Riviera Maya Activities & Attractions

Explore mysterious Chichén Itzá, considered by many as one of the seven new wonders of the world and certified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A professionally guided tour will allow you to witness the magnificence of the 75-foot-high Kukulkan pyramid, the Temple of the Warriors, the Ball Court, the Observatory and more. Then, visit a beautiful cenote to swim. 

The Kukulcan
A 75-foot-high pyramid built in the eleventh century. The structure highlights the Mayan's advanced knowledge of mathematics and the solar system. 

Temple of the Warriors
Rising from a step platform east of El Castillo is the Temple of the Warriors. This magnificent structure was built by Toltec conquerors of Yucatán in ca. 950-1000 AD, and houses a large stone altar. 

The Ball Court
The Mayans were thought to be great sportsmen and built large courts to play their games. The Ballcourt of Chichén Itzá is 545 feet long, 225 feet wide and is open to the sky. Its unique construction allows a whisper from end to be heard at the other. 

The Sacred Cenote
This natural limestone sinkhole provided a steady water source for ancient Mayan people. The opening of the cenote is nearly 200 feet across with vertical sides 60 feet off the water.

Visitors who brave the steep climb up the  highest pyramid in Mexico's Maya world reap the reward of a breathtaking vista. At  more than 130 feet in height.

Nohuch Mul, which means mound” in the  Mayan language, is the pyramid at Coba  archaeological site and Yucatán Peninsula.  Coba, an easy half-hour d r i v e inland  from the coastal city of Tulum, is well  worth a visit. In the Maya language Coba  means "stirred by wind.” The Maya  flourished here between 400 and 1100 A.D. One of the largest Maya cities of the  Classic period, at its peak the site stretched out over 50 miles and was home to some  50,000 inhabitants.

Two small lakes nearby made it a desirable  location. As you explore the site, wandering  the pleasantly shady trails beneath the  jungle canopy, keep your eyes and ears  open for wildlife. Coba is extensive, so if you tire of walking in the jungle heat you can rent a bike or hire a tricycle pedicab and driver to  pedal you around.

Tulum is the city with the most impressive  sight of the Mayan World. One of the last cities habited  by the Maya before the Spanish conquest,  built 800 years ago considered the most  important trade port of the Mayan Empire.

The archaeological zone of Tulum is one of  the most beautiful places on the Riviera Maya.  Combining the mystery of the ancient  civilization, which inhabited this zone, with  the singular beauty of the Caribbean Sea  which bathes its shores, the city of Tulum is  the only known archaeological site located by  the sea, built in the top of a cliff facing the  marvelous Caribbean waters.

Over sixty well-preserved structures can be  observed within three massive walls which  surround the site. There is a small beach  beside the main temple, ideal for a swim  while gazing up at the Maya's architectural  wizardry.

The island of Cozumel holds its name from the Mayan “Cuzamil” which means land of the swallows . It was famous for its devotion to the Goddess of fertility Ïxchel” and is today most famous for its submarine wonders. Cozumel is the home of beautiful coral formations and a breathtaking marine life. It was the legendary Jacques Cousteau who unveiled the beauty of the region in his 1960 investigatory filming. The Reef is protected from the roughness of the open sea by Cozumel that helps it grow in a unique and fantastic way. The gigantic towers of “Palancar” and paradise-like gardens of “Xan Kanaab” are jewels to be discovered by divers and snorkelers from around the world. The island actually forms the second largest coral barrier / reef of the world. Today, the “National Reef Park of Cozumel” protects majestic creatures and unique species. Don’t hesitate to discover an underwater world so beautiful and so close.

Discover the pre-Columbian Maya city of Tantun Cuzamil (Flat Rock in the place of Shallows),or modern day, San Gervasio. The ruins were used to worship the goddess Ix Chel, an aged deity of childbirth, fertility, medicine and weaving. Pre-Columbian would make a pilgrimage to San Gervasio once in their life. You can see "Las Manitas" (Little Hands) which are red-color handprints on the interior walls or "El Arco" (the Arch). 

The peninsula of Yucatan is a paradise of white sandy beaches washed by turquoise warm waters; an emerald green land amidst the Mayan jungle. In this marvelous setting, windows open up to discover the un-earthly world of the Ancient Gods. 

The Mayans considered the “Dzonot”- today known as Cenotes, as sacred. Indeed, these subterranean rivers and sources of fresh water were home to their Gods and refuge to their oldest customs and traditions. 

Exploring the crystalline waters of these caves is a unique adventure. The amazing fossils testify of an ancestral sea and thousands of stalactites and stalagmites add to the magic of the place. Any visitor can sense it; these places are out of this world! 

When the light sneaks into the caves, equipped with a mask and a snorkel or diving gear, you can easily understands why the Mayans regarded these places sacred as such.