Best Places to Buy a House in Mexico’s Riviera Maya

Despite its ever-growing popularity, real estate in Mexico’s Riviera Maya is still more affordable than what you would have to pay in other top beach destinations in the Caribbean or around the world. Offering a wide variety of gorgeous condos and luxury beachfront villas to choose from, here are the best places to buy a house in Mexico’s Riviera Maya:

Puerto Morelos

Situated just 25 minutes south of the Cancun International Airport, the sleepy fishing village and resort town of Puerto Morelos exudes charm and offers an ideal location close to the beach if you are looking to buy a house in Mexico’s Riviera Maya! As one of the region’s best-kept secrets, Puerto Morelos is ideal if you are in the market for a quiet locale that is close to everything the Riviera Maya has to offer. Although the area is growing, it has retained a laid-back vibe with small-town style and friendly feel, so this is not the place to go if wild spring break crowds are what you seek! Far from boring, however, Puerto Morelos is home to a handful of small boutique hotels, along with gorgeous luxury condos and villas close to the beach that can serve as a vacation home or full-time residence. 

Playa del Carmen

The thriving international city of Playa del Carmen lies about 35 minutes south of Puerto Morelos along the Caribbean coast. Often shortened to just “Playa” by locals, this onetime lazy fishing village has grown into a cosmopolitan destination with world-class shopping, dining and entertainment. Not surprisingly, the local real estate market in Playa del Carmen is also hot, thanks in part to the city’s fantastic infrastructure and amenities, including hospitals, big-box stores and every modern convenience you could ask for. There are also plenty of beautiful new condos and homes in Playa del Carmen, giving buyers easy access to everything the Riviera Maya has to offer. 

Puerto Aventuras

The exclusive gated beach, marina and golf community of Puerto Aventuras is situated about 25 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and remains one of the region’s amazing hidden gems. Offering security, a fabulous golf course designed by Thomas Leman, two marinas and a busy commercial area with many shops and restaurants. This is also one of the Riviera Maya’s most family-friendly towns, with an international private school and many activities catered to children. The beach here is quiet, with calm waters and smaller crowds than other areas in the Riviera Maya, in part because Puerto Aventuras doesn’t cater to raucous partygoers. Instead, people come here to enjoy the marina, play golf and relax, or enjoy activities like snorkeling along the world’s second-largest barrier reef. The real estate market here is strong, with vacation home rentals, condos and private villas to suit virtually any taste and budget.

Akumal

Akumal actually means “place of the turtles” in the ancient Mayan language, and this small outpost nestled between Puerto Aventuras and Tulum definitely lives up to its name! Home to wildlife, snorkeling and a number of fun little bars and restaurants serving the freshest seafood imaginable, the town is still relatively small with people coming to enjoy the calm waters of Akumal Bay. Although it is growing in popularity every year, land and homes for sale are still somewhat limited in availability, simply because there just isn’t as much construction here as there is in other parts of the Riviera Maya. But don’t despair – it’s still possible to find some truly incredible real estate in Akumal for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere in the Caribbean to own property in such a charming locale!

Tulum

Last but definitely not least, the town of Tulum is known for having the best beaches in the world, with miles of pristine white sand framing clear turquoise waters, and easy access to wellness classes, spa treatments, gourmet restaurants and ancient Mayan ruins. Just one hour south of downtown Playa del Carmen, Tulum lies at the doorstep of the incredible million-acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, attracting visitors who want to unplug, relax, unwind and enjoy the natural unspoiled beauty of the Caribbean. Despite its growing popularity among jetsetters worldwide, Tulum real estate still offers incredible value for anyone looking to buy a house in the Riviera Maya. There are many amazing condos, vacation homes and luxury villas for sale in Tulum, many of which are designed to function as turnkey, professionally managed properties that can produce ongoing income if desired.

Buying a house in the Riviera Maya is easier and more affordable than you imagined! Though it varies by municipality, property taxes are much less than what you will find in the U.S. and Canada, and the cost of living is also lower in Mexico.

Would you like to know more about the best places to buy a house in Mexico’s Riviera Maya? Post your questions in the comments section below!