The trio of cenotes near Playa del Carmen tends to receive fewer visitors: Azul, Cristalino, and Eden are all open-air cenotes with clear-as-glass water and skin-nibbling tropical fish darting around. What you’re seeing is just a fragment of the world's largest underwater cave systems – book a guided snorkeling tour run by the local Maya community or a scuba dive session if you’d like to venture deeper into the cave system. In the crisp mineral-rich water of Cenote Dos Ojos, you’ll get the chance to weave through narrow passages and swim between illuminated stalactites and stalagmites. Today, you can see why these underground caverns played a pivotal role in the Maya world. Cenotes were revered by the Mayan civilization and used as a portal to communicate with the gods. Underneath the lush jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula lies a secret underworld of turquoise pools and mystical caves. Taking a refreshing dip in an ancient cenote is one of the most iconic experiences in the Riviera Maya © Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images Swim in a cavern This gallery is the brainchild of Pepe Soho, one of the most celebrated photographers in Mexico. The venue is modest, and the entrance fee is higher than local museums, but it captures your imagination like no other, with outstanding visuals that both adults and kids will appreciate. It delivers a one-of-a-kind sensory experience designed to take you on a journey through the Maya cosmology through multi-sensorial rooms and installations.

Get a digital experience at Mystika TulumĪfter exploring the Tulum ruins, make a stop at the new-age interactive digital museum, Mystika Tulum.

Start with the waterfront temples and meander clockwise through the site – the real prize is the view that awaits along the cliff-edge trail of the Castillo, the tallest structure in Tulum, backed by cobalt waters and a spiny-tailed iguana or two. There is very little shade at the ruins and the opportunity to cool off in the sea is most welcome. The compact archaeological site can be seen in a couple of hours aim to get here before the tour groups arrive at 11 am and bring a swimsuit for a refreshing dip in the inviting water beneath the ruins. With evidence of habitation dating back as far as 564 CE, Tulum's heyday as a Maya city was in the 1200s and it has withstood the ravages of time and retained its grid-like layout, main structures, and a strong sense of history in every corner. The Tulum ruins are perched on the top of rocky cliffs, high above the azure waters of the Caribbean – an uncommon location for an ancient Maya city. Ranked high as one of the most prominent ruins in Mexico, Tulum is a great place to start your Riviera Maya journey. The ancient Maya city of Tulum is one of the most renowned ruins in Mexico © Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images Time travel at the Tulum ruins

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