5 Fantastic Day Trips from Mexico’s Riviera Maya

We’ve been lucky enough to visit Mexico’s famous Riviera Maya twice in the last few years, staying all along the Quintana Roo coast from Playa Mujeres in the north to Tulum in the south.

During our trips, we did our fair share of exploring and adventuring, checking out some of the natural wonders this area has to offer alongside some important historical sites. In this guide we’ll take your through our 5 favourite day trips in Riviera Maya and give you some top tips and recommendations to take with you on your next trip.

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Explore the Tulum Ruins

If you want to explore some Mayan ruins then you’re absolutely spoilt for choice in this area. There’s the jungle ruins of Coba or the iconic stepped pyramid at Chichén Itzá if you head a little further inland. However, if you’re looking to stay out on the coast, your best bet is the ruins at Tulum.

The ruins date all the way back to the 6th century and are remarkably well preserved given their age. Entrance to the ruins is 90 pesos (roughly £4) but we recommend paying for a tour guide to explain. The tours vary in price depending on group size but are well worth it to learn about the rich heritage of this once key city. We’d also recommend taking the shuttle from the entrance to the ruins as the 10-15 min walk can be incredibly hot and humid.

There’s also a beautiful beach at the ruins for you to enjoy. It can occasionally be closed to protect the sea turtles nesting in the area so make sure to check ahead of time. If it is open then we’d highly recommend taking a quick dip, not only to cool off but to enjoy the amazing beach scenery set against the back drop of the ruins.

If you’re short on time, you could combine the Tulum ruins with the Xel-Há water park in a one day tour. This tour offers pick up from most hotels along the Riviera Maya and will take you to Tulum in the morning before visiting Xel-Há in the afternoon.

Sail to Isla Mujeres

Want to get out on the water? Once again you have a variety of options to visit in this area including Isla Holbox in the north or Cozumel off the coast of Playa del Carmen. Personally, we like to visit Isla Mujeres for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the journey from Cancun is short and, if you’re booked on to a private tour, often offers the opportunity for some great snorkelling. Secondly, the island itself is pretty small and you can easily see most of it in a day if you hire a golf cart from Playa Norte.

We booked a full day Catamaran Tour which included hotel pick up and drop off, drinks on board, lunch at a beach club and use of snorkelling equipment. The only things not included where the golf cart hire from Playa Norte, which is totally optional and you could easily relax on the beach or explore the town instead, and tips for the crew who go out of their way to ensure you’re not only safe but also having a great time.

The water was a little choppy on our way over so come prepared if you’re prone to motion sickness. Our first stop of the day was in a secluded snorkelling spot only accessible by boat. All equipment was provided including life rings and the boat’s crew were on hand in the water to keep everybody safe and together. After this we sailed into a beach club for a bite to eat and some time to relax after a morning on the water.

Our next stop was Playa Norte where we docked and a had a few hours free time to explore the island. The beach here is gorgeous and well worth a visit to unwind in a shaded hammock beneath the palm trees. If you’re itching to explore then we’d recommend hiring a golf cart from one of the many vendors along the waterfront.  Prices vary depending on season and how long you want to rent it for but you can use 300 pesos per hour as a rough guide. As we didn’t have a ton of time, we opted for just 1 hour which was enough to do almost a full loop of the island and stop to take some pictures.

The last part of the itinerary was the crossing back to Cancun which may well have been the highlight of the day. The water was much calmer on our return journey and the drinks were flowing as the sun was setting. The crew did a great job of serving everyone and even got a dance party going on.

Overall, we had a great time visiting the island and recommend it as an easy day trip from the Riviera Maya. If you’ve got a bit more to spend then you could visit the larger island of Cozumel and spend a night or two there.

Make a Splash at Xel-Há Park

The Riviera Maya has something for everyone when it comes to theme parks. If you want to ride ATVs or go zip-lining through the jungle then Xplor is probably you’re best bet. If you’re looking for something more family orientated and closer to a traditional theme park experience then you’ll want to end to Xcaret. However, if, like us, you want to cool off with some water-based activities then you should head to Xel-Há.

