Tours in Riviera Maya

Tours Offered by Apple Vacations

Chichen Itza "Plus": Visit in comfort and style one of the most famous archaelogical sites in the world and ancient capital of the incredible and mysterious Mayan culture. A definitel "must" when visiting the Riviera Maya.

The Golden Cruise to Isla Mujeres: The only way to visit the "Island of the Women!" This triple-decked yacht provides unparalleled service and comfort as you sail towards a day of snorkeling, visit a turtle farm by bicycle, shopping or time for the beach are all just a short 40 minutes sail away. Additional optional activities include golf cart rentals for a leisurely visit around the island or a once in a lifetime experience with dolphins!

Coba-Mayan Villages: Immerse yourself in an Indiana Jones experience. Hidden pyramid in the jungle, meet and interact with the Mayan people and get to know the culture of both past and present.

Snorkeling Adventure: Great snorkeling for both beginners and veterans on the 2nd longest barrier reef in the world. Beautiful tropical fish, coral formations, private beach, hammocks and a terrific lunch are just a short ride away!

Mayan Adventure: A day awy from the busy setting of your hotel! Enjoy 3 uniquely special spots for snorkeling and swimming in calm Mayan waters.

Nohoch Jungle Crossing: Adventure deep into the jungle! Climb aboard special jeeps needed for the terrain that protects the secrets of San Felipe Ranch. This day is filled with a swim into an underground river and a hidden "cenote" (sacred sink hole), ocean kayaking and reef snorkeling.

Xcaret-Nature's Sacred Paradise: This incredible eco-archaelogical park offers exciting activities that will keep you busy all day long. This 150-acre ecological park is just three miles south of Playa del Carmen. Snorkel through limestone tunnels and lagoons, and witness the tropical splendor of exotic birds and animals in their natural environment. Don't miss their beautiful evening program!

Tulum & Xel-Ha: Visit Tulum, the only walled city built by the Mayans on top of a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy the extraordinary network of waterways, natural pools and tropical forest of Xel-Ha. Swim among multi-colored tropical fish.

Cozumel by Jeep: Great combination snorkeling, sight-seeing and dutry free shopping. Ride your own jeep to Uvas Reef, then continue driving around Cozumel Island. Enjoy a delicious oceanside lunch and shopping in downtown San Miguel.

Not Just Another Night Out: Spend a night on the town in Playa Del Carmen, visit the best 3 bars & clubs as you "hop" from spot to spot!

Caribbean Carnival: You haven't partied until you've sailed with the Caribbean Carnival! Sail over to Isla Mujeres for a night of food, drinks, great entertainment and a party atmosphere you won't forget.

Captain Hook Pirate Cruise: Captain Hook is in charge of the evening as he brings you "tales" of the sea and hosts a scrumptious dinner right on board ship! This evening is filled with plenty of laughter, music and dancing as you sail along the Cancun coastline.

Swimming With Dolphins: An experience of a lifetime! A variety of programs provide you the opportunity to interact with one of the most amazing animals on earth.

ATV's: Enjoy zipping along jungle paths and flying over open beach on a four wheel ATV! Plenty of dips and turns and a chance to cool off in the gorgeous Caribbean.

Horseback Riding: Ride along the jungle paths in search of a deserted stretch of Caribbean beach. Yes, you can gallop and the horses love when you take them for a swim!

Scuba Diving: Discover the world of Jacques Cousteau!! Half day or complete resort courses for beginners; day, night and cavern diving for the more experienced.

Deep Sea Fishing: This is your chance to hook Blue Malin, Sailfish, Barracuda, Tuna, Dolphin Fish and more! Charter your own boat or sign up for collective fishing.

Additional Tours/Points of Interest

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: Explore one of Mexico's largest parks. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve (meaning where the sky is born) has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The park stretches over 120km and covers more than 1.3 million acres of coastal jungle, nearly one-third of the Mexican Caribbean coastline.

