Scuba diving in

Tulum, Akumal and the Riviera Maya

While destinations like Cancun and Cozumel once stole the show on Mexico's Caribbean coast, Tulum is now the region's hottest travel destination for divers and non-divers alike. The population in this once sleepy town has nearly tripled in the last decade, bringing radical change along with an influx of residents. But, somehow, Tulum hasn't lost its charm. The town centre is home to a lively mix of hotels and resorts, dining, drinking, and nightlife to suit every taste and a distinctly hippie vibe - with yoga, cacao ceremonies, and wellness offerings at every turn. Just outside the city, you'll find ancient Mayan ruins perched above white sand and sparkling sea, mangrove forests, multiple national parks, and dozens of cenotes to explore.

Unlike Tulum, Akumal has changed little in recent years, remaining a very small town with sprawling all-inclusive resorts on its outskirts. Laid back eateries and beach bars dominate here,  but you'll find fewer visitors overall. Akumal is split in two by a busy interstate highway running north to south, creating two distinct sections. Inland, you'll find an authentic Mexican village complete with local cuisine and shopping, as well as quaint hotels and guesthouses. Closer to shore, Akumal transforms into a lovely seaside resort with some of the region's prettiest beaches and natural areas.

Diving, snorkelling, and Mayan ruins are the main attractions around the Riviera Maya. But, the region boasts plenty to see and do beyond these tourist magnets. Museums, galleries, and golf are top picks, as are mindfulness and wellness centres offering yoga, meditation, and more. Beach bums will also find plenty of relaxation with kilometres of white sand and gently rolling waves.

Nearly every trip to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula will begin at the Cancun International Airport - the region's main transit hub and Latin America's third busiest airport, with daily direct flights to Europe, the US and Canada, Central and South America, and beyond.

If you're staying in Akumal, you can expect an easy 90-minute long commute heading south, with shuttle service, taxis, rental cars, and public busses all departing directly from the airport. Most resorts and dive centres are also happy to help you arrange transfers. Once you arrive, it's easy to get around on foot or via bicycle, with most attractions just a few minutes walk from each other. You'll also notice taxi stands in front of resorts and shopping plazas and at all major tourist destinations.

Tulum lies about 30 minutes further south and has become one of the region's best-connected destinations. Most of the town and its surrounding attractions are easy to reach by walking or biking, but the influx in tourism does equal a bit of traffic, making walking uncomfortable at times. Car and scooter rentals are popular options here, and taxis line the streets throughout the tourist zone at all hours of the day and night, making it perfectly easy to get around, no matter what activities and adventures you've got planned.

If you plan to stay outside of a major tourist hub, you should consider renting a car or booking private transportation to avoid long days of slow-moving local travel.

Despite being situated right down the coast from one another, Tulum and Akumal boast two distinctly different atmospheres. Between the two, the rest of the Riviera Maya features an array of secluded resorts tucked away on white-sand beaches, backed by swaying coconut palms. These all-inclusive getaways often include their own in-house dive centres and facilities, with everything that you'll need to enjoy your stay on site.

Once a single-street town, Tulum has grown up to become Mexico's hottest Caribbean destination, boasting trendy hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and plenty of budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. Head into town to discover up and coming foodie-friendly dining options, boutique shopping, and vibrant nightlife - with bars and clubs of all kinds and a surprisingly hip live music scene. Or, stick to the coast where quiet and romantic seaside eateries and beach bars reign supreme. No matter where you stay here, you'll be ideally situated within a few minutes' walk from the coast, and its sparkling white sand, Mayan ruins, and calm turquoise sea. Tulum is also the closest town to the region's legendary cenotes, making it a hotspot for cavern and cave enthusiasts.

Akumal is much smaller and less developed than Tulum, with far fewer tourists passing through and a more relaxed pace. This is a perfect destination for families travelling with children and guests who prefer a quieter holiday, with far less nightlife than nearby Tulum and close access to nature - including beautiful beaches, coconut groves, and mangrove forests just a stone's throw from the hotel zone. Most of the hotels and resorts here offer all-inclusive packages, but there are plenty of relaxed eateries and shopping options for those who prefer to self-cater.

The Riviera Maya enjoys a year-round tropical climate with hot, sunny afternoons and temperatures reaching around 32°C. You can expect balmy, humid evenings and light breezes, with the exception of January and February when overnight temperatures plummet and conditions can become quite windy after dark. During the rainy season, you're likely to experience daily downpours, but a little bit of rainfall is normal even during the dry months.

Like the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula, storm season runs from May through November, with a peak in tropical depressions and hurricanes between August and October. At the start and finish of the rainy season, fast-moving weather patterns sweep through the region, bringing rain and wind and sometimes impacting the diving conditions with waves and surge. But, most of the local cenotes are far enough inland that these changes don't affect them, providing a great alternative option when the weather isn't optimal for ocean diving.

The busy season runs from December through April throughout the Riviera Maya, with two main peaks to avoid if you want to skip the influx in tourism. These are the Christmas and New Year holidays and "Semana Santa", the Mexican vacation period associated with Easter week. Divers in the know should plan their trips during summer months like May and June or between the storm and the holiday rush in November.

In 1996, Mexico launched a programme to slowly transform much of the Yucatan Peninsula and its surrounding reef system into protected marine areas. Today, much of the Riviera Maya has been incorporated, with multiple cenotes enjoying strict protection in addition to the Tulum National Park - without a doubt one of the country's most stunning nature preserves. These protected areas safeguard a wide variety of environments, including coral reef, beach, mangrove, and jungle, in addition to submerged limestone cave systems and archaeological sites. A surprisingly diverse selection of land and sea animals call these parks home, as do dozens of species of migratory birds.

If you're hoping to get hands-on with conservation during your time in the Riviera Maya, you'll find plenty of opportunities to choose from. Akumal and Tulum are home to multiple coral reef restoration projects, sea turtle sanctuaries, and environmental conservation efforts that accept volunteers.