Gay Riviera Maya: the absolute travel guide for LGBTQ travelers

Instead of spending the New Year suffering through a dark, bleak winter, enjoy Mexico’s biggest and hottest gay party. The Arena Festival is spread across 6 days and 6 nights and is nothing but pure, epic fun. The best DJs and artists from around the world fly in to perform at the festival, which is attended by thousands. Lovers of house and EDM will feel right at home, partying on the gorgeous beaches, meeting new people, and vibing to the music.

Playa Pride is noisy, colorful, and extraordinarily wild. It takes place across the last week of June, taking hold of the city of Playa del Carmen and washing it in rainbow colors, streamers, and music. The best part about it is the beach parties. Not many Pride events have the sprawling white sands and sparkling blue waters to take advantage of, and Playa makes the most of it. And to cap it all off, Playa Pride culminates with an epic parade that meanders through the streets of Playa del Carmen, representing all the wonderful shades of the LGBTQ community.

Ok, ok, we’re cheating… Cancun Pride isn’t strictly in the Riviera Maya, but it’s only a 90-minute drive away. So, if you are around when the festival is on, there’s nothing stopping you from popping over for a cheeky adventure. After all, Cancun Pride is nothing but sheer joy and celebration. It takes place every June and includes a dramatic parade, lots of club-themed nights, and tons of beach parties. In addition, Cancun Pride works throughout the year on fundraisers and projects, supporting and uplifting LGBTQ Mexicans. In recent years, they’ve targeted their work towards anti-discrimination laws and employee support in the workplace.

Perched along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, facing the Caribbean Sea, are the famous Tulum ruins. Built as a fortress in 546 AD, Tulum was mostly unoccupied until the 16th century. It’s a place that has seen constant change, with each generation bringing new architectural styles and cultures. As a result, Tulum today is a historian’s goldmine! We recommend going along on a guided tour. It might cost you slightly more than just walking around by yourself but it’s the best way to learn about the historical significance of the site – and there are other fun activities included!

Ask any of our friends and they’ll say “the Nomadic Boys are the exact opposite of Ariel the little mermaid.” She wanted to live on land, and we’re desperate to live under the sea! Which is why we couldn’t resist the urge to go reef diving in Playa del Carmen. Especially considering the Riviera Maya has the second largest reef system in the world. It’s 600 miles of pure maritime magic, extending from the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay Islands in Honduras. We only counted about 20 different species between us – but those with a savvier eye than us can find over 500 different species of fish. And we didn’t even mention all of the adorable sea turtles and dolphins!

Cenotes are natural swimming holes that ancient Mayans would have used as a water source. The word “cenote” literally translates to “sacred well”. They were considered so important in Mayan culture that some people even believed them to be a gateway through which one could talk to God. The most impressive ones to visit include Cenote Dos Ojos, Cenote Cristalino, and Cenote Azul. Also, if you get the chance, we highly recommend scuba diving and/or snorkeling in the cenotes, perhaps as a day trip from Playa del Carmen?

From kayaking to diving, boat rides to lounging on the beach, very little beats a day trip to Isla Mujeres. Our highlight from this trip was ziplining over the Caribbean Sea. We were suspended 30 feet above the waters, the perfect height for drinking in views of the vast blue waters, white-sand beaches, and charming village down below. Once you’re done there, you need to head into the town itself and seek out a local restaurant. Everywhere we checked had lovely, warm and welcoming staff who served delicious local cuisine (more on this below). 

We go back and forth between craving a beach day and indulging in a city break. So naturally, Playa del Carmen was an exceptional fit for us. You can spend your morning lounging on warm sands, basking in the Caribbean sun, and then spend the afternoon buzzing around the shops and restaurants – or perhaps tasting all the best local cuisine on a food tour. And when it comes to nightlife, anything goes. We hit up Coco Bongo, one of the best mixed/queer clubs in Playa del Carmen. Hot bar staff, fun dance music, and reasonably priced drinks…what more could we have wanted?!

