The Caribbean is one of the most sought-after international destinations. It’s not surprising given its paradisiacal beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and unique opportunity to experience the customs of ancient cultures. The quintessential honeymoon for couples is to travel to Caribbean beaches, but it’s also highly demanded for group trips.
The Caribbean is vast, but within it, Punta Cana and Riviera Maya are perhaps the star destinations. In both areas, you’ll find white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, high-end hotels, and activities to enjoy at all hours. Which one should you choose? We’ll show you some differences to consider if you’re deciding between Riviera Maya and Punta Cana.
Keep reading to discover whether you should travel to Punta Cana or Riviera Maya, the best time to visit them, and which of the two destinations is more budget-friendly.
Riviera Maya or Punta Cana: Which is better?
Riviera Maya and Punta Cana are two of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Learn more about their unique characteristics and differences to decide which is better for you. That way, you can get started planning your ideal vacation.
For those who love total relaxation at the beach, Punta Cana is the ideal destination. In contrast, Riviera Maya offers many cultural and archaeological tourism opportunities in addition to their beaches. At Travel2Holidays, we offer various excursions and private tours for you to discover the most exotic corners and experience the best adventures in whichever destination you choose. Contact us, and we’ll help you plan your ideal trip. Your next adventure starts here with us.
Which destination is more economical?
The first thing to consider when planning your trip to destinations like Riviera Maya or Punta Cana is how much everything will cost once you’re there. This will help you create a budget for your vacation that’s accurate and realistic.
In Riviera Maya, prices are reasonable for accommodation, meals, and activities including car rentals, making it an affordable option, especially if you plan to move around and do a lot of sightseeing. On the other hand, in Punta Cana, you’ll find accommodation, food, and transportation to be relatively more expensive. However, leisure activities and shopping can be attractively priced.
Depending on the type of vacation you want to have, your budget will vary based on the type of accommodation you choose and the plans you make. However, generally speaking, Riviera Maya is a more budget-friendly destination than Punta Cana.
The best time to visit paradise
When you picture a Caribbean vacation, you probably imagine palm trees gently blowing in the wind, soft sands, crystal-clear waters, blue skies, and warm, tropical temperatures. However, this picture can differ significantly if you choose to travel in January or in August.
Generally, the best months to travel to the Caribbean are from December to May, as from June to November, rain tends to cloud the views of the paradisiacal beaches, and the heat prevails. Therefore, knowing the best time to travel to the Caribbean is crucial before booking your vacation.
The best months to travel to the Caribbean are from December to May.
During these months, Caribbean countries enjoy great weather with temperatures around 25 degrees. As the sun isn’t so harsh at this time of the year, it’s the perfect time to plan a trip to Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, or other destinations in the Caribbean. However, as this is considered to be the high season in the Caribbean, there is typically a considerable increase in flight prices.
Which destination has better beaches?
Beaches are a crucial factor when choosing between these two destinations. Both offer stretches of paradisiacal coastlines. Sun, sea, and relaxation are guaranteed in both Punta Cana and Riviera Maya. However, there are some who have visited both destinations that claim that Punta Cana’s beaches are more impressive.
Featuring an abundance of palm trees and lush vegetation, Punta Cana’s landscape is truly awe-inspiring. Bavaro Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Punta Cana and in the Caribbean in general, stretches for several kilometers with white sand, coconut trees lining the shore, and crystal-clear waters inviting you to swim. It’s a unique spot for activities like snorkeling, diving, or simply lounging in the sun. And there’s so much more to do! Create your own list of places to visit in Punta Cana so you don’t miss out.
It’s also worth noting that Riviera Maya is also home to stunning beaches, so if you do decide to choose this destination you’ll still be in for a treat!
Common features between Riviera Maya and Punta Cana
The Caribbean spirit of the people is evident in both destinations. The beaches are pristine and ideal for various water sports such as kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, or diving.
Regarding the final choice, as you can see, it will depend a lot on the type of trip you want to take. If you’re interested in exploring, visiting different places, and immersing yourself in other cultures, Riviera Maya is the better choice. On the other hand, if you simply want to disconnect on beautiful beaches at quality all-inclusive hotels, Punta Cana is the place for you.
The beaches of the Caribbean are undoubtedly among the most beautiful in the world, which is why every year they have thousands and thousands of visitors looking to leave the stress behind by spending a week or two there; but from all of them we can still choose the best and in this case, what could be better than finding a beach everywhere you turn? That’s what we get when we stay on Caribbean islands. We’re going to give you a selective list of the best Caribbean islands to travel to on holiday and explain the reasons why you should choose them, because there’s one for every different traveller; pay attention and start packing your bags and thinking about booking. Here we go to find out which are the best islands in the Caribbean for holidays. Here we go!
