As for Quintana Roo, the state: it's in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, at Mexico's south-eastern tip. Quintana Roo has land borders to the south with Guatemala and Belize, and has warm Caribbean seas to the east and north. (Left: scenic lookout, at Garrafon Park; most of Quintana Roo coasts are sandy beaches, not rocks!)
Mexico's Caribbean: Quintana Roo for Visitors
- Cancun is Mexico's tourist powerhouse, with its giant Hotel Zone that has lagoon side and Caribbean beach side. Read about Cancun all-inclusives for families.
- Isla Mujeres is a laid-back island a short boat ride from Cancun, with small hotels, the Garrafon National Park which has snorkeling and other activities, and a few all-inclusives. (See Avalon Reef Club Resort.)
- Puerto Morelos is a still-sleepy town about 20 minutes south of Cancun, and midway to tourist-y Playa del Carmen-- which was itself a sleepy town not so long ago. Large resorts are moving into Puerto Morelos currently.
- Playa del Carmen is a main tourist town in the "Riviera Maya", and the place where ferries depart for the island of Cozumel.
- Mayan Riviera: this term refers to the long stretch of coast extending south of Cancun, a super area with interesting activities as well as beautiful beaches. For example:
- >Mayan ruins: beautiful sea-side ruins at Tulum, and extensive ruins at Coba, inland
- world's second-largest coral barrier reef
- snorkeling lagoons
- giant caves you can tour, featuring underground lakes
- "cenotes" - freshwater pools created when limestone caves in
- Xcaret- unique eco-archeological theme park
- Xel-ha, Xcaret's sister eco-park
Costa Maya: this less-developed area south of the Mayan Riviera has lovely uncrowded beaches, and ecotourism opportunities.
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