Playacar beach

Protected by a large coral reef, with turquoise waters that could hardly be more transparent, Playacar is everything one could ever expect from a beach. Here you can relax, play beach volleyball or practise water sports. In the 6 Riu hotels in the area (Riu Yucatán, Riu Playacar, Riu Palace Riviera Maya, Riu Palace México, Riu Lupita and ClubHotel Riu Tequila) you will be able to hire windsurf boards, bodyboards, small catamarans and canoes. The gentle waves are ideal for smaller children, who can splash around in the water in safety.

Bays of Punta Solimán

Mayan ruins of Tulum

These Mayan ruins are located on top of a small cliff that presides over an exceptional beach of turquoise tones. The beauty of this place has led to its image being used as the cover for a great many tourist guides and for postcards.
The most outstanding monuments are the temple of the wind god, from where you can go down to the beach; the castle, which overlooks the Caribbean Sea; and the palace, which has a beautiful stucco bearing the figure of a Mayan god.

Mayan ruins of Coba

Enveloped in dense tropical vegetation, the ruins of Coba are amongst the most important in the region. During its era of splendour, between the years 800 and 1100, it came to have 40,000 inhabitants.
The Great Pyramid, which is 42 metres high, is the tallest structure on the Yucatán Peninsula, even taller than that of Chichen Itza. The view from the top is spectacular.
The Temple of the Churches affords superb views of the great pyramid and some nearby lakes. Another place of interest is the Paintings Group, with brightly-coloured, well-preserved frescos.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

This is nature at its best. A dense tropical jungle with unique biodiversity: foxes, anteaters, pumas, jaguars, crocodiles, giant land crabs, howler monkeys, flamingos and other species. The reserve has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO due to its immense natural interest.
Punta Allen, surrounded by dense forest with wonderful turquoise waters, is a good place for bird watching and diving. The reef near the coast is the habitat for an impressive range of biodiversity.

Snorkelling in cenotes

In Playa del Carmen and the surrounding area there is an abundance of cenotes – water bodies and sinkholes that run through underground caverns. The majority of them are large and safe and therefore ideal for novice divers:

Nohoch nah Chich: This place, with a name that is extremely difficult to pronounce, is the largest system of underground caves in the world. The itineraries start in a jungle area and run through a system of caverns with spectacular stalactites. The gentle currents are suitable for all kinds of divers, and there are also rest areas and openings that let in the sunlight.

Xcaret: This cenote is located just a few kilometres from Playa del Carmen. The guided route begins in a forest and ends up on a beach with crystalline waters, populated by red flamingos. You will also be able to dive in a natural lagoon with channels surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Watersports

Sheltered by a coral reef, Playacar beach, where the RIU hotels are located, is perfect for windsurfing, bodyboarding and sailing.

If you prefer canoeing, there are several aqua parks that combine tourism with nature: Tres Ríos Ecopark and Xel-Ha.

Golf

Playacar Golf Club: Just a few minutes from the RIU hotels, this course stands out for its lush vegetation and numerous lagoons. Without doubt one of the best courses in the region.

Specialities

Meat: The cuisine of Yucatán has a strong indigenous influence. The most typical dish is marinated suckling pig, wrapped in palm leaves and cooked in a hole in the ground.

Fish: Tikinxic (fish cooked in Mayan barbecue style), is also very popular, as are curried shrimps, another local speciality. There is also plenty of lobster, sea snails, groupers, sea bass and red snapper.

Shopping

Playa del Carmen’s fifth avenue offers a wide variety of shops, both fashion boutiques with international articles and local craft shops selling silver jewellery, coral and shell necklaces and clay figures of images of Mayan gods.