Discover the most important Mayan Archeological Sites of northern Quintana Roo – Coba and Tulum. Both archeological sites are located close to the resorts on the Riviera Maya – Tulum on the sea, and Coba inland. After meeting your guide and driver at the hotel, the first stop will be Coba, approximately a 1.5 hour drive. Upon arrival and before entering the site, your guide will explain the historical importance of Coba, including the persistence of Mayan culture in the area (the locals still speak the Mayan dialect). After the visit, continue to some of the area’s best-kept secrets, the amazing network of underground cenotes. Because the limestone shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula is flat and porous, there are no above-ground rivers. Instead, rain and inland streams runs underground through a network of subterranean rivers that crisscross the region. Cool off from the Coba tour with a swim, then continue to lunch by Coba Lake, after which you’ll take a thirty-minute drive to Tulum. Tulum’s pre-Hispanic name was Zama, which means “dawn”; most archeologists believe this is due to Tulum’s geographic location, perched on a cliff looking eastwards upon the Caribbean Sea, allowing for a full appreciation of the sunrise. Following the tour at Tulum, you can either return to your hotel or explore the funky beach town by the same name.

Despite occasionally strong winds, Tulum can be a frustrating place for beginner kite surfers. Intermediate and advanced students, however, have a blast gliding up and down the beach. An introductory lesson takes 3-4 hours; don't get your hopes up, however, that you will see any action in the water. The beginning of kite surfing is purely on land (you literally learn how to fly the kite). One of the most trusted outfitters is Extreme Control, with a perch on the beach between Casa de las Olas and Be Tulum.

The treasures of Tulum, from the archeological site to the natural wonders of Sian Ka'an are best explored with a local guide who can highlight the hidden wonders, pull the history into context and get visitors off the beaten tourist path. Indagare can organize a host of tours, from simple half-day walking tours of the Tulum Ruins and swimming in a private cenotes (underground river) to day-trip excursions to Chichen Itza and scuba diving around Cozumel. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for help with trip planning, including customized recommendations and itineraries.

Many of Tulum's cabana hotels host live music at night (there's a show nearly every night of the week). But the Sunday night salsa party at La Zebra is famous up and down the beach. It's fun for the whole family, with diners and dancers spilling onto the beach and many couples ending up salsa-ing under the stars.

Biosphere reserve is a term UNESCO uses to designate conservation projects that “encompass a mosaic of ecological systems.” In the case of the stunning 1.3 million-acre Sian Ka’an (whose name means “where the sky is born”), these include beaches, dunes, reefs, wetlands, mangrove swamps and tropical forest. It’s home to more than three hundred bird species, including pink flamingos and pelicans, as well as to jaguars, manatees, spider monkeys, crocodiles and turtles. The best way to visit is by booking an excursion through Community Tours, a local organization that is committed to preserving the area’s spectacular environment and working with the Mayan villages that are located within Sian Ka’an’s borders.

The Mayan ruins in Tulum are not considered as important as those at Chichén Itzá, a three-hour drive from the Riviera Maya, or Cobá, located in the nearby jungle, but the setting, on a hilltop high above the piercing turquoise sea, is unbeatable. The site, believed to have been a Mayan port city, was occupied from the first to 16th centuries, and some of the well-preserved buildings are decorated with carvings and frescoes. The centerpiece is the Castillo (castle), which served as a temple and a fortress.

All the Yucatán’s archaeological sites are huge tourist destinations, but especially those in Tulum, since it’s the easiest to reach. Go early in the morning to avoid crowds. The complex is exposed, with little shade, so be sure to bring lots of sunscreen and water. Umbrellas, to keep the rays off your face, can be rented at the entrance and are an excellent investment. Behind the Castillo is a staircase that leads down the 39-foot cliff to one of the Riviera’s prettiest beaches, and if you’re early enough, it’s a lovely spot for some sunbathing and a dip. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TIP: Prepare for a visit to any of the three with The Lost Cities of the Mayas: The Life, Art and Discoveries of Frederick Catherwood, a gorgeous coffee-table book that features illustrations by the 19th-century artist who traveled to the Yucatán peninsula in 1839 and was one of the first Westerner to see these ruins.