Leading 10 Eco Adventures in the Mayan Riviera

With spectacular ancient ruins, underwater caves and some of the world’s very best snorkeling, you better believe there’s far more to do in the Mayan Riviera than sunbathing and sipping tropical drinks.

By Alexis Korman

This time of year, some significant city folk like myself are not only pasty, but content material with staking out a smaller stretch of sun-drenched sand and carrying out tiny else even though on vacation in Mexico. But, no matter how relaxing, laying on the beach in a rum-induced coma is difficult to justify when traveling in the eco-oasis identified as the Mayan Riviera.

I knew I’d be significantly extra active than usual on my trip even ahead of my plane landed in Cancun this January. Flying over the region, you can not support but marvel at the miles of practically uninhabited dense, green jungle that borders the turquoise Caribbean Sea (and Cancun’s notoriously celebration-friendly Hotel Zone).

Of course, this region of Mexico presents substantially much more than drunken frat dudes, oversized all-inclusive resorts and fantastic, powdery white-sand beaches. The expanse of jungle glimpsed from the plane plays host to a variety of exotic flora and fauna indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula, like saraguato monkeys, crocodiles and endangered jaguars. The area is also house to the Mesoamerican Coral Reef, second only in size to Australia’s Good Barrier Reef, not to mention some awe-inspiring pre-Hispanic ruins.

With a dedication to preservation, the Mayan Riviera offers lots of possibilities to see these and other treasures of the land and sea firsthand, with limited environmental influence. Right here are ten unforgettable eco-friendly adventures that can be seasoned in a day’s time.

1) Xcaret Park

Okay, it might strike you as a tad Disneyland-ish at very first glance, but this family members friendly eco-park is well worth the entrance charge of USD $70 per person. Occupying about 250 acres, Xcaret really strives to be an educational and exciting encounter for guests from about the world. Highlights include things like an underground river adventure tour (included in the basic entrance fee) exactly where swimmers of all ages don vibrant pink lifejackets and swim (or much more accurately, bob along) by means of an underground river, various caves and ancient cenotes (water-filled sinkholes). Never ever mind that you quit to pose for pictures every single so typically, one particular with a costumed employee dressed as an “ancient Mayan native” (photos are for sale at the finish of the tour). Other have to-sees of this park consist of a live butterfly pavilion, a giant sea turtle sanctuary, an interactive aquarium and a dolphin center. At night, an entire stadium fills up with visitors to watch music and dance from Mexico’s ancient history through the present day, and consists of a fascinating pre-Hispanic ball game, the ancient hockey-like sport played with a flaming ball.

http://www.xcaret.com/

2) Tulum

As the name suggests, the Mayan Riviera is home to dozens of fascinating Mayan ruins. The most spectacular, in my opinion, becoming Tulum. Poised on a steep cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, the ruins at Tulum give guests a trip back in time. Dozens of tour buses arrive each day to the usually overcrowded web site, and when a guided tour can be useful in understanding the history of the ruins (albeit loosely interpreted: our guide informed us that Tulum was named for foul-smelling Spanish explorers when, in actuality, it implies “fence” or “wall”), you may perhaps discover oneself wanting to wander away from the pack to take images and discover on your personal. Most structures at Tulum are off-limits to make certain the site’s preservation. Various groups of independent-minded travelers had been observed riding bikes into the park, exactly where the entrance fee should be paid by all guests. Make confident to pack sandals and a towel — the spectacular beach below the ruins (situated down a semi-treacherous wooden staircase) is a need to-check out.

three) Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

It’s easy to see why this nature preserve is named for the Mayan term for “gift from the sky” or “gift from Heaven.” With over 2,500 square miles of beautifully scenic grounds, which includes unexcavated ruins, mangroves, freshwater river techniques, wetlands and lagoons, Sian Ka’an actually lives up to its name, and was decreed a UNESCO Globe Heritage Site in 1987. Visitors can participate in a number of low-impact activities fascinating to vacationers, which includes conservation projects, fly fishing, kayaking and land tours. The revenue generated here is applied to fund several educational and conservation applications at the park, which is operated applying ecologically accountable technologies, like solar and wind energy, rainwater collection and systems for wetland waste management.

http://www.cesiak.org/index.htm

4) Chichen-Itza

This archaeological web site is 1 of the most famous groupings of ruins in Mexico, as properly as the most visited. Of the many structures here, the most simply recognizable is Kukulcan’s Pyramid, a square primarily based, stepped pyramid around 79 feet tall, believed to be employed for astronomical purposes (evidenced by 365 steps). You may well locate your self wanting to scale the pyramid, but as a single tourist allegedly died here, climbing is now off limits. Tours of the internet site are readily offered although, like at Tulum, wandering on your own can give you a uniquely personal sense of the grandeur of this ancient city. Even through the height of tourist season, the web site is so massive (nearly 5 square miles) that it somehow manages to feel empty. It is difficult to think about how such websites might have looked hundreds of years ago when the plazas have been filled to capacity with celebrants for essential mass rituals, as historians believe. A light and sound show dramatizes the history of the web site most evenings at 7 p.m.

