Top Five Reasons Why You Should Travel To Riviera Maya

​Riviera Maya is one of my favorite tropical destinations to travel to.  As I sit here on a cold and dreary February day, I’m wishing that I was instead on a beach with a tropical drink in my hand, feeling the warmth of the sun and listening to the crash of the waves.  I’m also wishing that as a professional in the travel industry, I had thought to book myself a February trip there!

I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great beaches and many places that I love to go.  But especially if I’m just planning a long weekend away, Riviera Maya is at the top of the list.  Here are my top five reasons why you should travel to Riviera Maya.

1. Easy To Get To
Almost every major city in the U.S. has direct flights that fly into Cancun, the airport that services Riviera Maya.  From JFK airport in New York City (my current home airport), the actual time in the air is under four hours.  From Chicago O’hare (my previous home airport), the flight time is under 3 ½ hours!  Even coming all the way from Los Angeles is less than five hours in the air.  From the Cancun airport, it’s a quick 45 minutes south to Playa del Carmen, which is about the center of Riviera Maya.

2.  Amazing Beaches
There are so many beautiful beaches in Riviera Maya and there is one for all tastes.  Whether you like a beach that is long where you can walk for miles, a beach that is more of a private cove or a more natural beach, Riviera Maya has you covered.  Maroma Beach, just north of Playa del Carmen, was voted one of the best beaches in the world!

3. A Resort For All Tastes
Whether you like an all-inclusive resort or an ecolodge, there are many options in Riviera Maya.  From large resorts like the Hard Rock Riviera Maya, which has an adults-only and a family friendly section, has activities going on all day and a vibrant nightlife.  To a resort like Banyan Tree Mayakoba.  This resort is an intimate property with individual villas that come with their own private plunge pool, perfect for a quiet and relaxing vacation.  Prefer something in between?  Don’t worry, Riviera Maya literally has hundreds of options for you to choose from!

Banyan Tree Mayakoba

4.  So Much To Do
Don’t get me wrong, I love to spend time relaxing on the beach but I love checking things out even more.  Riviera Maya is great for this as there is so much to see and do.  There are incredible Mayan ruins, Tulum being the closest to and most well-known in Riviera Maya.  There are underground river and cave systems that you can hike and swim through.  You can ride ATV’s, take cooking classes, do a segway tour or shop.  If you’d rather be on the water, you can choose from sailing, diving, snorkeling and more.

5 - The Food!
This seems to be one of my top reasons to visit most places.  What can I say, I love good food!  I think Mexican food in general is delish.  I think it’s amazing how a few ingredients turn out so many tasty dishes.  In Riviera Maya, you also get the addition of fresh seafood to traditional dishes.  Another great thing about Riviera Maya is despite the generalization of the food not being very good at all-inclusive resorts, there are many here that have excellent food at their restaurants, both local cuisine and international flavors.

One of our courses at Passion Restaurant at La Perla. Notice the flavored butters at the top left of my dish. These were matched with different types of bread and paired to specific courses!

Overall, I think Riviera Maya is great for almost everyone as there is so much to enjoy, regardless of what you are looking for.  If you’re ready to book your trip to Riviera Maya, I’d be happy to help.  You can contact me here!