9. Anguilla
Despite being one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean, this beautiful place has a choice of over 30 different beaches to stay on, which are famous around the world for their beautiful white sands. Thanks to its modest size, you can manage to visit all the attractions in a couple of days and know that you’ve seen the whole island in a couple of days when you return home.
8. Aruba, the Happy Island
This Caribbean island is one of the most interesting islands to go on holiday, certainly for unconventional tastes starting with its landscape that is far from the idea of a conventional forested island and offers us more the image of a desert with palm trees, of course with beautiful turquoise beaches; in it, you can do a lot of different activities for all ages.
On the one hand there are a lot of resorts aimed specifically at families with children, where there is fun for the little ones at home, while on the other hand for those who love the nightlife there are a lot of bars, discos and casinos.
7. Saint Lucia
This beautiful place is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the whole Caribbean, for some reason it has become quite a tradition for newly married couples and with good reason, because its waters are beautiful and peaceful; one of its most interesting points in favour is that it has several resorts that have the all inclusive system, which means that you can be sure that there will be no surprises when leaving the hotel for hidden costs of any kind of service.
It’s also very unusual in that it manages to have both mountain and beach scenery in one place, with crystal clear waters and beautiful weather at any time of the year; the island is also very famous for its annual jazz festival, which is the perfect time for those with a delicate ear to book a stay.
Baby Beach and coast on Aruba, Caribbean, white beach with blue ocean tropical beach.
6. Barbados
There are hundreds of islands in the Caribbean, but Barbados is one of the most multi-faceted of them all. It has a truly varied amount of activity and accommodation options and beyond the fact of talking about accommodation for whole families or just couples, the most important thing is probably that it has accommodation to suit any economic condition, from those who love luxury to backpacker tourists.
The island also has diverse landscapes and cultural activities to enrich you, such as the famous town of Bridgetown, which has beautiful architecture dating back to the 17th century, and the popular attraction of Harrison Cave, a beautiful rock formation.
5. St John
If you’re in the USA then you’ll know that for some time now this island has been a US Virgin Island and therefore you don’t even need a passport to visit it, which makes it a great option if you don’t have much time to do paperwork prior to your trip to one of the best islands in the Caribbean.
Aside from its perfect mix of turquoise beaches and beautiful white sand that sit right next to large forested areas, there’s also an impressive amount of marine wildlife that you can enjoy a front row seat to if you visit Trunk Bay for some snorkelling.
4. Bermuda
What better place to be right in the middle of our list than the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean as far as a formal side is concerned; this elegance is undoubtedly due to the strong British influence that we can find even in the tradition they have of drinking in the evenings.
This is the perfect destination for lovers of interesting sports such as golf and cricket, as this place has world-famous golf courses. If you are travelling from the United States, especially from New York, you will be delighted to know that flights from this destination take only two hours.
3. Antigua and Barbuda
Although almost everyone knows this top Caribbean island as a pair, because we always talk about both Antigua and Barbuda, this small island has a lot to offer on its own, being mainly known for its gambling, specifically for the large number of different casinos that are found here.
As you can imagine, if there are casinos there is also a lot of nightlife on this small island and you will find something for everyone, from cafes and good restaurants, to nightclubs and the casinos which are the main attraction and have many attractions; as far as beaches are concerned these are truly different, because they do not only have white sand, but also have pink sand beaches.
2. Puerto Rico
In keeping with the idea of saving the best of our list of the best islands for a Caribbean holiday for last, near the bottom of our list is this stunning island known worldwide for its great singer-songwriters and of course for all its beautiful landscapes; it’s another one of those destinations where a US citizen doesn’t need a passport to travel, because it’s an unincorporated state with Commonwealth status of the USA.
There is a little bit of everything to do on this bustling island, all kinds of activities for every taste; those who love culture will feel better visiting the cities of Ponce and San Juan, with a very good amount of historical sites and of course, also with nightlife and good gastronomy to contrast and offer diversity. On the other hand, this island has different types of beaches to offer to every variety of tourist, from those beaches that are perfect for surfing, to those that have beautiful marine fauna and flora, that are perfect for divers and of course, also beaches with calm waters for those who love to take a nap by the sea listening only to the sound of the wind. Not to be left out, Puerto Rico is also home to numerous casinos of varying sizes where you can enjoy yourself.
1. Jamaica
The island from where the famous musical rhythm of Reggae was created could not have another place in the list of best islands in the Caribbean more than the first place, because wherever you go to the beach you will hear this kind of music perfectly setting the palm trees and waves; in Jamaica and an impressive amount of diversity in terms of flora and fauna, not only in the marine, but also many exotic birds and abundant wooded areas.
