The Yucatan & Mayan Riviera

Encounter colorful fish and coral reefs as you snorkel or swim offshore from Akumel, a beautiful Caribbean beach.

See the Mayan idea of a beach town. Tulum is the largest Mayan coastal city and one of Cancún’s favorite daytrips. Survey the limestone ruins, the surrounding lush jungle, and the super-blue ocean with your Tour Director.

Tropical flowers in fuchsia, yellow and orange. The dark green leaves of almond and tamarind trees. Couples dressed all in white, sitting on ornate stone benches ringing the central plaza or "xocolo". The capital of the state of Yucatán, this sunny city is also the perfect base for excursions to the ancient Mayan Empire. But check out the city's sites first: A licensed, local guide will take you to the Cathedral of San Il defonso, located on the central Plaza de Armas. Begun in 1563, the Cathedral is the oldest on the American mainland, with the oldest true dome in Mexico. See what many consider Mexico's most "dignified" church interior, complete with thick Tuscan columns, a coffered nave and high altar. Step back outside and walk across the sunny plaza to the Government Palace to see huge murals depicting scenes of the Spanish conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula and aspects of the Mayan culture that still flourish. Continue to Progreso Beach, a favorite seaside resort lined with turn-of-the-century mansions.

What did this region look like before the Spaniards arrived? Set off to Uxmal, one of the largest and most powerful of the former Mayan cities, to see. A licensed, local guide will lead you through the wooded valley to the wide, uncrowded plazas, where you'll find some of the best-proportioned Mayan buildings known. See the restored Magician's Pyramid, a three-tiered structure built between the 6th and 10th centuries, the grand Governor's Palace, and the Nunnery Quadrangle, four buildings surrounding a central courtyard, resembling a monastery or nunnery.

Still confused about Mayan ways? Learn more about the Mayan culture with a Sound and Light show - a visual blast from the past.

Ruins, ruins everywhere. Join a licensed, local guide for a visit to Chichén Itzá, one of the country's most famous Mayan sites. The city dates from around the 7th century AD (though there is evidence of farmers living here as early as the 4th century BC). A major trade and ceremonial center, Chichén Itzá is known for its huge, 365-stepped, four-sided, pyramid El Castillo, as well as other buildings, sculptures and carved murals. Then continue on to Cenote X-Keken, a natural lake inside a subterranean cave.

See the melding of Mayan and Catholic culture at Izamal, where the enormous 16th-century Convent of St. Anthony stands atop the ruins of an ancient Mayan pyramid. The church's atrium, almost as large as St. Peter's in Rome, holds newly discovered frescoes. The ruins of other Mayan temples surround the site, giving Izamal the nickname "City of the Hills."

Ruins, ruins everywhere. Join a licensed, local guide for a visit to Chichén Itzá, one of the country's most famous Mayan sites. The city dates from around the 7th century AD (though there is evidence of farmers living here as early as the 4th century BC). A major trade and ceremonial center, Chichén Itzá is known for its huge, 365-stepped, four-sided, pyramid El Castillo, as well as other buildings, sculptures and carved murals.

Add to the record books -- Playa del Carmen is now, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest growing town in the world. Attracted by the gorgeous white-sand beach and stunning blue water, the town's newcomers maintain Playa's friendliness and vibrancy. Check out the beach or shop for souvenirs along the bustling main strip.

See the diversity of Mexican wildlife. “X-caret” means “little inlet” in Mayan, and this ecological park occupies the beautiful site of a former Mayan port town and religious center. In addition to archeological sites and a reconstructed Mayan village, the area has amazing beaches, a botanical garden with over 100 species, a butterfly pavilion, a dolphin arena, a coral reef aquarium, and more.