Riviera Maya Itineraries

The classic tastes of the Riviera Maya

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:10:03 -0400

Running along the eastern coast of Mexico’s curling Yucatán Peninsula, Riviera Maya is home to some of the most glamorous beach resorts and international restaurants. When you’re in the region, you don’t need to look far beyond the beach to find street stalls and taquerias serving dishes that are truly a staple for the locals.

The state of Quintana Roo and the surrounding region have absorbed culinary influences from the Caribbean islands, the Dutch, the Lebanese, and the Spanish to create a mix of flavors that fuse fragrant spices and smoky chilies, the zing of citrus, and earthy vegetables.

For example, one of the region’s most famous dishes—the ubiquitous cochinita pibil—involves pork being rubbed in a chili and spice mix before it’s placed in a hole in the ground, lined with hot stones, and slowly cooked for hours. It results in a smoky, moist, and tender meat that’s always worth the wait.

Riviera Maya’s five must-try dishes

You’ll discover a variety of local delicacies on your journey through the region, but make sure you don’t go home without trying these five specialties.

Salbutes

This popular antojito (‘little craving’) is served as a snack in restaurants, markets, and street stalls across the region. While it originated on the Yucatán Peninsula, it’s also become a staple in neighboring Belize, and involves a deep-fried taco topped with pulled chicken, diced white cabbage, pickled onions, avocado, and salsa and topped with a cream sauce. Other variations exist, but this is the classic combo.

Seasnail ceviche

Most Riviera Maya visitors will have zingy ceviche at the top of their culinary list, and it’s safe to say the sea-lined region serves some of the best in Mexico. While shrimp, octopus, and fish varieties are the most common, it’s worth hunting down a version made with caracol tomburro—a black-skinned seasnail found in the shallow waters along the coast. It adds slightly more bite to the dish and works well with tomato, onion, and cilantro. Locals add a touch of habanero chili to spice things up a little bit.

Kibis

At the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century, more than 100,000 Lebanese immigrants settled in Mexico, with many making the Yucatán Peninsula their new home. While they only make up 5% of the nation’s immigrant population, they’ve had a big influence on the culinary scene. Kibis are proof—these snacks of spiced ground meat, onions, and grain have become a much-loved part of Quintana Roo’s culture. Keep a lookout for vendors walking along the beaches carrying full cases on their heads.

Tikin Xic

Pronounced ‘teekeen sheek’, this historical Mayan dish is a whole fish marinated in a vibrant achiote paste—made from crushed annatto seeds—which gives it its iconic bright orange-red hue. Once marinated for three to four hours, the fish is wrapped in a banana leaf and placed over charcoals—a modern technique that replaces the underground pit ovens of the past.

Tamales torteados

If you happen to be in the region on February 2nd, you’ll see the importance of this dish as it’s eaten in celebration of Candlemas—a Christian holiday celebrating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. For the rest of the year, they’re eaten for a lunchtime snack or alongside an evening beer, served from carts and stalls often found close to supermarkets and public squares. Wrapped and cooked in banana leaves, they’re traditionally stuffed with chicken and topped with a red chili sauce.

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Off-the-beaten-path beaches of the Riviera Maya

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:22:37 -0400

With swinging palm trees, talcum-white sand, and a crystal-clear sea, Riviera Maya is lined with some of the most idyllic beaches in Latin America. While most travelers will love spending their days on the sand near Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, it’s always worth exploring some of the lesser-known areas where you’ll be closer to nature and further from the crowds. From a village beach in a protected nature reserve to a local spot hiding in plain sight, we’ve uncovered a few hidden favorites.

Soliman Bay

It’s hard to believe that this quiet inlet hasn’t attracted more attention, but anyone who spends a day on the sand will be thankful it still flies low on the tourist radar. This crescent bay is backed by palm trees that hide a small collection of villas and boutique hotels at the northern end. The large outer reef keeps the water calm close to shore, making it ideal for paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming.

