Luxury Quintana Roo & Riviera Maya Holidays

This region features a treasure trove of exciting ancient monuments. The Mayan ruins dotted across the land are a testament to Quintana Roo’s rich ancient civilisation that previously thrived in the area. Here, the most iconic archaeological site is in Tulum, peacefully perched cliffside looking out over the Caribbean Sea displaying its prime coastal and strategic location for both defence and trade. Coba is also a great archaeological site to visit – sprawling with incredible panoramic views of the surrounding jungle, the site offers a glimpse into this ancient Mayan world.

If you wish to cool off somewhere unique away from the beach, then you’ll find plenty of answers here in the shape of cenotes – natural sinkholes formed millennia ago by collapsed limestone bedrock. They can be discovered by visitors as either delightful surprises during jungle treks or on dedicated day trips. Each cenote is as Instagram-worthy as the next, dreamy spots characterised by gin-clear waters.

Underwater riches to snorkel among aren’t far away in Quintana Roo; the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef, lies just off its coast. Head to Cozumel for the huge orange corals of the Columbia Reef, while the beach town of Puerto Morelos is where the reef is closest to shore and snorkellers are only a short boat ride away from a marine kingdom filled with fire corals, stingrays, and barracudas. For a real bucket-list travel experience, though, Akumal is famed as a feeding ground for green sea turtles, who swim here to feast on the sea grass that grows in the shallows. Or head to Isla Holbox for that once in a lifetime experience of swimming with whale sharks!

No holiday to Mexico is complete without sampling its national drink. In the Riviera Maya, there’s plenty of ways to do so, with many hotels and restaurants hosting tequila tasting experiences. It’s the best way to learn more about the history of the agave-based drink, originally pioneered by the Aztecs, sampling several different varieties along the way.

The stunning UNESCO-protected tropical wilderness of Sian Ka'an Biosphere covers a third of Mexico’s Caribbean coast – it’s huge. It’s a wild mix of mangroves, forest and flooded savannahs pocked with Maya ruins that are ripe for exploring. Spy everything including pumas, ocelots, jaguars, and American crocodiles, as well as over 350 species of birds, including spoonbills and flamingos. If you’re lucky, you might even spot the handfuls of spider and howler monkeys that hide within its trees – it’s a true wildlife paradise.

Mexico has put a smoking ban in place from January 2023. The ban prohibits smoking in both open and closed public spaces. Most hotels, however, have a designated smoking area. Please speak to your Travel Consultant regarding the smoking policy at your hotel and any questions you might have.

Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Polio, and Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccinations are currently recommended. Mexico is regarded to have a risk of contracting the Zika virus. However, please consult your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel for current advice.

The time difference is GMT -5 hours.

The flight time from London to Cancún is 10.5 hours.

The currency is the Mexican peso.

British passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to Mexico.