At Sian Ka'an you'll find 23 separate archaeological sites with relics dating back over 2,300 years. The area is believed to have been inhabited by the Cohuah and Uaymil chieftanships during the Pre-Classic and Classic periods.

The park is sanctuary for the great diversity of plants and animals that live in the savannahs, dunes, wetlands, mangroves and lagoons of the reserve. It is a major nesting ground of two endangered sea turtles species, as well as the adorable manatee. All told, the park is home to nearly 350 species of birds, and over 100 different species of mammals - a true birding paradise.
Sian Ka'an is also a major fishing ground, and is situated on 110km of the second largest barrier reef in the world. It boats many distinct ecosystems - Coral Reef, Beaches, Dunes, Wetlands, Mangroves, Savannahs, Cenotes, Hummocks, Tasistales, Fresh and Brackish Water Lagoons, and Low Tropical Forest. This is truly a legendary natural attraction. For more information, go to www.cesiak.org.

Playa Del Carmen: Playa is a beach-side city located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. 5th Avenue [Quinto Avenida] is the main street that runs parallel to the ocean. This is a great place for shopping/people watching. It's very easy to take the public bus (collectivo) for $2.00/person each way. There's even a Wal-Mart in Playa Del Carmen.

Buy some freshly cut coconut from one of the street vendors. I highly recommend it.

