Tom Luxsox Coins

Mexico Gold

A Whistle Stop Tour of Mexico's Riviera Maya

In the early 1970s, what we know as the Mexican Caribbean coastline today would be barely recognisable, with only small fishing towns and the odd hotel dotted here or there. But in 1974, Mexico's government tourism development agency decided to put a name to this beautiful, and the Riviera Maya was born.

This was followed by a new highway parallel to the coast which helped lead to today’s booming infrastructure of roughly 150 hotels in Cancun with more than 24,000 rooms and 380 restaurants. This is without taking into account the 37,000 hotel rooms the Mayan Riviera has of its own, a number projected to double by 2025.

Thirteen million people pass through Cancun’s airport annually and it caters an average of 190 flights daily.

With the white pristine, pure sandy beaches that run virtually unbroken for 81 miles (130km) south of Cancun, the Riviera Maya delivers you luxury real estate, hotels, spa’s, restaurants, marinas, shops, bars and golf courses as well as romantic unspoilt hideaways.

The Mayan Riviera is not just Cancun as many people may perceive it to be, driving south from Cancun you will find luxurious, often more intimate retreats, with more space and fewer people than the bustle and bright lights of Cancun.

The Riviera Maya starts roughly 12 miles (19km) south of Cancun airport in one of the coast’s last fishing villages, Puerto Morelos.  The shoreline is not as impressive as that of the white glitzy beaches found deeper into the region with turtle grass underfoot and a less clear turquoise Ocean, but Puerto Morelos should not be overlooked.

It has some excellent restaurants, good handmade crafts and artisan products. Add to that the world’s second largest barrier reef, a dedicated marine reserve, which lies less than a mile offshore. Puerto Morelos is  a great stop for relaxing after the night life of Cancun.

18 miles (30km) south of Cancun airport you are into the Riviera Maya’s gold coast.  First discovered by the upscale Maroma hotel, Maroma beach has perfect talcum powder white sands and turquoise tranquil water with a jungle backdrop.

Keep heading south and you will come to 593 acre (240 hectare) development shared by three hotels, hugging a mile-long stretch of coast: Mayakoba.  With a 7,000 yard (6,400m) Greg Norman signature golf course and the strip of the mangrove lagoon just behind the beach dunes, the newly constructed 128 room Rosewood Mayakoba hotel has a beauty worth exploring.

Further south down Highway 307 is the lively vibrant beach front town of Playa Del Carmen.  With its dedicated pedestrian zone of Fifth Avenue one block from the beach you have your choice of cosmopolitan shops, markets, local artisans and crafts, multi cultural restaurants, jewellery stores, vibrant night life and magical bars.

‘Playa’ has well established white linen beach clubs, from Mamitas, with the DJ spinning funky tunes, a laid back vibe of fusion, a fantastic menu and fire dancers, to neighbouring Zenzi, offering live bands, movies on the beach and a Sunday barbeque. On top of that is the famous Blue Parrot night club and Coco Bongo.

Playa Del Carmen has something unique to offer, so much more than those looking for an all inclusive with a swim up bar, although it also boasts top hotel chains such as RIU, Iberostar and Occidental.

An 18 hole golf course always seems to be within walking distance, or a very short taxi ride away.

Next stop south is Xcaret an aquatic theme park with an amazing night show. Keep driving and you will see signs for Paamul, now a small RV and beach camp park run on generators, it also has a small hotel. Well worth a stop, you can cool off in the pool or take a dip in the ocean after a bite to eat.

Just south is the gated community and marina of Puerto Aventuras, with Dolphin Discovery at its heart, surrounded by restaurants and bars.

Offering catamaran sailing trips, speed boat tours, parasail and fishing this is a great place to stop for activities. Take in all the boats on the marina, some you can charter for fishing trips, some privately owned, a must-see place on the Riviera Maya.

