Lorry Perkins
Writer, Travel Blogger
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Top 25 “Bests” in Riviera Maya Mexico for 2023
Travel is gearing up again post-covid, so it’s time to update my Top 25 Bests in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We’ve explored a few more resorts, and much to our surprise, we’ve changed our mind about some of these categories we never thought we would. Our favorite resort, The Grand Bahia Akumal, has lost favor after our most recent visit. Still, we will not give up hope because we know all resorts have struggled both during and after the covid restrictions with staffing and supply chain issues. I welcome your comments and look forward to learning about the places you have visited in Riviera Maya that are at the top of your list.
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Riviera Maya Mexico | Beaches, Pools, Restaurants Accommodations, and Entertainment
- Best Beach – Three-way tie: Barcelo Maya, Iberostar, Delmar, Lindo and Maya, RIU Dunamar Costa Mujeres,
- Best Pool – Iberostar Delmar
- Best Restaurant – Grand Bahia Sian Ka’an Maiko
- Best Room – TRS Yucatan Hotel, part of the Grand Palladium Riviera Maya
- Best Theater Shows – TRS Yucatan Hotel, Chic Cabaret
Beach Club Bars and Spas
- Best Spa – Zentropia Spa, Grand Palladium
- Best Bar – Barcelo Caribe
- Best Swim-Up Bar – Iberostar Lindo Waterfall Swim-Up Bar
- Best Swing Bar – Blue Bay Esmerelda (just to clarify, the swing you sit on)
All-Inclusive Resort Pools, Family Vacations, Adults-Only Vacations, and Mexican Coffee
- Best Adult Pool Party – Ocean Riviera Paradise, Foam Party
- Best Infinity Pool – TRS Yucatan Hotel, part of the Grand Palladium, Riviera Maya
- Best Sports Bar – Grand Bahia Akumal
- Best Family Vacation Resort – Iberostar Lindo
- Best Anniversary or Honeymoon Resort – Two-way tie: TRS Yucatan Hotel and Secrets Playa Mujeres
- Best Mexican Coffee – Grand Bahia
Best Riviera Maya Activities Include Food, Drink, Entertainment, and Shopping
- Best Beer – Puerto Aventuras
- Best Tequila – Grand Bahia Sian Ka’an
- Best Mudslide – Now Jade
- Best Coffee Bar – Iberostar Lindo, Star Cafe
- Best Wings – Iberostar Rock Star Cafe
- Best Pizza – Ocean Riviera Paradise (pizza oven by the beach)
- Best Breakfast Buffet – Grand Bahia Sian Ka’an main buffet
- Best Entertainment Team – Iberostar
- Best Overall Staff – Iberostar
- Best Shopping – Grand Bahia Hacienda and Everyone’s Favorite Playa del Carmen
Things to do in Riviera Maya | Excursions
- Best Adventure Excursion – Isla Mujeres (catamaran), and IslaMujeres, Royal Garrafon
- Best Ruins Excursion – Coba
- Best Recent Excursion – Xenses
- Best Jeep Tour – Two-way tie Cozumel and Sian Ka’an biosphere
There you have it! Your list may look different than mine, so let’s compare them. What’s on your list of things to do in Riviera Maya? Do you like to go to Playa del Carmen? Are you interested in a scuba diving tour? Is Chichen Itza on your bucket list, or are the Tulum ruins and the white sand beaches calling your name? Visiting Riviera Maya opens one up to a wide variety of experiences, including marine life, sea turtles, whale sharks, pristine beaches, the second largest coral reef in the world, snorkeling, the Mayan jungle, ancient ruins, and theme parks. If you have a “best of” that you’d like to share, please comment below or on my Facebook or Instagram page. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share.
Planning Your First Trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico?
Top 10 Things to do in Riviera Maya:
- Visit the Mayan ruins: Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza, which offer a fascinating glimpse into the history and culture of the Mayan people.
- Swim in a cenote: Take a refreshing dip in one of the cenotes, natural sinkholes filled with crystal-clear water, that are unique to this region.
- Snorkel or dive in the Great Maya Reef: Discover the vibrant underwater world of the Great Maya Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world, teeming with colorful marine life.
- Go to Xcaret: Enjoy a fun-filled day at Xcaret, a natural theme park that offers activities such as swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, and exploring underground rivers.
- Relax on the beaches: Soak up the sun and enjoy the white sand beaches that Riviera Maya is famous for, such as Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and Xpu-Ha.
- Visit Cozumel Island: Take a ferry to Cozumel Island, just off the coast of Riviera Maya, which is known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant coral reefs.
- Explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: Venture into the wilderness of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a protected natural area that is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
- Visit the Xel-Ha Park: Experience the natural beauty of Xel-Ha Park, a natural aquarium that is perfect for snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing.
- Take a jungle tour: Explore the lush jungle of Riviera Maya on a guided tour, which may include hiking, bird-watching, and spotting wild animals such as monkeys and jaguars.
- Enjoy the local cuisine: Sample the delicious local cuisine of Riviera Maya, which is a fusion of Mayan, Mexican, and Caribbean flavors. Don’t miss out on dishes such as ceviche and fresh seafood.
Book Your Travel
When traveling to Riviera Maya, we always book with our travel agent Jim Lucente. Rest assured that you will know the latest Covid protocols and have the added layer of a professional to contact directly with any questions or concerns. I highly recommend contacting Jim Lucente, owner of Lucente Travel, at 412-299-7699 or emailing him at jim@lucentetravel.com to book your all-inclusive vacation.
If you prefer to book online, you can book here or compare reviews at Tripadvisor.
What a great list of the bests in the Mayan Riviera. Great to have it updated. It will make planning a vacation here easy if we follow all your picks. A little bit for everyone.
So much fun stuff to do! I’d love to know more about why you chose these as the top 🙂
I just returned from my Mexico trip and I must say I completely missed out the leisure side of the country. Your list makes me think about coming back in near future and visit at least something from your list. Thanks for sharing!
If I ever plan to go to the Mayan Riviera I will make sure to check this post again, everything there is to know was covered here, that’s awesome! Great tips and thanks for sharing your experience Lorry 🙂