Riviera Maya, Mexico (Sightseeing)

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

We traveled to Playa del Carmen, Mexico in November 2012 for our destination wedding. Additionally, I traveled previously to Tulum, Mexico in December 2009 with friends. Over the course of my two visits, I have seen the following sights/participated in the following tours, which will be described in detail below:

• Chichen Itza
• Ek Balam
• Rio Secreto
• Cooking Class with Chaya Chef
• Ziplining with Selvatica
• Tulum Ruins
• Tulum's Beaches
• Tulum Town
• Horseback riding with Rancho Baaxal
• The Jungle Place (Spider Monkey Sanctuary)
• Sian Kian Biosphere Tour with Cesiak
• Coba Ruins
• Valladolid
• Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida
• Coco Bongo

Chichen Itza:
One of the most widely recognized and heavily visited archaeological sites in the world, the Mayan ruins of this World Heritage site, are famous for both their size and scope. The site includes numerous temples, alters, palaces, as well as the largest-known ball court in the Maya world. If you come to any part of the Rivera Maya and choose to do only one tour, make sure it's one that includes a visit to this amazing site.

On my first visit to Chichen Itza, I toured it on my own with my two friends. Although I found the ruins interesting, I felt at the time that it would have been even more interesting if we had a guided tour. As a result, for my next visit during the week of our destination wedding, we hired a company called Mayans' Explorers to take our group of 23 friends and family out to the ruins for a guided tour. Our tour guide, Gudelio and his assistant did an amazing job with such a huge group of people. He provided commentary and a history lesson on the Rivera Maya from our departure in Playa del Carmen along the several hour drive to Chichen Itza. Visiting the ruins with the in-depth knowledge that Gudelio provided made my second visit so much more interesting than my first one was. I would, without a doubt, recommend this tour company. In addition to taking us to Chichen Itza, they also took us to Ek Balam and a nearby cenote.

There are dozens of different ruins and things to see at Chichen Itza, which would take days to thoroughly see. I spent about three hours at the ruins during both of my visits and was able to see the main highlights including El Castillo (the famous temple), the Great Ball Court, Tzompantli (Wall of Skulls), the Platform of the Eagles and Jaguars, the Sacred Cenote, the Platform of Venus, Temple of Warriors, the Group of a Thousand Columns, the Osario (Ossuary), and the El Caracol (the Observatory). After my two rushed visits, I would recommend putting aside four to five hours if you want to see nearly everything but still allow plenty enough time for breaks and a snack. Chichen Itza is incredibly spread out and you will be doing a lot of walking on your visit.

While at Chichen Itza, you will be bombarded with literally hundreds of vendors selling different items at tables spread throughout the site. Some of these items are tacky and cheap but there are a few diamonds in the rough including vendors that sell beautiful wood carvings or silver jewelry.

Be forewarned that it's very hot at Chichen Itza. Even though it was partly overcast out on my second visit the temperature was still in the 90s. Make sure to come prepared with lots of sunscreen and fluids. Unfortunately, my dad didn't follow my advice and got heat stroke while at the ruins, essentially ruining the rest of his day.

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Lower Temple of the Jaguar at the Great Ball Court with El Castillo in the background at Chichen Itza.

The Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

The Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

The Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza. 

Temple of the Bearded Man at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza.

Temple of the Bearded Man at the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza.

Items for sale at Chichen Itza.

Our guide explaining some of the Mayan calendars for sale at Chichen Itza.

Showing our group how the colors used on the wood carvings are obtained from nature (i.e. a flower petal).

Showing our group how the colors used on the wood carvings are obtained from nature (i.e. a flower petal).

Wood masks for sale at Chichen Itza.

Items for sale at Chichen Itza.

Items for sale at Chichen Itza.

Items for sale at Chichen Itza.

Platform of Eagles and Jaguars at Chichen Itza.

Platform of Eagles and Jaguars at Chichen Itza.

Tzompantli (Wall of Skulls) at Chichen Itza.

