from the get-rich-quick era of ’70s tourism development, which resulted in heaps of high-rise resorts and heavy impact on the environment, the DOT has a different plan. It has pledged to maintain a balance between economic growth from tourism and the need to protect the Riviera Maya’s natural and cultural diversity.

And so it should. The Riviera Maya could be considered the poster child for eco-tourism. In addition to the Great Maya Reef, the region houses a vast network of underground rivers, more than 100 cenotes, massive mangrove forests, and a rich inventory of archaeological and cultural treasures.

South of Tulum (pronounced "two-LOOM") is a thick, 1.3-million-acre mat of jungle and tangled mangroves known as the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Declared a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1987, Sian Ka’an — Mayan for "where the sky is born" — is a wildlife reserve that is home to exotic ocelots, jaguars, more than 330 documented species of birds and more than 80 butterfly species. The reserve’s vast estuaries, ponds, channels and streams make up hundreds of miles of winding waterways.

The warm (84F/29C) waters off Riviera Maya’s shores are home to the second-largest reef system in the world, and one of the healthiest. The same currents that feed Cozumel wash these reefs. Typically, the current will take the adventurous diver for hundreds of yards along a broad expanse of flat reef adorned with an abundance of huge barrel sponges. Dive sites are exposed to the prevailing winds, which can make for surface chop. There are occasional spur-and-groove "fingers" that shelter beautiful coral- and sponge-encrusted mini walls. Here you will find schools of porkfish, grunts, horse-eyed jacks and yellowtail snapper.

Fat-bellied bull sharks and hammerheads are common here, especially during winter months. Manta rays are occasionally seen on the reefs, and stingrays are known to migrate here for winter mating. Some dive shops around the town of Akumal — Mayan for "place of the turtles" — guarantee turtle sightings on every dive, or the dive is free.

The Riviera Maya Dive Association has 20 member dive operators, all of whom are committed to a standard of environmental protection and diver safety. Most dive operators offer a range of dive services suitable for snorkelers and divers of every experience level. Nitrox is available in some areas.
Cenote Diving

Playa del Carmen, Tulum & The Riviera Maya: Great Destinations Mexico: A Complete Guide Click Here to Buy the Book Now! The definitive guide to the Riviera Maya For travelers in the know, Playa del Carmen is the little gem with all the beauty of white sand beaches that has drawn crowds from around the world to Cancun, with none of the high-rise overdevelopment. Playa remains a wonderful, sleepy town on a human scale, yet its discovery has resulted in a wide range of lodging and dining options. For families and adventurous travelers alike, there's something for everyone in this Mexican Riviera, known as the "Riviera Maya." You can explore the fascinating Mayan ruins on the beach at Tulum, shop and have a fabulous lunch on the pedestrian area in Playa, stay in a full-service resort along Playacar, and go for some of the best fishing in the world near the famous Sian Ka'an biosphere in Punta Allen. The Riviera Maya is one of the true travel hot spots in the world today. As in all the Great Destinations series guides, you'll find important contact information, including websites, transportation details, a calendar of events, an abundance of photos and maps, and essential local information. 100 black & white photographs, 12 maps, lodging & dining indexes. About the Author Joshua Eden Hinsdale has worked as a marketing consultant for various hotels and tourism companies throughout Mexico. He has continued to work in the Riviera Maya, writing hotel reviews for Expedia.com, Hotels.com, and Custom Classic Vacations, providing guide services and doing freelance travel writing for a number of publications. He makes frequent trips to the region from his home on Galveston Bay in Kemah, Texas.

Cenote diving is like having one of those "flying" dreams while you’re awake. Imagine yourself suspended in mid-air, cruising effortlessly through a surreal landscape of gigantic, glittery columns, stalactites and stalagmites from some prehistoric age. That’s cenote diving. While submerged in the crystal-clear waters of the cenote, you can look up and see the undersides of floating lily pads and the jungle foliage that adorns the cenote opening. Visibility exceeds 300 feet (91 m). It’s no wonder the early Mayans considered these cenotes, which is Mayan for "well," to be sacred. They believed them to be passageways to the Underworld and the homes of the gods.

Technically, cenotes are openings to underground rivers. There are no above-ground rivers in the Yucatan Peninsula, so these openings were the way the Mayans got their fresh water. The Yucatan has 54 known cave systems where only 249 miles (400 km) of the underground rivers have been explored. This figure represents only an estimated 30 percent of the region’s cave systems.

On a typical cenote dive, you’ll be driven to the site by van, then make a short trek through the jungle to the cenote opening. You’ll descend a ladder about 40 feet (12 m) below ground level to the waterline. The crew usually handles your dive gear, which is lowered by lines and pulleys.