Insider tip: Pack waterproof shoes in your beach bag to protect yourself against the sharp coral reef.

Playa Xcacel

This designated nature reserve requires beachgoers to stick to a particular area on the northern end to avoid disturbing wildlife, including green sea and loggerhead turtles that return here to nest every year. Bring your snorkel to experience the diverse underwater life and be sure to follow the boardwalk for a refreshing dip in the pristine cenote.

Insider tip: Visit early on weekdays to experience the beach at its quietest. Be aware there are strict rules about bringing food and drinks—only water and fruit are allowed on the beach.

Playa Xpu-Ha

Just five minutes away from Puerto Aventuras, finding this beach requires minimum effort for maximum return. Throw your towel on the sand or grab a spot on a lounge chair at one of the many beach bars that line the bay—the constant supply of ceviche is not to be missed. While it never gets too crowded, there’s a constant stream of beach volleyball games and some of the best snorkeling you’ll find anywhere.

Insider tip: For daily weather and sea condition updates, check out the daily posts on the La Playa Xpu-Ha Beach Club Facebook page.

Punta Allen

Set within the protected Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve lies this small fishing village. Its quiet beach is found between the inland tropical forest and wildlife-rich mangroves. The stretch of sand feels worlds away from the busy beaches surrounding Tulum and Cancun, and gives a great insight into local life—the local restaurants serve delectable seafood, freshly caught every morning.

Insider tip: While there is a road to the beach, a much more scenic route involves taking a one-hour boat ride south from Sian Ka’an Visitor’s Center.

Playa Punta Esmeralda

The town beaches of Playa del Carmen can be among some of the busiest in the region. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, you don’t need to go far to find Playa Punta Esmeralda. This less-visited cove between the Paradisus Cancún complex and Marazul development offers calm waters ideal for kids, shade among the palms, and a more local vibe.

Insider tip: While it doesn’t have the beachfront infrastructure of the in-town beaches, there are a handful of beach shacks lining the sand with lounge chairs to rent and well-priced tacos and cold drinks.

Fantastic wildlife of Riviera Maya

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:17:59 -0400

Mexico is home to between 10 and 12% of the world’s biodiversity, with more than 200,000 species of flora and fauna across the country. The Yucatán Peninsula is a major haven for this plant and animal life thanks to its well-protected habitats, ranging from inland jungles and dense coastal mangroves to fresh-water lagoons and large barrier reefs. While a lot of the wildlife remains elusive to visitors, here are a few animals that can be spotted with relatively little effort.

Tapir

One of the most unusual animals in Latin America, tapirs have scurried through the region’s jungles for millennia. Unfortunately, they find themselves on endangered lists today as habitats become threatened by development. Thankfully, there’s a strong conservation effort taking place in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve where you may catch a lucky sighting in the wildlife-rich network of inlets and mangroves. Despite weighing almost 800 pounds, tapirs are excellent swimmers and are great at moving through dense undergrowth.

Altamira oriole

Experts suggest there are more than 360 species of birds in the state of Quintana Roo, plus hundreds more that use the peninsula as a stopping point on winter migrations. If you own a pair of binoculars, add them to your packing list as they’ll come in handy to spot a wide range of birdlife, including the flame-colored Altamria oriole. Found in dense shrubs or perching on palm trees, the pop of orange makes them one of the easiest to spot, and the two-foot-long nests dangling from branches are feats of natural engineering.

Loggerhead sea turtle

Thanks to its soft sand beaches and calm waters, Riviera Maya offers prime real estate for nesting turtles. This critically endangered species has a tough time battling for beach space and avoiding fishing nets, but local preservation groups are working hard to protect vital breeding grounds from resort development. The bay at Akumal is one of the most important loggerhead nesting sites in the Americas. Here, it’s possible to swim with these gentle giants, which remain under close protection of the team at Centro Ecológico Akumal.

