Frida Kahlo Museum in Playa del Carmen

The Frida Kahlo Museum is located on Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen ‒it couldn't be anywhere else in the Riviera Maya‒. This site dedicated to the beloved Mexican artist is both a museum and a restaurant.

Visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum in Playa del Carmen is a joint sensory experience that will help you discover the passions and torments of this artist. So that you will be able to understand his life for a moment. For that purpose, museography uses different tools: touch screens, audio, video mapping, object boxes, art installations, infographics, as well as samples, of course, of her main paintings.

The Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya Museum is divided into nine rooms. The first begins with a timeline where his days are mixed with historical events in Mexico. Some headphones in the adjoining room are in charge of recreating the tram accident that in 1925 devastated her body, condemning her to despondency ever since.

Later, a video mapping follows where bed and loneliness are the protagonists. A convalescing artist begins to paint to save herself, and the viewer attends that incipient pictorial universe, under the newly discovered protection that colors brought with them.

The love relationship he had with Diego Rivera is revealed in a separate space. It is enough to look at the facsimiles of the letters that she dedicated to him with her singular style, to understand that the affection felt by the muralist was not a reason for peace in her life either.

Also, there is another room dedicated entirely to her brushstrokes: reproductions in light boxes serve as luminous witnesses of her work ‒there are no original oil paintings in this museum‒, but their absence is compensated with information and a sincere tribute not only to the public figure, but to the human being.

A tourist attraction that you must visit in Playa del Carmen.

Live a full diving experience in Playa del Carmen!

On the eastern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula, divers can find magical cenotes and beautiful reefs at Playa del Carmen in the Caribbean Sea. The dive sites features beautiful caverns and healthy reef systems off the sandy shores. Playa del Carmen is home to a wide variety of marine life, from huge sharks to small macro creatures. Also, the biggest attraction in terms of wildlife are the female bull sharks that grace the area with their presence from November to March. There are also eagle rays, loggerhead turtles, and green turtles found nearby.

When to dive in Playa del Carmen There is no bad time to dive in Playa del Carmen. In fact, the water temperatures remain constant throughout the year and only cool slightly during the winter months. On average, the water temperature varies between 77 and 82ºF (25 and 28ºC) in Playa del Carmen.

3 places to dive in Playa del Carmen

Cozumel is undoubtedly one of the essentials to immerse yourself in the depths of Mexico. Located in front of Playa del Carmen, this island offers several options for both professional divers and beginners who want to learn to dive in one of the most beautiful places in the world for it.

You can visit the Santa Rosa Wall and see the incredible giant manta rays, groupers and sea turtles or try Columbia, which with its shallow depth is ideal for beginners and allows you to see a large number of corals, sponges, turtles and, occasionally, nurse sharks. Also, if you combine it with a dive in Playa del Carmen, you will be able to see bull sharks, another of the key species of this diving mecca.

Holbox Island is a somewhat unknown paradise in Cancun that, little by little, is becoming an increasingly tourist destination. What makes this destination something special is that, in addition to destinations where you can see coral reefs, turtles, fish and others, we can visit the whale shark that is found there.

The best season to see and dive with the majestic whale shark is between June and August, although Holbox offers great diving experiences all year round.

El Cielo is the place where you can enjoy a peaceful and simply beautiful diving experience in Mexico, we recommend visiting Cielo. It is a magical place, with transparent and turquoise waters, its white sand and hundreds of starfish to see on the seabed.

Activities for children in the Riviera Maya

That traveling to the Riviera Maya implies getting to know paradise up close is indisputable. Whether that trip to the Riviera Maya is a complete success, will depend on whether you take into account the essentials in the Riviera Maya that we propose below.

So take note of our recommendations for traveling to the Riviera Maya about things that are essential for your trip and the unmissable places to see in the Riviera Maya that you cannot miss.

Here we go!

Other things to do in the Riviera Maya with children consist of nature excursions and even a dip to see marine species.

