Cancún & the Riviera Maya

Mexico's Caribbean coast packs a lot into one holiday. Days start on white sand in front of turquoise water, and a short drive takes you to Maya pyramids, jungle cenotes and some of the best snorkelling in the Caribbean. Most hotels here are all-inclusive, which makes it one of the easiest long-haul beach trips from the UK.

Why go

The coast runs south from Cancún through Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras to Tulum, along the edge of the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-longest reef system in the world. Stand in front of El Castillo at Chichén Itzá, walk the walled city of Tulum on its 12-metre cliffs above the sea, and swim with green turtles in Akumal Bay. Inland, the limestone is riddled with cenotes: natural sinkholes of clear, cool fresh water that the Maya used as wells and sacred sites. Most of them are open for swimming today.

When to go

It's warm all year, with an average temperature of around 24–25°C. The dry season, from December to April, is the most popular and the most expensive time to go. May and June are the hottest months. The rainy season runs from about May to November, usually as short, heavy afternoon showers, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. From spring to late summer, sargassum seaweed can wash up on some beaches; resorts clear it, but the amount changes from year to year and from beach to beach.

Getting there from the UK

Cancún International Airport (CUN) has direct flights from London Gatwick with British Airways and TUI, and from London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic. TUI also flies from Manchester and Birmingham, with seasonal flights from other UK airports. The flight takes around 10 to 11 hours. From the airport, it's about 20 minutes to Cancún's Hotel Zone and roughly an hour to Playa del Carmen. Tell us your airport and dates, and we'll find the best way to get you there.

Where to stay

• Cancún Hotel Zone: a 7-shaped sandbar lined with beach hotels, close to the airport, with the calmer bay side to the north and the open Caribbean to the east. It's lively and convenient, and has the most choice.
• Playa del Carmen and Playacar: a walkable town with a beachfront, restaurants on Fifth Avenue and ferries to Cozumel. Playacar, just south, is a quieter gated area of resorts on the beach.
• Puerto Aventuras and Xpu-Ha: smaller bays between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, handy for Akumal, the cenotes and the ruins. They suit families and anyone who wants a slower pace.
• Tulum: Maya ruins on the sea, a laid-back town and the gateway to Cobá and the Sian Ka'an biosphere.

What to do

Take a day trip to Chichén Itzá and swim in a cenote on the way back. Combine the Tulum ruins with turtle snorkelling in Akumal, or climb through the jungle at Cobá. Sail by catamaran to Isla Mujeres for a swim at Playa Norte, snorkel the reefs off Cozumel, and spend a long day at Xcaret, with its underground rivers and evening show.

Food

Yucatán cooking is its own cuisine. Try cochinita pibil (slow-cooked pork with achiote and bitter orange), sopa de lima (lime soup), fresh ceviche and fish tacos, and tacos al pastor from a street stand. Wash them down with fresh fruit aguas frescas, or a cold Mexican beer.

Good to know

• Currency: Mexican peso (MXN). Cards are widely accepted in resorts and towns, but carry some pesos for taxis, markets and tips.
• Time: Quintana Roo stays on UTC−5 all year. That's 5 hours behind the UK in winter and 6 hours behind in summer.
• Plugs: US-style flat two-pin sockets (types A and B), so bring an adaptor.
• Language: Spanish. English is widely spoken in hotels and on excursions.
• Entry: check the latest GOV.UK Mexico travel advice before you travel.

Ready to plan it? Tell us your airport, dates and the kind of hotel you like, and we'll put together a quote.