Quintana Roo, Mexico

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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Introduction
Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean side of the Yucatán Peninsula, is Mexico's beach playground — a coast of turquoise water and white sand running from the resorts of Cancún down the Riviera Maya past Tulum to the wild south. For travellers it combines world-famous beaches and reefs with clifftop and jungle Maya ruins, crystal cenotes, eco-parks, the Sian Ka'an wilderness and the multicoloured lagoon of Bacalar — the Caribbean face of Mexico.

Discover Quintana Roo

Cancún is the gateway to the Mexican Caribbean — a resort city whose 20-kilometre Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) lines a barrier island of brilliant white beaches and turquoise sea with big hotels, beach clubs and nightlife, backed by a lagoon and an authentic, more affordable downtown (El Centro). From Cancún, a short ferry reaches the laid-back island of Isla Mujeres, with its calm Playa Norte beach and golf-cart pace. South down the coast runs the Riviera Maya: Playa del Carmen, the lively, cosmopolitan beach town built around the pedestrian Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) of shops, bars and restaurants; the island of Cozumel just offshore, one of the world's premier scuba-diving destinations on the Mesoamerican reef; the nature-and-culture eco-parks of Xcaret and Xel-Há; and a long ribbon of resorts, beach clubs and smaller towns like Puerto Morelos and Akumal (famous for swimming with sea turtles). It's the busiest and most developed stretch of coast, with a beach and a resort for every style.

Travel Types

Caribbean Beaches

Cancún and the Riviera Maya's white sands and turquoise sea, Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres.

Maya Ruins & Cenotes

Clifftop Tulum, the jungle pyramid of Cobá and the region's crystal cenotes and underground rivers.

Reef & Diving

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off Cozumel and Puerto Morelos for world-class diving and snorkelling.

Wild South & Islands

The Sian Ka'an biosphere, the seven-coloured lagoon of Bacalar and laid-back Holbox island.

Frequently asked questions

All are on Quintana Roo's Caribbean coast but have different vibes. Cancún is the big, lively resort city with a beachfront Hotel Zone and nightlife, and the main airport. Playa del Carmen, an hour south, is a walkable, cosmopolitan beach town built around its pedestrian Fifth Avenue. Tulum, further south, pairs the famous clifftop Maya ruins with a boho-chic beach-and-wellness scene (now busier and pricier). Many visitors base in one and day-trip to the others and the cenotes.

The drier, cooler and sunniest season from November to April is the prime time, with warm, calm seas ideal for beaches and diving (December to April is also whale-shark and high season). Summer and early autumn (June to October) are hot, humid and the hurricane season. Note that some beaches experience seasonal sargassum seaweed, mainly from spring into summer, which varies year to year — check current conditions for the specific beach.

The jungle inland from the coast is full of them. Around Tulum, the Gran Cenote, Dos Ojos and the Sac Actun system are famous for swimming, snorkelling and cave diving among stalactites and light shafts; the Ruta de los Cenotes near Puerto Morelos has many more; and cenotes dot the road toward Cobá and Valladolid (in neighbouring Yucatán). Bring biodegradable sunscreen — or none, as many cenotes require it — to protect the fragile water, plus water shoes and a towel.

Cities in Quintana Roo

1 city with detailed travel information

Cancún