Find Your Ultimate Vacation in Riviera Maya Mexico

You’ve been working hard all year and now it’s time to kick back and enjoy that well-deserved vacation. But where should you go?

You want someplace with perfect weather. It also has to have perfect beaches, crystal-clear ocean waters and plenty of opportunities for adventure. And, a lush rainforest wouldn’t hurt. The destination you want is Riviera Maya Mexico.

There are few places on Earth that can boast the perfect blend of all of those things, and the Riviera Maya on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is perhaps the best place in the world to experience the sun, water and exotic landscapes.

When you do journey to Mexico, there are so many things to do it may be hard to decide exactly how to spend your time. Here are five of the most exciting things to do during your Riviera Maya vacation.

Riviera Maya Mexico Vacations

No. 1: If you’re into water sports, there’s no end to available activities in the Riviera Maya. Start off by snorkeling in the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. You’ll float past the grand and impressive coral formations and see exotic sea life cavorting in its natural environment.

No. 2: The Riviera Maya region sits above one of the world’s largest underground river systems. Another exciting activity is snorkeling through mysterious underwater caves, underneath awe-inspiring rock formations and into the very heart of the region.

No. 3: Entering underground rivers can be easily done by rappelling into one of the numerous cenotes that can be found in the Riviera Maya. Rappel down the steep side of these naturally occurring sinkholes to enter Mexico’s underground rivers, or just swim in the warm, clear waters found at their base.

No. 4: Mexico’s rainforest is a place of wonder and mystery. Hidden within the lush tropical forest are some of the most magnificent ancient sites the planet has to offer. Journey back in time at one of the Riviera Maya’s many Mayan archeological sites. Chichen Itza and Tulum are among the country’s best preserved and most incredible Mayan sites.

No. 5: Another exciting adventure unique to the Riviera Maya is soaring above the rainforest canopy on a zip line. With a zip line tour, such as those offered by Aventuras Mayas, visitors can speed along high in the air — as high as 60 feet above the rainforest — to get a thrilling and unique view of the world.

Rappelling, Zip Lining Make for a Thrilling Riviera Maya Vacation

For centuries, the jungle has captured our imagination as a world of mystery and adventure. Who hasn’t been thrilled by stories of adventurers braving exotic wildlife in lush rainforests and stumbling upon ancient ruins?

When we think of jungles, many people first think of the dense tropical rainforest of equatorial Africa; however, one of the world’s largest tracts of tropical rainforest stretches from the Yucatan Peninsula down into South America. No Cancun tour would be complete without stepping foot into the majestic rainforest.

Mexico’s portion of the rainforest is dotted with naturally occurring sinkholes called cenotes that serve as a doorway to a vast underground cave system. The ancient Mayans used the groundwater collected in cenotes as sources of potable water.

Today, visitors to Mexico find more adventurous uses for cenotes. Rappelling down the steep sides into the center of the cenote — sometimes 50-100 feet into the Earth — allows visitors to enter an underground world. Snorkeling tours through the caves give visitors an up close look at the awe-inspiring underground formations of the Yucatan’s vast cave system.

Adventurous explorers will also find plenty to do above ground — well above ground.

The uppermost level of the rainforest, the canopy, is its own mysterious world teeming with life. Scientists have estimated that a significant amount of the world’s plant species and a significant amount of the world’s insect species make their home in the rainforest canopy. This is certainly amazing considering rainforests cover a small percentage of the Earth’s surface.

No Riviera Maya vacation would be complete without visiting what naturalist William Beebe described as another continent 200 feet above the ground. What better way to experience it than gliding along zip lines suspended 60 feet above the jungle floor — a unique and exciting vantage point?

Using Riviera Maya’s largest city Cancun as the launch point, visitors can easily access all the rainforest has to offer. Not to mention, Cancun is conveniently located on the sandy shores of the Caribbean, presenting equally thrilling opportunities to experience life under the waves.

Ecotours, such as those offered by companies like Aventuras Mayas, offer a great way to step out of your normal, everyday life and experience adventure in the rainforest and below the ocean waves. There’s no better way to enjoy a well-rounded Riviera Maya Cancun vacation.