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

Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum

Cancún's Zona Hotelera is a long strip of beachfront resorts facing the Caribbean on one side and the Nichupté lagoon on the other, with the airport a short drive away and the largest concentration of all-inclusive properties in the region. It suits travellers who want a beach-first stay with minimal transfers and a wide choice of dining and nightlife within walking or taxi distance.

Playa del Carmen sits about 45 minutes south by road and works as a more urban, walkable alternative, built around the pedestrian Quinta Avenida with beach clubs, restaurants and easier access to ferries for Cozumel. It's also the gateway to the Riviera Maya's resort corridor, where properties such as Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Rosewood Mayakoba occupy landscaped stretches of coastline north and south of town, each functioning almost as a self-contained destination.

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel sits further along this same coast, giving travellers who want a quieter, more secluded resort experience an option outside the busier hotel zones.

Tulum, another 45 minutes to an hour south, has a different rhythm: a compact beach road of boutique hotels backing onto jungle and cenotes, plus a separate town centre a few kilometres inland with more budget-friendly lodging. It draws travellers focused on cenote-hopping, yoga and a slower pace, though its beach road can get congested and lacks the infrastructure of Cancún or Playa del Carmen.

The islands: Cozumel and Isla Mujeres

Cozumel is reached by ferry from Playa del Carmen (roughly 30-45 minutes) and is best known for reef diving and snorkelling along its western coast, plus a laid-back main town, San Miguel, geared toward cruise passengers and divers alike. It's a good add-on for anyone staying in Playa del Carmen who wants a day or two focused on the water rather than the beach club scene.

Isla Mujeres is a shorter hop from Cancún, usually by ferry from Puerto Juárez or downtown Cancún, and feels smaller and more low-key, with a walkable town, calm swimming beaches on the north shore, and golf carts as the main way to get around. It works well as a day trip from Cancún or as a one- to two-night stay for travellers who want an island pace without the longer transfer to Cozumel or Holbox.

Holbox and Bacalar: the alternative Caribbean

Holbox is a car-free island off the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, reached by a roughly two-hour drive from Cancún followed by a ferry crossing. Its sandy streets, bioluminescent plankton (seasonal) and slower pace attract travellers who've already done Cancún or Tulum and want something quieter, though the lack of paved roads and limited infrastructure mean it suits shorter, more relaxed stays rather than a base for day-tripping.

Bacalar sits well inland, near the border with Belize, built around a long freshwater lagoon known for its shifting blues rather than ocean beach. It's a full detour from the coastal corridor, generally reached by road from Tulum or Chetumal, and rewards travellers with an extra two or three days to spend on lagoon swimming, kayaking and a genuinely different landscape from the rest of the region.

Cenotes and Chichén Itzá

Cenotes are widespread across the Yucatán, with some of the most visited clusters near Tulum and Puerto Morelos, easily reached as half-day trips from any Riviera Maya base. Staying in Playa del Carmen or Tulum puts you closest to the largest concentration, while a Cancún base means a longer drive for the same outings.

Chichén Itzá is a full-day trip from the coast, roughly two to two and a half hours each drive from Cancún or Playa del Carmen, so most travellers either commit to an early start and a long day or break the journey by spending a night near Valladolid, a colonial town roughly midway that also makes a pleasant stop in its own right.

Frequently asked questions

See also