10 Best Tips to Travel the Riviera Maya On Your Own (Full Guide)

Riviera Maya is one of the most breathtaking destinations in the world, stretching along Mexico’s Caribbean coast with its white-sand beaches, Mayan ruins, and crystal-clear cenotes. As a seasoned traveler and travel journalist, I’ve explored this stunning region extensively, uncovering the best travel tips to help you make the most of your trip.

Whether you're planning to visit Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or the stunning island of Cozumel, knowing how to navigate the area can make all the difference.

From avoiding tourist traps to discovering hidden cenotes and savoring authentic Mexican cuisine, I’ll share essential insights to ensure your trip is smooth and unforgettable. Want to save money? I’ll reveal the best ways to score cheap flights, find the most budget-friendly all-inclusive resorts, and when to visit for the perfect blend of great weather and fewer crowds.

Safety is also key—I'll give you up-to-date tips on staying secure while exploring Chichén Itzá, swimming with sea turtles in Akumal, or taking a cenote diving adventure. Plus, I’ll share insider hacks for renting a car, using local transportation, and understanding the pesos-to-dollar exchange to avoid overspending. Get ready to explore the Riviera Maya like a pro with these expert travel tips.

Tips for traveling to the Riviera Maya

From safety to accommodation, from transportation to food… We are going to tell you everything we would have liked to know before traveling to the Riviera Maya so that you don't have any unexpected surprises. If after reading all the advice you still have any questions, you can leave us a comment below and we will try to clarify it as soon as possible.

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Now let's go!

✓ Is it safe to travel to the Riviera Maya?

This is the question we get most often when we talk about the Riviera Maya. It is an area that the Mexican authorities would be interested in keeping calm . It attracts millions of tourists a year and is therefore an important source of income for the country. Therefore, and from what we understand, efforts regarding street security are doubled in the Riviera Maya.

And indeed, our experience confirms this: we never felt unsafe at any time, even though we traveled to almost every corner of the Yucatan Peninsula for 3 weeks. We have to clarify that we are not very good at going out at night, and we already know that the combination of night + alcohol + nonsense can cause unnecessary problems.

It would be reckless to say that Mexico is a super calm and safe country, but with common sense and having two brain cells to spare you can easily avoid unpleasant situations.

✓ Travel insurance for Riviera Maya

Another thing is health, and for a trip to Mexico or anywhere else in the world, it is almost mandatory to have good travel insurance . As they say, where the body is, there is danger, and getting sick or having an accident far from home is a nightmare.

We always travel with Iati Seguros , fortunately we didn't have to use it on our trips to Mexico, although we did have some problems in Colombia or Ecuador , and the truth is everything went well with them. So take note of this advice for traveling to Riviera Maya: don't leave without travel insurance.

trip to the Riviera Maya

✓ Accommodation in the Riviera Maya: all-inclusive or not?

As we all know, the Riviera Maya is a very popular destination for all-inclusive travel (bracelet in hand) in one of its gigantic beachfront resorts . But is it the only option? Obviously not, there are also simpler accommodations , small but super cute boutique hotels , and even well-organized hostels for solo travelers.

Our advice is to try both experiences , not only because your wallet will thank you, but also because it will be a good opportunity to get away from the comforts of an all-inclusive and explore the area you are visiting better. We can tell you in advance that it will not be the most authentic experience of your life, but at least you will see beyond the walls of the Resort.

That's what we did, the first few days we stayed in a Cancun Resort and then we moved along the Riviera Maya to accommodations of different budgets. And we have to say that we had the best experiences in the small accommodations, but obviously nobody can turn down the whim of the Resort 😉

Bacalar accommodation

As for where to stay , Cancun , Playa del Carmen and Tulum are the most popular destinations, but we don't recommend spending your entire stay in one place. If you have enough days, you can divide the trip between different bases, and in this way you will get to know the entire region better. Less crowded places are Mahahual, Akumal, Punta Allen, and inland, our beloved Laguna de Bacalar.

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✓ What to see and do in the Riviera Maya

We continue with the tips for traveling to Riviera Maya with something fundamental: the best places to see 🙂 The truth is that there are endless plans to enjoy in the Riviera Maya, here is our top 5:

Spend a few days on an island ( Isla Mujeres , Cozumel or, although it is a little further away, the island of Holbox ).
Visit Valladolid , a beautiful colonial town from where you can take an excursion to Chichén Itzá , one of the 7 wonders of the modern world, and also enjoy some of the most impressive cenotes in Mexico.
Enjoy the gastronomy of Yucatan , one of the most appreciated and curious in Mexico. Here we recommend the most delicious dishes.
Relaxing in the Bacalar Lagoon , one of the best things about the trip.
Discover other Mayan ruins : Chichén Itzá is the most famous, but there are many more spread throughout the region. In this post we tell you which are the best Mayan ruins in Mexico .

⭐ We are expanding the list with the best things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya

Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza Mexico

✓ How many days does it take to travel to the Riviera Maya?

Obviously the more the better, but we would say that 7 days is the minimum for the trip to be worth it. Here is a 1-week itinerary for the Riviera Maya .

Although the ideal would be to have 15 days or, better yet, 3 weeks to be able to get to know and explore most of the charming corners of the Yucatan Peninsula.

⭐ Our 3-week itinerary in the Yucatan Peninsula (Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Campeche).

✓ Best time to travel to the Riviera Maya

This is one of the most important recommendations to ensure that your trip doesn't go wrong: When is the best time to travel to the Riviera Maya? Here, two factors play a fundamental role: the climate and the influx of tourists.

