Famously distinguished by its soft white sand and turquoise water, the Yucatán's Caribbean coast stretches 380km (236 miles) from Cancún all the way to Chetumal, at the border with Belize.
The world's second-longest reef system protects most of the shoreline. Where the reef breaks, you find good beaches in the gaps, such as Playa del Carmen, Xpu-Ha, and Tulum. Surf action cleans away silt and sea grass and erodes rocks here, leaving the bottom sandy.
Where the reef is prominent, you get good snorkeling and diving, with lots of fish and other sea creatures. Here mangrove often lines the shore, and beaches are usually sandy up to the water's edge but shallow, with a silty or rocky floor.
The northern half of the coast is now known as the "Riviera Maya"; the southern half, the "Costa Maya." In between is the large Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Inland you'll find jungle, caverns, cenotes (limestone wells that lead to an underwater river), and the better known ruins of the Maya.
Activities abound, as do lodging options. On this coast you can stay in a variety of communities or distance yourself from all of them. Just about every type of accommodations you can think of is a possibility: rustic cabins, secluded spa resorts, boutique hotels, B&Bs, or all-inclusive megaresorts. With so many options, you'll need to make some tough calls. I hope that what follows will help you decide.
