Better Vacations: Mexico villas, condos, inns, lodges and haciendas

PLAYA del CARMEN’S FIFTH AVENUE - Fifth Avenue is Playa del Carmen’s pedestrian walkway and a destination in itself. Dozens of shops and restaurants with a lot of sidewalk dining. Also stroll 10 Avenue.

DIVING and SNORKELING - Dive shops are numerous on this coast. They will take you to the Cozumel reef. Ask your manager for recommendations for a shop.

AEROSAAB - Tours by air to Chichen Itza, Isla Holbox, Palenque, Merida.
located at the Playa del Carmen airport.

AKTUN CHEN CAVE - Walk through an extensive cave network. There is a menagerie of local animals. Aktun Chen Cave is located on the main highway just south of Akumal.

HIDDEN WORLDS - Hidden Worlds offers excellent cave diving and snorkeling. An IMAX movie about cave diving was filmed here. Located on the main highway south of Chemuyil.

ATV EXPLORER - All-Terrain Vehicle tours through the jungle. Swimming in cenotes, cave exploring and Mayan ruins are also here. Located at Rancho ATV on the main highway.

SKY DIVE PLAYA - Parachuting – lessons or in-tandem. Playa del Carmen’s airport.

XCARET ECOLOGY PARK - Probably the most famous attraction on the Riviera Maya, an ecology park offering beach, underground river snorkeling, Mayan ruins and a Mayan village, Swim with the Dolphins, and a variety of animal exhibits.

XEL HA ECOLOGY PARKS - Snorkeling, Cenotes, Kayaks, Bicycles, Jungle Train,
Swim with the Dolphins & a lot more.

KANTUN-CHI ECOPARK - Cenotes, Caves, Wildlife and Plant exhibits.

SPA ITZA - Upscale spa in Playa del Carmen. Full range of services.

CAPT. RICK'S FISHING CHARTERS - Located at the Puerto Aventuras marina.

MAMITAS BEACH CLUB - Beach club with palapas and lounge chairs, restaurant, bar, water sports. Located on the beach at 28^th Street in Playa del Carmen. There is a charge if you use the palapas and lounge chairs.

YALKU LAGOON - Freshwater lagoon that meets the ocean in Akumal. Excellent snorkeling. Located at the north end of Half Moon Bay in Akumal. There is a fee to enter if you are not staying in one of the houses on the lagoon.

DOLPHIN DISCOVERY - Located in Puerto Aventuras on the marina. Fun for the entire family. Swim with the dolphins.

COZUMEL – Take a day trip to Cozumel where you will find small Mayan ruin sites, a delightful town, botanical gardens and underwater Chankanaab National Park.

CEDAM Nautical Museum – in Puerto Aventuras, displays artifacts from the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Señora de los Milagro that sank in 1743.

SIAN KA'AN Biosphere - South of Tulum on the Tulum coast road. An incredible national park. Take a small boat through the mangroves.

RANCHO PUNTA VENADO - Eco-adventure located just south of Playa del Carmen - Horseback riding, ATV excursions & snorkeling from the shore.

Yaxche Restaurant - Mayan Cuisine - Playa has dozens of good restaurants.
This is one of the best. Located on Calle 8 between 5th and 10th Ave

YOGA in AKUMAL - Offering a full range of yoga disciplines.

GOLF - The Riviera Maya definitely has good golf courses now.

Playacar in Playa del Carmen - Robert vonHagge Championship
984-873-4990
Puerto Aventuras - 9 holes - 984-873-5109
Mayan Resorts in Playa Secreto - 20 minutes north of Playa del Carmen
984-206-4043

TULUM – A day trip down the coast road in Tulum is a place to find dozens of oceanfront restaurants and great views. Tulum just became an incorporated city. The area is growing.

TULUM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE – One of the very few Mayan coast towns – wonderful views amid post-classic ruins. Go early to avoid tour buses.

COBA ARCHAELOGICAL SITE – Inland 45 minutes from Tulum – One of the largest Mayan cities only 5% excavated. Site of the tallest single pyramid in the Yucatan and one of the few Mayan cities located on a lake (with alligators in the lake.)

CHICHEN-ITZA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE – The most well-known, most excavated, most restored, most promoted Mayan-Aztec site in the Yucatan. Located two hours west of Cancun. A must see at least once in your life. Visiting takes a full day.