If you are in the mood to take a Mayan Riviera vacation, now is as good a time as ever. Located in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, the Mayan Riviera stretches all along the Caribbean coastline from Cancun to a widely known tourist locale, the Mayan Ruins of Tulum.

Exploring more than one locale along the Mayan Riviera on your island vacation is a must. Cozumel Island resembles other Caribbean island getaway spots to the east, but offers amazing world-class scuba diving and snorkeling. And, since Mexico has declared the Mayan Riviera coast a national eco marine park, the splendor and beauty of this protected region offers an underwater world that is inspiring to say the least.This is dubbed the Mexican Caribbean, and rightly so. Some would even argue that the Mayan Riviera is more exotic and more romantic than the Caribbean. Situated in the Yucatan Peninsula, located in eastern Mexico, it is a delightful destination for romantic vacationers, newlyweds, and where many couples return to vacation every year.

While on your Mayan Riviera vacation, if you feel like hitting the nightlife and experiencing an international melting pot of fun-loving tourists, this might be the place! With nightclubs, bars, and first-class restaurants, you’ll be in tropical heaven day and night. If, you feel like playing golf, sun tanning, or going to the beach, but still want to experience Mexico’s night culture, include Playa del Carmen and Playacar on your itinerary.

A Mayan Riviera vacation would not be complete without visiting some of the remote islands and beaches. If you and your loved one feel like being alone and having a beach all to yourselves, then make sure you visit Soliman Bay and Tankah Bay. This area, between Akumal and Tulum has managed to keep its otherworldly charm, and is one of the best places in the Mayan Riviera to enjoy the silence and peace of a truly Mexican beach getaway.

If you’d like to learn a bit of history and archeology with a dash of adventure while on your Mayan Riviera vacation, you may want to don your hiking boots and head to Quintana Roo in the south. This is located in Laguna Bacalar and offers some interesting historical sites that cannot be seen anywhere else in Mexico or in the Mayan Riviera. Better known historical sites at Tulum and in the archeological theme parks of Xcaret and Xelha (Xel-ha) are also great places to explore and unlike any other in all of Mexico.

So, before you head out on your romantic vacation to the Mayan Riviera, be sure to plan an itinerary that will not be rushed. If you only have a week to explore, try hitting a balanced mix of isolated beaches and lively coastline resort areas. If you are the more active, adventurous type, try heading Xcalak, which is farther south along the Riviera and just north of Belize. There, the coral reef is unspoiled, and sea kayaking, hiking, climbing and fishing are just some of the available activities you can do.

Kyle and Jo