Because cenotes are caverns — not caves — you don’t need special training to enjoy this type of diving. Certified divers with good buoyancy skills can dive the cenotes when supervised by a licensed local guide. Divers on introductory cavern tours must remain near the cenote opening, in the area lit by available light. More advanced cavern tours allow the use of artificial lights. Cenote specialty courses, cavern and cave diving courses are also available.
Maya Topside

Riviera Maya’s main tourist centers are located in Playa del Carmen and Xcaret (pronounced "Ish-car-et"), Puerto Aventuras and Akumal. You’ll find accommodations to fit every lifestyle and budget, from rustic beach hideaways to high-end, all-inclusive resorts. Playa del Carmen is less than an hour’s drive south from Cancun. South of Playa del Carmen along highway 307 are the privately developed tourist communities of Puerto Aventuras and Akumal.

Most major resorts have reliable water-purifying systems, but you’d be wise to stick to bottled water when away from your hotel.

If you’re traveling with children, you’ll be pleased to know that many resorts have playgrounds, miniature golf courses and mini theaters with special kids-only entertainment programs.

A new DOT project known as the Trail Initiative will create a system of trails that will incorporate existing roads, paths, bays, beaches, cenotes and estuaries. Visitors can hike and bike between various attractions. Trails will also access campsites and kayak launch sites. When completed, the new trails are expected to extend as far west as Cob? (pronounced "ko-bah") and as far south as Felipe Carillo.

The beaches are fringed with miles and miles of sugary-white sand, perfect for aimless walks and lounging after a day of diving or touring. Or if you’re up for more adventure, you can try parasailing, kayaking and boardsailing.

Because the area is popular with European tourists, the keen observer may notice the occasional topless sunbather. But nude sunbathing is prohibited and tourists should dress moderately when away from the beaches.

You will not want to miss a visit to one of the Eco Theme Parks at Xcaret or Xel-Ha (pronounced "shell-ha"), where you can witness a re-enactment of the 2,000-year-old Mayan ball game of Pok-ta-Pok. The players are allowed to use only their hips to knock a rubber ball through a hole in a stone disk. Legend has it that the winning team had the "honor" of being sacrificed to their gods, but which team was sacrificed is not universally accepted.

The Mayan archaeological sites of Tulum and Coba are some of the largest, most important sites in the Yucatan. Tulum was built around A.D. 400 and is the only walled prehispanic city built on a cliff facing the Caribbean. Coba, the capital of the largest Late Classic Empire in the Northern Lowlands, once was home to over 50,000 inhabitants. Archaeologists have only partially reclaimed Cob?’s ruins from the jungle overgrowth.

While the Cancun-Tulum Corridor-turned-Riviera Maya may not be the first dive spot that comes to mind when you think of Mexico, it’s definitely worth adding to your "to dive" list when planning your next trip. And with the DOT’s plans for careful, sustainable tourism development, it’s likely to remain a place worth visiting over and over again for years to come

Facts & Figures

* Location: The Riviera Maya area is along Mexico’s eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo. It extends from Punta Brava (18 miles/30 km south of Cancun) for 75 miles/120 km south to Punta Allen.
* Time: Central Standard Time. Daylight-saving time is not observed.
* Climate: The average annual temperature ranges from 77?F (25?C) to 86?F (30?C). Cenote water temperature is around 76?F (24?C) year-round. Offshore water temperatures range from 78?F (26?C) in January to 84?F (29?C) in August. May through November is the rainy season.
* Money: The Mexican Peso (MXP) is the national currency, but the U.S. dollar is accepted almost everywhere. Credit cards are widely accepted except in smaller establishments.
* Electricity: 110V/60 Hz with North American-style outlets.
* Language: Spanish is the official language and Mayan is the local language, but English, French and German are spoken at the larger hotels.
* Measurements: Speed limits are posted in kilometers. Dive operators generally use both feet/psi and meters/bars when communicating dive data.
* Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens need proper identification (i.e., valid passport, certified birth certificate and photo I.D., or voter registration card and photo I.D.).
* Driving: Rental cars and taxis are available.
* Driving is on the right.
* Medical: A recompression chamber is located in Playa del Carmen. Air evacuation is available from the Cancun airport or the small airport in Playa del Carmen.
* Getting There: Several air carriers and charters offer direct services to Cancun.
* Dress: Casual dress is the norm for the Riviera Maya. Cover-ups are required when leaving the beach areas. Some restaurants have dress codes that prohibit sandals and require men to wear long pants.

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