As turquoise waves lap between the sugar sands of Tulum and Playa del Carmen, the scents of sizzling taco fillings twist and turns through low-rise bungalows, hammocks swing between palm trees, the outline of snorkelers casts shadows on the lagoons, and there's rest and relaxation in the air. Welcome to the Riviera Maya, one of Mexico's most popular vacation destinations.

With hundreds of days of sunshine and warmth each year, clean Caribbean ocean waters, and even a peppering of mystical Mayan temples, there's plenty to keep you going in these parts. Or not going, as the case might be – chilling by the pool or lazing on the cotton-tinted sands of Xpu-ha and Purto Morelos is a doozy.

In fact, the real key to enjoying the region to the fullest is balancing the rich history with the beauty of the setting. A Riviera Maya tour guide can help you do just that. They can whisk you away to the clifftop temples of Tulum and Xcaret, spin tales of Mayan panther gods and sacrificial rituals at Cobá, take you diving in resplendent coral reefs at Akumal, go jungle walking in Puerto Aventuras– the list goes on.