One of the biggest attractions of Jamaica is that it has many all-inclusive resorts, the fashion and preference of any tourist; on the other hand it also calls golfers from all over the world, as this place is home to the Montego Bay resort, world renowned for having the best golf courses in the Caribbean. With this selection of Caribbean islands you have enough to have the perfect holiday for 9 consecutive years, so it’s just a matter of choosing which will be the first on the list of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean that you want to visit and start packing.
Choose your favorite Caribbean holidays at Travel2holidays and enjoy these beautiful islands at the best price!
Mexico has it all – a vibrant culture, breathtaking tropical destinations, and a rich historical heritage with hidden gems waiting to be discovered in every nook. It’s no wonder that Mexico has become a popular tourist destination with its incredible natural beauty and cultural treasures. So, let’s embark on a journey to uncover the best Mexico has to offer!
Riviera Maya, a must-visit gem
The Riviera Maya is undoubtedly one of the top places to go in Mexico.
In the Riviera Maya, you’ll discover Puerto Morelos, a charming coastal town offering a wide array of tourist services. Get ready to experience water sports like windsurfing, diving, and delightful boat rides. Plus, the accommodations and dining options here are more budget-friendly compared to other tourist destinations, making it a great choice among Mexico’s best travel spots.
Moving along the Riviera Maya, we find the renowned Playa del Carmen, the region’s best-known city. Tourism takes center stage here, providing a diverse selection of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping centers, and recreational activities to delight in. The beaches are exceptionally beautiful, offering various activities, or you can simply unwind on its warm, white sands under the sun.
In addition to these two destinations, the Riviera Maya offers other gems such as Tulum, Akumal, Coba, Puerto Aventuras, and the magnificent Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Cancún, a thriving tourist paradise
On the other hand, the most popular tourist destination in Mexico might be Cancún, attracting visitors from all over the world. Besides its beautiful beaches, Cancún is renowned for its numerous tourist activities and attractions.
The city offers an impressive selection of over 180 hotels, most of which line the beautiful boulevard Kukulcán, catering to a wide range of travelers’ preferences and budgets.
Nature lovers will find the Ecological Park Kabah a must-visit destination, housing various animal and plant species, some of which are endangered. And for an unforgettable experience, dive into exploring a portion of the world’s second-largest coral reef system, located just off the coast of Cancún.
Archaeology enthusiasts shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore the ancient ruins of civilizations like the Mayans in the archaeological zone. Highlights include El Templo del Alacrán, El Castillo, and the El Rey archaeological site.
Cancún’s array of stunning beaches is not to be missed, with highlights including Caleta and Caletilla, Manzanillo, Revolcadero, Pie de la Cuesta, and Tlacopanocha.
Additionally, we highly recommend exploring Isla de la Roqueta, where you’ll discover the same type of beaches we mentioned earlier, perfect for enjoying a variety of water sports and expert-guided tours. Diving, in particular, is a favorite activity here, thanks to the crystal-clear water and the presence of mesmerizing underwater flora and fauna.
Don’t miss the chance to visit the renowned Virgen de los Mares, a 2-meter monument submerged just a few meters deep in the sea. This holds great significance in the local culture, with residents venerating it every 12th of December, as it is believed to protect all those at sea or on the water.
On the island, there’s also a zoo showcasing a fascinating collection of exotic animal species, including tigers, monkeys, giraffes, and many others to make your visit even more memorable.
Cancun beach,Mexico
Sótano de las Golondrinas, San Lui Potosi
For adventure and thrill seekers, the Sótano de las Golondrinas (Swallows’ Sinkhole) is the perfect place to explore if you want to visit Mexico’s most daring destinations. This awe-inspiring abyss is home to different types of birds and has been formed over many years due to erosion. Today, it serves as a captivating spectacle for tourists. You can experience the thrill of descending into the chasm and witness the hidden beauties this place has to offer.
This destination is consistently ranked among the top adventures, offering an unparalleled experience that is truly one-of-a-kind in the world. With its magnetic allure, it’s no surprise that this place has become a beloved hotspot for tourists, eager to forge unforgettable memories.
Yucatán Cenotes
“Cenote” is a Mayan word that means “abyss of water wells.” For this culture, these wells symbolized an entrance to the life-giving liquid for the soul.
Today, the cenotes are a spectacular tourist destination in Mexico, surrounded by turquoise and crystalline waters. Within them, you can find hidden rivers and enjoy scuba diving.
