The Riviera Maya And Its Paradisiacal Islands

Of the international beach tourism destinations, the Riviera Maya and its islands are among the most chosen by thousands of visitors each year. This famous coastal strip is part of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, and white sand beaches, turquoise waters and first-class tourist services await you.

In addition, you can find mysterious natural landscapes such as cenotes and great places for water excursions, such as coral reefs. Once you arrive, apart from touring the coast and enjoying it, you can visit 4 paradisiacal and unforgettable islands. Start imagining what your next trip to the Riviera Maya and its islands will be like. Let’s go?

Legends, beaches and nature on Isla Mujeres

The island owes its name to the offerings in female forms that the Spanish conquerors found on the beaches when they discovered the site in 1517. It is known that the Mayan people had consecrated the island to the goddess of the Moon, love and fertility – called Ixchel— and that when the girls became women, they went on a pilgrimage there.

Isla Mujeres is located in front of Cancun and you can get there by ferry, ferry or catamaran to enjoy its spectacular beaches, natural landscapes and historical sites. The tourist circuit includes various walks, each with a different charm:

• Hacienda del Pirata Mundaca : located in the center of the island, it is the ruins of an agricultural estate owned by a Spaniard named Fermín Mundaca y Marechaga, linked to the slave trade. The interesting thing is that the place was dedicated by the pirate in love to a native woman named Martiniana Gómez Pantoja who, according to legend, never returned his love.
• Punta Sur : in this part of the island are located the sculpture park and the archaeological remains of the temple to Ixchel. Very close to here is the Garrafón Park, where you can swim with dolphins, go zip-lining and take a relaxing steam bath.
• Arrecifes de Garrafón and Manchones: in this site, the visitor will have the opportunity to go on excursions, diving and snorkeling.

• North Beach : this beach is simply spectacular to go with children, as is the famous Tortugranja.
• Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) with more than 400 submerged sculptures.
• La Piscina del Rey: this is a secret of the island, with the detail that to enter you have to pay a day-pass , but it is well worth it!

Isla Contoy, a protected area

At just 8.75 kilometers long and between 200 and 700 meters wide, this is a small paradise, ideal for lovers of ecotourism and natural preservation. Visits to Contoy Island are regulated by the National Commission of Protected Areas (CONANP) of the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the civil association Amigos de Isla Contoy.

The island has been a protected area since 1961 and a National Park since 1998, in addition to having been designated a RAMSAR site in 2003. The boats authorized to reach Contoy depart in the morning from Isla Mujeres or from Cancun, to return the same day. in the afternoon. The tour includes a snorkel dive to see corals and tropical fish up close.

Contoy is a refuge for seabirds, which is why it is also called the “Island of Birds”. In addition, it is a spawning site for sea turtles and a great variety of marine fauna, especially in the Ixlaché reef area.

Ecology and rest on Holbox Island

This island is located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan peninsula and is a destination for leisure tourism, although adventure may also be in the plans. To get to Holbox, you have to take a ferry at the Puerto de Chiquilá.

The island was a refuge for peoples who fled the Mayan rebellion and then, at the beginning of the 20th century, it was occupied to establish farms for agricultural production. Its tourist imprint began to develop in the 1970s, and thus it became a place that offers great natural attraction combined with good hotel services.

A curiosity of the island is that there are almost no cars; the most used forms of transportation are bicycles, electric golf carts or simply walking on foot, which gives the island an ecological style.

The most interesting activities and walks in Holbox are:

• Visit the lagoon and the cenote Ojo de Agua Yalahau.
• Tour the island of Pájaros and the island of Passion.
• Get to know Cabo Catoche, the place where the Spanish conquest of Mexico began and that left an irrefutable testimony, Boca Iglesias, where the ruins of the first Catholic church in Latin America are located.
• Staying at night looking at the sea when the phenomenon of bioluminescence occurs, a unique spectacle.
• Try the exquisite gastronomy of the sea, especially the lobster pizza.
• For the more daring, swim with whale sharks.

The queen of the Mexican Caribbean: Isla Cozumel

The largest island in the Riviera Maya is an excellent tourist center, as it has an airport and international cruise ports. So reaching her will not be a problem!

With a history of permanent occupation long before the conquest, Cozumel was a site of commercial expansion for the Mayans, but was decimated and later ignored by the Spanish colonization. It was in the 20th century, with the declaration of the state of Quintana Roo and the boom in international tourism, that Cozumel began to grow steadily.

Currently, the island offers many activities to tourists, so there is something for all tastes. The various proposals include:

• Water sports : diving, snorkeling, kayaking, boat rides, excursions in the sea, etc.

• Ecology and conservation : visit natural parks such as Punta Sur, with its crocodile sanctuary, and Chankanaab, where you can swim with dolphins.
• Leisure tourism: you have the alternative of spending the day on different beaches, from the quiet Santa María to the busy San Francisco, you have many to choose from.

Plan your next visit to the Riviera Maya and its islands

If you are a fan of the sun and beaches, this is the perfect itinerary for you. Just remember to bring enough protection – sunglasses, hats, creams with a good sun protection factor – and charge a lot of energy to be able to enjoy the tour to the fullest.

The Riviera Maya and its paradisiacal islands will give you an incomparable experience. As a thank you, it responds to the kindness of its people and the generosity of nature with the extreme care of its landscapes, beaches, flora and fauna, to guarantee its conservation for many years to come. We invite you to visit these fantastic places as a responsible traveler!