The top Riviera Maya excursions to do in 2019

Claire Summers
Jun 12, 2019
4 min read

Want to know the best Riviera Maya excursions? In this post we are going to run through our top picks for the best things to do while staying in the Riviera Maya, from Whale Sharks to exploring underground caves, there is something for everyone here.

The Best Riviera Maya Excursions

Swim with Whale Sharks

Of all of the Riviera Maya tours you can do, this one is our favorite. Whale Shark season runs from May to September and trust us when we say, it’s a once in a lifetime experience you do not want to miss if you visit during this time.

If you want to know more about what this experience involves then you can read all about it on this blog post here, or watch the video below.

You can also click here to book you Whale Shark tour today.

Float down the river in Sian Ka’an

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve really is the ultimate tour for wildlife lovers.

It’s an eco friendly tour for the whole family and a great alternative to swimming with dolphins in the Riviera Maya or swimming with Turtles at Akumal. On this tour you will get to observe animals in their natural habitat, and not in captivity.

You can expect to see birds, dolphins, turtles, and if you get lucky, you may even see some crocodiles and manatees!

Sian Ka’an in the Mayan language means “place where the sky is born” and you will understand why, when you find yourself floating down the river on our full day tour.

Snorkel the reef in Puerto Morelos

A day out snorkeling in Puerto Morelos is one of the best Riviera Maya excursions you can do. Puerto Morelos has some of the best snorkeling in the area thanks to the Great mayan Reef.

There is a point you can swim out to from the shore, although if you really want to enjoy the reef at its best then you need to book a tour to take you out by boat.

If you want to make the most of your time in Puerto Morelos then take a read of this blog post we wrote about other things to do while you are there.

Click to book a tour to Puerto Morelos.

Scuba Dive in Cozumel

This one’s for the thrill seekers out there! If you want to really explore the Great Mayan Reef then you should head over to Cozumel and book yourself some Scuba Diving lessons.

Cozumel is well known for being a world class dive site where you can regularly see turtles, nurse sharks, and eagle rays (in season). We run day tours to Cozumel and would be happy to arrange scuba diving with our trusted partner in Cozumel, just contact us for more information.

Visit one of the seven wonders of the world - Chichen Itza

Okay, so it may not be in the Riviera Maya… but it’s close enough. Plus it’s one of the new seven world wonders and it would be a shame to miss visiting it while you are in the Riviera Maya.

If you want to see Chichen Itza without the crowds then take a read of this blog post here. Or If you want to learn more about our private tours to Chichen Itza click here.

Explore the Mayan Underworld

No trip to the Riviera Maya is complete without exploring a cenote or two. Cenotes are natural sinkholes and part of an underground river system that runs all throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. You can read more about what cenotes are here or if you want to know our favorite cenotes to visit close to Playa del Carmen take a read of this.

We have lots of tours that include visits to cenotes including out Mayan Explorer which will take you to Tulum ruins and then on to explore several different cenotes.

Click here for more information about our Mayan Explorer tour.

Ride a bike around ancient ruins

For a fun family day out a trip to Coba Ruins can’t be beaten. I mean, where else in the world can you ride a bike through the jungle while discovering Mayan Ruins? To add some extra adventure to the day we like to team a visit to Coba Ruins up with a trip to Punta Laguna after.

Punta Laguna is a well-known area of outstanding natural beauty where you can expect to see monkeys in the wild, swim in cenotes, and can even rappel into a cenote!

For more information about our Coba and Punta Laguna tour click here.

Climb to the top of Ek Balam

Another one of our favourite things to do in Riviera Maya, is actually just outside the Riviera Maya in Yucatan. But the view alone makes it 100% worth the drive! Ek Balam has one of the few pyramids you can still climb to the top of. Once at the top sit back and enjoy the view out over the jungle.