Walking through Chichen Itza to reach the Sacred Cenote.

Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza.

Detail from the Platform of Venus at Chichen Itza.

Platform of Venus at Chichen Itza.

The Temple of Warriors at Chichen Itza.

The Temple of Warriors at Chichen Itza.

The Temple of Warriors at Chichen Itza.

The Temple of Warriors at Chichen Itza.

Group of a Thousand Columns at Chichen Itza.

The Temple of Warriors and Group of a Thousand Columns at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

Ossario at Chichen Itza.

Ossario at Chichen Itza.

Ossario at Chichen Itza.

Ossario at Chichen Itza.

Casa Colorada at Chichen Itza.

Ossario at Chichen Itza.

El Caracol at Chichen Itza.

El Caracol at Chichen Itza.

El Caracol at Chichen Itza.

Part of our group at El Caracol at Chichen Itza.

Shyawn and I standing in front of El Castillo at Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza

Our group at Chichen Itza.

Ek' Balam:
This archaeological site is unknown to most tourists who visit the area. However, that is quite a shame as Ek' Balam is one of the most impressive places I have ever visited before. The site was only recently revealed as restoration didn't occur until the mid-1990's. The site features a total of 45 structures, with the most notable including La Rodonda (Oval Palace), Las Gemelas (The Twins), and the massive Acropolis, with the amazing stucco frieze called El Trono (The Throne). The best part about Ek' Balam is that vistors are allowed to climb the stairs of the Acropolis, unlike at Chichen Itza where the stairs on El Castillo are closed off to visitors. Climbing up was relatively easy but most of us experienced vertigo on the way down. Shyawn and I actually had to crawl our way back down since we are both so afraid of heights!

We visited Ek' Balam on the same day we toured Chichen Itza with Mayans' Explorers. As with Chichen Itza, Gudelio provided us with detailed information on the history of the site that we wouldn't have ever known had we toured it on our own.

The Oval Palace at Ek' Balam.

Ek' Balam

Ek' Balam

The Oval Palace at Ek' Balam.

The backside of the Oval Palace at Ek' Balam.

The Twins at Ek' Balam.

The backside of the Oval Palace at Ek' Balam.

Ek' Balam.

Acropolis at Ek' Balam

Part of our group at the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

Acropolis at Ek' Balam

Acropolis at Ek' Balam

Acropolis at Ek' Balam

Acropolis at Ek' Balam

Acropolis at Ek' Balam

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The view from El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The view from El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The view from El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The view from El Trono, atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

My brother climbing up the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

Shyawn and I atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The portion of our group that made it atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

Shyawn and I atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The view from atop the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

Climbing back down the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

Climbing back down the Acropolis at Ek' Balam (I'm in the green shirt and Shyawn is next to me!).

Climbing back down the Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

The Acropolis at Ek' Balam.

Rio Secreto:
This company offers guided tours of an amazing underground cave system located just a few minutes south of Playa del Carmen. I participated in this tour in 2009 with my friends and enjoyed it so much that I told my family we had to do it again while in Playa del Carmen for our wedding. Much to my happiness, seven of our friends and family joined Shyawn and I on this tour!

The caves at Rio Secreto were only recently discovered in 2007 and opened to the public for tours a few years ago. Rio Secreto is the longest partially flooded cave in the Yucatan Peninsula and features more than 7.5 miles of semi-sunken caves mapped out with 15 different natural outlets. The entire Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is filled with caves due to the plethora of limestone in the area. Within the massive cave system at Rio Secreto you will find natural formations including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helectites which developed over millions of years due to water filtering down through the limestone carrying calcium carbonate and producing permanent dripping. All of these natural formations create an amazing visual. I have been to other caves before (Slovenia) but nothing quite compares to this cave in Mexico. The water inside the cave is so clear and clean it will amaze you.