The Riviera Maya enjoys a tropical climate divided into two seasons throughout the year:

The rainy season , between June and November, when there is a higher probability of precipitation and humidity and heat soar. It also coincides with hurricane season, which does not mean that there will be any.
And the dry season , between December and May, with somewhat milder temperatures and generally with clear skies and sunny days.

This is the theory, but we already know that the weather is crazy all over the world and there are no guarantees for anything. The first time we went in mid-October and it didn't rain for even an hour, a few years later we went back at the same time and we almost got caught in a hurricane :-p so luck has a lot to do with it. The best thing about going at this time is that you can enjoy the Day of the Dead festival and it was an unforgettable experience.

As for the influx of tourists , during the summer months there are usually quite a few people from Europe. Also during Christmas and during important holidays such as Easter. These are high seasons in which the availability of accommodation is lower and prices go up.

For all these reasons, we believe that the best time to travel to the Riviera Maya is between the months of January and April , but we insist that you can also travel at other times of the year.

Is there a sargassum season in the Riviera Maya?

The Sargassum phenomenon is increasingly present on the coasts of the Riviera Maya and, although we understand that it is a nuisance for photos, it is something natural and harmless. Its presence depends on the tides, and from what we understand, there is usually more between the months of April and September .

Although we have to say that luck also plays an important role in this case: the first time we went to Tulum the beaches were full of sargassum, the second time (same time) they were turquoise blue with no trace of algae.

Tips for visiting the Riviera Maya

✓ Cards to withdraw money without commissions

The alternatives you have to have cash and pay, not only on this trip, but on all trips, are:

Bring money and exchange it at a currency exchange office at your destination (preferably avoid those at airports)
Use your regular bank card , with which you will lose a lot of money in commissions
Ask for one of the special cards for traveling , which are usually free (with limits) and offer benefits such as being able to withdraw money in foreign countries or pay in another currency without fees. More info .

I think it goes without saying what our recommendation is, right? Of all the ones out there, we are currently using the Revolut card as our first choice (they also have a €10 promo for new users!) and we also have the N26 card . We recommend carrying both, in addition to your regular bank card, just in case one fails.

✓ SIM card

iRoamly - #1 Travel Sim Card for Mexico (Network Coverage Everywhere)

Another tip for traveling to the Riviera Maya is to get a local SIM card. The main operators in Mexico are: Movistar, Telcel or AT&T and you can get a SIM at the airport when you arrive, in official stores or in electronics stores, OXXO stores or even Walmart.

If you want to save yourself the trouble of searching for a store when you get there, you can also order a iRoamly Travel eSim Card, which will arrive by email instantly and you will have to install it on your phone before flying so it is active when you arrive. It's the best solution I recommend when preparing for your trip, to have internet coverage all over Mexico. You will get a discount using the link above.

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✓ Renting a car in the Riviera Maya: yes or no?

Absolutely yes : renting a car will give you the freedom to explore places you would otherwise never visit. The roads are safe and generally in very good condition. On recent trips we have booked with the comparator Discovercars and it is where we have found the best prices, plus they have good customer service.

Remember that if you have a Spanish driving license, that would be enough, but we always recommend getting an international license to drive abroad.

It didn't happen to us, but it seems to be quite common for the police to stop you and ask for a "bribe " (a tip in exchange for not fining you). They usually do this when there is a real reason (if you exceed the speed limit, you run a sign, you park where you shouldn't...), and in these cases it is your decision whether to accept the bribe or go ahead with the fine.

⭐ Here we tell you how to rent a car and drive safely in Mexico .

The alternative is to travel by public transport in the Riviera Maya , which, although it connects the main destinations, does not reach everywhere. We recommend the website and app of ADO , the main bus company in this area of Mexico.

Finally, you can always sign up for daily tours that will take you to the most important tourist sites. These are the best excursions in Riviera Maya .

golf cart Isla Mujeres

More tips for traveling to Riviera Maya

These are the main tips we have given you when planning a trip to the Riviera Maya, but there are other recommendations to keep in mind, here they are:

Don't even think about taking a day trip to Holbox from Cancun or Playa del Carmen: you'll only have time to set foot on the island and then back home! Dedicate at least 3 days to it.
Be careful when visiting Bacalar on Wednesdays : on this day, access to boats (with or without motors) is closed to the lagoon for environmental reasons, but swimming is permitted.
If you want to go diving or have an unforgettable snorkeling experience, you should know that the second longest coral reef on the planet passes through here . The best places to explore it are Cozumel, Mahahual and Xcalak .
Bring eco-friendly sunscreen to avoid damaging the marine ecosystem and cenotes, and relec to keep mosquitoes away.
Spaniards, other Europeans and most American countries do not need a visa to travel to Mexico , and can stay for up to 90 days. Here is a map with visa policies depending on your nationality:
If you have to stop in the United States to get to Mexico (or leave the country) , you must have the ESTA, even if it is only for a few hours and you do not leave the airport. Here we tell you how to get the ESTA for the United States .
Be careful with tap water : always drink bottled water if you don't want to end up locked in the bathroom.
The plug in Mexico is type A (two flat prongs), don't forget to bring your travel adapter .

Tips for traveling to Riviera Maya

These are the tips for traveling to the Riviera Maya on your own… we hope they have been helpful. Remember that if you need more information, we are here. Enjoy your trip!

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