Riviera Maya and Cancún are as distinct as margaritas and smoky mezcalitas, but these two destinations are often erroneously conflated with one another. Unlike purpose-built Cancún, a city that sprung from the bold blueprints of tourism planners in the 1970s, Riviera Maya is an organic medley of coastal towns, each with its own personality. This stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula begins just south of Cancún, in the town of Puerto Morelos, and extends all the way to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. This corridor of natural beauty also includes Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Akumal, a famed spot for swimming with turtles.

Cancún is often the Mexican Caribbean destination of choice for revelers, but Riviera Maya further south also has pulsating parties come day or night. The region's main hedonistic playgrounds are Tulum and Playa del Carmen, which is home to famous rump-shaking establishments like Coco Bongo. Tulum has world-renowned clubs and beach bars like Vagalume, Taboo, Papaya Playa Project, and Gitano which host international DJs. And for the adventurous, the cenotes—mystical natural freshwater sinkholes—dotted all around the region sometimes become the backdrop for unforgettable nighttime gatherings.

Riviera Maya, like any destination, has its shadows. They don't eclipse the region's inherent beauty but there are a range of crimes that may leave a not-so-pretty dent on your vacation. ATM scams, pickpocketing, and drug-related violence do occur. Instances of corruption can range from traffic police seeking bribes or night cops administering fines for phantom offenses such as perceived public intoxication.

Names like Aktun Chen, Nohoch Nah Chich, Labnaha, Cristalino, Dos Ojos, and Kantun-Chi may not instantly ring a bell, but these are some of the most unique natural swimming holes available for dipping in Riviera Maya. Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula has a constellation of geological formations known as cenotes (seh-noh-tays). These stalactite and stalagmite-having caves and caverns were revered by the Maya as sacred wells and sources of life-giving waters, and they can be found in abundance between Tulum and Playa del Carmen.

The Xcaret Group eco-parks of Riviera Maya offer immersive experiences on land and water. The extensive portfolio includes Xcaret, Xavage, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco, and the Xel-Ha water park which has cenotes, iridescent scarlet macaws, and a 131-foot lighthouse slide.