23 Best Sights in The Riviera Maya, Mexico

Other than the occasional villa and resort, including Royal Catalonia Tulum smack-dab in the center, this stretch of white sand is fairly isolated. South of here are a few spots where you can grab a midday snack, like La Playa Beach Club. There are no hidden rocks in shallow areas, so many people come to swim or snorkel, especially when the winds are calm. The sugary sand is raked, making it a good place for an unobstructed stroll, too. Unlike many beaches, this one isn’t blocked by resort security. You can access it through La Playa or by having lunch at one of the nearby restaurants and beach clubs. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; swimming; walking.

This beach club and restaurant is one of the few open every day from morning (8:30 am) to late (1 am). Take a dip in the ocean and then catch some rays on one of the sun beds or chaise lounges. When the sun goes down, there is live music, shows, and salsa lessons on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming.

Known for the sea turtles that swim in its waters, Akumal Bay is sheltered by an offshore reef—though, sadly only about 30% of it is alive. It's best to explore the waters with a certified guide available through dive shops in town. Do not wear sunscreen in the water as it can harm the reef, and, above all, do not touch the wildlife or coral. Be careful to stay clear of the red "fire reef," which stings on contact. When you drag yourself away from the snorkeling, there are plenty of palm trees for shade, as well as a variety of waterfront shops, restaurants, and cafés. If you continue on the main road, you'll reach Half Moon Bay and Laguna Yal-kú, also good snorkeling spots. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Several grassy beach parks, including Punta Estrella and Dos Mulas, surround the bay. The latter is not recommended due to cleanliness issues. But Punta Estrella has parking, toilets, volleyball courts, and a small boat marina. The water here is calm, if cloudy, and there's plenty of shade from trees and little palapa-topped picnic tables. Popular with fishermen, the bay itself is shallow and the flats go on for miles. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: walking.

A favorite of party animals and the young and beautiful, Coralina offers nonstop music all day long with an open bar, fireworks, go-go dancers, and bikini contests also included in the rates. The pool parties here are legendary, as are the champagne wars. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: partiers.

Although the marina is the focus here, Puerto Aventuras's beaches are naturally stunning and seldom crowded. The main one, Fatima Bay, stretches nearly 3 km (2 miles) south between Chac Hal Al condominiums and the Grand Peninsula residence. Its shallow, calm waters are kid-friendly, especially inside the breakwater. Farther out the temperature drops, making for a refreshing swim. To the north is a smaller bay, known as Chan Yu Yum, used by guests of the Catalonia Resort; better beaches lie just south of Puerto Aventuras in the community of Xpu-Há. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The crescent bay on the north end of Akumal has shallow water and almost no current, making it a safe swimming spot for children; the snorkeling is also good here (you might even see the occasional sea turtle). Beach chairs and hammocks line the narrow, rocky shore at La Buena Vida restaurant, which has a pool, restrooms, and limited street parking for patrons. The area near Casa Zama is protected by an outer reef; however, the entry point is rocky, so bring water shoes. Bring an umbrella, too—Half Moon Bay is known for its white sand and clear waters, but the lack of trees means you'll have trouble finding shade. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Cure your morning hangover with the breakfast buffet (M$150) at this beach club beside El Taj Condo Hotel. The restaurant serves fresh fusion cuisine that blends Italian, Asian, and Mexican dishes. Lounge chairs and beach beds are abundant, and there are changing rooms, outdoor showers, and oversized towels for your convenience. A section of beach is used as a launching point by small fishing boats, but the view is still lovely and there is plenty of space to relax. As you enter the water, you'll feel about 20-feet of coral stone before the bottom transitions to smooth sand. The morning yoga and tai chi classes are a great way to start the day. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: walking.

