Last Updated
The winter months are some of the busiest times for tourism in the Riviera Maya, and hotels and resorts are often booked to near capacity during this time.
It takes a lot of staff to attend to tourists in these resorts, and some are still facing staff shortages stemming from the pandemic.
Currently, hotels are averaging about a 20 percent shortage, and there are a few things travelers should know as the Riviera Maya resorts continue to face staff shortages ahead of high season.
How The Tourism Industry Is Handling The Shortage
In addition to still trying to hire more staff as high season begins, hoteliers are also trying to motivate the staff that they do have and compensate them for the long hours they’re sure to be working.
The leader of the Riviera Maya Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants has commented that they are requesting bonuses for workers.
Hotels are operating with an average of about 80 percent of their staff.
@travelbyjant Hands down the best resort in Mexico #mexico #rivieramaya #tulum #hotel #vacation #fyp #secrets #secretsakumal ♬ Lowkey (Sped Up) – Rochelle Jordan
Why Winter Is A Season For International Tourism
The majority of tourists who vacation in the Riviera Maya during the winter months are international travelers.
In particular, the destinations in the region are popular among American and Canadian tourists.
This is due to the cold weather that arrives in many areas of these countries during the winter, which leads many travelers to seek out a place to escape the cold.
The mild winter temperatures in the region make it the perfect destination.
@beallinclusive Cold weather called, I hung up and booked a flight ✈️🌴 📍 Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya Its almost time for holiday travels!! Use our BAI travel inquiry form to book your next getaway to paradise! #BAI #beallinclusive #travel #travellife #travelvlog #traveltiktok #traveltok #airport #secrets #secretsakumal #secretsakumalriveramaya #allinclusive #allinclusiveresort #travelbucketlist #traveling #travelagent #wintertravel #paradise #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski
The High Winter Hotel Occupancy In The Riviera Maya
In some areas of the Riviera Maya hotel occupancy can get up to almost 100 percent during the winter.
In fact, in November, before high season even really began, occupancy was already at 79 percent.
That number is expected to reach or exceed at least 90 percent as the season gets underway.
@viajaconleyi XCARET HOTEL IN RIVIERA MAYA #viaja #membresia #falilia #bacaciones #niños #world #fypシ ♬ original sound – Leyi
How Many Hotels Are In The Riviera Maya Region
It might come as a surprise that hotel occupancy reaches such high numbers in the Riviera Maya because there are a lot of hotels.
In total, just in the Riviera Maya, there are around 55,000 hotel rooms spread out between hundreds of hotels.
Areas like Playa del Carmen and Tulum are already experiencing high occupancy numbers.
@daylilytravel Check out my top 5 favourite pools at all-inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya, Mexico! 👉🏼Hotel XCaret Arte 👉🏼Secrets Akumal 👉🏼Unico 20 87 👉🏼Secrets Moxche 👉🏼Valentin Imperial #allinclusiveresorts #allinclusivemexico #allinclusivevacations #canadiantraveller ♬ Por Mi México – Lefty Sm & Santa Fe Klan
Popular Riviera Maya Destinations
While Cancun is often grouped in when referring to the Riviera Maya, the region is actually made up of destinations south of Cancun.
The region starts just south of the famous Cancun Hotel Zone and stretches for about 60 miles.
It includes popular destinations like Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Akumal, and Puerto Aventuras.
@jessicaxalexis There’s so much to do in Tulum I highly recommend staying 4-5 days if you’d like to explore all that it has to offer. Check out my Tulum playlist for more info on visiting Tulum, Mexico 🇲🇽 #thingstodointulum #tulumrecommendations #tulummexico #tulumbeach #tulumsecrets #traveltulum #tulumtravel #tulumrestaurants #whattoeatintulum #wheretoeatintulum #akumalbay ♬ Keeping Your Head Up (Jonas Blue Remix) [Radio Edit] – Birdy
Planning Your Visit During High Season
As busy as the Riviera Maya is during high season, it’s important to plan early and plan well for your vacation.
Booking your hotel well in advance is essential if you want the best selection of hotels and all-inclusive resorts to choose from.
It’s also a good idea to book transportation in advance so that you don’t have to compete with the crowds looking for taxis at the airport upon arrival.
You’ll also want to plan ahead for any excursions and get them booked because the most popular ones sell out quickly.
@bookaway How to get from Cancun to Tulum, Mexico! #travel #traveltiktok #transportation #cancun #cancunmexico #tulummexico #tulum #mexico #mexicotransportation ♬ original sound – Bookaway
Why Tourists Visiting During High Season Can Still Expect Great Service
Mexico is known for its warm hospitality and hotel staff is always eager to please visitors.
So while there may be staff shortages this high season, tourists can still expect great service and that same level of hospitality.
That commitment to service is why the Riviera Maya has become so popular among tourists from all over the world.
Plan Your Next Cancun Vacation:
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
↓ Join the community ↓
The Cancun Sun Community FB group has all the latest travel news, conversations and tourism Q&A’s for the Mexican Caribbean
Subscribe to our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Sun’s latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.