©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Riviera Maya Includes ¨ Why Go? Puerto Morelos ............99 The Riviera Maya, a tourist corridor of white-sand beaches, Punta Bete ................. 103 scenic ruins and fun-filled cenotes (limestone sinkholes), Playa del Carmen ...... 103 was made for road-tripping. Yes, it’s growing fast, too fast Punta Venado ............. 109 some will say, but despite all the development, you can still find that small fishing town or head inland to catch a Paamul ....................... 109 glimpse of the Mexico that tourism forgot. Xpu-Há ........................110 If it’s partying you want, you’ll find serious hedonism Akumal ........................110 in boomtown Playa del Carmen. Playa still trumps fast- Xcacel-Xcacelito ..........111 growing Tulum as the Riviera’s wildest city, but it’s got Parque Dos Ojos ......... 112 nothing on Tulum’s spectacular Maya ruins perched high above the beach. Bahías de Punta Whether traveling by car or bus, getting from one town Solimán ....................... 112 to the next is a breeze – after all, the Riviera is basically Tankah ......................... 113 135km of coastline that stretches south from Puerto Morelos Tulum .......................... 113 to Tulum. Everything’s so close that you can go diving in Around Tulum ............ 120 Puerto Morelos by day and still have time for a candlelit dinner in Tulum. Best Places When to Go to Eat ¨ The Riviera Maya Film Festival in April screens local and international films on the beaches of Playa del ¨ Posada Margherita (p118) Carmen; several weeks thereafter the fest tours to nearby ¨ Taquería Honorio (p118) Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres and Cancún. ¨ Al Chimichurri (p102) ¨ Playa del Carmen hosts a wild Halloween street bash, ¨ Los Aguachiles (p107) then you can stick around for colorful Day of the Dead festivities in and around the Riviera Maya. ¨ The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival in Playa del Carmen Best Beaches features beachside performances from Mexico and abroad. The annual event is usually held in November, so ¨ Punta Allen (p124) good hotel deals can be found. ¨ Puerto Morelos (p99) ¨ Tulum (p113) ¨ Xcacel (p111) ¨ Playa del Carmen (p103) #\ #\ #\ #\ 98 666 Ù#Isla #\ Blanca Isla Puerto Mujeres f# Tres Juáre#\z #\ Marías Cancún Punta San #\ Pénjamo Cancún Colonia #\ Aeropuerto Ángel Yucatán #\ Internacional #\ de Cancún Guadalupe –# 666 =Ä180 #\ Yoactún #\ Kantunilkin Punta Nizuc #\ YUCATÂN Leona Vicario #\ =Ä307 CAM8 Selvática Punta #\ #\ Siete Caacol #\ Anexa Ø# La Esperanza Ø# Ø#Bocas #\ Vicente Boca del #3 Puerto Morelos Guerrero #\ #æ #\ l) Puma Vallarta Jardín Botánico (Tol Yokdzonot Dr. Alfredo #\ Barrera Marín Nuevo Aqua #\ Xcan Azul #\ Punta Maroma #\ Guadalupe Tres Ríos Victoria #\ Sacbe Punta Bete #\ Nuevo Durango #\ Xplor #2 Playa del Carmen Ø# Laguna El Xcaret Ø# Continente #\ Punta #\ Calica f# f# #\ –# Chemax Laguna Punta Cenotes Cristalino, f# #\ #\ Venado San Miguel Ø##\ RIVIE El Jardín del Edén & Azul #\ Paamul de Cozumel Xpu-HáÙ# Puerto Aventuras Isla Cozumel R #\ Cobá##\5 Akumal A MAYA Parque Chemuyil Dos Ojos Ø##\ Gran #æ Xcacel-Xcacelito QUINTANA ROO Ø#Xel-Há RI Cenote V 4 #\ Bahías de Punta Solimán Cenotes Zacil-Ha & # IE Ø# Tankah Aktun-Ha ra #\#1 Tulum M Cenote Angelita Parque p# #÷Nacional A Tulum Y A Laguna HIG CARIBBEAN Muyil #\ Boca Paila SEA Muyil #\ Laguna de H Boca Paila LIG Laguna Chunyaxché hts Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka'an #÷ 666e# 0 50 km 0 25 miles Vigia #\ Punta Allen San Pran #\ Chico #\ #\ 6 Riviera Maya6 Highlights6 1 Marvel at Maya ruins or if you’re feeling inspired, cenotes (p120) in Tulum’s (p114) dramatically situated take a Spanish course. surrounding areas. on a rugged cliff in Tulum, then 3 Dive into the waters of 5 Rent a bike at Cobá go for a swim down below. Puerto Morelos (p99) and (p121) and follow trails that 2 Hang out at chic sidewalk explore a colorful barrier reef. lead to amazing Maya ruins, restaurants and beachside bars 4 Splash around or do some then go for a dip in nearby in Playa del Carmen (p103), serious diving at impressive swimming holes..