Riviera Maya or Punta Cana – The Honest Guide You Need (2023 Guide)

Mexico and the Caribbean are two of the most popular vacation areas in the world. Known for their beautiful beaches, fun nightlife, and interesting historical sites, Riviera Maya and Punta Cana are among the most popular destinations for travelers.

It may be easy to think that these vacation spots are equal in their offerings. However, Punta Cana and Riviera Maya are quite different and offer much different options for the traveler looking for a beach vacation.

In this article, I will examine the differences and similarities between Riviera Maya and Punta Cana. From this look at Riviera Maya vs Punta Cana, I hope you are able to decide on the best vacation spot for you.

A Quick Overview & Comparison: Riviera Maya vs Punta Cana

When comparing Riviera Maya vs Punta Cana, I pick Riviera Maya as the better choice. Sure, Punta Cana is great for a relaxing, beach vacation, but it just doesn’t offer the variety of activities, dining, and community experiences that Riviera Maya has.

Riviera Maya offers something for every traveler. Whether it is a high-adventure vacation with lots of activity or a quiet and relaxing stay on the beach, Riviera Maya can give you both.

Riviera Maya

• Diverse cultural activities
• Less crowded than other Mexican resort areas
• World-class diving
• Smaller resorts

Riviera Maya is located on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a distinctly different place than Cancun, and offers visitors a different travel experience. While Riviera Maya has beaches and all-inclusive resorts, the real draw to this southern part of Mexico is the access to interesting Mayan historical sites.

The coast south of Cancun in the area known as the Riviera Maya is more rocky, and you’ll find that the area offers beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea from the cliffs that tower above the water. Riviera Maya is a great spot for families that want more adventure in their vacation but also enjoy a bit of beach life.

Punta Cana

• Very affordable
• Beautiful beaches
• Less crowded
• Lots of activities for visitors

If you are on a budget and are looking for the perfect beach vacation, Punta Cana is a great spot. Located on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its soft, white, beaches. For the vacationer that just wants to relax in the sun on the beach, Punta Cana is just perfect.

You’ll find that there are not as many high-rise resorts in Punta Cana. Many of the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana have been designed to tuck into the tropical forests of the island. Punta Cana has plenty of activities, but the most popular are tennis and golf.

Riviera Maya or Punta Cana: A Quick Guide to Choosing

Now that I’ve given you a quick overview of what makes Riviera Maya and Punta Cana great vacation locations, it’s time for a deeper look. In this next section, I’ll give you more details about both spots and why you will want to consider each for your next vacation.

Riviera Maya is located south of Cancun, but is not part of its famous “Hotel Zone”. This is not a single city, but rather a number of towns, cities, and islands at the end of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Riviera Maya is best known for the large number of Mayan ruins and archaeological sites like the ruins at Tulum. However, it also has plenty of beautiful, beachfront, all-inclusive resorts for those that want some beach time.

One of the other draws to Riviera Maya is access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This reef system is the second largest in the world (only the Great Barrier Reef is larger) and is incredibly popular for diving and snorkeling.

In recent years Riviera Maya has become more popular with American tourists, so it tends to be a bit crowded during the high seasons. However, great deals and less crowded resorts and attractions are found during the shoulder months. If you want a quieter experience in Riviera Maya plan your trip in December, November, or May.

Punta Cana is one of those “undiscovered” vacation locations. For the traveler that wants to enjoy a peaceful escape, this is the perfect spot. Sure, it has gained more popularity over the last 10 years or so, but it is still less busy than many other spots in the Caribbean.

The thing you’ll notice about Punta Cana is that most resorts are all-inclusive. If you love to arrive at your resort and have everything taken care of, Punta Cana is the ideal destination. Making this all-inclusive experience even more tempting is the affordability of most resorts. Punta Cana is perfect for the budget traveler.

The beach is the main attraction in Punta Cana, however, active travelers will really enjoy exploring The Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park, hiking to waterfalls, and hopping between beaches on trails tucked under the trees.

