The Mayan Riviera, By Carl Meadows
Some call it the Mayan Riviera, some call it the Mexican Caribbean, but once travelers visit this stretch of paradise, they ALL call it FANTASTIC
There is no doubt about it, I am blessed. I have been to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera four times this year…on business of course. But the real treat was discovering the new resorts…let me clarify that, the extremely nice, new resorts, that have popped-up along that beautiful, long stretch of white pristine beach and dense jungle that runs from Cancun proper to the ancient ruins of Tulum and beyond.
There have been a few changes…
I have been going to Cancun since 1974. The resort area of Cancun was just starting to be established by FONATUR, a special department of Mexico tourism board, as one of Mexico new, “hot” travel destinations and an alternative to the more established and well-known resorts of Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. In 1974, the resort area was basically made up of a nice, white stretch of beach with a few hotels near the little town of Cancun. The new Cancun Sheraton, which at that time, was so far on the outskirts of the hotel zone that it was considered to be in Central America, is now located in the center of the hotel zone! My point is, since 1974 there have been some changes, lots of changes, and Cancun has never looked so good.
The range of hotels and resorts located in Central Cancun and Cancun hotel zone are numerous and range from three star properties with limited amenities to five star ultradeluxe resorts with a range of amenities that can stagger your imagination. And now, with the influx of new deluxe resorts along the Mayan Riviera, it is a hard destination to beat for any leisure group searching for interesting sightseeing, sand, sun and fun.
World class resorts and ancient ruins…what a great combination!
Staying at a deluxe resort on your vacation anywhere is a treat. Staying at a deluxe resort that is surrounded by white, powder-sugar beaches on one side, and a jungle filled with ancient ruins and temples on the other is more than a treat, it is a TREAT! Visiting the ruins along the Mayan Riviera is like being on the set of a Steven Spielberg movie, except this is the real thing! There are vine-covered temples straight out of Raiders of the Lost Ark, underground rivers that you can actually float down, caves, coves, sinkholes and crystalclear lagoons to swim and snorkel in. All of this and more is waiting for you to discover and explore during your Mayan Riviera visit.
My favorite sites along the Mayan Riviera are Tulum, Xel-Há, Xcaret, Akumal and Coba. I would love to go into great detail about each of them, but doing that would turn this short travel article into an extensive tour guide, so I will just tell you a little about Xel-Há and Xcaret. Both areas have now been established as archeological parks and are similar in some respects, as each has amazing snorkeling lagoons and rivers, swim with the dolphins programs, bird aviaries, etc. In the evening, Xcaret has a top-notch theatre complex that features a cultural show that is very colorful and professionally produced. Both parks rank very high on my “must see and do” list.
Xel-Há
Xel-Há (pronounced shell-ha) is a tropical park that is a place of unbelievable beauty. This natural aquarium is a unique lagoon made up of fresh water from a river and salt water from the Caribbean, and because of that unique combination, hundreds of multicolored fish have made Xel-Hás pristine lagoons their home. The jungle that surrounds the river and lagoon at Xel-Há creates an atmosphere that would be hard to find anywhere else. Xel-Há is a dedicated environmental park and structured to preserve everything native to the Mayan Riviera. Within the park you will find a turtle camp, a dolphin aquarium, a bee farm, and flora and fauna galore. Also, the Xel-Há dolphin program is one of the best up-close and personal experiences that I have found in the Caribbean to interact with dolphins.
You can spend an hour (a terrible shame) or a full day (much better) at Xel-Há. The activities at the park are varied and cover the interests of all age groups. A relaxing, leisurely day swimming or snorkeling in the lagoon or floating down the river might be “just the thing” for some visitors, while the more adventuress might want to take advantage of a tank-less (SNUBA) dive, or a walk under the water with a helmet (Sea Trek).
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