Restaurants in Playa Del Carmen

1. Agora Restaurant and Bar (located at the La Tortuga Hotel on Avenida 10th between Calle 12 and 14) - Fine Italian and International cuisine. It has a laid back and comfortable atmosphere. The best cappucino in town!
2. Ajua Maya (between 5th and 10th Avenues at Calle 4) - Tequila Bar, Mayan grill house and Latin Club. Live, relaxing music under a palapa. Dancing waiters and fabulous drinks. Friendly, attentive service and a large menu of fresh Angus Beef dishes, Mayan cuisine, fresh salads and seafood prepared at your table. Reasonable prices. Ajua translates to yahoo or yippee in English, and they live up to the name! Their Web site is www.ajuamaya.com and they have a coupon on there. I went just for their dessert and enjoyed the show they put on when they make the Flaming Bananas Foster.
3. Alux (Avenue Juarez Colonia Ejidal, Mz 12) - A restaurant/bar located in a stunning natural cave. Pronounced Ah-loosh! Regional and international cusine. Does not accept credit cards.
4. Babes Noodle Bar (on 5th between 28th and 30th) - Thai specialties and Blueberry Margaritas!
5. Blue Parrot Beach Club (Calle 12 on the beachfront) - Food is served daily from 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Music daily, chairs in the sand. At nightfall, everything changes, to a pop and retro area and the Palapa Lounge for chilling out! They hold the legendary Blue Parrot Fire show performed on the beach nightly (weather permitting) at 11:00 pm.
6. Byblos Restaurant - (located on a side street between 5th Ave. and 10th Ave. on 14th St.) - French Restaurant & Wine Bar. Known as one of the best restaurants in PDC. Recommendations include the duck, risotto, and endive salad. Nice wine selection too. Reservations recommended.
7. Carboncitos - Great tacos, salsas and an ocean view. Great tacos al pastor, arrachera and grilled chicken. They play sports and events on a big plastma T.V.
8. Casa Mediterranea Restaurant (on 5th Ave. between Calle 6 and 8. You must go down a walkway across form the Lunata Hotel to get to it. It's not visible from 5th) - Some of the best homemade Italian cooking in town. Pasta is their specialty. Fish is good too. Quaint and comfortable atmosphere, tucked in a beautiful courtyard.
9. Don Emilione's (5th Ave. North #7) - Famous for its fresh seafood, vegetarian meals and delicious Mexican cuisine.
10. El Fogon (On 30th Ave. around 26th or 28th - close to the tourist zone) - Another establishment for the locals. Great and inexpensive Tacos Al Pastor. Order the Arracchera Especial and you'll receive a bowl of bean soup, a steak you can cut with a fork, poblano chilies covered with Oaxacan cheese, a baked potato, guacamole & tortillas. If you order the same mean Nortena style, your steak comes smothered in grilled chorizo sausage & melted cheese. It's authentic.
11. HC Monterey (On Calle 1 Sur between 20th and 25th Ave.) - If you are going to have one meal in Playa, this is the place! It's a local establishment. It's not even a restaurant. It's a butcher shop where most of Playa's restaurants buy their meat. However, from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., the shop sets up tables and chairs and offers the best steak meal you will ever have. Mexican marianted arrachera...a huge steak, baked potato or onion, half of an avocado, butter, sour cream, tortillas, salsa and a beverage all for under $8.00. This place is great! Very local and authentic. Not a far walk from Paseo Del Carmen.
12. La Cueva del Chango (on Calle 38 near 1st Ave.) - "Cave of the monkey." A restaurant/bar built in and with nature. Wood and natrual stone are the main materials used to create this open-sided palapa. There are waterfalls and fish ponds and even the restrooms have a waterfall sink! Very fresh fruit juices, homemade rye bread, freshly made salsas and salads (even the tortillas are made "en casa"). For lunch, try the Habanero Chile Cream soup (hot but tasty!). I could never get enought of this place. It's at the far end of town, but the food is incredibly fresh. I also loved their Fruit Smoothies and the atmosphere.
13. La Parilla (5th Ave./Street 8) - One of the most famous restaurants in PDC (part of a Mexican chain), located on 5th Avenue, with some of the best Mexican dishes and live mariachis (at 8:00 p.m. daily). Try the delicious tacos al pastor or the juicy arrachera steak. Reservations recommended.
14. La Quinta Pasion (on Calle 26 between 5th Ave. & 10th Ave.) - Features wonderful traditional Mexican dishes, including very good chicken mole enchiladas.
15. Media Luna (located on 5th Ave. between Calle 12 and 14) - A favorite of tourists and locals alike. It's Canadian-owned. Enjoy jazzy background music while you dine. Food can be described as "fusion."
16. Palapa Hemingway - An artistic and wild ambiance and attentive service. International with a touch of Caribbean. They have an appetizer of Banana with goat cheese fried in coconut. Fresh salads are also good. I almost went back again for the Salad with Goat Cheese and Blueberry Vinaigrette. Very tasty!
17. Playasia Restaurant and Wine Bar (located at the Blue Parrot Hotel - 5th Ave. between 10 and 12 streets) - Exotic "jungle-chic" design in a dramatic open-air courtyard environment featuring tree houses over a pool. A romantic and sensual atmosphere. An international menu with an asian flair. Open 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
18. Rolandi's (Local 43 Paseo Del Carmen - new section of 5th Ave.) - Skip fast food and go here! The pizza is cooked in a brick oven and they serve this wonderful puffed up bread brushed with garlic butter. They also have pasta, salads and beef (but once I saw the pizza, I knew what I was getting!) You can't go wrong with Rolandi's. It's not over-priced and Omar is a great waiter. The pizza and pasta are very good. I also enjoyed their Sangria.
19. Tango Taco (on Calle 10 between Ave. 10 & Ave. 15 - Across from Papa John's pizza) - Very reasonable and good Argentinean style meat. Ham and cheese empanadas are recommended. Tasty and affordable.
20. The Glass Bar Restaurant (5th Ave. and 12th St.) - Italian cuisine with great food and atmosphere. Great wine selection.
21. Tintos y Tapas Restaurant (5th Ave. between 28th and 30th) - A relaxing wine bar. Small samplings of dishes such as steamed clams and shrimp stuffed mushrooms.
22. Yaxche Maya Cuisine - Open for lunch and dinner. "Yaxche" literally means "green tree" in Mayan, but spiritually it represents the "sacred tree of life" or ceba. If you want to try authentic Mayan cuisine, this is the place. Try to make a reservation in advance so that you could sit in the garden.

