Holidays in the Riviera Maya, Mexico

The most famous of Mexico’s Maya ruins, Chichén Itzá is quite possibly the country’s brightest jewel. Its impressive collection of stepped pyramids has been beautifully restored, harking back to when the legendary Maya dynasty ruled this region. Though it being named as one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007 catapulted the pyramids into the tourist limelight, its popularity doesn’t stop it from invoking those who visit with a sense of awe. Clap your hands in front of El Castillo temple and you’ll get a chirping echo in return, said to be the sound of a sacred quetzal bird. Just a two-hour drive from the Riviera Maya, it’s the perfect day trip – you’re guaranteed to come back with goosebumps.

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, thousands of these gorgeous subterranean pools puncture the Yucatán’s landscape. 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. With so many, it’s hard to know where to start. We’d recommend Gran Cenote for its intriguing underwater stalactites, Ik Kil is gorgeously illuminated by a shaft of light and with Dos Ojos, you get two crystal-clear pools for the price of one.

Underwater riches to snorkel among aren’t far away in the Riviera Maya; 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.

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.

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 10½ hours.

The currency is the Mexican peso.

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