Riviera Maya Holidays
Holidays to the Riviera Maya take in a coastline packed with sandy beaches, reef diving spots and Mayan ruins, not to mention Mexican food.
A lot to go round
You can head for the Riviera Maya, on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, and do nothing but sip cocktails on tropical beaches. But there's so much more on offer. Mayan ruins, eco parks, world-class diving – they’re all on the cards along this 30-kilometre stretch of coastline, which takes in lively Playa del Carmen and the quieter Punta Allen. Just so you know, the beaches on this stretch of coastline sometimes experience increased levels of seaweed – called sargassum. It’s influenced by the weather and ocean currents. If your hotel’s affected, the staff will do everything they can to clear it.
Top-notch scuba diving
The Riviera’s beaches really are quite something. The snorkelling and scuba diving are second to none, as one of the world’s biggest reefs sits just off the coast. And the region is also famous for its cenotes – giant underground rock pools that you can swim in.
A quartet of eco parks
Beaches and cenotes aren’t the Riviera’s only natural attractions – you’ve also got plenty of wildlife, jungle and underwater caves. All of this is best showcased in the area’s huge eco parks. There are four to choose from and each one lays on something different, so you can set off on a boat trip on the lookout for dolphins, raft down rivers or just take in the jaguars, flamingos and monkeys that call the parks home.
Daytrips to Mayan ruins at Tulum
Mayan ruins are a real must-see in Mexico, and you can explore a brilliantly preserved city at Tulum, on the Riviera’s southern tip. There are about 60 buildings to see, including the castle and the Temple of the Descending God. The whole place is perched on cliffs above the sea, so you get breathtaking views – but for the best photos, take the steps down to the beach and look back up.
5* The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences
In Playa del Carmen, Mexico - Caribbean Coast, Mexico
The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences is right among the jungle greenery. It has massive pools, a top-notch food scene and a sandy beach, too.
Everything’s on a grand scale at this place. Golf carts are on hand to ferry you from one place to another, or you can get around by strolling along wooden pathways through the jungle – you might even spot some wildlife on your journey. The beach is a big talking point, too, with sherbet-soft sands, giant palm trees and a bar right by it.
When you fancy a dip, there are eight big pools to pick from, plus a pair of swim-up bars shaking flavoured margaritas. Plus, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to food. There’s a buffet restaurant with a separate section for little ones, along with a pizza place open at lunchtime. The rooms here come with different layouts depending on which building you're staying in.
A TUI rep will make visits to your hotel. Holidays here also come with 24/7 support on the TUI app and by phone. Find out more about our service while you're away.
A $400 USD credit card hold is required, per reservation, upon check in. Some timetables and services are subject to change without previous notification. To save time upon arrival at the hotel, you can use their online check-in.
Rooms come with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, minibar*, shower, safety deposit box and a balcony or terrace. All suites come with a king-size bed and are available as a quad or with 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms. Or for that bit extra you can opt for a 1 bedroom sky suite.
The main pool at this place is right next to the sand, and come nightfall, the whole area’s lit up by festoon lights. There’s a handful of other pools to take a dip in, too – some come with swim-up bars. The buffet restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows with jungle views, and there are lots of other eateries ticking off the likes of Italian, Japanese and Mexican cuisine. Youngsters have their own pool, along with a packed activity programme, plus a kids’ club, and a teens' club.
On Mexico’s sun-soaked Caribbean coast, Playa del Carmen – or just Playa – was popularised by backpackers who came for its spotless beaches and coral reefs. This mellow fishing town has developed quickly in the space of a few years with an extra cluster of hotels in Playacar to the south of town. But it’s still a world apart from swaggering Cancun, its nearest neighbour up the coast. Just so you know, beaches along this stretch of coastline can have a build-up of seaweed called sargassum. It’s a natural phenomenon influenced by ocean currents and seasonal weather patterns in the Caribbean, so it can be hard to predict when it’ll arrive. When there’s a lot of sargassum, hotel teams work continuously to keep the beaches as clean as possible.
