Riviera Maya

Nearly 100 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches with brilliant turquoise colored water are located just South of Cancun. Called the Riviera Maya or Mayan Riviera, this world-renowned paradise offers mangroves and lagoons, ancient Mayan cities, ecological reserves and the world's second largest coral reef.

Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera, hugs the eastern coastline of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. A prime stretch of beach, Riviera Maya faces the Caribbean Sea's gentle waters under which lie the second largest coral reef barrier in the world.

A destination wedding, honeymoon or anniversary requires a special room, and some of the most luxurious hotel suites in the world are located at posh Caribbean resorts. Not everyone can afford to stay in a suite costing $52,000 -- the nightly rate at the Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva. The hottest suites in the...

Review of the Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Deluxe all-inclusive resort near Cancun sits on 617 acres of beachfront property; the Puerto Morales property has 342 rooms, a huge freeform pool, and a new spa and conference center.

Review of the Hidden Beach Resort Au Naturel Club all-inclusive resort in Mexico, a nudist clothing-optional Caribbean hotel that caters to adults

Review of the all-inclusive Desire Resort and Spa, a adult clothing-optional resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico

The Grand Xcaret Occidental is a luxury all-inclusive beach resort on the Mexican Caribbean is adjacent to dramatic Xcaret Park.

The Fairmont Mayakoba is a luxury hotel that combines sustainable tourism with the services and amenities expected at a AAA five-diamond establishment.

Isla Holbox is island situated to the northwest of Cancun, in the state of Quintana Roo. The island, whose inhabitants make their living from fishing and tourism, is 26 miles long and separated from the Mexican mainland by a shallow lagoon that lies within the Yum Balam nature reserve.

Located on tiny Holbox Island north of Cancun, CasaSandra is a 12-room, one-villa resort with beachfront accommodations facing the Caribbean.

An AAA Four Diamond Award winner, El Dorado Royale is ideal for those who want luxury, quiet activities and privacy, all in a big resort setting.

The Fairmont Mayakoba is a luxury resort committed to sustainable tourism. Located on the Riviera Maya south of Cancún, the Fairmont Mayakoba combines a strong dedication to sustainable tourism practices with a flair for understated luxury. Take a photo tour of this sustainable tourism pioneer.

A boutique resort that opened in late 2007, El Dorado Maroma has 72 suites (48 in the Infinity section and 24 in Mi Hotelito section). It is nicely landscaped and, best of all, situated on Maroma Beach, voted by the Travel Channel as one of the world’s best thanks to the bright white sand that stretches beyond the bend to the lighthouse in the north. The beach is also especially attractive for swimming.

The Hacienda Tres Ríos is an all-inclusive luxury resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya that was designed and built with sustainability in mind. The hotel's designers and architects studied the environment and found ways to preserve and protect local plants and animals while incorporating sustainable best practices into the construction and operation of the hotel. Hotel guests can enjoy the hotel's beautiful surroundings, attractive rooms and private nature park knowing they are making very little impact on the local environment.

The Xpu Ha Palace has large tropical grounds in the style of an "eco-park". Guests stay in thatched-roof bungalows (with upper and lower units -- 464 units in total); rooms have double jacuzzi, and balcony or terrace with hammock.

Small (89-unit) upscale Riviera Maya resort has a spa, two restaurants, deluxe rooms and suites, and is a member of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts group.

This Riviera Maya hotel is a H10 Hotels property with five-star amenities.

Located close to Playa del Carmen, this H10 Hotels property has more than 330 rooms and suites and caters to adults only with a wide array of upscale amenities and accommodations.

This boutique enclave within the all-inclusive El Dorado Royale Resort on Mexico’s Riviera Maya is a AAA Four Diamond Resort and regularly appears at the top of Conde Nast Traveler’s reader polls.

Azulik is an eco-friendly, romantically rustic adults-only resort in the beach town of Tulum, Mexico. Azulik is situated in the hotel zone, amid lush jungle just steps from the Caribbean Sea. The beach at Azulik is clothing optional.

The Xpu-Ha Palace is in the Riviera Maya, 60 minutes south of the Cancun airport. This area offers Mayan ruins, snorkeling lagoons, coral reef, and unique eco-theme parks such as Xcaret and Xel-ha.

The Moon Palace is well-placed for day trips: it's at the top of the Mayan Riviera, which offers coral reef, snorkeling lagoons, Mayan ruins, and unique eco-theme parks

Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is part of AMResorts, which also has the Sunscape and Secrets brands. (Dreams Tulum was formerly Sunscape Tulum.) Tulum is a well-known name on the Riviera Maya, because of the unique Mayan ruins at Tulum: the only sea-side Mayan archeological site. Location is 74 miles south of the Cancun airport, 30-minute south of Playa Del Carmen.

