Cancún & Riviera Maya

The stretch from Cancún south through Playa del Carmen and Tulum is the most visited resort coast in the Americas, with direct flights from most of North America. Cancún's Hotel Zone is high-rise and all-inclusive; the Riviera Maya (Playa Mujeres, Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen) holds the luxury estates of Rosewood, Banyan Tree and Fairmont as well as the large family all-inclusives; Tulum is boutique and bohemian. Cenote swimming, Chichén Itzá, Cobá and the Sian Ka'an reserve are the excursions. December to April is dry and busy; seaweed (sargassum) can affect beaches from roughly May to October, and hurricane season runs June to November. Use hotel or official taxis and pre-booked transfers, keep to the resort corridor at night, and drink bottled water. Cancún airport (CUN) is the gateway; the new Tulum airport (TQO) adds a southern option.