Santuario de los Flamencos in Yucatán
For bird enthusiasts, a must-visit is the Santuario de los Flamencos in Yucatán. This sanctuary is home to more than 20,000 pink flamingos and a range of diverse ecosystems. Popular activities here include kayaking and boat tours to explore this captivating sanctuary.
In every corner of the world, nature displays its profound wisdom, and Mexico is no exception. Idyllic backdrops for a rejuvenating vacation, these places offer the perfect escape from urban life. Take a leap and disconnect from your surroundings!
Acapulco
And of course, if we are speaking about the best places to visit in Mexico, we cannot overlook the port city of Acapulco (also known as Acapulco de Juarez). As the first city in Mexico dedicated to tourism, it offers excellent services and warm hospitality, promising the best quality for your stay.
Acapulco is a true paradise for a vacation in Mexico, providing a plethora of options that cater to every visitor’s preferences. From its awe-inspiring beaches and breathtaking landscapes to its vibrant nightlife, Acapulco stands as one of the top choices for an unforgettable holiday.
Upon arriving in this Mexican city, you can indulge in thrilling water sports like diving, windsurfing, or surfing, or simply unwind on its captivating beaches. As night falls, many exciting activities await, including lively nightclubs, captivating theaters, charming bars, and much more. If you’re planning to visit Acapulco soon, don’t miss out on any of these incredible destinations.
Playa la Condesa (Acapulco)
Playa la Condesa in Acapulco is considered one of the most popular beaches in the country, with crystal-clear waters and golden sands. Located in Acapulco’s tourist zone, this beach offers fun and mystery beneath its waters.
According to legend, there is a mythical rock within the sea that dates back to the 18th century. It is said that a priest went to this place to pray for an end to a devastating storm that was wreaking havoc on the entire city. Miraculously, as soon as the priest finished his prayers, the storm dissipated, and the rock was granted magical properties.
Today, Playa la Condesa is a hotspot for various water sports, such as surfing, windsurfing, water skiing, and sailing.
Bars and clubs of Acapulco
For those who seek to dance all night and have a great time with friends, Acapulco offers a wide variety of nightclubs to suit all tastes. Each night, these places feature entertaining shows as their main attractions. From juggling acts and “stilt walkers” to contests for visitors, live music, and more, each venue has a unique offering. Some of the most renowned nightclubs include Baby’O, Pure Night, Mandara, and Alebrije.
Acapulco is a vibrant city offering a mix of relaxation and entertainment. Enjoy serene beach mornings and lively nightlife with unique music and shows that you can only find in Acapulco.
If you’re interested in exploring Mexico, now is a great time to visit. Prepare to be embraced by Mexico’s warm hospitality and discover the captivating charm it holds. Don’t miss out!
The city is also home to one of Mexico’s best symphony orchestras: the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra, based in the Teatro Peón Guerrero. As for visual art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Ateneo de Yucatán (MACAY) stands out, exhibiting murals by the Meridian artist Fernando Castro Pacheco.
The historic center of the city houses treasures like the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, the first on the entire American continent. You can also visit the Monument to the Homeland, the Government Palace housing a Hall of History, or the neighborhoods and parish temples such as San Juan or Santa LucÃa.
The extensive program of festivities includes theatrical performances, musical acts, traditional dances, and many other cultural expressions. During this time, the gastronomy of the city takes center stage, with Yucatecan recipes based on maize, the staple food of the Maya people.
A beautiful shot of the Monument to the Fatherland in Merida, Mexico
Oaxaca City
Continuing to explore the best places to visit in Mexico, let’s talk about Oaxaca City. Not only is it one of the finest tourist spots in Mexico, but it’s also one of the most beautiful cities in the country. When you visit, you’ll be charmed by its picturesque ambiance and historic center. The city boasts rich cultural traditions, vibrant festivals, and exotic cuisine that will leave you captivated.
Teotihuacán Pyramids
Known as the City of the Gods, Teotihuacán offers an exciting adventure for tourists. Multiple tours and guided visits are available to explore this World Heritage Site. You can visit the plazas, pyramids, and murals, and try local cuisine and beverages from nearby establishments.
Mexico awaits us with these and countless other tourist destinations. There’s something for every taste and preference; all you need to do is find the one that resonates with you.
Dreaming of an all-inclusive vacation in Mexico? Discover the best deals in Riviera Maya and beyond with Travel2Holidays.
Picture yourself spending this summer in a warm climate, surrounded by breathtaking paradise beaches. The Caribbean offers the perfect escape for you! Book your trip to the Caribbean with Travel2Holidays today. Our exclusive offers come with premium extras tailored to your preferences, ensuring a memorable summer experience with your loved ones. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey!
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