Riviera Maya Honeymoon Guide: 10 Best Destinations To Visit

Absolutely, a Riviera Maya honeymoon is one of our top picks around the world.
cvbx
Beaches, island, nature, history, culture, food, hotels and resorts – a Riviera Maya honeymoon in Mexico has all this and more.

Crime is a significant concern in some parts of Mexico and can vary significantly between states, particularly in areas near the U.S. border and in states like Guerrero, Sinaloa, and Michoacán.

These crimes involve violent conflicts between rival gangs.

However, major tourist destinations like the Riviera Maya are popular and typically safe, with a strong police presence.

Although there have been a couple of isolated incidents, tourists are not targets of organized crime and violence.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Mexico and the Riviera Maya is a relatively safe place to travel for LGBTQ+ couples and is known for its tolerant attitude.

Hotels do not discriminate against LGBTQ+ couples when extending complimentary honeymoon amenities.

Seaweed, specifically sargassum seaweed, has been a recurring issue for many beaches along the Riviera Maya.

While it is a natural and important part of the marine ecosystem, providing habitat for various marine species, excessive amounts of it washing ashore can create problems for coastal areas.

The sargassum influx tends to be seasonal, with the largest quantities typically arriving during the rainy season.

The reasons for the increase in sargassum are complex and not entirely understood, but climate change is a factor.

Mexican authorities and local resorts have taken various steps to address the sargassum issue including beach clean ups and floating barriers.

Most couples planning a Riviera Maya honeymoon will stay 7-14 nights as this gives you time to relax by the beach and visit some highlights.

However, the duration of a Riviera Maya honeymoon will vary from couple to couple, depending on several factors, including your available time, budget, and the type of experience you’re looking to have.

If you have over 7 nights, we’d highly recommend splitting your stay between a relaxing all-inclusive luxury resort like Secrets Resorts and a more boutique experience in Tulum or Isla Holbox.

If you’re fortunate enough to have over two weeks, you could extend your honeymoon to include other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, like the colonial city of Merida or Bacalar, or even visit other destinations in Mexico like Oaxaca or Mexico City.

When planning your Riviera Maya honeymoon itinerary, remember that 2 nights will only give you 1 full day to explore/relax, 3 nights = 2 full days, 4 nights = 3 full days, and so on.

Getting to the Riviera Maya is relatively straightforward, as it is a major tourist destination with excellent air connectivity from Cancun International Airport (airport code: CUN).

There are direct flights from many U.S., Canadian, and European cities.

Tulum Airport (TQO) just opened in early 2024, too.

You can also fly from regional countries like Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama, as well as multiple airports in Mexico.

There are other airports in the Yucatan Peninsula, namely Merida International Airport (MID) and Cozumel International Airport (CZM), with arrivals from Mexico City and other Mexican destinations along with some international arrivals from major US cities.

On arrival, we recommend opting for a private transfer service directly to your Riviera Maya honeymoon resort. Book a 5-star driver here!

Most nationalities do not need a visa for Mexico but will need to fill out a Mexican Tourist Card.

If you are traveling via the USA or Canada to get to Mexico, you may need a US ESTA (visa waiver) or Canadian eTA.

Some travel vaccinations are recommended for the Riviera Maya Mexico. There may be a risk of Zika virus.

We encourage you to visit the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date travel vaccination recommendations or speak to a Tropical Medicine Specialist.

When you get to Cancun, you can take a taxi, but we’d recommend arranging an inexpensive transfer for a seamless and stress-free way to reach your accommodation.

Some couples will hire a car, although bear in mind the driving culture might be different from your home country.

The drive south from Cancun to the various destinations along the Riviera Maya is via Highway 307, a well-maintained road that runs parallel to the coast. In Mexico, they drive on the right.

However, we find that the vast majority of couples will book excursions and/or take taxis or Uber if they want to get to local towns.

A Riviera Maya honeymoon can be as honeymoon budget-friendly to over-the-top lavish as you wish!

The cost of your honeymoon will depend on several factors, including the type of accommodation you choose, the time of year you visit, and the activities you plan to do.

If you travel during the dry season and over Christmas and Easter, the prices are higher.

During the summer months accommodation is cheaper because it’s the rainy season. However, flight prices can swing upwards from late June to August because of the summer break, so book early.

A good travel agent who books Riviera Maya honeymoons regularly will take care of all the finer details and may have preferential rates. Using a travel agent has a lot of pros!

If you prefer to book a D-I-Y Riviera Maya honeymoon package, we’d recommend choosing a flexible hotel rate with free cancellation with Booking.com.

You can book transport, along with tours and excursions on GetYourGuide or Viator. Book car hire on RentalCars.com.

When you’re booking flights, if you can’t fly directly and are booking connecting flights, give yourself enough time to change planes. We’d recommend at least a 2 to 3-hour layover for a stress-free experience.

Don’t forget to have travel insurance in place before booking!

Here at The Honeymoon Guide, we want you to have the best honeymoon possible. Safety is paramount, so it’s important to have travel insurance in place when you book your honeymoon.

If you don’t have travel insurance, check out WorldNomads.com to learn more.

_{World Nomads provide travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance from World Nomads.}

Mexico has a tropical climate, so you opt for relatively comfortable clothes, like shorts and t-shirts most of the time.

Go glam at night with chic and cute summer dresses, jumpsuits and playsuits and chinos for men.

Add plenty of swimwear to your Riviera Maya honeymoon packing list! Don’t forget practical footwear and clothing if you’re going to be sightseeing, visiting cenotes and archaeology ruins.

Make sure you pack reef-friendly sunscreen, insect repellent / mosquito pen, rash guard | aqua / reef shoes and waterproof phone case.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at most resorts, restaurants, and larger stores, it’s a good idea to have some cash when traveling to Riviera Maya so you can tip and buy from local markets and street vendors.

You can use US dollars, but pay in pesos if you can, for a better deal. You can take out some pesos at the airport, and ATMs are widely available, some resorts have their own ATMs.

Yes, tipping is customary and appreciated in the Riviera Maya, and the tipping culture is similar to the US, so 15-20% is the norm in restaurants, and rounding up for other services.

If you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, we’d recommend having a small budget for tips of around $15-20 per person per day for wait staff and housekeeping.

You’ll find everything from a mix of markets and modern malls in Cancun to cute and colourful boutiques in Tulum.

You can buy Mexican handicrafts from textiles to maracas and silver jewelry.

But our favorite buys are food and drink related — chocolate, hot sauces, and bottles of tequila and mezcal!

As you can see whether you have a week or a month, the Riviera Maya in Mexico has so much to see and do that even two weeks is not always enough. That’s not counting the rest of Mexico!

So if you want to spend your whole honeymoon in Mexico, you won’t be disappointed.

However, it is very easy to add some other destinations to make a magical multi-destination honeymoon.

One of the most popular options is combining a US or Canadian city for the ultimate city and beach honeymoon combination with a dash of adventure, too.

Think New York, Las Vegas, Miami or Toronto, to name a few!

There are direct flights to other Central American and Caribbean honeymoon destinations.

Think of touring Cuba with a beach stay in Mexico.

Belize, lying south of the Yucatan, is one of our favourite under-the-radar honeymoon destinations, too, with lush jungles, Mayan ruins, and some of the best diving in the world.

How about off the beaten track adventures in Guatemala, or adventure honeymoon haven Costa Rica or exploring Colombia?

Just some of the incredible destinations to easily combine with your Riviera Maya honeymoon!