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THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico

  • THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico
  • THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico
  • THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico
  • THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico
  • THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico
  • THE MAYAN RIVIERA: Cave diving at its best in Mexico
THE MAYAN RIVIERA, MEXICO
 
Mexico is an enormous country, which borders America to the North; the Pacific Ocean to the South and West; Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean to the South East; and the Gulf of Mexico to the East.  The Mayan Riviera is a very popular holiday destination on the Eastern side of the country, which sits next to the beautiful Caribbean Sea. The area offers stunning white sand beaches bordering crystal clear turquoise water, and enjoys some of the best diving spots on earth. In addition to some excellent sea-based dive sites, the area is also blessed with a series of cenotes- freshwater pools, formed by ancient flooded limestone cave systems. These unusual formations can be explored by divers and offer the chance to discover underwater stalactites and stalagmites in water so clear, it feels like diving in fresh air. The Mayan Riviera sits on the Great Mesoamerican Reef, which is the second largest barrier reef in the world. Running from the north tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay of Islands in Honduras, the reef is home to a diverse range of marine life, including150 species of reef fish and nearly 100 coral species. Divers can expect to see hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, trumpetfish, lemon sharks, and even manatees. The sea here has high temperatures throughout the year, ranging from 25˚C to 32˚C.
 
The Mayan Riviera Highlights
 
Cozumel is an island off the coast of the Mayan Riviera, easily reached by boat from Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Cozumel is Mexico’s longest Caribbean island, and enjoys 32km of reef in its surrounding waters. The island is best known for its amazing diving opportunities, which keep divers returning time and time again to explore. The reefs have a strong steady current, which provides excellent visibility and diverse marine life. Divers can enjoy the vertical walls, with their amazing sponge formations, underwater pinnacles and flourishing coral gardens. Thanks to its limestone base, the island has a series of cenotes which can be dived, including the 5th largest underwater cave in the world. The Mayan history on the island is still in evidence and there are some impressive ruins to explore.
 
Tulum is the site of an ancient Mayan city, one of the last ever to be built and inhabited by the indigenous people. The well preserved ruins are perched high up on a cliff overlooking the beautiful Caribbean Sea, and have become one of the most visited tourist destinations in Mexico. There are some excellent diving sites nearby, as the area has lots of cenotes dating back 6500 years. Diving here involves exploring a series of interconnected cave passageways, filled with unbelievably clear water. Cenote diving is a totally unique experience, as divers will experience the ethereal light effects caused by the sunlight coming through the water, and the bizarre underwater limestone formations.
 
Playa del Carmen is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to the Mayan Riviera to stay at. With an excellent choice of luxury hotels and all inclusive resorts, beautiful sandy beaches and good nightlife, the town is a good base from which to explore the surrounding sites and attractions of this area of Mexico. There are many tour operators who can arrange day trips, diving excursions and boat journeys.
 
Xel ha is a ‘must-do’ attraction for visitors to the Mayan Riviera. It is an open air water park, where the sea meets a series of rivers. Guests can snorkel all the way down the length of the river, and will be rewarded with sightings of many, many fish. Where the river meets the sea, the fish get are really big, meaning that for people who do not want to dive on their Mexican holiday, it is still possible to witness some of the larger underwater inhabitants. Visitors can swim behind the safety of a shark net that protects the park from the open sea. It is like a natural aquarium, and provides hours of entertainment for all ages. The park also offers dolphin swimming experiences, and scuba diving excursions.
 
Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan archaeological site, which has been well preserved, and is open for tourists to visit. The historic attraction is home to a series of stone buildings that are connected by a network of roads that interlace the site. Dominating its centre is El Castillo, a step pyramid that has become the famous icon of Mayan civilization. Chichen Itza is not far from the nearby holiday resorts and dive sites.