4) Hidden Worlds Cenote Park

The underwater cave systems exceptional to the Yucatan Peninsula are 1 of coolest factors to explore in the Mayan Riviera. Hidden Worlds Cenote Park delivers quite accessible diving and snorkeling to guests of all ages and knowledge levels, and its attractive caves were featured in a quantity of films, which includes the renowned BBC series, Planet Earth. Group dives are restricted to four people at a time, so exploring the caverns inside the park is an intimate, educational expertise. For those who prefer to stay above ground, you can attempt the one-of-a-type sky cycle, where visitors can pedal more than the jungle canopy on a suspended bicycle at tree level.

www.hiddenworlds.com.mx

5) Parque Nacional Arrecifes Puerto Morelos

Global conservation efforts like the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative have aimed to protect the reef by limiting tourist snorkeling and scuba diving to specific designated regions, and mandating that visitors wear biodegradable sunscreens and lifejackets to additional decrease impact on the sensitive ecosystem. Even though it is also possible to scuba dive and snorkel in Cozumel (the island just off the coast from Playa del Carmen), this national park is comparatively undiscovered by the hoards of vacationers who come to snorkel in the Mayan Riviera. The charge to enter the park is a mere USD $two.00, and tours are uncomplicated to uncover when inside.

http://puertomorelos.conanp.gob.mx/

six) Xel Ha

Xel-Ha Park may possibly remind you of Sea World in some approaches, but with its exceptional ecosystem produced by a subterranean mix of freshwater and seawater, most visitors will genuinely locate a great deal to explore here. Featuring crystal clear waters and hundreds of tropical fish, Xel Ha is a terrific spot to try snorkeling for the initial time. Among the quite a few activities obtainable, the park is properly recognized for its program for swimming with dolphins, specifically popular with youngsters, and of course, the young at heart.

http://www.xelha.com/

7) Contoy Island

Situated about an hour away from Cancun by boat, this island is just 8.five km (five.28 miles) long, but is thought to be a important web page for sea bird nesting in the Mexican Caribbean. The Mexican government named it a National Park in 1988 and it serves as a protected location, though vacationers interested in birds and the giant sea turtles that nest right here can join in on a single of a few limited tours that take spot on the island every day. A little museum also assists visitors in studying about the wildlife on the island.

8) Rio Lagartos

Even though the name refers to lizards, flamingo fans will discover one thing to appreciate at this bird sanctuary. Playing host to Mexico’s largest flamingo population, this protected area attributes sand dunes, canals and mangroves that serve as nesting areas for more than eight,000 of the extended-legged pink birds. Protected by SEMARNAP to preserve the diverse flora and fauna of the location, it was registered by the United Nations in 1986 as an important region of international wetlands. There are no hotels right here, but the nearby village of San Felipe delivers some rustic accommodations. Most visitors arrive by tour bus or rental car or truck early in the morning, and a lot of employ neighborhood tour guides at negotiable prices.

9) Aktun Chen

Positioned about a 100 km (62 miles) away from Cancun, this park features practically 1,000 miles of unexplored rainforest and cenotes. The most important cave on this land is enhanced with light fixtures so that it can be simply toured by amateur explorers. Inside, guests will discover thousands of fascinating stalactites, stalagmites and organic sculptures formed by water and calcium carbonate over millions of years. The knowledgeable tour guides will also be content to point out some of the nearby wildlife, which includes spider monkeys, wild boars, indigenous birds, iguanas and white tailed deer. Rates get started at about USD $24 per particular person.

10) Playa del Carmen

Fine, so it doesn’t qualify as a nature preserve. But this formerly sleepy fishing village is a fantastic little town full of restaurants, overpriced tourist shops, bars and outlets exactly where visitors can find experienced guides for snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing or what ever else you may possibly need to do. Tiny hotels and hostels, like the charming “Ghost Hotel” line the streets, and serve as an inexpensive selection for young adventurers. Just beware, a cuba libre here costs double what it ought to. If you are seeking to save pesos, ask for costs up front.