Adventures in Mexico's Riviera Maya
Mexico’s Riviera Maya: An absolutely stunning slice of Mexico. In this article I share five adventures in Mexico’s Riviera Maya Region.
This region of Mexico is ripe with all the good and the bad of growth. Cancun and Playa del Carmen are overrun with resorts but you can find small pockets of pure non touristy joy in both areas. Tulum is shifting and shifting fast. Digital nomads and celebrities have inundated the region, but one could say it’s just like everyday life in LA or San Fran when it comes to the crowds and the income disparities.
My main concern is the people of Mexico don’t seem to be benefiting from more visitors to the region as they should. I think that’s why it’s so important to go out of your way with local spots owned by local people and employed by local people. The old Western adage that all tourism is good tourism simply isn’t the truth.
I adore the people and the beauty of my neighbor country to the South and always welcome a visit there, getting to improve my Spanish face to face is always a treat, and I had the honor officiating my friends wedding and turned it into my own Riviera Maya Adventure.
Cenote in Tulum.
Here are Five Adventures and Things to Do that I recommend and love about Mexico’s Riviera Maya region:
History.
The Mayan Archaeological Sites are fascinating to explore. The ones in Tulum are on the ocean and they built sun holes for each solstice and equinox. The high elders would also rise early each day and work out the energies of the day based on what the location of the sun and the moon. (As a yoga teacher that is right up my alley!) In addition to Tulum there is a much larger site a tad farther South called Chichen Itza. I met a couple from Buenas Aires and one from Tennessee that I enjoyed talking history with as well as we hiked the area.
2. Water Sports.
I surfed in Cozumel with Machito Surf and Machito and the Cozumel surf spots were second to none. The east side of Cozumel is just stunning, so just making the drive there in his surfboard truck was worth the rental. I experienced my first intermediate surfing waves and learned a ton. Primarily that surfing is more paddling than riding in a place like this and was comfortable navigating my first reef break. (Sebastian and Augustine will be excited to hear!) Diving is very popular as well on Cozumel and of course the options of snorkeling, kayaking, and SUP’s all exist. If you like water adventures some of the best in the world exist here. And I am not even counting the chance to jump into a cenote.
3. Food.
Wow I ate well. I had to work decently hard to find local stuff in Playa but there are a few gems. Cozumel I had my own cook Daniel who prepared food at his house and brought it over on his scooter. La Casita de Maya is where I stayed.
Here’s a great foodie blog I used to eat in Playa del Carmen without the tourist traps.
4. Language.
I love being in any country where I can work on a different language and there is a different currency. It makes our mind work differently. It’s like a good puzzle. Explore yourself and let your brain work while exploring the area. I was fortunate to find many who wanted and could only speak Spanish. I enjoyed teaching them some English while they pushed me in my continual goal of being fluent in Spanish.
5. Choose your own adventure.
We did beach yoga, there’s a ton of trash that washes up from the ocean to do a cleanup bag or two, sunrises and sunsets are fabulous and perfect for long walks or runs, there are tequila and honey tours, and of course taking a little time to just be present to your surroundings is great to do here!
I made new friends while traveling solo, rekindled old friendships while attending the wedding events, and of course had the honor of officiating my 2nd wedding.
Riviera Maya has changed a lot since I first went as a teenager and it will continue to grow. I hope a few less resorts go up and a few more of the people from this region feel the actual impact from the exploding tourism.
Regardless…the Riviera Maya is gorgeous, Mexico is amazing, as are their people, and I am grateful for my week here.
Comment below with any questions about a trip to Mexico’s Riviera Maya region!
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike
