Scuba Diving
 Guest
of Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya can try diving with a free discover scuba class in our pool with Pluto Dive Center Playa del Carmen.
The Pluto Dive Center in Playa del Carmen is personally attended by the owners,
which guarantees safety and attentive impeccable service on land and sea. All
their Divemasters and Dive Instructors are knowledgeable, experienced, and SSI
and/or PADI certified so they can lead you on the best dive possible, in the
safest way. Playa del Carmen is on the Caribbean just 45 minutes south of Cancun,
Mexico, and offers world class diving close to shore and unique Mexican fresh
water cenote cavern diving.
Daytime Activities
Playa del Carmen beckons with a range of activities that
is as diverse as the beautiful hues of azure and turquoise Caribbean
waters. Activities range from long walks on endless stretches of fine
white sandy beach to an afternoon siesta in a palm shaded hammock
If you're not already a trained diver, you can learn to
scuba dive or take a snorkeling lesson. Either way; you will marvel
at the beauty and scope of the longest reef in the northern hemisphere.
Windsurfing, jet skiing, or a full day of deep sea sports fishing are
also available.
If golf is your game, the Playacar Club de Golf offers
a spectacular par 72 championship golf course designed by world renowned
golfer Robert Von Hagge. The golf course winds its way through the lush
tropical jungle, around mystical cenotes, and next to ancient Mayan
ruins.
If you'd rather stay on the beach, there are afternoon
volleyball games on the beach in Playa del Carmen almost every day.
Beware, losers buy the first round of cold beers. Whatever your interest,
Playa del Carmen has something for everybody to enjoy.
Playa del Carmen geographic location let you visit nearby
places like Cozumel, Xcaret, Xel Ha, Tulum, Coba, and the ecological
reserve of Sian Ka'an and colonial cities such Valladolid and Merida,
founded by the Spanish conquerors. Ferries to Cozumel Island, one of
dive capitals of the world, leave from Playa del Carmen about every
hour. Combined with Playa del Carmen's proximity to some of the greatest
ceremonial centers of the ancient Maya, this makes Playa del Carmen
the heart of the Mayan Riviera. In fact, Mayan ruin hopping one of Playa
del Carmen's chief attractions.
 Exploring
the Maya World
Tulum ruins and Xel-Ha snorkeling park are 45 minutes
away. The jungle site of the Coba ruins is bit further, but worth the
1 1/2 hour trek. Xcaret, the original eco-archaeological park is next
door to Playa del Carmen and offers a multitude of activities. Here
you can snorkel in the natural aquarium (caleta) or float down
its two crystal-clear underground rivers, go horseback riding on the
beach, or swim with the dolphins. In addition, Xcaret boasts a botanical
garden, a farm featuring regional wildlife, a small museum with scale
models of major Mayan cities, and several small archaeological sites.
Ecotourists can take a number of interesting trips from
Playa del Carmen. Sian Ka'an, a 1.3 million acre biosphere reserve lies
just to the south of Tulum and day trips are available. An alternative
is the archaeological sites of Kohunlich in southern Quintana Roo, Xpuhil,
Becan, and Chicanna in Campeche, Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Ek Balam in
Yucatan . These ancient cities are located deep in the jungle and are
excellent spots for bird-watching.
The Aviary
In Playa del Carmen hot, steamy days fade to cool afternoons, an excellent
time to visit the Xaman-Ha Aviary in Playacar. It is run by a private
foundation sponsored by Situr, the corporation behind the Playacar development.
The admission fee is a reasonable and it's well worth a visit. If you
don't have a rental car take a taxi, or you could find yourself wandering,
lost on the Playacar golf course fairway.
The aviary setting takes visitors into a tamed Yucatecan jungle to
wander along trails in a botanical garden. The plants are carefully
labeled for amateur horticulturists. Flamingos and other long-legged
birds amble about a pond. Adventurous birds occasionally hop onto the
pedestrian paths; on more than one occasion the staff has had to rescue
someone being pursued by aggressive pelicans. Overhead parrots of many
colors squawk in the trees. In the main enclosure visitors can get within
ten feet of a toucan.
Nightlife
During afternoon siesta Playa del Carmen is quiet, but as the sun sets
the town is at its most festive. Street performers stroll Quinta Avenida
playing guitars while singing Spanish folk song,  and
lovers walk hand in hand, their ruddy faces glowing in the red rays
of the setting sun.
Happy hour, which can last for a generous 120 minutes, gets under way
at most taverns and Playa del Carmen becomes a international social
club. American football flashes on giant screens before enthusiastic
Italians; which, at least, provides a new opening line: Can you explain
this game to me? (Asking if you live near by seems unlikely in Playa
del Carmen).
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