The Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya is Mexico's Caribbean playground, a long stretch of the Yucatan coast famous for its powder-white sand and impossibly turquoise sea. From the high-rise resorts of Cancun and the lively beach town of Playa del Carmen to the island of Cozumel on the Mesoamerican reef, the second-largest barrier reef system in the world, and eco-parks in the jungle, it offers beaches, diving, cenotes and Maya ruins in easy reach.

Highlights

• The white beaches - the powder sand and turquoise Caribbean water.
• Cozumel and the reef - the island and the great Mesoamerican reef for diving.
• Playa del Carmen - the lively beach town and its Fifth Avenue.
• The eco-parks - the jungle and cenote parks like Xcaret and Xel-Ha.

When to go

November to April for the best weather, dry and warm, avoiding the summer heat, humidity and the hurricane season from roughly June to November. The reefs and cenotes are wonderful year-round for diving and snorkelling.

What to expect

It is heavily developed with large all-inclusive resorts, which is either convenient or off-putting. Seasonal sargassum seaweed can wash up on the beaches, mostly in summer, spoiling the postcard image; check conditions. Cancun's hotel zone feels removed from real Mexico, so venture out for culture.

Nearby

The ruins of Tulum and Coba, the cenotes and the colonial Yucatan are within reach.

Key facts