Just a little further down the coast and you come across what some say are the best beaches in the south of the Riviera Maya at the bay of Xpu-Ha. White, plush, uncrowded expanses of sand with great beach clubs such as Al Cielo, with a fantastic Mediterranean and seafood menu, massage therapists and shaded beach beds. You may have found paradise.

Nearby on the coast you will come to Akumal, famed for its turtle sanctuaries.  In the summer months, you may be lucky enough to visit the Half Moon Bay area to see the turtles come up to the beach and lay eggs.

In August, you can take a boat trip or swim out from land and see these magnificent creatures inches away from you.

The snorkelling in Akumal is second to none. The reef is home to some beautiful parrot fish, turtles and puffer fish and the beach is small and busy, a great stop for aquatic culture as a day trip and with many bars and restaurants you will not be disappointed.

Our last main Riviera Maya stop is at Tulum, the only Mayan city built on the sea with the breathtaking ruins and home to some of the finest beaches.

Leading British newspaper paper, the Daily Mail, included Tulum in their top 10 beaches for 2009, calling it a “sight to behold; a temple perched on cliffs above the Caribbean Sea.”

The famous ruined Mayan citadel on the east shore of has lost none of its glory.

Travel + Leisure magazine also gave Tulum’s Wellness Retreat and Spa second place in their survey of the worlds best destination spas, in September 2009. Tulum is a fantastic place to stay with the history, culture, beach clubs and spas.

We come to the end of the Riviera Maya at the 1.5 million acre (0.6 million hecatre) Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with jungle walks, mangrove lagoons and unexcavated ruins and the 22 mile (35km) Boca Palia peninsula.

A small entrance fee allows you to explore this unspoilt paradise.  It serves as a model for sustainable development in sensitive tropical ecosystems. The revenue generated through tours, fishing, beautiful accommodations, and various on-site activities is used to fund conservation and education programs within the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

The center operates using ecologically responsible technologies, including systems for wetland waste management, rainwater collection, solar and wind energy generation. It also operates educational outreach programs and biological research.

Here ends your whistle stop tour of the Riviera Maya, there is plenty to keep you busy, for a day, or for a lifetime.

About the Author

Article by Investment Properties Mexico, experts in investment property in Mexico that has an edge or some added value over and above the price alone. Visit the author's website for more about the Riviera Maya.

Mexico $12.99 Track Listing: 1. Mexico, 2. South of the Border, 3. Paloma, La, 4. Cielito Lindo, 5. Nuevo Laredo, 6. My Adobe Hacienda, 7. Picador, El, 8. Ninita Linda, 9. Blue Tango, 10. Corazon d'Oro (Heart of Gold), 11. Mexicali Rose, 12. Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You), 13. My Three Sons, 14. Hot Spot, 15. Autumn Souvenirs (The Four Seasons), 16. Flowers of Florence, 17. Cologne, 18. Hooten Trumpet

Mexico at the Olympics: Mexico at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1972 Summer Olympics $18.74 Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Mexico at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1972 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1992 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1988 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1984 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1924 Summer Olympics, Nations Not Competing at the 2006 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1980 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1976 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1952 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1968 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1948 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1900 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1956 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1936 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1928 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1964 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1992 Winter Olympics, Mexico at the 1932 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1928 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1960 Summer Olympics, Mexico at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Excerpt: Mexico competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The country sent 85 competitors (43 men and 42 women) and participated in 23 sports. Mexico's flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony was diver Paola Espinosa. Mexican athletes won two gold medals at the games for the first time since the 1984 Olympics. Mexico will send archers to the Olympics for the eighth time; the nation has yet to win an Olympic medal in the sport. The nation will send two men, after Luis Velez earned a qualifying spot during the 2007 World Outdoor Target Championships and Juan Serrano added another spot at the Pan American championships. Two women will also represent Mexico, Mariana Martinez and Aida Roman, with both s... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=17416207