In order to access the caves, all visitors are required to don a wet suit, helmet, and life jacket. Most of the water in the cave is no higher than your ankles although there is a small amount of time where swimming is required. I myself don't know how to swim but with the combination of my life jacket, life preserver, and a helpful husband managed just fine! Be forewarned that photography is not allowed on the tour, however, they do have a professional photographer that tags along with your group enabling you to purchase a CD of photos at the end. The CD is quite expensive but since we had nine people in our group we were able to split the cost making it much more affordable. The tour from start to finish lasts about three hours and includes a light lunch at the end. We also took advantage of Rio Secreto's many hammocks spread throughout their property and spent about 30 minutes relaxing in the wind after our tour.

Our group and tour guide at Rio Secreto.

Walking through the jungle towards the caves at Rio Secreto.

My mom entering into the caves at Rio Secreto.

Traditional Mayan ceremony done before entering the caves at Rio Secreto.

Quick informational sessions before our tour started at Rio Secreto.

Shyawn and I walking through the cave at Rio Secreto.

Our group inside the cave at Rio Secreto.

Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto

Rio Secreto

My sister Kimberly and our friend Colin walking through the cave at Rio Secreto.

Rio Secreto

Shyawn helping me "swim" through the cave at Rio Secreto.

Rio Secreto

Cooking Class with Chaya Personal Chef Services:
I am a huge fan of cooking classes and had for years wanted to do a Mexican cooking class while on vacation. As soon as we had decided to get married in Playa del Carmen I knew that one of our activities would be participating in a cooking class. The next thing to decide upon was which cooking class. There are literally dozens of companies up and down the Riviera Maya that offer cooking classes to visitors. After much deliberation, we ultimately decided to go with Chaya Personal Chef Services as the chef and owner, Mari, was located close to us in Playa del Carmen and offered private cooking classes. Typically she offers cooking classes in the comfort of one's condo or home rental but since we were staying at a resort we didn't have kitchen facilities to access. As a result, the class was instead held for us inside a kitchen in Playa del Carmen.

Upon arrival, friendly and easy-going Mari welcomed us into the kitchen and gave us a brief overview of what we would be doing over the next few hours. We then got to know one another and learned that she was also from the Seattle area (Bainbridge Island) and that she, too, was a huge cat lover! In fact, at one point during the class we saw one of her cats appear at the front door. Shyawn, being a huge cat person, let the cat right in (don't be alarmed non-cat people; Mari only allowed this since we were ok with it). The cat was so incredibly friendly and well-adjusted. We learned that in addition to hosting the cooking classes, Mari is also heavily involved in animal rescue efforts in Playa del Carmen which made me love her even more!

For our meal we put together the following menu:
Appetizer: Sikil Pa'k (Pumpkin Seed Dip, Fresh Made Tortilla Chips)
Soup: Tortilla Soup (Guajillo Broth, Queso Fresco, Avocado)
Main Entree: Molcajete Mexicano (Skirt Fajitas, Roasted Panela Cheese, Avocado, Homemade Chorizo, Grilled Cactus)
Dessert: Flan 
Drink: Horchata (Rice, Milk, Almonds)

We had such a great time cooking all of the items, especially those that we had never eaten or tried before such as the horchata and the sikil pa'k. Grilling the cactus slices was also a very fun and new experience! Mari helped us along the way but it was definitely an all hands on experience, which is what I prefer for cooking classes. After our many hours of work, we sat down together and ate our feast. The pumpkin seed dip, which was made from ground pumpkin seeds was incredibly delicious and flavorful. The tortilla soup was very good and was also so easy to make! I loved the traditional presentation of the molcajete dish that Mari created and really enjoyed the panela cheese as well as the grilled cactus, which was surprisingly good. The flan was, of course, delicious. And finally, although neither one of us had drank horchata before we both enjoyed it immensely.

Overall, we had a wonderful time with Mari and I would highly recommend her cooking class to anyone who visits Playa del Carmen. She is easy to work with and extremely accommodating!

Mari of Chaya Chef busy in the kitchen.

Working on the flan at Chaya Chef.

