The Riviera Maya is unarguably one of the richest natural havens on our planet, and it would take lifetimes to explore all that it has to offer. However, for any visitors who have a little extra time on their hands after visiting Xel-Ha, be it archaeological mysteries, picturesque towns, or the savage beauty of nature that attracts their fancy, we recommend not missing out on the following marvels when in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Only eight miles south of Xel-Ha Natural Wonder abides a peaceful town with enormous historical heritage, natural wealth, and an unsurpassable ambient of mystery and pristine beauty. Tulum's downtown area is a quaint and colorful conglomeration of placid streets, varied cuisine, and a relaxed, casual nightlife. Towards the sea, one can find an endless string of huts and small boutique hotels, along what many consider to be amongst the finest beach stretches in the world.

But Tulum's strongest attraction is its archeological significance as a important commercial port for the ancient Mayan civilization. Built on the northern limits of Tulum's beaches, the ruins of what was once an impressive settlement dedicated to trade and navigation, are now famous for their well-conserved edifices against an unsurpassable seaside setting.

A mere thirty-mile drive north of Xel-Ha lies the cosmopolitan beach town Playa del Carmen. A longtime favorite for sun-seeking tourists, it retains the feel of a picturesque Mexican downtown, while its boutique hotels, culinary abundance, rich nightlife, and hip beach clubs are enough to surpass expectations of even the most sophisticated travelers.

Playa del Carmen also boasts marvelous surroundings for snorkelling and diving, either in the renowned coral reef off the coast, or in the numerous cenotes north and south of the metropolis.

About a half-hour drive from Valladolid, a colonial town in Yucatan State, this is probably the most renowned of archaeological zones in the Yucatan Peninsula, boasting a myriad of edifices that constituted one of the most important social, commercial, and religious centers of pre-hispanic Mexico.

Cancun has a direct highway towards Merida that passes through Valladolid. From Xel-Ha, however, it is best to take the federal highway towards Tulum, and then drive past Chemax until arriving at Valladolid and the nearby ruins.