Bars in Playa Del Carmen

1. Bad Boys Beach Bar (on the beach between Calle 4 & Calle 6) - They stick a flag pole in the sand and hoist the Jolly Roger. It's a palapa-style bar with high stools. It's a little seedy, but has the feel of a Chicago blues bar. Get there around 4 or 5 p.m., and listen to live music. Bikinis, beer & blues.
2. Bliss (a few steps from 5th Ave.) - A futuristic and busy bar for socializing and staying out late. Great drinks!
3. Blue Parrot
4. Carlos 'n Charlies (5th Ave. in Plaza Paseo del Carmen near the ferry pier)
5. Deseo Lounge (near the corner of 12th st. on 5th Ave. Stairs lead you up to the lounge area) - One of the coolest spots in town with a 2nd floor open air bar. Ultramodern and hip. Drinks are expensive. They have cozy cushions and flowing curtains and hip music playing.
6. OM Lounge (On Calle 12 between 1st Ave. and the beach) - Specializing in fruit juice cocktails. A lounge bar with white bean bag chairs to experience the PDC nightlife.
7. Senor Frogs (Located in front of the ferry dock) - Live rock bands, dancing and a fun party atmosphere.
8. Tequila Barrel (on 5th at 10th and 12th streets) - A locals favorite. Good music and a large selection of Tequila.
9. Hotel Siesta Fiesta (on 5th Avenue) - This place was hopping every night with live music (sometimes by a Christian group) and if there weren't any seats there, you could sit across the street at Sasta's Coffee House and listen. I like the resident Golden Retriever too.
10. Viva Margarita (in Plaza Paseo on 10th, outside of Playacar) - A mutlitude of flavors! (Sheila, I know this will get you there!) This is right near Starbucks in Paseo Del Carmen and almost every night they had a live musician. The drinks are HUGE! I had a Watermelon Daquiri.

Cozumel: Cozumel is Mexico's largest island, nestled just 12 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. You can take the 1-hour ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel (if the waves permit). www.islacozumel.com.mx.

Mezzanine: A restaurant and bar in Tulum. www.mezanine.com. Great for Friday night late-night entertainment.

Birds of Xaman Ha Aviary (Paseo Xaman Ha S/N Fraccionamiento Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico - at the beginning of Playacar close to downtown PDC.): A natural habitat for 60 species of tropical birds who populate the Yucatan peninsula. $15.00 adult admission.

Cenotes

1. Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Azul - Both are located on Highway 307 directly across from the Barcelo Maya resort (about 15 min. South of Playa Del Carmen). There is an admission fee. Both are very large and deep. The water is crystal clear and the snorkeling is good. Both places have a beautiful tropical jungle setting and both places are popular with the locals as swimming holes. Snacks and restrooms available.
2. Cenote Agnelita - Great for advanced divers. The name means "little angel." You walk a short distance to a large hidden cenote.
3. Gran Cenote - One of the largest open air cenotes in the area. About the size of a small lake. It offers great swimming and snorkeling in clear water. The shallower areas lead through an open cave to a smaller jungle pool. Off Highway 307 on the turnoff to Coba (near Tulum). Admission fee. Snacks and restrooms provided. www.grancenote.com.
4. Atkun Chen - A park featuring walking tours of an underground cave system. From walkways, visitors can see spectacular caverns filled with colorful stalactites and stalagmites. The reflections of crystalline pools create amazing optical effects. There are easy walks through the jungle and supervised interactions with local wildlife (parrtos and monkeys). On Highway 307 just south of Akumal. www.aktunchen.com. Sydney and I did this tour from the Coba (and it was arond $12 through the resort and it was practically across the street...I would recommend this if you don't do anything else).
5. Hidden Worlds - This park offers snorkeling and/or diving through underground caverns. The tour is guided and follows a rope path, which is well lit with underwater lighting. They provide equipemnt. You feel as if you are snorkeling through the Grand Canyon. On 307 North of Tulum. www.hiddenworlds.com.