Flan ready to be placed into the oven at Chaya Chef.

Mari of Chaya Chef helping Shyawn prepare the horchata.

Ready to grind up the rice and almonds for the horchata at Chaya Chef.

Shyawn preparing the horchata at Chaya Chef.

Homemade tortilla chips ready to be fried at Chaya Chef.

Shyawn making friends with one of Mari's cats.

Shyawn making friends with one of Mari's cats.

Shyawn cutting up some of the accouterments for the tortilla soup at Chaya Chef.

Cooking class at Chaya Chef.

Cooking class at Chaya Chef.

Having fun at the cooking class at Chaya Chef.

Shyawn making friends with one of Mari's cats.

Homemade tortilla chips at Chaya Chef.

Pumpkin seed dip at Chaya Chef.

Tortilla soup at Chaya Chef.

Cooking class at Chaya Chef.

Cooking class at Chaya Chef.

Cooking class at Chaya Chef.

Finished flan at Chaya Chef cooking class.

The finished molcajete at Chaya Chef cooking class.

Zip Lining with Selvatica:
Prior to our trip to Playa del Carmen for our wedding, I had gone zip lining twice before (first time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the second time in La Fortuna, Costa Rica) and absolutely loved both of the experiences. I had read many great things and reviews about a company specializing in zip lining in the Rivera Maya called Selvatica, which is located about half-way between Playa del Carmen and Cancun. I was able to convince my brother to go with me since he had never gone zip lining before. We actually purchased our tickets through the third party service Entertainment Plus for $15 less per person than the price advertised on the Selvatica website. We ended up selecting the Extreme Canopy Adventure Tour which, in addition to zip lining and round trip transportation, also included a light lunch and an army truck ride to a nearby cenote, where everyone could swim. The company is very well-managed and operated with a beautiful welcome center and top notch equipment. However, in comparison to the previous zip lining I've done, specifically in Costa Rica, my third experience with zip lining was not as thrilling or as much of an adrenaline rush. It would be the perfect place to go zip lining if you've never gone before as the lines are fairly short and not as high as the other ones I have done. The lunch was surprisingly good though and the cenote they took us too was beautiful with an actual zip line one could use to jump into the cenote. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my swim suit so I wasn't able to jump in! Additionally, the few photos I have of our excursion were taken using my point and shoot since I didn't bring the camera with me on the lines for fear of dropping it so I don't have any zip lining photos to show you.

Welcome center at Selvatica

Entrance sign to Selvatica

Loading up the army truck for a ride to the cenote at Selvatica.

Cenote water zip line at Selvatica.

My brother using the water zip line at Selvatica's cenote.

Cenote water zip line at Selvatica.

Tulum Ruins:
These ancient Mayan ruins are famous for their dramatic placement on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. The archaeological site features several different buildings including the Temple of the Wind, the Great Palace, and El Castillo (the castle), which is the largest structure. Unfortunately on the day I visited back in 2009 it was cloudy and gray out, not providing the beautiful blue backdrop I was so hoping for. Out of the many ruins I have visited in the area, Tulum was by far the smallest and least impressive but if you are in the area might as well make a stop. For those of you that would prefer to tour Tulum with a tour, I would once again highly recommend Mayans' Explorers based off of our experience with the Chichen Itza and Ek' Balam tour.

Temple of the Wind structure at the Tulum ruins.

Temple of the Wind structure at the Tulum ruins.

Temple of the Wind structure at the Tulum ruins.

The grounds of the Tulum ruins.

View of the ocean from the Tulum ruins.

Tulum ruins.

View from the Tulum ruins.

The Great Palace at the Tulum ruins.

Tulum ruins.

The beach at the Tulum ruins.

View from the Tulum ruins.

Tulum ruins.

View from the Tulum ruins.

Tulum ruins.

Beach at the Tulum ruins.

