Interested in Snorkeling?

Akumal Bay is one of THE best places to snorkel in the Riviera Maya (Akumal Bay means “bay of turtles”).  While the bay has undergone some procedural changes since 2017 with stricter access, snorkeling, and tour regulations, anyone can see Mother Nature’s bounty without taking a tour.  If you want to be right on the bay, the two all-inclusive resort options are Secrets Akumal and Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort..  If you are staying somewhere else, you can rent a car and drive to Akumal, take a cab into Akumal, or take a colectivo  to Akumal and walk from the highway dropoff into Akumal–the beach is just a short walk from the town of Akumal.  If not staying at a nearby condo or all-inclusive resort on the bay, it will cost you about $5 p/p to enter the beach area.

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How to Navigate Xcaret Park

Xcaret Park is one of the most popular destinations in the Riviera Maya with approximately one-third of all vacationers to this area spending at least one day, if not more, visiting its vast 200 acre grounds.  Xcaret Park is located just south of Playa del Carmen (a 45-50 min. ride south of the Cancun airport) and has great road signage–you cannot miss the exit off the main road if you are renting a car.  I visited the park when I was a guest at Hotel Xcaret Mexico with the resort’s “All Fun Inclusive” plan; in translation, this means that I didn’t have to pay anything extra to enter the park since my hotel stay already included the price of admission.  There is even a separate entrance to the park for Hotel Xcaret guests.

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DreamWorks Theme Park Is Out, Amikoo Resort Is In

While everyone expected the Mexican government to give the official OK to a DreamWorks theme park in the Riviera Maya, they have instead decided to authorize the building of a Mayan-inspired amusement park and resort in the area of Punta Maroma in the Riviera Maya (located north of Playa del Carmen).

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New Xel-Ha Park Waterslide to Open Summer 2017

Riviera Maya’s Xel-Há Park is set to debut the world’s fourth tallest waterslide this summer.  Faro-Tobogán will be 141 feet tall, and riders will travel at 26 feet p/second; toboggan riders will end their ride in a cenote.  In addition to the waterslide, the Faro-Tobogán water park will include tunnels and submerged sculptures, so the waterslide is part of a new attraction within the existing park.

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