We’re constantly in awe of the Riviera Maya. It’s an absolutely beautiful area with pristine beaches, gorgeous white sand and tons of activities. And lucky for us, two of our resorts—Now Jade and Now Sapphire —call this amazing place home.

The area also has a lot of history and some very interesting facts that make it the major tourist destination that it is today.

Here are four of our favorites:

1. Xcaret is a 250-acre ecological/archaeological theme park located less than 30 miles from Now Jade & Now Sapphire.  It is an amazing place to explore and spend a day outside of the resorts. On a visit to Xcaret guests can see a Mayan archaeological site and learn about the Mayan culture. There are countless activities such as swimming in an underground river.
2. According to the Quintana Roo Speleological Society (QRSS), the world’s two largest underground rivers are found in the Riviera Maya, measuring more than 435 miles. Also called “cenotes”, these underground rivers were formed by thousands of years of dripping water upon the subsoil’s calcareous rock. They were also sacred spaces for the Maya and an essential source of fresh water.
3. In the 2005 horror movie “The Cave,” divers become trapped with man-eating creatures in an underwater cave system in Romania, however many of the cave scenes were actually filmed in the Riviera Maya.
4. It feels like summer year-round with an average temperature of 74 degrees! The weather is mild and even in January, its coldest month,  the average low is 67 degrees.  Pack your sunscreen and flip flops.  See you soon.