Gran Bahia Principe Resort is a complex of three sister resorts -- Gran Bahía Príncipe Akumal, Gran Bahía Príncipe Tulum and Gran Bahía -- on the Riviera Maya, south of Cancun. Location is near Akumal, a tourist area an hour and ten minutes south of Cancun, close to a lovely Yal-Ku Lagoon (good for snorkeling), and well-located for visits to Xcaret and Xel-Ha theme parks and the Tulum and Coba ruins. (Read more about Mayan Riviera highlights.)

Barcelo Maya is a multi-resort complex on the Riviera Maya, south of Cancun, in the Puerto Aventuras area. Location is 40 miles south of the Cancun Airport, 15 miles south of Playa del Carmen, and near the eco-theme park Xcaret - a great outing.

Puerto Aventuras is an upscale marina community in the central part of the Mayan Riviera, 20 minutes south of Playa Del Carmen-- about 1-1/2 hours from the Cancun airport-- with many shops, golf courses, etc. To the south are the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

The Sunscape Puerto Aventuras has 7 stories, 304 rooms, 6 restaurants (buffet and specialty), two main pool areas, sports bar, spa, kids club.

Iberostar is a Spanish company with many resorts worldwide, including a major complex at Playa Paraiso in Mexico's Mayan Riviera. Location is 30 minutes south of the Cancun airport, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

The Mayan Palace Resort, Riviera Maya, on the Yucatan peninsula, is a Wyndham Alliance Resort perfectly situated between Cancun and Cozumel island: both are no more than 20 minutes away and can easily be visited during your stay at this exclusive resort.

The "Mayan Riviera" south of Cancun, Mexico, has many all-inclusives that welcome families; most have kids' programs for ages 4 to 12. The Mayan Riviera also offers fun and fascinating activities.

This resort offers a value price and a beautiful location. Don't expect a Beaches-type resort with umpteen pools and kids programs; but guests appreciate this quiet spot, so near Cancun, with its lovely beach, and easy walk to a friendly little town.

Azul Hotels are the family brand of Karisma Hotels, which bills its properties as "Gourmet Inclusive Resorts". Other features include: Beach Butler service; a partnership with Fisher-Price toy company for programs for kids under five (accompanied by parents); complimentary gear for babies (in-room playpens, bottle warmers, strollers, etc.); 24-hour room service.

Luxury Spanish hotel chain has resorts in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Mexican Caribbean, including properties in Ambar, Punta Cana, Bavaro, La Romana, Samana, and San Juan (D.R.); Tulum, Coba, and Akumal (Riviera Maya); and Runaway Bay, Jamaica.

The Spanish Sandos Resorts chain has four properties in the Riviera Maya: the Caracol Beach Resort & Spa, Select Club Beach Resort & Spa, Playacar Beach Resort & Spa, and Sandos Playacar Riviera Hotel & Spa.

Elegant all-inclusive resort has pretty Mexican style accommodations around a river-like pool area crossed by bridges.

Beachfront luxury resort on Playa del Carmen features private villas and a great spa.

The Royal Hideaway Playacar is situated on 13 lush acres on one of the Yucatan Peninsula's most stunning stretches of beachfront. It is the first adults-only, all-inclusive resort to receive the AAA Five-Diamond Award. Accommodations at the Royal Hideaway Playacar are in two-story colonial Mexican-style villas, each with a private concierge, housing 200 guestrooms.

All-inclusive hotel chain has five properties in the Mexican Caribbean: the Occidental Grand Xcaret, Allegro Playacar, and Royal Hideaway Playacar in the Riviera Maya and the Allegro Cozumel and Occidental Grand Cozumel in Cozumel.

Review of the Excellence Playa Mujeres all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, a Caribbean hotel that caters to adults

Review of the Aventura Cove Palace all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, a Caribbean hotel that caters to families and children

Review of the Bel Air Collection Xpu-Ha all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, a Caribbean hotel that caters to families and children

Review of the Aventura Spa Palace all-inclusive resort in Mexico, a Caribbean hotel that caters to adults

Review of the Barcelo Maya Beach all-inclusive resort in Mexico, a Caribbean hotel that caters to couples, families and children

Review of the Barcelo Maya Caribe all-inclusive resort in Mexico, a Caribbean hotel that caters to couples, families and children

Rosewood Mayakoba resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico profile

Fairmont Mayakoba Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico hotel profile

Profile of the CasaSandra Boutique Hotel, on Holbox Island (Isla Holbox) in the Mexican Caribbean, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Banyan Tree Mayakoba Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico profile