The Riviera Maya has an activity for everyone—culture and sightseeing, world-class water activities, adventure tours, shopping and exciting nightlife.  The difficult part is choosing which excursion is right for you.

For the archaeologist at heart: If you want to experience the culture of the ancient Mayans, the Riviera Maya is a perfect launching point for extraordinary visits to nearby Mayan sites like Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba. Each of these famous archaeological gems offers eye-opening opportunities to step back in time and learn more about these ancient people.

For the Jacques Cousteau wannabe:  Just a ¼ mile of shore is the world’s second longest barrier reef—making the Riviera Maya the perfect place to snorkel and scuba dive.  Here is a link to some of the many fish you may see. You might even have the opportunity to snorkel with the largest fish in the world, a whale shark.

For the thrill seeker: The tropical setting of the Riviera Maya offers guests to this area a chance for adventure.  Don’t miss the opportunity to explore underground rivers & caves, rappel into mysterious cenotes, fly across jungle treetops on a zip-line course or hop on a 4×4 ATV for some off-road fun!

For the shopaholic: All along the Mayan Riviera you’ll find plenty of places to shop. You’ll come across everything from modern shopping malls to traditional & colorful markets, where you can buy handcrafts, imitation stone figurines of Mayan gods, hammocks, t-shirts, ceramics, woodcarvings and more.

For the night owl: If you are looking for a nighttime adventure, the Riviera Maya offers romantic sunset dinner cruises or Caribbean-themed cruises, which sail to private beach parties where you can dance the night away.

*Photo courtesy of the Mexico Tourist Board