Trek to the Tulum ruins, then treat yourself to a soothing swim in the Caribbean (hint: stairs lead down a cliff to the beach).

Riviera Maya Ruins: Beautiful Sights

When I first scrambled up the steps of Kukulkan pyramid at the Yucatan Peninsula’s Chichen Itza 30 years ago as a child, I felt like I was queen of the world. The only person at the precipice, I looked across the pre-Colombian cluster of Mayan ruins in awe. Below, near the edge of the surrounding jungle, my parents tried to coax me down.

There was no place to stay in the jungle three decades ago—at least no place my father would have been comfortable taking his family. But times have changed. Now Chichen Itza, just a little more than 90 minutes from Cancún down a perfectly smooth road, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Still overgrown and haunting, it stirs the Indiana Jones within—and the glory of my past climbs still seems palpable.

These days, hotels abound, and a vibrant tourism community supports the place. There’s even a sound-and-light show at night—which is less cheesy than it sounds, because the lights illuminate the nearly 2,000-year-old remains, casting enchantment in a way one figures the Mayan forefathers would have approved of.

For an experience that combines every aspect of the Riviera Maya’s riches, book a day at Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (cesiak.org), yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the largest protected areas in the Mexican Caribbean, with 23 known archeological relics (some more than 2,300 years old) and some of the most biologically diverse terrain on earth (think coral reefs, beaches replete with endangered turtles, tropical forests, lagoons and swampland called hummocks).

Also, visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum. The ancient city sits alongside cliffs that overlook the Caribbean Sea. Bring your bathing suit. After a tour, you can make your way from the cliffs to the beach, where the views are worth the trek to get here.

For more information and to book tours, visit rivieramaya.com.