Pier Juts Out into the Gulf of Mexico $39.99 Stacy Gold Pier Juts Out into the Gulf of Mexico - Photographic Print

Rainstorm on the Desert Landscape of New Mexico $34.99 Stacy Gold Rainstorm on the Desert Landscape of New Mexico - Photographic Print

Gold plated pendant, 'Jaguar' (Mexico) $264.95 Fierce and beautiful, a jaguar comes to life in sterling silver. Albert Ickenroth depicts the cat known as a tigrillo in Mexico, once called oceotl by the Aztecs. Spots of 22k gold adorn the realistic animal pendant. .925 Sterling silver

Hipshot BT7 Bass Xtender Key For Made-in-Mexico Fender Gold $69.99 Hipshot BT7 Bass Xtender Key For Made-in-Mexico Fender Gold

Hipshot Bt7 Bass Xtender Key For Made-In-Mexico Fender Gold $69.99 Hipshot BT7 Bass Xtender Key For Made-in-Mexico Fender Gold

Adobe Architecture in Santa Fe, New Mexico $34.99 Stacy Gold Adobe Architecture in Santa Fe, New Mexico - Photographic Print

Passenger Train in Santa Fe, New Mexico $34.99 Stacy Gold Passenger Train in Santa Fe, New Mexico - Photographic Print

An Adobe House in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States $39.99 Stacy Gold An Adobe House in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States - Photographic Print

New Mexico Pendant Necklace $130 New Mexico pendant necklace is a pretty representation of the Land of Enchantment. Crafted with your choice of sterling silver or 14k gold, this necklace features the outline of New Mexico. The piece can be accented with a lustrous diamond anywhere along the perimeter for a hint of fabulous sparkle. Measuring 1 inch long, the New Mexico state pendant dangles from a matching 16 inch long chain. Please specify location of diamond placement, if selected, in the notes at checkout.

Lode and Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico $27.77 Lode and Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico is actually a compilation of three rare and long out of print publications. USGS Bulletin 1348 Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico by Maureen G. Johnson published in 1968; US Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6987 Gold Mining in New Mexico by O.H. Metzger published in 1938; NM Bureau of Mines Circular Number 5 Gold Mining and Gold Deposits in New Mexico by E.H. Wells and T.P. Wootton published in 1932 and revised In 1957. Author: Johnson, Maureen G./ Metzger, O. H./ Wootton, T. P. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 186 Publication Date: 2011/06/22 Language: English Dimensions: 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.43 inches

Copper and gold leaf tray, 'Sunflower Paradise' (Mexico) $67.95 Bold sunflowers blossom with wild, hand-painted beauty. Olimpia and Pepe embrace Mexico's legendary copper art with this exquisite tray featuring 22k gold leaf applications.

Gold plated cuff bracelet, 'Lunar Suns' (Mexico) $279.95 Radiant suns share their light in the vibrant design of this cuff. By Guillermo Arregui in Mexico, the bracelet is crafted with sterling silver featuring an oxidized finish inlaid with 24k gold-plated suns. .925 Sterling silver

Gold plated pendant, 'Guardian Sun' (Mexico) $49.95 The sun's radiant presence brings warming light in an original pendant from Mexico. Designed by Carlos Mu�oz, the pendant is crafted with sterling silver and 22k gold plate. .925 Sterling silver

Gold plated earrings, 'Shadows on the Sun' (Mexico) $57.95 Glowing gold casts shadows on the silvery face of the sun. Haloed in gilded rays, Old Sol beams a jovial smile. Carlos Mu�oz evokes the joyous warmth of Mexico in these enchanting earrings. .925 Sterling silver

Copper and gold leaf centerpiece, 'Magical Paradise' (Mexico) $114.95 The magical beauty of a garden paradise blossoms through hand-painted flowers. Olimpia and Pepe embrace Mexico's legendary copper art with this exquisite centerpiece featuring 22k gold leaf applications.