When you say Cancun or Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya, most of the people think spring break, however there is so much more to this area and it would be your loss not to explore more than the local bars and Coco Bongo.
Two great places to explore are Cozumel and Holbox Island.
Holbox is a small, out-of-the-way island just west of Cancun in the northeast corner of Quintana Roo. From Cancun, it takes about 30 mins by bus and another 30 mins by boat to get there. If you are lucky the boat will stop for quick visit to one of the local cenotes. A cenote is a natural sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. These underwater caves and caverns are popular attractions to divers in the Yucatan Peninsula. When scuba diving or snorkeling the cenotes in Mexico, you’ll see stunning formations of stalagmites and stalactites. After that spectacular detour, you finally arrive at your destination.
Holbox Island has it all. White sandy beaches, yummy sea food (try the ceviche!), and a cozy little town to relax in.
Cozumel is more well known, and is a popular stop for cruise ships heading towards Belize. Getting to Cozumel is very easy, only 30 mins board ride from Playa Del Carmen. Cozumel offers cheap rentals so you can drive around the island and visit cool places like Punta Sur Eco Beach Park or Chankanaab Park.
Punta Sur has great jeep trails along the beach and Eco Beach Park is the largest ecological reserve in Cozumel. Here you can discover the best beach in Cozumel, take pictures of exotic birds and wild flora and watch the crocodiles in their natural habitat. Don´t forget to climb the historic Celarain Lighthouse and from there enjoy the spectacular panoramic views.
Chankanaab is a place with snorkeling, and habitats that allow you to play with seals and dolphins. Or you can chill on the beach, go to the botanical garden, and end your day with a tequila tasting.
One place in Riviera Maya that is often forgotten is the biosphere reserve Sian Ka’an, in the municipality of Tulum in Quintana Roo. Getting to this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an adventure in of itself. You start your trip in Playa Del Carmen, where you then board a bus for a rough, very bumpy three hour ride.
Sian Ka’an is a habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. There are over 300 species of birds as well as a large number of mammals and plant life. There is also an abundance of marine life, such as sea turtles and dolphins in the region as well.
Sian Ka’an means ‘Origin of the Sky’ in the Mayan languange. You can go snorkel, watch dolphins and turtles or go birdwatching here.
