Riviera Maya
From Cancun to Tulum
One of my favorite vacation suggestions for families is the area south of Cancun, Mexico, called the Riviera Maya. This is the newer, sister area 40 minutes from Cancun and has the fantastic beach town of Playa del Carmen. Large resorts line the beach side of Highway 307 and the other side is filled with great activities including many large ecological theme parks and a gorgeous Cirque du Soleil venue. Many of the best cenotes (natural swimming whiles connected by an underground river system) are just north of Playa Del Carmen un to Tulum. Tulum is a smaller beach town with more tropical beaches and boutique hotels and retreat centers where yoga is very popular.
Top things to do
Adventure and Ecological Theme Parks- There are over 60 theme parks in the area! These offer a huge range of activities including: cenotes, cave walks, zip lines, jungle walks, ATV rides and many many more! Perfectly located, these parks provide the perfect alternative, nature based day out; and are certainly an activity not to be missed on the Riviera Maya. The company, Experiencias Xcaret Parques, has the biggest and best parks.
For those seeking to enjoy an unforgettable trip, there are endless adventures and fun for every age range. There is swimming with dolphins and touring large, well lit and maintained underground rivers at Xcaret and Xel-Há; Some of the highest zip lines and a ATV driving are at Xplor and your whole family can live an authentic Mexican fiesta on board colorful trajineras at Xoximilco. In May, each year you can attend the Traversia Sagrada, a sacred Mayan journey over to Cozumel island, which begins and ends in Xcaret; it is an ancient event with deep roots, If you are there in May, it is a spectacular day you should not miss!
Xenses Sensorial Theme Park - is designed to challenge your normal perceptions and make you think outside of the box with fantastic scenarios that challenge your mind. More than15 activities that will take you on a fantastic journey creating sensorial, olfactory, auditory and tactile experiences using various natural elements such as water, vegetation and land and with the help of visual effects, which will cause disputes over our own thoughts and judgments. Sometimes you’ll even feel like you’re walking uphill when it looks like your walking downhill. You’ll even be able to drink lemonade straight from a lemon tree.
Cenotes – Local families and tourist both gather together to enjoy the cool water, jumping in from rock formations or nearby tree branches and even scuba diving in the under ground caves through massive systems connecting cenotes eventually to the sea. Many have been made more accessible to the public with stairs into the water, lockers, showers and a small fee to enter and park.
Snorkeling –The Riviera Maya is home to the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere and the largest natural aquarium in the world. It also offers the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an, which features mangroves, ancient Mayan canals and tours through pristine jungles.
Archaeological Sites – Beyond its natural attractions, the Riviera Maya features impressive archaeological sites, including the the Mayan caves in Aktun Chen; the Nohoch Mul temple in Cobá; and the clifftop ruins of Tulum.
Monkey Sanctuaries – Both the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary and The Jungle Place have experiences where you can be close to the monkeys. They take a small group in the enclosure with the monkeys and give a short talk. The monkeys love to play and climb all over you and the time interacting with them is something very special. If you are nervous around animals, it might not be the best environment for you, as the monkeys literally can be all over you- on your head, jumping to each person’s shoulders, cuddled in your arms. May want to consider that also if you have very young children that you want to bring, it may be a little too overwhelming for them and they may not adhere to the instructions from the animal keeper.