Tulum's Beaches:
The beaches of Tulum are hands-down the most beautiful stretch of beaches along the entire Rivera Maya. Like Playa del Carmen, the beaches are wide and expansive but unlike Playa del Carmen, the beaches have far fewer people than you will ever see further north. The sand is clean, incredibly soft and a gorgeous color, especially with the amazing turquoise water as its backdrop. The very best beaches are located at the far south end of the city. Although there are no official public access points, it's easy enough to stop in at one of the many hotel restaurants and grab a quick bite to eat before being encouraged to go and use their beach. I can't wait to go back someday and enjoy Tulum's beaches again!

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Crazy dog digging a giant hole on the beach in Tulum.

Crazy dog digging a giant hole on the beach in Tulum.

Crazy dog digging a giant hole on the beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

My friend and I enjoying the beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

Sunset at the beach in Tulum.

One of the Oceanside hotel restaurants we stopped in at in Tulum.

The most amazing guacamole and chips from one of the ocean side hotel restaurants we stopped in at in Tulum.

Tortilla soup from one of the ocean side hotel restaurants we stopped in at in Tulum.

Tulum Town:
This small little town, sometimes referred to as Tulum Pueblo, is a fun place to walk around and explore its different shops and restaurants. When I visited in December of 2009, my friends and I stayed in Tulum at Posada Luna Del Sur which is located within the Tulum Pueblo. As a result, we were able to eat at many of the restaurants within town. Of the ones we ate at, a small little taco place called Tacos Al Pastor, was my absolute favorite! It was so good that we ate there several times during our stay.

Tacos Al Pastor in Tulum.

Beef tacos at Tacos Al Pastor in Tulum.

Amazing guacamole and chips from Tacos Al Pastor in Tulum.

Chicken tacos from Tacos Al Pastor in Tulum.

Horseback riding with Rancho Baaxal:
This ranch is located about 15 minutes north of Playa del Carmen and offers horseback riding to small groups in the jungle and along Maroma Beach. I love horseback riding, and when I learned on Trip Advisor that this company offers tours along the beach I knew I had to participate. Additionally, after perusing Rancho Baaxal's website and after reading the many positive reviews, I knew that the horses were treated humanely which is extremely important to me. Unfortunately when I participated in the tour with my friends in December of 2009 it was a wet and rainy day. However, I still enjoyed every moment, especially when the guide allowed the horses to run on the beach with us which was an exhilarating experience that I will not soon forget.

Horseback riding at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Scenery from our horseback riding experience at Rancho Baaxal.

Running with the horses on the beach with Rancho Baaxal.

Horseback riding with Rancho Baaxal.

Horseback riding with Rancho Baaxal.

Horseback riding with Rancho Baaxal.

Horseback riding with Rancho Baaxal.

The Jungle Place (Spider Monkey Conservancy):
I learned of this amazing sanctuary on Trip Advisor, where it was rated the number one attraction in Playa del Carmen. The founders of the company came to Mexico in 1999 and quickly learned from locals that it was popular for people to purchase baby spider monkeys as pets, not knowing or understanding that they make terrible pets. Unfortunately, many of these owners end up abandoning the monkeys into the wild, where they obviously can't survive on their own. The founders decided to create a sanctuary to properly take care of these monkeys for the rest of their lives. The Jungle Place will allow a set amount of visitors each day during two different tour times. After arriving for your tour time you will be directed into one of the secured areas, where you will be able to touch, hold, feed, and interact with several spider monkeys. The experience is quite amazing: the monkeys were so calm, friendly, and docile during our visit. In fact, some of the monkeys were very affectionate and enjoyed being cuddled by us. This was definitely one of the most memorable things I have ever participated in. The sanctuary is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum near the small town of Chemuyil.

The grounds at The Jungle Place.

The grounds at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

One of the founders, Heidi, interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

A spider monkey at The Jungle Place.

Interacting with the spider monkeys at The Jungle Place.

Kitty friend at The Jungle Place.

The Jungle Place.

The Jungle Place.

