Playa Del Carmen is a town in the Mayan Riviera that started as a fishing village but has become a lively tourist center with shopping, nightlife and interesting boutique hotels. Playa Del Carmen features a bohemian flavor that gives it a decidedly exotic feel, and open-air restaurants allow for leisurely meals and people-watching. The most well-known street, La Quinta Avenue (the Fifth Avenue) is located just one block off the beach and runs parallel to it. It's a cobblestone, pedestrian-only street where you can find shops, restaurants and nightclubs. Playa Del Carmen also features a port where tourists can catch a ferry to visit the island of Cozumel.
Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan archeological site located 125 miles from Cancun in the Yucatan peninsula. Many of the original buildings are still standing, with El Castillo as the most notable and recognizable. Find the massive pyramid El Castillo in the center of the site. It is approximately 75 feet tall with steep steps to the top, making it challenging to climb up and down. Chichen Itza was named as one of the new seven wonders of the world in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007. Tours to Chichen Itza run daily and can be booked online or at most hotels in Cancun.
Cozumel is an island located in the state of Quintana Roo. To get to the island from Cancun, travel to Playa Del Carmen and take a 12-mile ferry ride to Cozumel. On Cozumel, find water sports and family-friendly activities such as go-karts and mini golf, but Cozumel's claim to fame is its spectacular scuba diving. Dive shops pepper the island where you can rent scuba equipment, get advice or plan a tour. San Miguel, a port where cruise ships dock, is the only city on the island. When ships are in port, the city gets very crowded.
Xplor Adventure Park, which opened in 2009, is the newest park in the Mayan Riviera. At the center of Xplor sits a large ceramic heart which stands a feet tall. You can feel and hear the beating of the heart, which was designed to help people make their way back to the center of the park. Xplor has four adventurous activities for guests to enjoy. Zip lines, underground rafts, amphibious vehicles, and a stalactite river comprise the attractions, and a trip through each will fill a day. Xplor is 25 miles south of Cancun International Airport.