The 6 Key Differences Between Riviera Maya and Punta Cana

As you can see from our overview, Riviera Maya and Punta Cana are similar yet at the same time quite different. To further help you center on the best destination for your next vacation, I offer you some of the key differences when considering Riviera Maya vs Punta Cana.

Which Is More Family Friendly?

I like Riviera Maya best when it comes to traveling families. The first thing to consider is that the travel time from most places in the US is not too long. This is a winner for traveling with kids. Then, you have the activities that are available in Riviera Maya. You’ll find everything from diving and snorkeling excursions to jungle adventures.

There are good family-friendly options for lodging in Riviera Maya, as well. Cozumel is one of the most family-friendly locations in Riviera Maya, with many of the resorts offering activities and amenities directed at kids.

Punta Cana has some wonderful family-friendly resorts, but you’ll find there are many more activities for kids in Riviera Maya.

Which Has Better Nightlife?

If you are looking for a fun night out, Punta Cana and the city of Bavaro are your best pick. There aren’t a lot of nightclubs or bars in Punta Cana, but there are enough to satisfy your need for a fun night out. Many of the resorts in Punta Cana have nightclubs on site or have fun bars for evening entertainment.

You may think that the proximity to Cancun would make Riviera Maya a great place for nightlife. However, the smaller cities south of Cancun still maintain a more low-key, quiet charm.

Which Is Cheaper?

When it comes to affordability, there is not much difference between Riviera Maya and Punta Cana. When you consider the two locations, you’ll want to ask yourself where you want to make your largest cost investment for your vacation.

Since you will access Riviera Maya from Cancun, airfare is usually affordable and if you plan well, you can get some great flight deals. Lodging tends to be more expensive in the communities of the Riviera Maya. Most also require an all-inclusive package which can drive up the price. What you save in airfare you spend on lodging.

Punta Cana on the other hand is the opposite. Flights to the Dominican Republic are higher priced. But, most resorts offer a flat rate that includes lodging and all-inclusive packages. In many cases, you can get a luxury all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana for just a fraction of the cost of other resort areas. But, you still have to pay the higher airfare to get there.

How Does the Food Compare? Or Which Is Better for Restaurants & Eating Out?

One of the great things about Riviera Maya is that the small communities offer amazing restaurants and some outstanding opportunities to experience traditional Mexican and Mayan foods. Playa del Carmen is one of the most popular towns in Riviera Maya, because of its quaint streets lined with amazing restaurants.

In Punta Cana, unless you adventure into Bavaro, you will be eating at your resort. The good thing here is that most resorts have a couple of restaurant options to choose from. And, most have varied menus and high-quality options.

Which Is Easier to Get To?

When comparing Riviera Maya vs Punta Cana and which is the easiest to get to, I think the two are tied. Punta Cana has a longer flight, which is a bummer. But, once you get to the Dominican Republic, getting to your resort is not much of a drive.

If you are traveling to most of the destinations in Riviera Maya, you’ll have an easy flight to Cancun, but then you have a decent amount of road travel to get to the popular locations in Riviera Maya.

The exception to this travel tie is Cozumel in the Riviera Maya. This island destination has affordable flights from most major US cities, and since it’s a small island, getting from the airport to your resort is a short taxi or shuttle ride.

Which Is Easier to Get Around Town?

I give this category to Punta Cana. Once you are settled in your resort, you will quickly learn that taxis are easy options for getting where you want to go. If you’d rather walk, most of the beaches and resorts are connected by a network of maintained trails.

The Dominican Republic and Punta Cana are very safe, so you don’t have to worry about navigating around the area on foot or by taxi.

5 Questions to Help You Decided to Travel to Riviera Maya or Punta Cana 

There are many things to consider when it comes to comparing Riviera Maya vs Punta Cana. To close out my discussion of the two vacation destinations, I offer some quick answers to some frequently asked questions about Riviera Maya and Punta Cana.