What is the difference between Cancun and Riviera Cancun?

Oftentimes, people use Cancun and the Riviera Maya interchangeably; however, they are two different locations. Cancun is a city with a lot of residents while the Riviera Maya is a region south of Cancun with many smaller resort towns such as Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Puerto Morelos all located along the water.



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There are expensive options in both cities and budget options in both. However, we've noticed on the whole, Rivera Maya tends to be a bit cheaper than Cancun. It's a little off the beaten track and as a result, the resorts tend to be a little easier on the wallet. This is also true of the surrounding area.

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Check out the hip epicenter of nightlife Calle 12, Playa del Carmen is a street lined with bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and entertainment that is one of the major hubs of local Riviera Maya nightlife.

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Its pristine, white beaches, beautiful cenotes, archaeological sites, divers cuisine, restaurants, hotels, condos and resorts. Here are 10 reasons to visit the Riviera Maya, in the south of Cancun, from Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen, Sian Ka'an in the south of Tulum.

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Its pristine, white beaches, beautiful cenotes, archaeological sites, divers cuisine, restaurants, hotels, condos and resorts. Here are 10 reasons to visit the Riviera Maya, in the south of Cancun, from Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen, Sian Ka'an in the south of Tulum.

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DON'T BE AFRAID TO LEAVE THE RESORT The Mayan Riviera is all for tourism, most of it is perfectly safe for everyone, I always say, every place in the world has dangerous areas, and they're usually easy to spot if you're just mindful of the surroundings.

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Another reason the best beaches in the Riviera Maya are so popular is the ocean temperature. The water temperature on this, the Caribbean side, is often 10F warmer than the Pacific side. Hence, swimming, snorkeling, diving, and water sports are fabulous all-year-round.

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You can cruise to the Mexican Riviera year-round, but some would argue that the best time to cruise Mexico is during its dry season, November through May. However, it's a popular destination even during the more rainy summer months while kids are on school break, and the summer travel season is in full swing.

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Post by Kelly McLaughlin Dec 29, 2022. A taxi from Cancun Airport to Riviera Maya will cost from 99 USD for private transportation service. Arriving at the Cancun airport without pre-arranged transportation to your accommodations is not safe.

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No where is perfectly safe but the Mayan Riviera is one of the safest areas of Mexico. Traffic is getting worse (and thus more accidents) and both Cancun and Playa del Carmen have recently had some incidents of gang/cartel violence.

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Short Summary. Cancun is generally safe for travelers but take necessary precautions and take government website travel alerts into consideration. Follow safety tips like avoiding walking alone at night and sticking to well-known establishments.

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The best time to visit is between December and March when the weather is most settled. The hottest month of the year is May with an average daily maximum of 36 C and an average low of 23 C.

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There are high rates of violent crime, such as homicides, kidnappings, carjacking and assaults, including in popular tourist destinations such as the Mayan Riviera (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum), and Acapulco. Criminal groups and drug cartels are present in tourist areas.

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Riviera Maya has over 700 kms of underwater caverns and almost 200 archeological sites sprinkled across the peninsula. Making it a great destination to explore ancient Maya Ruins, cenotes, and connect with nature too!

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Compare with the average cost of living in: On average, the cost of living in Riviera Maya in 2023 is 27% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

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There are also some really safe areas in the Riviera Maya mainland too. Some of the main towns include Akumal, Bacalar and Puerto Aventuras, where tourists can easily walk around during both the day and night with little issues.

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Violent crimes, in particular, are typically target individuals connected to cartel activity. I mention all of this here just to make you aware, not to deter you from traveling to the Riviera Maya. Despite what the media portrays, the Riviera Maya is a welcoming and safe destination for solo travelers in Mexico.

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