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Today I am going to talk you about some Excursions in the RIVIERA MAYA

In addition to the spectacular beaches of Yucatan, the Riviera Maya has places that you can not miss, since we are facing one of the most impressive places on the planet, both culturally and landscape level. Mexico has several of the most important Mayan ruins in the world as well as infarct beaches both near Cancun or Playa del Carmen and in Cozumel or Holbox.

Most of the tourists who travel to this part of the world arrive with the typical flight + hotel combination with wristband, but what they don't know that staying in the hotel is getting bored and enjoying what is around is spending more money from what they expected. Therefore, before moving on to see what excursions in the Riviera Maya you should do, let's see how we can save some money: The prices of excursions from the hotel are infinitely more expensive. There are line buses that pass through the deposits, so it is convenient to purchase a ticket and buy access at the entrance. Renting a car is a good decision if you go at least 4 since you will save a lot of money and above all time. In one day you can do up to 3 excursions. Amusement parks have their transportation, so prices are usually fixed, with no hotel fees. Avoid rush hours, about when buses arrive. It is not the same to be in Chichen Itza with 20 than with 500 people. You can get a terrible disappointment. The excursions in the Riviera Maya are a good complement to a day at the beach, like Tulum, since it is worth watching from there the sunset. If you decide to go shopping, take a taxi or a bus to Playa del Carmen, the typical summer resort.

Rent a car in Mexico

An option that usually goes well is to rent a car among several to save costs, but if you are a family that almost goes out to rent one to move around the Riviera Maya. To rent a car in Mexico, you need an international driving license. About security, without problem, the times we have visited this area of Mexico we have never had problems.
To find an agency we leave you a price comparator where they usually have good prices.

Chichen Itza

It is certainly one of the best excursions in the Riviera Maya. There is no doubt that the Chichen Itza complex is one of the best in the Mayan world. It is considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world, so you can not miss this visit.
Regardless of the tourism that we can find, it is a destination that we must know since its state of conservation is unbeatable, in addition to hosting the largest Ball Game in Mesoamerica.

Cost: from 200 pesos (foreigners)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Sunday

Coba

Although it is not the most prominent, it can be one of the most fun. In Coba, you can rent a bicycle to tour the complex and even climb a Mayan pyramid. Everything is for tourism, even if it is due to the wear and tear of the heritage they own.

Tulum

Next to Chichen Itza is the most famous Mayan site in Mexico. It is known as the wedding paradise, being next to some spectacular white sand beaches. The complex itself is not one of the prettiest, but simply with the fact of being by the sea, this ancient Mayan city grows.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Sunday Hire tour to Tulum (for convenience) More information visit our article on Tulum.

The Xkekén Cenote

7 km from the city of Valladolid and on the way to Chichen Itza we have this spectacular cenote. Visiting a cenote is one of the classic excursions in the Riviera Maya, as there are few places in the world where you can bathe where a meteorite hit. Besides, next to the thick vegetation and the light that falls through the narrow cavity that formed the impact, they form an almost science fiction environment, I would say almost unreal.
In this cenote, in addition to taking stunning photographs, you can both swim and snorkel.

Cost: from 40 pesos each cenote
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Sunday
Transportation: Take an ADO bus from the Cancun terminal and then a taxi from Valladolid for 50 pesos round trip.

Xcaret Xcaret

Is one of the two parks preferred by tourists. It is surely one of the best-known excursions in the Riviera Maya next to the visit of the Mayan archeological zones. In this case, it is an ecological park located in an ancient Mayan settlement called Polé. In it, I can visit from the first butterfly farm in Mexico and a spectacular coral reef aquarium. Although it is an ecological and cultural dye park, it is still a large theme park in the jungle.
Xel-Há Unlike Xcaret Xel-Há, besides being an ecological park, it is a large water park. It is a park where the swimsuit is the protagonist, since most of the activities are in the water. Snorkeling, jumps, small cenotes, multiple activities for the family. For us, it is much more fun than Xcaret, although the price is also a bit high.

Cozumel Island

One of the most original excursions in the Riviera Maya is to take the ferry that departs from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel Island. This island is a paradise of discos and restaurants, especially on the west coast, but it can also be an excellent point for diving. We dive in the strait that separates the island of Yucatan, where we did a dive in an old ship of the Mexican Navy, one pass.

The Bacalar Lagoon

To the south of Playa del Carmen, in the direction of Belize, we have the Bacalar lagoon. The lagoon, much more isolated and with less tourism, is an amazing place. In Mexico, they call it the 7 color lagoon, due to the variation that exists throughout its 42km. For us it is the most beautiful excursions in the Riviera Maya, although it takes at least 2 days to fully enjoy it
If you have nowhere to stay, choose this place, you will be amazed.

Snorkeling with whale sharks in Holbox

Few places in the world allow you to snorkel with whale sharks, a completely safe activity and that rarely in your life can you do unless you live in the Yucatan Peninsula.
To be able to do this excursion look for any diving club in Cancun or your resort. Although Holbox is to the north, they will take you by car or by boat.

Valladolid

It is 158 kilometers from Cancun and close to the archaeological complexes of Chichén Itzá (50 km.) And Cobá (30 km.). In 2010 it was the largest city in terms of population in eastern Yucatán. It was also the second-largest city and the third with the highest number of inhabitants in the entire state, only behind Mérida and Kanasín.

The city was founded by Spanish conquerors in 1543 with the name of Valladolid in homage to the Spanish city of the same name. Since its foundation and during the Spanish colony it became the center of development in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, and this importance is still appreciated in many of its streets.

Places of interest in the center of Valladolid

The main square and Francisco Cantón Rosado park is the nerve center of the city, and in it, we stop to contemplate its fountain with the monument to the mestizo Vallisoletana, to rest in its wrought-iron benches or buy an ice cream from the street vendor. Around it, we have places to visit.
The Parochial Temple of San Servacio or Gervasio is the most famous and important church located next to this square. It was begun to build in 1543, after the foundation of Valladolid. A bloody history caused the church to be remodeled in the 18th century. The porch of the main façade was preserved, which looked, according to custom, towards the west, with the sculptures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
The Municipal Palace was built in the 16th century. In 1806, the building was restructured to house the Municipal Palace. It is a copy of the Royal House of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. We can visit part of its two floors and the patio. Inside the Municipal Palace, we have the House of Culture.
The Casa de Los Venados is a large private house/museum of Mexican folk art of 1700m2, a jewel of the colonial architecture of Valladolid that houses more than 300 pieces of art in its collection. Guided tours can be made and sometimes open to the public for concerts.
Centro Artesanal Zaci, an old colonial house that currently houses the work of artisans, who perform some techniques that have existed since pre-Hispanic times such as hammocks, wood and stone carving, counted thread embroidery, crafting of clay figures ...
The municipal bazaar is also an old colonial house and today we find huaraches (typical sandals), fine leather bags, handmade gold pieces, henequen rugs, feather hats or a splendid huipil, the typical regional dress and blouse.
San Roque Museum, in the old Hospital of the Holy Name of Jesus. In the courtyard of the museum today (converted into the Parque de Los Héroes), historical figures related to important episodes in the city were buried. In this museum, we can learn about the past and present of the old Zací, site where founded Valladolid and its surroundings. The enclosure houses archaeological pieces such as a snakehead recently found in excavations in the archaeological zone of Ek Balam.