Located at Playa Xpu-Ha, this beach club is open year-round from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Guests of nearby villas are often lured here by the plethora of amenities—including showers, lockers, hammocks, umbrellas, chaise lounges, and a rental shop that has snorkeling gear, WaveRunners, boogie boards, and kayaks. In full beach club tradition, there's a restaurant and a bar with swings instead of stools. You can burn off your lunch with a game of volleyball, or opt for hair braids and henna tattoos. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

This stretch of beach north of the ferry dock, from Constituyentes to Calle 38, is known to locals as Mamita's, although it also encompasses the Coralina beach club and the Hilton and Mahekal hotels. Independent of the main beach's drop-off (and the sandbags that are sometimes visible there), it's a lovely straight stretch of flat sand and clear water, which you'll share with lots of other visitors. The trade-off is that WaveRunners, which are largely absent from the main beach, are very present here. It's a good spot for fun in the sun, not seclusion. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming.

Accessible by way of Calle 28, this is Playa's hottest spot to catch some rays. You can rent an umbrella and two chairs (the smallest beachfront package) for MX$600; MX$3,500 will get you a plush, shady couch in the sand (and a refund of up to MX$3,000 if you purchase that much in drinks). Expect to pay around MX$165 for a cocktail and MX$60 for a beer. Guests can relax in the VIP area while a DJ spins trance and techno beside the freshwater pool. Facilities include three restaurants, four bars, two swimming pools, and a second-floor champagne bar. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers.

This colorful beach club, exclusively for overnight guests and cruise-ship passengers who purchase a VIP beach club package, is the only one on the Mahahual strip with a pool. Bungalows start at $115 a night, and VIP Beach Breaks for cruise passengers are $135 per adult. Both will get you access to the club's pool, restaurant, beach chairs, umbrellas, showers, and changing facilities.

VIP guests can also expect all-you-can-drink cocktails, all-you-can-eat food, and transportation from the port. Margaritas can be delivered to you beachside, or you can escape the heat by grabbing a bite in the enclosed patio. Free Wi-Fi is also included. There's decent snorkeling right out front, and equipment is available next door at Gypsea Divers. Even if you don't get in the water, the four shades of turquoise are breathtaking. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; swimming.

This beachfront restaurant on the boardwalk doubles as a beach club, offering a bar, lunch, beach chairs, umbrellas, and kayaks. There's no fee for using the beach chairs and equipment, but you'll need to consume at least $50 worth of food and drink per person. There are restrooms, showers, and an on-site massage therapist you can book for an extra fee.

The restaurant cooks up ceviche, tacos, sandwiches, and nachos, but most people opt for the fresh fish served with tortillas and homemade tartar sauce. Between tanning sessions, you can head to the outer reef on a private catamaran for a snorkeling tour. Cruise passengers flock to this simple beachfront hot spot, so reserve ahead if you want to be part of the action. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling.

Beachcombers, campers, and snorkeling snowbirds love Paamul (pronounced pah-mool), a crescent-shaped lagoon 21 km (13 miles) south of Playa del Carmen with clear, placid waters sheltered by a coral reef. Shells, sand dollars, and even glass beads—some from the sunken, 18th-century Spanish galleon Mantanceros, which lies off nearby Akumal—wash up onto the sandy parts of the beach. (There's a sandy path into deeper water in front of the restaurant—on the rocks, watch out for sea urchins.) Sea turtles hatch here June to November. If you'd like to stay on this piece of paradise, Hotel and Cabanas Paamul is a laid-back option.Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The community's most central section of beach stretches from the ferry docks up to Calle 14 at the Wyndham Alltra Resort, a swath of deep white sand licked by turquoise water. The beach and water are clean, but there is some boat traffic that makes swimming less idyllic. Snorkelers aren't likely to see much here, but you can't beat the beach for convenience: countless bars and restaurants are a short walk away on 5th Avenue, masseurs compete (discreetly) to knead out your kinks, and it's easy to find a dive shop ready to take you out to sea. The closer you get to the docks, the more people you'll find. If you're looking for seclusion, head farther north outside Playa del Carmen. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Free of rocks, seagrass, and drop-offs, Playa del Secreto is perfect for swimming, kayaking, or snorkeling. On windy days, the waves are large enough for boogie boarding or bodysurfing. At the nearby reef, divers can get down with lobster, octopus, crabs, and turtles. The powdery white sand makes it great for long walks. The stretch near Valentin Imperial Maya is especially clean, with clear warm water where fish come to eat out of your hand. Dotting the shore are vacation rentals and a private community of homeowners, meaning that there is no public access to this beach other than through the private roads off Carretera 307. Despite the fact this is a public beach, non-hotel guests will be turned away at security gates. That also means that there are no public facilities other than those offered exclusively to guests. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Snorkelers and divers love this stretch of coastline, but beachgoers might be a little disappointed. The beach alongside Xcalak town is narrow—eaten away by past hurricanes—and often covered in seaweed and piles of garbage washed in on the tide. The hotels and B&Bs north of town do their best to keep their beaches clean and comfortable, making them the area's best spots for swimming or kayaking.