The activities for children in the Riviera Maya are varied, so we recommend that you inform yourself in depth to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Excursion to cenotes in Riviera Maya One of the first things that are recommended as essential in Riviera Maya are the cenotes. So if you wonder which are the best cenotes in the Riviera Maya, keep reading!

These gifts of nature, present throughout the Yucatan peninsula, make up one of the treasures to explore on your trip to the Riviera Maya.

With fresh and crystal clear water, the cenotes will allow you to enjoy a refreshing swim while you go back in history by closely observing its hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites.

Cenote Ik kil: one of the best cenotes in Riviera Maya. You can discover this essential cenote in the Riviera Maya on our Chichen Itzá & Ek Balam tour and on the Chichén Itzá & Valladolid tour.

➥ Cenote Discovery: one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Riviera Maya, although less well known. You can visit it alone with the Cenote Discovery tour or combined with a quad tour through the jungle.

Why is the Riviera Maya the best destination for your next vacation?

One of the most relaxing places will always be at the beach. So keep in mind that the Riviera Maya is one of the most coveted destinations in Mexico and has everything you may need for a vacation full of relaxation and luxurious comforts surrounded by exuberant nature.

The Riviera Maya is one of the most incredible places in Mexico. Full of wonderful natural attractions with a strip of 80 miles of fine white sand beaches, bathed by the fresh and crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea.

It is the second most visited tourist destination in Mexico.

There are many options available in the Riviera Maya, from themed dinners in caves, to cenotes, caverns, ecological parks, restaurants and archaeological sites.

The fame of the Riviera Maya as a beautiful paradise is well justified thanks to the picturesque towns and places that make it up.

This is where you will find the famous Playa del Carmen, the heart of the destination, as well as the modern Puerto Aventuras, the charming town and archaeological site of Tulum, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, and the impressive and untouched Punta Allen, among many other unimaginable sites.

The Cancun International Airport, the second largest in Mexico, receives the millions of tourists who arrive at the Riviera Maya every year.

The Riviera Maya has impressive hospitality facilities with more than 50,000 rooms. Among them, the magnificent tourist complexes stand out, many of which offer the “all-inclusive” plan and are ideal for all types of tourists. Whether you are traveling alone, with your family or on business. This destination is aimed at all types of travelers.

The heart of the Riviera Maya is, without a doubt, the world-renowned Playa del Carmen, a place that offers endless attractions.

It is home to enchanting beaches (some considered the best in the world), a fabulous selection of hotels ranging from low-cost to luxury resorts, and an incredible variety of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Best beaches to visit in Riviera Maya

Puerto Morelos Location: Puerto Morelos

Located about 15 miles south of Cancún, Puerto Morelos is a cozy beachside village with quaint resorts situated along immaculate white sand. Many tourists flock to Puerto Morelos because it’s just a 20-minute drive from Cancún International Airport. Because it’s so compact, you can easily wander from the shore to the city center and enjoy a margarita or do some shopping.

For those who love snorkeling, Puerto Morelos is home to a flourishing marine ecosystem with over 65 species including tropical fish and sea turtles. The ocean waves are generally calm and serene, so you can get up close and personal with the full array of tropical marine life.

Puerto Morelos ranks among the best beaches on the Riviera Maya because of its chill, laid-back atmosphere. It’s not the best destination for partiers—in fact, almost everything is closed by 11 p.m. But for those seeking a relaxing, family-friendly, or romantic escape, Puerto Morelos is the place to go.

The Secret Beach at Playa Del Carmen Location: Playa Del Carmen

Travel another 20 miles south from Puerto Morales, and you’ll find yourself in Playa Del Carmen, a top resort town on the Riviera Maya. It’s the unofficial center of the district.

Why It Made Our List: Playa Del Carmen is consistently ranked one of the top destinations in Mexico, and the crowded beaches are a reflection of that popularity. On any given day, you may be one of hundreds of tourists stretching out on the sand.

