From exploring Mayan ruins to snorkeling in hidden caves, Mexico’s Riviera Maya has more to offer along its sunny strand than some countries. It’s great for light adventure or adrenaline junkies, twentysomethings to those with grandkids in tow. CW’s own Stephanie Farr recently spent some time touring the area. Here’s what she saw and what you should too…

Where can you find some of the world’s best beaches, trendy nightlife, great value, fantastic tours and excursions, and ancient culture? Stephanie Farr, one of CaribbeanWay’s adventurous employees, found it all in the Riviera Maya, a stretch of coastline along Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. These are her favorite experiences, from the well-known to the off beat and off the the beaten path:

Amazing Beaches
You could ramble on about the Riviera Maya’s famous, gorgeous beaches for hours - there are plenty, and they’re all stunning - but it’s finding the lesser-known strands that really feels rewarding. To do so, look south towards Tulum (photo above) and beyond to Sian Ka’an. This area, studded by Mayan ruins and nature preserves, has a bit more of that off-road quality and yet still boasts some of the world’s best sand, much of it essentially untouched. The reserve also includes wetlands, rainforests, and animals from pumas to howler monkeys.  Better still, it’s just a 2-3 hour flight from most American hubs - proving you don’t have to go far to get really exotic.

Villas nearby: Casa Nalum

Tours & Activities
The adventurous of spirit have plenty to satisfy the soul in the Riviera Maya. Mayan ruins are a big draw here, but Stephanie recommends skipping Tulum in favor of Coba, an older and larger complex that was once the ancient capital of the Yucatan peninsula.

You can either drive out to Coba or take a tour with ALLTOURNATIVE, an operator offering one-day adventures throughout the region.Try out the Mayan zip lining tour where you get to take part in a shaman ritual and swim in cenotes - underground rivers that provide access to many extensive underwater cave systems.

Hip and Trendy
If you’re more concerned about being in the heart of the action,  experiencing some of the world’s most beautiful people and still enjoying fantastic beaches, you can stay in Playa Del Carmen – a rapidly growing city in the heart of the Riviera Maya with a distinctly European feel. La Quinta (5th avenue) is a must see with hundreds of trendy shops, fantastic international gourmet cuisine and nightlife along a stretch of 40 blocks. Walk down a couple of blocks down to Mamitas Beach – and you’ll find a very trendy beach club with topless tanning, dj’s, day beds and swinging beds.

Villas nearby: Aqua Villa; Bosque de los Aluxes 111; Villa Turquesa

See what all the fuss is about and visit Riviera Maya for yourself. Call us at 1-877-953-7400 or E-Mail