Riviera Maya
Caribbean coast beaches, cenote swims, Maya ruins and reef snorkeling, linked by one coastal highway.
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The Riviera Maya is the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, in southeastern Mexico, running south from Cancún to Tulum. People go for white-sand beaches, snorkeling on the Mesoamerican Reef just offshore, and cenotes, freshwater sinkholes you can swim in. Maya ruins sit along the coast and inland. Tulum is the best known, a walled city on cliffs above the sea.
The base you pick shapes the trip. Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum each suit a different mix of quiet evenings, nightlife, snorkeling and ruins, so choose by what you want after dark and how far you want to drive each day. Federal Highway 307 runs the length of the coast and links most of the towns. The drier months, roughly late fall to spring, are the usual choice for beach days. Four to seven nights leaves room for a beach day, a ruin site and a cenote trip.
Riviera Maya in five
- Pick one base, then day-tripDistances along Highway 307 are short, so one base is usually enough for a week. Choose a mood: quiet reef, a lively town, a turtle bay or a boho beach road.Playa, Tulum or Cancún?
- Rent a car only if you want cenotesCenotes, Cobá and small beaches are easiest by car, while the main towns link by ADO bus and colectivo vans. Check insurance terms and the final price before you book.Rental cars
- Choose one big eco-park, not threeThe large water and nature parks fill a day each and cost more than free beaches. Pick the one that matches your group, and spend other days on cenotes, ruins and beaches.
- Enter cenotes with the rules in mindMost ask you to rinse off first and skip sunscreen and repellent to protect the water. Bring cash for entry, water shoes and a small bag you can leave dry.
- Plan for sargassum and hurricane seasonSeaweed arrives on some beaches in spring and summer, and storms peak in late summer to autumn. Flexible bookings and travel insurance matter more in that window.Travel insurance
Need to know
- Airport
- Cancún (CUN) for most; Tulum (TQO) for the south end
- Getting there
- ADO bus, shuttle or rental car from Cancún airport
- Getting around
- Colectivo vans, ADO buses, taxis or a rental car along Highway 307
- Best base
- Playa del Carmen for the center of the coast
- Time needed
- 5 to 8 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low22°Dry, popularJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, popular
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Dry, clearFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Spring breakMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring break
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, hotAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Seaweed seasonMayRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Seaweed season
- JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rainy, humidJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 271 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, humid
- JulyRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Hot, stormsJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- AugustRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Hot, stormsAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 209 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- SeptemberRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Peak hurricane riskSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 230 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak hurricane risk
- OctoberRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low25°Storm riskOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 241 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Dry, calmerNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calmer
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Dry, holiday rushDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, holiday rush
Average daily high and low in Riviera Maya, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Riviera Maya
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
30
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 61%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 80%
Playa del Carmen
04:16 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°23°80%Monday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Tue29°22°26%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Wed30°23°71%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Thu30°22°43%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Fri30°22°45%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat30°22°25%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sun30°24°34%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 34%.
Updated 01:14 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Tulumabout 1 hour from Playa del CarmenClifftop ruins and a cenote swim; arrive early for fewer crowds.Read the guide
- Cobáabout 1.5 hours from Playa del CarmenA Maya city in the forest, best explored by rented bike.Read the guide
- Isla Cozumelabout 30 to 45 min by ferry from PlayaReef snorkeling and a quiet island town.Read the guide
Before you go to Riviera Maya
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Riviera Maya, checked
- Check whether you need a visa for Mexico before you book. Most visitors who need no visa get a tourist permit (FMM) on arrival. Check current rules at the foreign ministry (SRE).Source
- Declare cash above the legal limit on the customs form at arrival or departure. Check the current amount with Mexican customs (SAT) before you travel.Source
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Mexico.
- Some cenotes and cave parks ask visitors to rinse off sunscreen and insect repellent before they swim. Check each site's rules before you go.
Plan around Riviera Maya
Beaches, colonial cities, ruins and highlands
Read the guidePlaya del CarmenThe central base with ferries and tours
Read the guidePuerto MorelosA quieter reef town near the airport
Read the guideAkumalA turtle bay between Playa and Tulum
Read the guideTulumRuins above the sea and a beach road
Read the guideCobáMaya city in the forest, best by bike
Read the guideRiviera Maya FAQ
Where is the Riviera Maya and what does it include?
It is the Caribbean coast south of Cancún, running about 130 km to Tulum along Highway 307. Typical stops are Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum, with cenotes and ruins inland.
Which is the best base on the Riviera Maya?
Playa del Carmen for first-timers and easy transport, Puerto Morelos for quiet, Akumal for turtles and calm water, and Tulum for ruins and a beach-road scene.
How many days do you need on the Riviera Maya?
A week is comfortable for beaches, two or three cenotes, a ruin and one boat or ferry trip. Three or four days works for a short stay in one base.
Do you need a car on the Riviera Maya?
Not for the main towns, which link by bus and colectivo. A car helps for cenotes, Cobá and small beaches, but compare insurance terms, parking and fuel before you commit.
What is the best time to visit the Riviera Maya?
November to April is dry and clear, with the highest prices from December to Easter. May to October is hotter and wetter, with storm and seaweed risk, but quieter and cheaper.