MAYAN RIVIERA ACTIVITIES GUIDE AND USEFULL TRAVEL INFORMATION

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The Mayan Sun Coast is on Central Standard Time

The peso is the Mexican form of currency. It is suggested that you exchange small amounts of U.S. dollars for pesos. Major credit cards are also widely accepted. A pocket calculator can also be helpful when you shop to help convert U. S. dollars to pesos. Bartering when shopping outside of the resort areas is practiced. U.S. dollars are accepted in the resort areas but keep in mind any change that is due back will be in pesos. One recommendation is to use a credit card which will present the daily currency exchange on your next billing statement.

Spanish is the official language. English is also widely spoken in the hotel areas.

Acceptable form of proof of citizenship for U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Mexico is a valid passport. It is the traveler's responsibility to provide proper documentation. Married women traveling with any documentation in their maiden name must supply a marriage license (a copy is acceptable).

Taxi service is readily available at taxi stands, airports and hotels. The area is also serviced by local buses that run throughout the area. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Akumal, the farthest point developed is about 1 hour from Cancun's hotel zone.

Snorkeling
Scuba Diving
Horseback riding
Golf
Tennis
Many different watersports
Deep sea fishing

There is a small market and many little shops located downtown Playa del Carmen where you can purchase Mexican garments, authentic silver or any other crafts. There are also many shops and markets located downtown Cancun which can be reached by taking a taxi or a bus to the Cancun area. Main malls and shopping centers are Plaza Caracol, Plaza Kukulkan, and Plaza Flamingo. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes

There are discos located at some of the hotels on the Mayan Coast and in Playa del Carmen. There are many restaurants and bars located downtown Cancun that can be reached by taxi or bus from the Mayan Sun Coast. Some famous places to visit downtown Cancun include: All Star Café, Coco Bongo, Christine, Dady'o, Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood.

For more information on any of these activities, contact our travel representative in the Riviera Maya.

The most important areas in the Riviera Maya:

PLAYA DEL CARMEN - Depending on how fast you drive, "Playa" as the locals call it is about an hour's drive from the airport. The highway is brand new and road conditions are excellent. If you have rented a car there are overhead traffic signs in Spanish and English to guide you. Playa is the regional capital. It is a bustling beach town filled with excitement and unique experiences. A walk down 5th Avenue, the local strip, and you can pet wild lions, play with a boa constrictor, sit on a curb and watch a Maruichi band perform for one of the local restaurant cafes. You can enter one of the many beautiful restaurants for a healthy delicious sampling of Mexican or international cuisine.

There are numerous jewelry stores and arts and crafts stores where many great deals can be had if you know how to bargain. The cruise ships dock here on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the town fills up with new faces for a day. The beaches at Playa are excellent and perfect for children. There is not that much coral so the snorkeling is not good here. However you can catch the ferry to Cozumel where the snorkeling and DIVing is world famous. Lifeguards are on duty on the main Playa beach. If you wish to snorkel there are some coral reefs just north of contituyentes avenue.

PLAYACAR - Just a short walk south of Playa del Carmen is Playacar, an upscale development garnishing many five star all-inclusive resorts, a world class golf course, shopping mall and International restaurants. The beaches are beautiful and totally suited for children. There is also an extensive variety of condominiums and villas to rent. The Playacar golf course was carved out of the jungle and is a treat to simply walk around little alone play. It is a commanding course that will challenge even the most aggressive player. Green fees range from $65 to $110 and golf carts are available.

Something not to be missed is the Xaman-Ha aviary. A colorful array of tropical birds including macaws, toucans, flamingos and parrots can be found here in their natural habitat. The botanical garden covers almost 4 acres and also contains cenotes. Cavernas Sache, a beautiful cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites is also located in Xaman-Ha.

CALICA/PUERTO MORELOS - This is where you load your car to ferry it to Cozumel. It is an international port for cruise ships and used as a stopover.

PAAMUL - This place has a deep bay that rests on the shoreline making it quite a choice spot. The reef is right out front and excellent for snorkeling. There are DIVe and fishing boats here as well. Backpackers, Mexicans and general bohemians use this destination and many clean affordable cabanas and private homes can be found here. There are also restaurants and of course amazing beaches. This is a great place to meet people!

PUERTO AVENTURAS - Puerto Adventuras is an exclusive resort community boasting the only full-service marina between Cancun and Belize. It is a gated community, access off of highway 307. Fully modern luxury facilities abound here as well as quaint bed and breakfasts. You also find private homes, villas, condos and apartments for rent or sale. Cozy restaurants and interesting shops line the marina's edge. Sailboats, fishing charters and yachts anchor in its deep blue water. Cigar stores offering Cuban brands and experienced personnel to assist you sit amongst the many unique shops. There are also many beautiful restaurants for a delicious samplings of Mexican or international cuisine.

There are all the beach activities one would expect like windsurfing, snorkeling and ski-jets. You can also visit the Cedam Museum, which houses various artifacts from sunken ships along the reefs. There is also tennis and a 9-hole golf course with no reservations needed. Green fees start at $44 and special memberships are available.

XPU-HA - Enter off highway 307 onto a dirt road. There is a sign that says Xpu-Ha. This is a rustic beach community for adventurous travelers. The beach is excellent; there is a cenote on the north side and restaurants on the main beach. Cabanas are available for $10-$25 per night. This is a great place for backpackers.

KANTENAH - Kantenah is next to the El Dorado Resort, which has an excellent natural beach for snorkeling. You may be hardpressed to find a nice sandy beach to swim into however the snorkeling is fantastic along here. There are Cabanas for rent by the night and a restaurant.

AKUMAL - Akumal has beautiful beaches and is a perfect place to either stay local or use to launch numerous adventures. You are close to many things. There are large resorts and lots of rentals, condos, villas and apartments, as well as many small convenience stores and many local shops and restaurants. Many of the beaches are natural beaches however many have white sand areas for children and swimmers. This is a great place for snorkelers especially if you want to see sea turtles. Activities in the area include DIVing, snorkeling, game fishing and the Akumal Ecological Center.

CHEMUYIL - Chemuyil is a small Maya village off the beaten path. The beach and the bay are private property and closed to the public. You can however travel down a windy road to Xunaan-Ha where a sacred cenote may be found. You will want to swim in it, as it is breathtakingly beautiful. It costs $3 for adults and $1.50 for kids. After your swim you can wander around town. The Maya are friendly people but keep in mind that many old Maya may show indifference towards you. It is not advisable to take photographs here.

XCACEL - Xcacel is the place many sea turtles lay their eggs. It is not recommended to go there.

TULUM - There are two important places with the same name, the Mayan ruins and the town of Tulum. The town of Tulum is around 5 kilometers south of the Tulum Ruins. The town is small but has many restaurants, bars and hotels. There are some nice hotels in the area and many miles of white sandy beaches. There are of course villas, cabanas, apartments and houses to rent by the day or week. Much of the stuff you will find in the shops in Playa can be found here but not in quite as abundance. Also the beach resorts are secluded and not as busy as Playa del Carmen. There is a gas station here and numerous DIVe shops and fishing charters. Tulum town is also close to the ruin sites of Coba and Muyil.

MAYAN RIVIERA ACTIVITIES GUIDE AND USEFULL TRAVEL INFORMATION