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Riviera Maya

Why Go? ...... 99 If you like to get out and about, you’ll love road-tripping Punta Bete ...... 102 in the , a tourist corridor of postcard-perfect beaches, scenic ruins and fun-filled (limestone . . . . 102 sinkholes). Yes, the Riviera Maya is growing fast, too fast Punta Venado ...... 109 some might say, but in spite of all the development, you can Paamul ...... 109 still find that small fishing town or head inland to catch a Xpu-Há ...... 109 glimpse of the that tourism forgot. ...... 109 If it’s action you’re after, you’ll find it in boomtowns Playa del Carmen and . Ultrachic Playa del Carmen still Xcacel-Xcacelito ...... 111 trumps Tulum as the hippest city on the coast, but Playa has Bahías de Punta nothing on Tulum’s spectacular Maya ruins perched high Solimán ...... 112 above the beach. Tankah ...... 112 Whether traveling by car or bus, getting from one town to Tulum ...... 113 the next is a breeze – after all, the Riviera Maya is basically Around Tulum ...... 120 135km of coastline that stretches south from Puerto Morelos to Tulum. Everything is so close by that you can easily go diving in Puerto Morelos by day and still have more than enough time to have dinner by candlelight in Tulum. Best Beaches ¨¨Tulum (p113) ¨¨Puerto Morelos (p99) When to Go ¨¨The Riviera Maya Film Festival in April screens films on ¨¨Playa del Carmen (p102) beaches and at various venues up and down the coast. ¨¨ (p124) Weatherwise, it usually stays dry throughout the month. ¨ ¨Xcacel (p111) ¨¨Playa del Carmen hosts a wild Halloween street bash at the end of October, then you can stick around for the first few days of November for colorful Day of the Dead festivities. Best Places to ¨¨The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival in Playa del Carmen Eat features renowned performers from Mexico and abroad. The ¨¨El Merkadito (p101) annual event is held during low season in November, so good hotel deals can be found. ¨¨La Cueva del Chango (p107) ¨¨Cetli (p118) ¨¨John Gray’s Kitchen (p101) ¨¨Los Aguachiles (p107) s a uc jere zi co s a ez ol l Punt Ni erto Mu l a l relo Punt Pu Juár erto Caac (p120) (p120) e la Botáni erto Is om # f Ch Pu Mo aciona igue ar # \ rn 3 # \ ax 307 Cobá Cancún # pu ro Cozume =Ä #z n M – # ún #æ a M mel Ya Jardín la – # de Ae Inte # \ de Sa Is o Zo Punt Carmen Cozu Canc el a ocas ococun # f a d # \ Punt Bete e B Cr ay r # \ Rent a bike at a bike Rent Pl e Siet Ríos o # f Xplo cb aret a for a dip in nearby swimming swimming a dip in nearby for holes 5 to that lead trails and follow then go ruins, amazing Maya 2 # \ Ø # es # arta # \ 180 Ø # Xc Sa ll =Ä Tr s njam a Ø # lvátic Va Ø # a s Pé ul nado # f 10km); Ø # Tour Se # \ ra n ( Punt Ve um am tu # \ l P Pa erto a en Ka'a # \ de Pu Av an # \ a Si celito Anex e

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