Cancun and the Riviera Maya

In September 2012 I visited Mexico for my fourth time. I got engaged and married in Mexico so enjoy a special bond with the country. It is 14 years since I had last been to Cancun and, when driving through; little had changed apart from the quantity of hotels and a lovely new shopping area called La Isla Shopping Mall. The beaches are still amazing and rank as my favourite beaches in the world.

Cancun is very commercialised and geared towards the American market. There are plenty of things to do such as swimming with dolphins, shopping, water parks, snorkelling, scuba diving and site seeing at historical places like Tulum and Chichen Itza. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs as well.

On this trip I stayed on the Riviera Maya, whereas previously I had stayed in the main hotel zone in Cancun. It is very different in the Riviera Maya and a completely different holiday experience to that in Cancun. It is more laid back, yet you are only around 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Cancun. Most of the hotels are low-rise, as opposed to Cancun’s high-rise, concrete buildings. The beaches are beautiful but I don’t feel the sea is as clear on the Riviera Maya as it is in Cancun.

The hotels are nearly always all-inclusive and they can be quite isolated so you may need to take a taxi into Playa del Carmen or Cancun if you want any shops, bars or entertainment. I stayed for four nights at the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa which is a lovely five star family hotel. I then stayed for three nights at the five star, adult only hotel Secrets Maroma Beach which is set in an amazing location and perfect for weddings and honeymoons.

While in Mexico, we also had the opportunity to visit the ruins at Tulum. Xcaret is also a great place to visit, especially for families. As well as having the opportunity to see some Mexican culture, you can see dolphins and turtles and can swim in an underground river! It was also Mexican Independence day whilst we were there and we watched dozens of children trying to break the record for the world’s biggest tortilla.

For anyone going to Mexico around 20th March or 21st September, a trip to Chichen Itza is a must. This is because on these dates every year, the sun casts a shadow in the shape of a serpent on the steps of the Pyramid. This is another one of the mysteries surrounding this area and something not to be missed.

As a word of warning, between June and October, Mexico sometimes experiences hurricanes and it gets very hot. Mexico offers two very different holiday experiences. If you want everything at your disposal then the hotel zone in Cancun is for you, but if you want something a little more laid back, with a much more tropical feel, then head to the Riviera Maya.