White-nosed coati

Somewhere between a racoon and a lemur, these jungle dwellers were revered by the ancient Mayan civilizations, who believed they possessed mystical powers. Today, their numbers are in steady decline but it’s not unusual for guests at Tulum’s luxurious resorts to spot bands of 20 or more coati rampaging through the hotel grounds, with youngsters tumbling and playing as they head for cover in the surrounding jungle.

Ocellated turkey

A colorful cousin of North America’s wild turkeys, the ocellated turkey dazzles with its vibrant blue, green, and bronze plumage and its light-blue head covered in orange, wart-like dots. Like the coati, these were significant animals for the Maya who believed they held god-like powers. The birds still roam wild, and you may be fortunate enough to spot them during jungle treks, but your best bet is to find them wandering through the archaeological ruins of Cobá.

Black spiny-tailed iguana

With a top speed of 21.5mph, the Guinness Book of World Records lists these four-feet-long iguanas as the fastest lizard on earth. Thankfully, they also spend a lot of the day sunning themselves on rocks, and it’s not uncommon to spot them when you’re touring the ancient ruins surrounding Tulum. While they look fearsome with long claws and spikes along their backs, they’re mainly herbivorous. That said, they can strike with their tail when threatened, so it’s best to keep your distance!

Mexican faves: seven essential experiences on Riviera Maya

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If you can pry yourself away from the sandy beaches that line the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, you can go back in time to the Mayan ruins, swim alongside giants of the sea, hop between uninhabited islands, and discover villages that tourism forgot.

Swim with whale sharks off Isla Contoy

Growing to an average length of 65 feet, it’s safe to say that you’ll never get closer to such an enormous fish. It’s only when you’re swimming alongside these friendly giants that you get a sense of their magnitude. As filter feeders, whale sharks move at a slow pace to the surface while gliding through the waters surrounding the beautiful Isla Contoy, now a dedicated national park.

Explore an ancient cave system

When it comes to the region’s most photogenic spots, you might be surprised at how beautiful Mexico can be 30 feet underground. The Rio Secreto is a recently discovered network of caves that winds seven miles under Playacar. After donning a wetsuit, you can follow a guide along tunnels through freshwater rivers, into enormous caverns covered in thousands of stalactites.

Discover Mayan history at Chichén Itzá

For a heavy dose of history, head into the center of the Yucatán Peninsula to this spectacular Mayan ruin. The stepped pyramids, temples, columned arcades, and other stone structures reveal a lot about the lost civilization’s vision of the universe. It’s a magical place but does get busy, so we recommend arriving early in the morning.

Charter a yacht and island hop

If you thought beach life couldn’t be more relaxing than sunbathing along the quiet stretches of sand, try spending a week on a luxury yacht along the Riviera’s northern coast. The coral beaches of Isla Mujeres are a good starting point, and the quiet island life sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the voyage. From here, it’s onto Isla Holbox, before dropping anchor for unrivalled snorkeling around Isla Contoy.

Spot a jaguar at Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Keep your binoculars ready as you tour the mangroves, marshes, and jungles of one of the nation’s largest biosphere reserves. While birdwatchers will have the opportunity to observe up to 300 species, you can also expect a sighting of the elusive jaguars that live among the trees. There are also healthy populations of crocodiles, howler monkeys, pumas, black iguanas, and many other thriving species.

Scuba with families of rare green turtles

The reefs surrounding the Akumal Bay are popular feeding grounds for hundreds of endangered green turtles. While certain areas are closed to the public, many guided scuba tours take you as close as possible to the protected area. The water visibility is exceptional and the underwater landscape looks particularly beautiful with the early morning light shining through the water.

Taste traditional street food at Cancun’s Parque de las Palapas

While Riviera Maya has become a hotbed of young culinary talent, it’s Cancun’s unassuming street food stalls that really bring out the regional flavor. Every evening, locals head over to Parque de las Palapas to meet friends and family around the low, umbrella-shaded tables to enjoy tacos, tamales torteados, tikin xic, and salbutes. Vendors usually specialize in one regional dish, so be sure to arrive hungry and have plenty of Mexican pesos.