This coast is where a lot of people take their first all-inclusive trip, and it is where I have spent the most time in Mexico. When my family started traveling full time at the end of 2018, our first stop was three weeks here.
This guide covers when to go, the seaweed question, which area fits which traveler and the day trips worth leaving the resort for.
Cancun and the Riviera Maya at a glance
- Driest weather
- December to April
- Hurricane season
- June 1 to November 30
- Seaweed (sargassum)
- Usually heaviest late spring through summer
- Fly into
- Cancun (CUN). Tulum also has its own international airport
- Good trip length
- 5 to 7 nights
- Great for
- Couples, honeymoons, families, friend groups
What the Mexican Caribbean is like
This stretch of coast runs from Cancun south through Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The water really is that bright turquoise, and there is a lot more to do than sit on the beach: cenotes (natural swimming holes), Mayan ruins, snorkeling, eco-parks and islands a short ferry ride away.
Most visitors stay at all-inclusive resorts, and there is one for almost every kind of traveler, from quiet adults-only resorts to big family resorts with kids' clubs.
Why I know this coast
Cindi Sanden, owner of Awaken Travels
I have been to Mexico many, many times. On our three weeks here at the end of 2018, we stayed at four resorts, including all three Sandos resorts and Hotel Xcaret, and I attended the Love Mexico conference at Hotel Xcaret. I toured 21 resorts on that trip, from Cancun down to Playa del Carmen, and we spent a day in Tulum.
Earlier that year I came in May to tour and train at the Hard Rock and UNICO 20°87° resorts, and in October I brought my husband to a destination weddings conference here. We came back the next fall and stayed at UNICO 20°87°. In 2024 I spent a week in Cancun on a research trip, touring the Karisma resorts with a group of travel advisors, and I have stopped in Cozumel on two cruises.
Elsewhere in Mexico I have been to Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Rocky Point, and I have cruised the Mexican Riviera. Mexico is one of the places I plan most for my clients, from couples' trips to destination weddings and family vacations, and I completed the Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board's ambassador program.
- Mexican Caribbean Ambassador, Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board
- Xcaret Xpert
When to go
December to April
The driest, most comfortable weather and the busiest time of year. Holidays and spring break book up early.
May to November
Hotter, more humid and less crowded. Hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30. That doesn't mean you can't go, it means travel insurance matters and flexible plans help.
About the seaweed
Sargassum seaweed is real here, and some years are much worse than others. It is usually heaviest in late spring and summer. I can't promise a clear beach, but I can help you pick an area and a resort with great pools and plenty to do if the beach has a bad week.
Where to stay, and who each area suits
Cancun Hotel Zone
Closest to the airport, with big resorts, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
Best for: Short trips, friend groups and first-timers who want it easy.
Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres
Just north of Cancun, with newer resorts on a quieter stretch of beach and still a short ride from the airport.
Best for: Couples and families who want calm.
Puerto Morelos
A small, low-key town between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, with a reef close to shore for snorkeling.
Best for: Travelers who want relaxed and less built up.
Playa del Carmen
A walkable beach town with Fifth Avenue's shops and restaurants, and the ferry to Cozumel.
Best for: Anyone who wants to walk to dinner and get out of the resort.
The Riviera Maya resort stretch
South of Playa del Carmen toward Akumal, with large all-inclusive resorts and the cenotes and Xcaret parks close by. Akumal is known for swimming with sea turtles.
Best for: Families and couples who want a big resort with day trips nearby.
Tulum
Mayan ruins on a cliff over the sea, boutique beach hotels and cenotes nearby. It is farther from the Cancun airport, but Tulum now has its own international airport.
Best for: Couples and travelers who want boutique over big resort.
Day trips worth leaving the resort for
Chichén Itzá
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A long day from the coast, so go early.
Cenotes
Swimming in a cenote is something you can't do at most beach destinations.
The Xcaret parks
Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor and the others: underground rivers, snorkeling and shows. Each one is a full day.
Isla Mujeres
A short ferry from Cancun. Rent a golf cart and go around the island.
Cozumel
A ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, known for snorkeling and diving on its reefs.
Tulum and Cobá ruins
Tulum sits right on the coast. Cobá is inland, in the jungle.
How I would plan it
The right area matters as much as the right resort, so I start there:
- 1Pick the area first, then the resort.
- 2Be honest about the feel you want: adults-only and quiet, a big family resort, or a party.
- 3Plan 5 to 7 nights with one or two day trips, so you still get real resort time.
- 4Book a private airport transfer, so you are not waiting in a shuttle line after your flight.
One tip
- Look at a resort's pools and restaurants as closely as its beach. That is what makes or breaks a week here.
Common Mexico questions
What is the best time to visit Cancun and the Riviera Maya?
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December through April for the driest weather. Summer and fall are less crowded but hotter, with hurricane season and usually more seaweed.
Is Cancun or Playa del Carmen better?
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Cancun is closer to the airport and has more nightlife and big resorts. Playa del Carmen is a walkable town with more of a local feel. It depends on whether you want to stay put or walk to dinner.
What is sargassum, and will it ruin my trip?
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It is a seaweed that washes up on Caribbean beaches, mostly in late spring and summer. Some weeks are bad and some are fine. Resorts work to clear it, and choosing a resort with good pools helps.
Do I need to leave the resort?
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No, but I would plan at least one day out. A cenote or the ruins are worth it.