If you’re traveling with family or as part of a pack, Xcaret Park is an all-round group pleaser. This is a really unique theme park, where you can snorkel through underground rivers, explore the Coral Reef Aquarium, and fall in love with your surroundings in the Butterfly Pavilion. You don’t even need to be the most active person or the biggest nature enthusiast to appreciate the magic that is Xcaret! The park also has tons of restaurants that serve delicious local cuisine as well as a breath-taking nightly performance showcasing Mayan and Mexican culture- it’s a true love letter to everything wonderful that is Mexico.

For centuries, the Coba Ruins existed undiscovered, due to them being hidden away in a jungle. It was opened to the public in the early 1970s as an archaeological site. Whilst only three structures are open to visitors, some estimate there are over 6,000 settlements out there still. Most people devote around 1-3 hours to visiting and exploring the Nohoch Mul structure, which is the main pyramid. Other highlights include the Conjunto Pinturas, which is considered the spiritual area, and the Macanxoc structures, located next to a magnificent lagoon. You can also learn more about the Mayan culture by joining a tour that includes time at the Coba Maya Ville.

Chichen Itza used to be one of the most important city-states in pre-Hispanic America. Today, it is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico. It is so impressive that in 2007, it was selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Most people come to see the fascinating Chichen Itza pyramid, which was built to honor the God Kukulcanand. Chicken Itza is around 2 hours drive from the Riviera Maya, which makes it a convenient day trip as part of a tour.

It’s sweet, it’s earthy, it’s quintessentially Mexican. It is braised pork marinated in a mix of Seville oranges, achiote, charred garlic, and a host of other spices. Some even like to add sprinkles of cheese into the mix, to give it a creamy kick. Cochinita pibil was traditionally cooked on a “pib” aka an earth oven, though most places use a stone oven. This dish will fill you up for the evening, so we wouldn’t recommend any vigorous dancing or exercising immediately after eating…

The ultimate guilty pleasure dish! Salbutes are fried tortillas, topped with pulled chicken, tomato, and avocado. They are a go-to party snack when eating out with friends. They’re crispy without being crumbly, salty without being sickly, and spicy without burning a hole in your tongue. Salbutes are such a popular snack that if you whip up a couple for a social gathering, they will be gone in minutes!

We LOVE ceviche! It is a raw seafood dish, which “cooks” in citrus juice (usually lime) and spices. Since it's usually served raw, the fresher it is, the better. It is absolutely delicious, whether eaten as a starter, accompaniment or a main! Along with the lime juice and spices, a traditional Mexican ceviche also contains avocado, tomatoes, cucumber and cilantro. The most common seafood used in a Mexican ceviche is shrimp or scallops. Fish based ceviche is also popular and is usually made from halibut, red snapper, tuna, or sea bass.

This was, without a doubt, our favorite meal to have in the Riviera Maya. It's a simple enough recipe that we were even able to master it at home. A poc chuc is a pork dish that is marinated in citrus (usually very sour orange juice) then cooked on a grill. It’s served with rice, refried beans, avocado slices and a pickled onion, which gives it a flawless blend of smoky and sweet. Cooking enthusiasts recommend marinating the pork a day before you cook it to really max out the flavours. 

Pozole is a soup made from maize (dried corn kernels). Pork gets added to the mix and it's eventually served with shredded lettuce, peppers, garlic, onion, or lime slices. Mexicans tend to make pozole for New Year celebrations and Mexican Independence Day. The dish has a fascinating history, dating back to the Aztecs, who viewed maize as a sacred plant. Some research even proves that they cooked humans for their meat, usually criminals… Thankfully, this tradition quickly got stamped out and pork was used instead!

You guessed right – this is lime soup. At first, we were put off by the idea of a citrus flavoured soup. After all, we usually only have limes with our margaritas! However, this dish is oddly refreshing. It can be served as hot or as mild as you can handle and goes great with a beer or cocktail on the side. Plus, it usually gets served with tortilla chips – fabulous for a starter or midday snack. 

Tikin Xic is fish marinated in adobo de achiote and sour oranges, wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked beneath a wood fire. The marriage of smoky and sweet is classic Meso-American style. If you’re wondering what achiote is, it’s a paste made from seeds, spices, and garlic, with a distinct earthy taste to it. Restaurants usually serve this dish with black beans, Mexican white rice, tortilla shells, and slices of avocado.