Guide to the Mexican Caribbean: Cancún, Riviera Maya, Holbox and Bacalar

Cancún: the gateway and the hotel zone

Cancún International Airport is the main entry point for the whole region, so most itineraries start here even if the plan is to move on the same day. The Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) is a long strip of beachfront resorts along Boulevard Kukulcán, separated from Downtown Cancún, which is more local, cheaper to eat and drink in, and connected to the Hotel Zone by frequent buses and taxis.

Within the Hotel Zone, the southern end tends to be calmer and closer to the lagoon and golf courses, while the middle stretch has the densest concentration of nightlife and shopping malls. NIZUC Resort and Spa sits at this quieter southern end, an example of the kind of resort property that works well if the priority is beach and pool time rather than proximity to the party strip.

Two or three nights in Cancún is enough for most travellers unless the whole trip is built around all-inclusive resort time. Many people use it purely as an arrival/departure point and head straight to the Riviera Maya.

Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya corridor and Tulum

South of Cancún, Highway 307 runs past a string of distinct towns. Playa del Carmen is the corridor's hub, built around the pedestrian Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida), with a ferry terminal for Cozumel and a wide range of accommodation from simple guesthouses to large resorts. Abba Suites Playa del Carmen and 3B| Wellness Hotel & Hostel are examples of the more affordable, walkable-to-the-avenue end of the market here.

Just north and south of Playa del Carmen, several master-planned developments offer a more resort-style stay away from the main strip. Rosewood Mayakoba and Grand Velas Riviera Maya are both set within landscaped, lagoon-and-beach properties in this belt, while Hotel Xcaret Mexico is built around access to the Xcaret park itself, useful if visiting the park is a trip priority. Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya sits on a quieter beachfront stretch further from the main development clusters.

Puerto Morelos, between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, is a smaller, slower fishing-village alternative with its own reef close to shore; Abbey del Sol and Acamaya Reef Cabanas - Caravan Park represent the low-key, non-resort end of staying there. Playa Paraiso, near the Grand Velas and Mayakoba area, has condo-style options such as Acacia Condos for travellers wanting more space and self-catering.

Tulum, further south, has a separate identity: a walkable town centre a few kilometres inland, and a beach road lined with smaller boutique hotels rather than large resorts. It has no airport of its own for most travellers, so getting there means a transfer of an hour or more from Cancún by car, van or bus. Plan Tulum as at least a two-night stop if cenotes, ruins and the beach road are all on the list.

The islands: Cozumel and Isla Mujeres

Cozumel is reached by ferry from Playa del Carmen (roughly 45 minutes) or by direct flight; it's known for diving and snorkelling on its reef system on the island's west and south coasts, and cruise ship traffic concentrated around the main town, San Miguel. Away from the cruise pier area, the island slows down considerably.

Isla Mujeres is smaller and closer to Cancún, reached by a short ferry ride from the Hotel Zone or from Puerto Juárez in Downtown Cancún. It works well as a day trip but also as a base for a couple of nights if the goal is a slower pace than Cancún without travelling far.

Neither island currently has properties in this guide's catalogue, so book through general search on the site and compare based on distance to the ferry dock or main beach, since both islands are small enough that location within them matters a lot.

Holbox and Bacalar: the alternative Caribbean

Holbox is a small, car-free island north of Cancún, reached by a drive to Chiquilá followed by a short ferry crossing. It has sandy streets instead of paved roads, shallow warm-water flats rather than the open Caribbean swell of the Riviera Maya, and a noticeably slower pace. It suits travellers looking for a quiet counterpoint to Cancún's resorts, though the trade-off is limited nightlife and fewer dining options.

Bacalar, inland and south, is built around a long freshwater lagoon known for its shifting blues rather than an ocean beach. It's reached by road from Tulum or Chetumal and works as a standalone stop or as an add-on at the end of a Riviera Maya trip.

Further south along the coast, Mahahual and the Costa Maya area offer a quieter, less developed strip of Caribbean beach than Cancún or Playa del Carmen, with fewer crowds and a slower cruise-port town feel; 40 Cañones is one option in Mahahual for travellers routing this way. Getting to Holbox, Bacalar or Mahahual generally requires renting a car or arranging a private transfer, since public transport options are limited compared to the main Cancún-Tulum corridor.

Cenotes and Chichén Itzá

The limestone shelf under the Yucatán Peninsula is riddled with cenotes, natural sinkholes filled with fresh water, ranging from open-air pools to cave systems. They're scattered around Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and further inland near Valladolid, and are typically visited as half-day trips by rental car, colectivo van or organised tour rather than as overnight stays.

Chichén Itzá, one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, is roughly equidistant from Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum by road, making any of them a workable base for a day trip. Many visitors combine the ruins with a stop at a cenote near Valladolid on the same day, since Valladolid sits almost directly between the coast and the site.

Arriving early is the main practical consideration at Chichén Itzá, since both heat and visitor numbers build through the day; this matters more for trip planning than choice of hotel base.

Frequently asked questions

See also