Riviera Maya

Above all else, beaches are what define the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula—soft, blinding white strands of sand embracing clear turquoise waters; shores that curve into calm lagoons, coves, and inlets; and waves that crash against cliffs. The towns in this wild landscape are varied and eccentric. Puerto Morelos has the relaxed atmosphere of a Mexican fishing village. Playa del Carmen is filled with resorts—some of them All-Inclusive—that are as glitzy as those in Cancún and Cozumel. The beaches here, from Punta Tanchacté to Tulum, are beloved by scuba divers, snorkelers, bird-watchers, and beachcombers. Against this backdrop is Mayan culture. Although the modern Maya live in the cities and villages along the coast, their history can be seen at the ruins such as Tulum, where dramatic pyramids sit on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean, welcoming the sunrise each morning.