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Hotels in Playa del Carmen
Riviera Maya
The area’s famous tourism
corridor runs from Puerto Morelos, located 22 miles south of Cancun, to Felipe
Carrillo Puerto in the heart of the
Shian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Highway 307 is a modern, safe road that connects all points between Cancun and
Tulum and visitors will find many services and place of interest along the way.
Be flexible in planning outings and allow for plenty of time for each place;
attractions range for sophisticated hotels to small Mayan Village steeped in
tradition.
In between are innumerable
cenotes and
caves that are part of the extensive
underground river system of crystal clear water, tropical jungle, mangroves,
lagoons and beautiful virgin beaches along the coast that have inspired
filmmakers and artists with their perfection.
No vacation to the Riviera Maya is complete without a visit to at least one of
the ecological parks. Each one has its own theme, but they are all focus on the
respect f or nature and work to preserve the delicate ecosystems that have
caught world attention.
Tres Rios has some unique freshwater rivers that run through the mangroves,
while
Xcaret has an aquarium, aviary, butterfly house, theater, scenic tower and
orchid hothouse, amongst other attractions.
Xel-Ha is considered the world largest natural aquarium because of the amount of
fish species that swim in its numerous pools.
A fun day is to be had by all at these eco-parks: you can swim, paddle a Kayak,
go bicycle or horseback riding, snorkel, dive or try all kinds of culinary
delicacies at any of the many restaurants established in them.
Playa del Carmen is a strategic point on the Riviera Maya. Once a modest fishing
village whose only claim to fame was the passenger ferry to the neighboring
island of
Cozumel, the town has undergone exponential growth over the last
several years. It now offers a broad array of amenities for all tastes and
budget. Fifth Avenue lined with handicraft shops and exclusive casual wear
boutiques, is the gathering point for this multicultural, cosmopolitan Caribbean
City. Playa del Carmen is also a
gourmet’s delight, offering fine Mexican,
Maya-Yucatan, French, Italian, German and Asian fare, just to name a few, and
the ambiances are as sophisticated as the cuisines.
Playa del Carmen
nights are some of the most vibrant, intense and exiting to be
found on the Riviera Maya. They combine the temperament and energy of people
from all over the world into a unique, multiethnic experience.
Just a few minutes away is the luxurious residential complex of
Playacar, with
restaurants, hotels, a
golf course and exotic bird aviary.
Puerto Aventuras is another Residential complex with deluxe hotels, a majestic
marina with an area for swimming with the dolphin, tennis courts, a golf course
and a museum housing the treasures of a sunken galleon.
Akumal the first tourism development in the region, is now a quite picturesque
Mediterranean-style resort. It is located on some tranquil half-moon bays
protected by the nearby coral reef and is the site of an inlet that forms
beautiful Yalku Lagoon.
On summer nights, sea turtle come to nest on the broad sandy beaches dotted with
coconut palms. All of this contributes to Akumal’s happy, relaxed, bohemian
atmosphere.
Both
Xcaret and
Xel-Ha contain some interesting
Mayan ruins, and Playacar has a
series of small oratories scattered throughout the complex.
Indeed all along the highway, visitors will find small pre-Hispanic buildings or
mounds that are part of the outlying areas city-states of
Coba and
Tulum
reigned.
Tulum, dominating the skyline atop some cliffs overlooking the sea, was an
active archeological sites that attracts the most numbers of visitors in Mexico.
The town of
Tulum also has a few isolated beaches where some charming
environmentally friendly hotels are under development.
Coba is located in the middle of the Jungle, half an hour from Tulum. This huge
site contains numerous impressive structures, including Nohoc Mul which measures
14 stories high and is the largest in the region.
The view from the top is magnificent: dense tropical jungle as far as the eye
can see, and the nearby lakes sparkling in the sun.
The Shian Ka-An biosphere reserve – composed of approximately 1.633.000 acres of
complex ecosystem that include an enormous variety of plant and animal life,
begins just after Tulum. A visit to the area is just not complete without
experiencing the sights and sounds of this tropical paradise.
The Riviera Maya is the perfect place for families looking for a variety of
attractions: young people seeking adventures, couples wanting to a romantic
hideaway, and anyone looking for both fun and relaxation. Many entrepreneurs and
corporations hold their business meetings in the Riviera Maya’s places of
interest or deluxe hotels located in the middle of the jungle and in front of
the magnificent Caribbean sea.
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