The Riviera Maya is located in , in the state of Quintana Roo, the youngest one in the country (it became a state in 1974). Its 50 212 square kilometer area represent 2.6 % of the national territory. It borders north with the Caribbean Sea, south with and and west with the states of Campeche and Yucatán.

Geography. The territory is flat, covered by low tropical forest and its Caribbean coasts are made of several kilometers of white sand beaches, inlets, bays and mangroves. Because of its limestone ground, there are no important rivers, except for the Rio Hondo, a navigable river on the border with , and the Rio Azul, on the border with . The most important lagoons are Cobá, north of Tulum, Bacalar northeast of Chetumal, the State capital, and Chichancanab, between Santa Rosa and Polyuc. There are many cenotes (freshwater bodies), where the ancient Mayan populations who made up the Mayan culture settled.

Climate. The continental part enjoys a semi-tropical climate, with average temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius that can go up to 35 during the summer. The average rainfalls are abundant, about 1400 mm per year. The highest temperatures and heaviest rains are during April and May and from September to January. During the day, the climate is hot, therefore we recommend light clothing. For excursions in the jungle, we recommend wearing long pants, long sleeve shirts and shoes, and using an insect repellent. At night, temperatures go down, and a light sweater or sweatshirt can be useful.