This unique water park and ecotourism development is built around a natural inlet and lagoon which allows the sea water to mix with fresh underground currents. The park contains countless activities for you to enjoy including cliff diving, snorkelling and cave swimming as well as water slides.

Snorkelling equipment and life vests are included with your admission and we’d definitely recommend snorkelling around the lagoon in search of eagle rays, parrotfish and even barracudas. The sheltered nature of the lagoon means that the water is calm and suitable for swimmers of all abilities. If getting wet isn’t your thing you can also grab a bike and cycle through the jungle surrounding the lagoon, just watch out for iguanas on the trail.

Another highlight of the park is tubing through a mangrove forest. You can grab a bike from the entrance to ride to the start point where you can pick up your tube. From here you can float leisurely down through the unique landscape of the mangroves before it opens out in to the main lagoon.

Also included with your admission is all your food and drink for the day so no need to carry cash or cards around with you. We’d recommend you bring some water shoes or suitable footwear for traversing the park as well sun cream to keep yourself topped up throughout the day. Make sure it’s reef safe though as to not harm the ecosystem of the lagoon. Another handy gadget to bring with you is a waterproof phone pouch so you can capture memories as you go without fear of damaging your electronics.

If you’re short on time, you could combine Xel-Há with the Tulum ruins in a one day tour. This tour offers pick up from most hotels along the Riviera Maya and will take you to Tulum in the morning before visiting Xel-Há in the afternoon.

Grab Some Tacos in Playa Del Carmen

Half way between the tourist hot spot that is Cancun and the more bohemian Tulum you’ll find the beach town of Playa Del Carmen. The centre of the town is incredibly walkable and we’d recommend a stroll along Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) which is the main shopping street. You’ll find vendors here selling everything from handmade baskets and dresses to cigars and tequila. If you’re looking for gifts and souvenirs then this should be your first port of call.

The southern end of Quinta Avenida spills out on to the town’s name sake beach which is usually buzzing with more vendors and street performers. The beach here is gorgeous at the right time of year but can be plagued by the seaweed issues that are common to beaches in this area, particularly in the summer months.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat while in Playa Del Carmen, head to El Fogón for some local flavours. They have an extensive menu of authentic tacos and tortas as well as Mexican specialities all at great prices. There was a line both times we came to eat here but it moved pretty quickly so it’s definitely worth stopping by even if it looks like a long wait.

Heading away from the main downtown area, we dropped into the Walmart here to stock up on one of our favourite condiments, hot sauce. The range on offer here is staggering and the prices are rock bottom compared to the UK or USA so, if you’re a hot sauce fiend like we are, make sure to drop by.

Take a Dip at Cenote Santa Cruz

The Yucatana Penisula is famous for cenotes and it’s rumoured there are in excess of 6,000 in this part of the world. The Riviera Maya specifically has over 300 cenotes to visit so it can be a daunting task knowing where to go. Many companies offer tours that take you to a number of different cenotes to enjoy a range of different swimming holes.

Whilst staying in Tulum, we decided to visit Cenote Santa Cruz just outside the city to beat the heat and humidity. We hired some bikes to ride here but you could just as easily take a cab if you’re willing to stomach the inflated Tulum prices. It’s open 10am – 5pm every day and entry was 300 pesos (£14 approx.) for unlimited access to the cenote. They have a range of facilities including showers, changing rooms and loungers as well as buffet style lunch if you’re feeling peckish.

This is an open air cenote and the deep blue water is crystal clear for snorkelling. Whilst not quite as rich in aquatic life as Xel-Há, you can still spot small fish and even terrapins if you’re lucky. The water can feel a little chilly but is a welcome relief from the sticky heat that comes with Tulum. The cenote also has a number of diving spots as well as rope swing for those classic holiday snaps.

Wrapping Up

So whether you’re looking to sample some local culture and flavours, go on an underwater adventure or get away from the mainland entirely, there’s a day trip from the Riviera Maya for everyone. We’ve visited this area twice recently and have only just scratched the surface in terms of what there is on offer. On our next trip we’d love to spend some time on the island of Cozumel or go diving with whale sharks.