Society Travel Guide: Riviera maya (Mexico)
You know what…i have to start by saying “how dare you?”. How dare you (even I myself) come to mexico with all these predeterminations. the mix of being unsure combined with a sense of “this probably isn’t going to be too much” always seems to come back to bite you. when eyeing the ticker-board of global travel destinations Mexico’s riviera maya probably comes through as an underdog; but its always the overlooked…always the little-brother type that comes out swinging and leaves you with a lasting impression.
Your Fantasy is completely to your choosing
Picture a resort-style oasis similar to say southern-most Florida or parts of the Carribean; you might have Cancun. A small fishing-village naval-outpost town where the streets are small, foods good and things wind down after dark; you might have Puerto Morales. Tulum screams dreamlike jungle enclave filled with tiki / tahitian style bungalows, bars, restaurants and resorts. Brave the speedbumps and weaving traffic of Meixco’s route 307 to remote destinations like Chichen-Itza to experience ancient cultures and heritage only found in the Yucatan Peninsula. Playa Del Carmen might remind you of a night out in Lauderdale in Broward County, Florida. See the beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula is that within a 1.5 hour drive anywhere from Cancun Airport all the way to Down to Tulum and Quintana Roo, or more inland towards Valladolid, Chichen-Itza and Yucatan proper, there are a host of different vibes you can get.
When it comes to choosing your accommodations when coming to this portion of Mexico, I suggest doing some research. (Well actually this is the research so just keep reading and watch the full video…ON KLUB!). A guys trip that is going to be non-stop action packed with very little breaks for anything besides alcohol consumption and exploration is going to need considerations WAY separate from that of a newlywed couples honeymoon. Family vacations require different planning than a college girl sorority one so understand where you want to hang out and the vibe you will find. As for the main towns and cities along the eastern peninsula and route 307, I’d sum up to say….Cancun is touristy and feels really packaged towards foreigners. This is like Vegas inside of another country, minus the huge casinos. Puerto Morales is the smaller town that is surrounded by beachfront resorts of different style. Some are simple secluded beachfront Airbnb’s like the one we stayed in. Others are large resorts that cater to various activites and genres: action / watersports (Nickelodeon, Xcaret), relaxation and spa / wellness or the modern global-brand style resorts such as the Hyatt and others.
So go for it. Understand who you are going to be traveling with, how much you want the trip to be geared towards rest and recovery or more discovery and exploration. Secure your accomodations accordingly. You might want to stay in the dreamy beach jungle of Tulum, but go out for the high energy beachside town of Playa Del Carmen. Its all here for the taking. From the beach, to the city, to the rural and secluded….there are many options.
Seek heritages and customs with an open heart and mind
Any respectable GoodSociety member is going to make it a priority to expand horizons and understanding in a cultural sense. This may come natural and somewhat difficult in certain places. I know most foreignors must find Mexico difficult to navigate if you dont speak Spanish. Luckily, two of the ladies that were in our group spoke fluent Spanish. I mean…argue you down, immediately have all the locals understand to not play around with us type fluent speaking. This can help you dodge some of the hectic moments that come with intercultural interaction; such as how they finesse you for extra money over certain products and services. It’s important to travel with an open heart and mind, especially when judging the lifestyle, customs and habits of the locals. Mexico is the land of corn, rice, beans, steak, beef, fish, pork and chicken. Now there may be a MILLION combinations of how they put that together…but me personally the cuisine was a difficult undertaking. At home i’m the “mexican every once-in-a-while” type. Not hating at all….just doesent mix with my love for the deep, greasy richness of styles like southern or say italian cooking. Might have to do some extra searching through restaurant and food spots when you are around.
One thing that is to be cherished when coming to the Riviera Maya is the DEEP ancient history of its indigenous people. The 75 miles of the Peninsula and Yucatan region hold claim to cultural history that extends to 2600 BC. We’re talking about advanced ancient civilizations that cultivated prominent discoveries in science, math and the arts. The experience of walking through ancient Mayan Ruins after traveling 2 hours through jungle villages and roads is to be had. It stands to impress anyone how a group of people with primitive tools were able to organize and construct such powerful infrastructure, especially in such harsh terrain. You’ll drive through jungles where the side of the road is impenetrable to the slightest bit. I mean literally thickets of mangroves, thick trees and vines that would need serious industrial work to clear. But THIS is the Riviera Maya.
Its loud, the roads are bumpy. You dont know the language as much as you like. There’s seedy stories of violence and mayhem that keep you on the reserve, but you have to get out of your zone and go experience. It might take 3 hours to get to that ancient ruin. That roadside taqueria where the local construction workers crowd for lunch and modelos, where the stray street dogs congregate and where the cook is a 70 year old grandmother who hasn’t washed her hands all shift because there’s no proper utility hookup might change your life. But THIS is the Riviera Maya. The serious faces wearing foreign streetwear huddled near bar bathrooms or wandering street corners ARE going to offer you drugs. The touristy part is there. The ancient, reverant and beautiful historical culture is there. Like I said…..THIS is the RIVIERA MAYA.
that extra moment you take, can turn into a lifelong connection
Its takes a certain amount of panache to look into the soul, mind and thoughts of a complete stranger. They speak of the strength to be found in “weak ties”. Out on the road and during travels there are many faces to greet. Personalities to meet and explore. Past our differences in language, heritage and cultural customs…you’d be surprised that many humans across the globe are quite similar. We hold the same aspirations and dreams. The brothers, mothers, sisters and uncles that live in Puerto Morales or Vollidad, Mexico share goals and outlooks on life that can compare to humans worldwide. So open your mouth. Your waiter might be like GoodSociety Beto; just a regular college student making some extra cash out of town during break. That kid from the flea market might have been born in the same town in California as you. Taking that one second to hear a salespitch from a local storeowner might turn into a tequila fest with newly found friends. Its all in the game.
So make a decision. What’s it going to be? Are you going to take a chance, book that flight and explore a new destination? Our travels become our life experiences. They play an integral role in the story we tell with our lives; our ability to examine new thoughts and ideas. Traveling affects your ability to communicate with others, whilst in a sense giving you a deeper connection with yourself. The world is yours. GoodSociety Social Klub Internationale. Locally Grown….but for sure…we’re GLOBALLY KNOWN!