Sections of the beach connect to a network of protected mangroves frequented by manatees. Moreover, the offshore reef of nearby Banco Chinchorro is great for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Newcomers to Puerto Morelos might be disappointed by the blankets of seaweed and boats that dock ashore—after all, this place is more about snorkeling on the reef than sunning on the sand. Your best bet is to head for the stretch of beach two blocks north of the square in front of Ojo de Agua Hotel. Park on the town square or adjacent streets. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; walking.

One of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches has deep white sand that feels like powdered sugar and crystalline water that’s free of rocks. The small waves crashing onshore make it great for bodysurfing; 10 minutes off the coast of the Blue Diamond Resort, you'll find terrific diving, too. Hotels supply lounge chairs and offer activities like volleyball, yoga, and even remote-control boat racing for guests. Unfortunately, this beach can only be accessed by way of the security gate on Carretera 307 that leads to three area resorts. Unless you plan to visit by boat or stay at one of them, you’re probably out of luck. Amenities: food and drink; toilets (for resort guests only). Best for: walking.

Nestled in a protected cove, this wide stretch of beach is popular with divers and snorkelers due to the outer reef that keeps waters calm. The fine sand is perfect for a barefoot stroll, but the shallow waters have sharp rocks just below the surface. Across the road from Casa Cenote Restaurant is Manatee Cenote, an underwater cave that spills from the mangroves into the sea. This freshwater pool, coupled with the outer reef, make Tankah a snorkeler's paradise. The main draw is that the area is relatively isolated since most sun worshipers tend to bask on the shores of Playa del Carmen. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; walking.

Extending 11 km (7 miles), Tulum's main beach is a tropical paradise comprised of glassy water and powdery sand, set off from the jungle by hip restaurants and low-slung bungalow hotels where the yoga set take their virtuous rest. It's divided by a rocky promontory into two main sections, similar to each other, although the farther south you go on the Carretera Tulum–Boca Paila beach road, the more secluded and lovelier it gets. The beach is bordered on the south by the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve, whose coast is even more deserted. To the north, you'll find the Tulum ruins. Beach access can be tricky; even though the beach is public, the hotels and restaurants along the shore often limit access to guests only, and public access points are few and far between. If you're not staying on the beachfront, make sure to ask your hotel where the closest access point is. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Talk about a beach with a view! At Tulum's archaeological site, the Caribbean's signature white sand and turquoise waters are framed by a backdrop of Maya pyramids. The small cove can get crowded, especially during peak season when travelers flock to the ruins for a day of sightseeing. The south end by the rocks tends to have more breathing room. Only those who purchase a ticket to the ruins can access this beach, unless you approach the shores by boat. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming.

About 10 km (6 miles) south of Akumal, this beach (also written Xca-Cel), has white powdery sand and a nearby cenote that can be accessed through a jungle path to your right. Snorkeling is best on the beach's north end. To reach it from Carretera 307, turn at the dirt road that runs between Chemuyil and Xel-Há. The route is blocked by a guard who will charge you MX$97 to enter; after paying, simply continue on to the beach itself. From May through November, this area is reserved for turtle nesting. Avoid stepping on any raised mounds of sand as they could be turtle nests. Note that the beach road is open daily 10–4. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.