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SUITE Brings You...The Mayan Riviera
Riviera. This word immediately conjures visions of bikinis, the Cannes Film Festival and the casinos of Monte Carlo. Generically defined as a coastal area with holiday towns and beaches, it's most often associated with the French or Italian coastline.
However, another Riviera is quickly becoming famous for its white beaches and turquoise waters. An hour by air from Miami, the Mayan Riviera isn't as densely populated as Cancun, its neighbor to the north. Fewer people and a slower pace have turned this stretch of coastline into a favorite tourist destination for folks seeking sun and relaxation.
Located on the Yucatán Peninsula, the Mayan Riviera is less developed than Cancun, yet still has plenty of all-inclusive resorts that provide every amenity, without the “metropolis” atmosphere of Cancun's mega-resort properties.
Playa del Carmen, forty miles south of Cancun, was a sleepy village until a few years ago. Discovered by Europeans as a cheaper alternative to Cozumel, Playa is pure Mexican-Caribbean relaxation and is frequented by backpackers, archeology buffs and sun-worshippers alike.
Fifth Avenue, Playa's main shopping area, is a pedestrians-only street with plentiful shops carrying an eclectic mix of colorful pottery, arts and crafts and gift items. Be prepared to haggle. It's part of the ambience of Playa's shopping.
The ferry to Cozumel is at the end of Fifth Avenue along with Señor Frogs, a favorite watering hole for tourists. Twelve miles off the coast, Cozumel has long been considered the gem of the Mexican Caribbean. World-renowned for diving and snorkeling along a stunning coral reef, it offers a laid-back vacation experience. A shortage of potable water has halted rampant development, which delights tourists looking for simple island life.
Should you tire of shopping or lying under a thatched palapa, sipping the bartender's specialty, the area is teeming with exciting and educational side trips.Xcaret, a one hundred-fifty acre ecological park, is six miles south of Playa del Carmen. It features underground rivers more >>
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