Nearly 100 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches with brilliant turquoise colored water are located just south of Cancun. Called the Riviera Maya or Mayan Riviera, this world-renowned paradise offers mangroves and lagoons, ancient Mayan cities, ecological reserves and the world's second largest coral reef. 

The Riviera Maya runs along the Caribbean coastline of the state of Quintana Roo. Beginning 20 miles south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos, it extends down to Punta Allen.

History of the Riviera Maya:

This area was an important commercial and religious center for the ancient Maya, and there are many archaeological sites to discover in the area, such as Tulum, Coba and Muyil. For hundreds of years, the area remained isolated from the rest of the country due to the lack of adequate roads. As Cancun was developed, some tourists wanted an alternative to the mega-resort area, and the Riviera Maya was discovered.