But there’s a secret beach that the locals prefer. It’s much more relaxed, much less crowded, and still an amazing sight to behold. It’s tucked between the multi-million-dollar Paradisus Hotel complex and Marazul development, so there’s an incredible air of luxury that surrounds you.

Best of all, the secret beach is unique in that it’s located near a massive cenote, a massive limestone sinkhole that gives way to a natural pool of water. The cenote water bubbles up into the ocean along the shore, creating a small freshwater river about a meter deep. It’s like nature’s waterpark.

Bring a picnic basket, splash in the ocean, and enjoy a unique serenity that’s not seen anywhere else on the Mayan Riviera.

Xpu-Ha Beach Location: Puerto Aventuras

Venture 14 miles south of Playa Del Carmen and you’ll find yourself in Puerto Aventuras, a small community divided between quiet residential living and coastal tourism. There you’ll find Xpu-Ha (pronounced sphu-ha) Beach, another one of the best beaches on the Riviera Maya.

Why It Made Our List: Awarded TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, Xpu-Ha is a small beach that makes a huge impact with its unsullied white sand and clear, crystal-blue waters. The beauty alone makes it worth the visit, but it offers so much more than just great Instagram opportunities.

The ocean is perfect for swimming, and the beach has an amazing party atmosphere thanks to the nearby Serenity Beach Club. You can grab drinks on the sand, dance to live music, or rent a fully equipped luxury tent complete with king-size bed and Netflix access. The food at the Beach Club is also to die for.

The basic Beach Club services—including access to lounge chairs, towels, public restrooms, and other amenities—cost 500 pesos. Children under 12 pay 100 pesos. Tented camping costs vary between $75 and $500 per night depending on the type of room, the time of year, and the day of the week.

You don’t have to pay the club fee to enjoy Xpu-Ha, but it’s worth it to get the full experience and convenience.

Akumal Beach Location: Akumal

When you finish your excursion at Xpu-Ha, return to the highway and head south another 10 miles. There you’ll find the quaint beach community and ecovillage of Akumal, Place of the Turtles.

Why It Made Our List: Some people love Akumal for its swimmable lagoon. Others love it for its high-end resort atmosphere. We love it because it has something for everybody: snorkeling alongside sea turtles in calm ocean waters, dining and drinking at casual eateries along the sand, strolling alongside historic hotels and luxury boutiques. It’s like an amusement park for beach lovers.

The entire stretch is only 3 miles long, so you can explore the community on a single day trip. Spend a couple of hours snorkeling in the turquoise waters of the Yalku Lagoon, enjoy a romantic dinner at the Lol Ha Restaurant and Beach Bar, and spend some money at the shoreline boutiques before returning to your vehicle to start the next leg of your Riviera Maya adventure.

Note:Most entry points are free and publicly accessible, but certain parts of the beach have been purchased by hotels and may cost up to 100 pesos for entry.

Playa Ruinas Location: Tulum

Finally, we end our Riviera Maya adventure at the southernmost point, Playa Ruinas. Located in the historic city of Tulum just 17 miles south of Akumal, Playa Ruinas is perhaps the most unique and exciting stop on this list.

Why It Made Our List: Once a key Mayan territory, Tulum is one of Mexico’s top destinations for history buffs. The beach, Playa Ruinas, is replete with well-preserved ruins dating as far back as the 13th century. The clifftop Castillo overlooks the vast ocean, and numerous other pyramids and ruins line the grassy pathways just above the sand.

While the ruins are spectacular, you don’t have to spend your whole day admiring them. Head to the bottom of the cliff and join other beachgoers along the shoreline. The waters are calm, and you can even swim north to the nearby Boca Paila Peninsula. While Playa Ruinas doesn’t offer the types of resort accommodations found at other beaches, it’s a historic treasure that’s not to be missed.

If you want to visit the ruins and access the quiet stretch of sand below the cliffs, you’ll need to pay an entry fee of 65 pesos. There is an additional fee for parking if you bring your own vehicle.