Quintana Roo is located on the east coast of Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s one of Mexico’s fastest growing areas, and home to a rich Maya culture, parts of the Mesoamerican Reef, and a food culture that blends Mexican and Caribbean seafood.

In our list of the best things to do in Quintana Roo, we’re going to skip over some of the more generic stuff like riding horses, renting jet skis, or taking an ATV trip. Those are all fun activities, but you can find those yourself. Instead, we’re going to focus on some of the more unique things the Riviera Maya has to offer.

We’ve lived here for a while, so these are all things we’ve done ourselves. If you’re coming to the area, you’re also welcome to hit us up for recommendations or to answer any questions!

Surf

Well, we are a surf website so we have to start with surfing. Although not known as a big surf spot, there are some waves in the area. You can check out our Cancun Surf Guide for more info. You’ll find waves and schools in Playa del Carmen and Cancun, and some better waves (in our opinion) in Punta Brava, Puerto Aventuras, and Xpu-Ha. The waves are relatively mellow, and are generally best in the winter months. The exception is the arrival of hurricanes in the summer, when swells can go well overhead.

Check Out the Islands

There are a few cool islands worth checking out in Quintana Roo. First, you have Isla Holbox. Holbox has experienced some rapid growth in the last 5-10 years, and has become a bit of a party spot. There are absolutely gorgeous beaches, tons of great food, and you can see bioluminescence in the water at the right time of year. It’s a bit of a drive (then a ferry) to get to, but a lovely little tropical retreat.

Right near Cancun is Isla Mujeres, a small little island that sits off the coast of the Yucatan. You can visit Punta Sur, the easternmost point in Mexico, find a picturesque beach at Playa Norte, and eat some solid local seafood. We like to rent a little golf cart when we go to explore the island.

Finally, there’s the island of Cozumel. Sitting east of Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is perhaps best known as the cruise port in the area. It can be quite touristy, but is also home to some incredible diving and snorkeling. It generally serves as the access point to the best reef diving in the area.

Swim in Cenotes

The Yucatan Peninsula is home to over 6,000 cenotes, or sinkholes. There’s no above ground water or rivers in Quintana Roo. The cenotes and underground river system is the only source of freshwater, and they make for an incredible experience for tourists. You can find cenotes all over the state. There are some popular ones along the highway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum like Cenotez Azul, Jardin del Eden, and Dos Ojos. You’ll also find more cenotes out toward Cobá and Valladolid, as well as in Playa del Carmen itself. Playa Esmeralda has a little cenote on the beach where you’ll find families and kids playing. If you have a car or transportation, just go yourself; you don’t need a guide!

Visit the Maya Ruins

Quintana Roo is solidly Maya territory. You’ll find a ton of Maya people in the area, and influences in everything from art to food. We actually hear the Mayan language living here quite a bit. There are popular archaeological zones in places like Chichen Itza and Tulum that are worth visiting. Some of our favorite lesser-known Maya sites include Ek Balam, Cobá, and Muyil (more on Muyil in the River Float section).

Visit the Parks

There are some awesome nature-themed parks in the area. They can be quite pricey, but they offer an awesome experience. We recommend the Xcaret group of parks including Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xavage, and Xplor. Xcaret is their biggest parks and has a bunch of animals, spots to snorkel, activities like parasailing, a full aviary and aquarium, waterslides and a kids area, and more.

Xel-Ha doesn’t have the animals, but they have more cliff jumps, a few ziplines, a river float, and plenty to do. The food is also included in Xel-Ha’s price, and there’s a sweet kids area for the kids to play in. Xavage and Xplor are for the more adventure-minded with ATVs, rope courses, ziplines, and adrenaline.

Explore the Biosphere Reserve

Located down in the southern end of Quintana Roo is Punta Allen and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and means “the gate of heaven” in the local Mayan dialect. It’s a hub of conservation efforts and the reserve protectes over 780,000 acres. Heading down to Punta Allen, you can see some incredible untouched wildlife. There’s snorkeling, birdwatching, and pristine nature.

Do the River Float

Located right behind the archeological site of Muyil, there’s a river float that we always bring family and friends to do. You can explore the Muyil ruins, and head out the back into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. At the end of a gorgeous walk along a wooden path through the mangroves, you’ll find local Maya guides who can take you out on lagoons and through canals dug hundreds of years ago by the Maya people. At one point you can float through one of the canals for a truly unique experience. We seriously HIGHLY recommend this activity! Go early, as there are very limited boats and guides.

Go Down to Bacalar

The lagoon of Bacalar is down south toward the border of Belize. It’s been growing in popularity in the last decade, especially with the new Tulum International Airport going in. Bacalar is beautiful. There’s a chill but active little town, and you can rent a house right on the lagoon. We’ve gone with family, with the kids, and solo, and always had a wonderful time. It’s a bit like a lake vibe, but in tropical Mexico.

Swim with Turtles

Akumal, located between Puerto Aventuras and Tulum, is home to a protected area for sea turtles and nesting. If you head down to the bay, you can find a guide and go swim with the turtles. They limit the amount of people who can go every day to help keep the area protected, so make sure to go early. We’ve gone a few times, and we have seen turtles literally every single time. You can’t touch them obviously, but the turtles are not very people-shy and will get quite close!

Snorkel and Dive

Quintana Roo is home to some of the best diving and snorkeling in the area. Cozumel really serves as the hub, and if you’re interested in diving we recommend starting there. You can go out and snorkel parts of the Mesoamerican reef, dive beautiful spots like Palancar Bricks, and swim with a variety of sea life from sharks to manatees.

Swim with the Whale Sharks

The world’s largest fish, whale sharks can grow up to 60 feet long. In the spring and early summer you can actualyl swim with these beasts. They’re relatively docile, and guides will take you far out to sea for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.