When Going To The Riviera Maya For Tropical Nights: Boots In The Sand, Here Are A Few Things To Do

My family and I vacationed on the Riviera Maya in Mexico in June of 2012 and we all agree it is our favorite vacation destination and can't wait to go back!

The Riviera Maya is a 25 mile stretch of beach front following Highway 307 on the East Coast of Mexico. It begins a few miles South of Cancun in a town called Puerto Morelos and ends down around a town called Punta Allen.

When you arrive for your five-day, four-night all-inclusive country music dream getaway at the oceanfront Hard Rock Riviera Hotel Maya, here are a few things we enjoyed while down there and think you will too.

First up is a visit to the town of Akumal, which means "place of the turtles" in the Mayan language. Absolutely, one of the most amazing experiences of my life was swimming with the Giant Sea Turtles in Yal Ku Lagoon.

Second, my family and I would all recommend Tulum. This was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayas. If you're bringing the kids, my son would tell you them all about the hundreds of 3-4 foot long wild iguanas that are literally everywhere you look! For me, I'd tell you to bring a camera and take in the breathtaking architecture and the bluest water you've ever seen in your life on its coast-side!

Lastly, we'd all recommend going a little to the north of Akumal and spend the day in a small, former fishing town called Playa del Carmen, or "Playa" as the locals call it. It's a quaint little Mexican tourist spot with plenty of shops, fresh roadside fruit stands and places to eat. There is also a town square with daily and nightly performances from The Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers). According to the Wikipedia definition,

It is believed to have originated with the Nahua, Huastec and Otomi peoples in central Mexico, and then spread throughout most of Mesoamerica. The ritual consists of dance and the climbing of a 30 meter pole from which four of the five participants then launch themselves tied with ropes to descend to the ground. The fifth remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and drum. According to one myth, the ritual was created to ask the gods to end a severe drought.

Again, please purchase your tickets for Tropical Nights: Boots in the Sand and when you're not rocking the night with Brantley Gilbert of Billy Currington, spend your days taking in the sites of this beautiful stretch of land in Mexico.