Sian Ki'an Biosphere:
This biosphere, which is the largest protected area in Mexico, covers an area of 1.3 million acres of coastal mangrove, forests, and wetlands. In addition to its biosphere status, Sian Ki'an is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to explore the area is via a guided tour through either Cesiak or Community Tours Sian Ka'an. On my trip to Tulum my friends and I decided to take a guided canal tour with Cesiak. Since we were relatively close to the biosphere, they picked us up at our hotel in Tulum and drove us to their tour office. We toured the reserve for several hours by boat where our guide pointed out different birds and plants as well as some small Mayan ruins. The biosphere was incredibly gorgeous and peaceful. After the tour was over, we were brought back to their tour office and provided with a full lunch. After eating, we were free to use their beautiful beach for some fun in the sun. If you happen to be staying in Tulum, I would highly recommend this tour!

Be forewarned that the pictures I have from this tour were taken using someone else's point and shoot, so they aren't of the best quality.

View of Sian Ka'an Biosphere at Cesiak.

View of Sian Ka'an Biosphere at Cesiak.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Boarding our boat for our guided tour of Sian Ka'an Biosphere with Cesiak.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Mayan ruins at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

Sian Ka'an Biosphere

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

The beach at Cesiak's office at Sian Ka'an Biosphere.

Coba Ruins:
A former city of the Pre-Columbian Mayan civilization, the ruins at Coba contain ancient Mayan pyramids, one of which (Nohoch Mul) is the second highest in the entire Yucatan Peninsula. I myself was only able to climb about half-way up the tall structure (equivalent of 12 stories) until I was too scared to continue. I definitely clung onto the steps for dear life as I made my way up and down. The view I had from the vantage point half-way up the pyramid was breathtaking. All you could see around you was lush jungle. Like the ruins of Tulum, I visited Coba on my own but many companies in the Rivera Maya offer guided tours to the site, including Mayans' Explorers. 

La Iglesia at Coba.

The ruins of Coba.

The ruins of Coba.

The ruins of Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid at Coba.

Valladolid:
This gem of a Colonial Mexican city makes a great stop for those traveling the long distance from the coast to Chichen Itza. The city was established by Spaniards in 1543 and is filled with numerous historical buildings, including the church Iglesia y Ex-Convento San Bernardino de Siena, which was completed in 1560. Unfortunately during my trip in 2009 I only drove through the city on my way to Chichen Itza, quickly snapping the photo below. I had wanted to visit on our second trip when our group visited Chichen Itza and Ek' Balam, but unfortunately there wasn't enough time. Next time!

Colorful building in Vallodolid.

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida:
All those staying in or near Playa del Carmen should make their way to the city's famed Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) which stretches for more than 20 blocks of restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, and clubs. I found many of the shops to be quite touristy, but there were a few hidden gems. During our visit to Quinta Avenida we also made our way over to the ocean to snap a few pictures as the sun was setting.

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

Jewelry for sale along Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

We stopped to eat some tacos along Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

We stopped to eat some tacos along Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida.

The beach in downtown Playa del Carmen.

The beach in downtown Playa del Carmen.

Coco Bongo:
This amazing nightclub is best described as a cross between a Cirque du Soleil show and a concert. Shyawn had visited the Cancun location when he had visited the area several years prior and had loved it, so we decided to get a huge group of our friends and family members to go with us to the location in Playa del Carmen when we visited for our wedding. The cost was approximately $50 per person, which might seem steep but keep in mind that the cost includes unlimited alcoholic drinks for the entire evening as well as an amazing constantly changing and evolving show (one minute there are singers on the stage with confetti falling from the ceiling while the next minute there are flying acrobats flinging themselves across the huge room) of similar quality to what you might find in Las Vegas. Note: the photos below were taken using a point and shoot and, unfortunately, most of the photos within the venue turned out horribly due to the lack of lighting.

Shyawn and I standing outside of Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen.

Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen.

Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen.

Shyawn and I at Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen.

Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen.

Part of our group standing outside of Coco Bongo in Playa del Carmen.