Destinations / Riviera Maya, Mexico

The Riviera Maya is the moniker given to the beautiful coastline stretching south of Cancun toward Belize. Tropical conditions coupled with the Rivera Maya's geography yield some of the most abundant ecosystems on the planet.

The region features the tranquility of uncrowded beaches, a network of underground rivers, over 100 cenotes, eco-adventure sports including kayaking, mountain biking, scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, bird watching and deep sea fishing, proximity to Mexico's Mayan archeological sites, the varied activities of the eco-archeological parks, plus golf, shopping, gourmet dining and a range of accommodations to suit every lifestyle and budget.

LOCATION :

In the State of Quintana Roo. beginning 11 miles south of the Cancun International Airport in Puerto Morelos, the Riviera Maya extends to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a small town near the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. It borders on the East with the Caribbean Sea, to the South with the Central American countries of Belize and Guatemala, and to the West with the states of Campeche and Yucatan.

LANGUAGE :

Spanish (English is widely spoken)

CURRENCY :

Mexican Peso (U.S. dollars are widely accepted)

TIPPING :

15% gratuity is usually added to any meal. 10-15% is standard rate for services like taxis, maids and bellhops.

ELECTRICITY :

120 volts/60 cycles, the same as in the United States

WEBSITE :

www.rivieramaya.com

TOURIST INFORMATION :

877-7GO-MAYA

POLITICAL STATUS :

Federal Republic

AREA SIZE :

50,212 square kilometers (2.6% of Mexico)

TAXES :

US $17 departure tax. Hotel rates are subject to 15% VAT (Value Added Tax). This, and an additional room tax of around 2%, is usually added to the bill at the end.

AREA CODE :

011-52

TIME :

Central standard time

DOCUMENTS :

All visitors to Mexico are issued a tourist card upon entering the country. You must have a passport or birth certificate along with a photo I.D. to prove your nationality; a driver's license alone will not suffice. Guard your tourist card carefully, as it can be very hard to replace and needs to be presented upon departure.

AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURE :

82 F

AVERAGE VISIBILITY :

200 feet

TYPES OF DIVING :

Shore, Boat, Live aboard

BEST TIME TO DIVE :

The best time to go is in November and early December which falls between the humid and crowded summer months and the winter tourist rush.

WHAT TO WEAR :

Water temperature varies very little between the winter and summer months. It is warm and you may, on shallower dives, use a skin. For deeper dives a 1.6mm three-quarter suit should suffice.