10 Things to Do in Riviera Maya When it Rains

Nuestra Senora del Carmen Catholic Church near the famous 5th Avenue corridor of Playa del Carmon offers stunning architecture and design as well as a historical point of interest. The church stands out with its stark white walls, triple bells, stunning crucifix decorated with plants and creeping vines, and simple interior benches and main altar with a unique, tropical design. Visitors love the vaulted ceilings and vibrantly-painted walls inside. Markets are held regularly where you can buy spiritual souvenirs and keepsakes.

This is a working church, so be respectful and quiet when you visit. It's located an easy 20-minute drive north up the coast from central Riviera Maya.

Riviera Maya cenotes offer a chance to enjoy some outdoor entertainment even in the rain with natural freshwater pools created by limestone sinkholes. While a rainy day might not seem like the time to go swimming, many cenotes can be found underground in caves to explore, swim, and go snorkelling among colourful tropical fish. You can also capture staggering photos of subterranean rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites. Go kayaking among the cenotes and just enjoy some outdoor adventures even as the skies open up above.

Cenotes can be found all up and down the coast, with over 6,000 available. Whether you're in Tulum, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or anywhere else on the beach, there's sure to be one near you.

Quinta Avenida or 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen offers a tonne of indoor shopping and dining activities to get you out of the weather on a rainy day. You can head for the Calle Corazon shopping centre, hit up a bar-hopping experience to enjoy the complete regional nightlife, or enjoy a cup of coffee in a cafe. For craft spirits, hit up Hacienda Tequila or Tequila Bazar. Walk the Quinta Alegria Mall to find all the biggest name brands and local boutique shops. You can also visit tonnes of local restaurants like Club de Cerveza, La Fisheria, Chez Celine, or 500 Gramos Grill.

Quinta Avenida is a shopper's dream. It's 23 minutes north of central Riviera Maya.

Museo de Cozumel, or the Cozumel Island Museum, offers 11 interactive exhibits designed to showcase the island's culture's natural diversity, history, and origins. You can also explore 2 temporary rotating exhibit halls to see works from local and international artists showcased. Finally, a special exhibit hall displays the history of 146 years of the tradition of Carnival in Cozumel. You'll learn all about the development, history, origins, and customs of this island and why it's important to preserve its cultural heritage in a fun, hands-on way.

If you're staying on Cozumel, this one's just a few minutes from town. It's about an hour and a half from the centre of Riviera Maya on the mainland.

Mystika is a magical exhibition that takes you on an immersive journey where you'll experience the entirety of Mayan culture that engages all your senses. This immersive museum pays homage to the Mayan culture using multimedia, multisensory installations, gigantic photographs, artefacts, and ephemera. It's one of Tulum's newer offerings. Still, you'll walk through fully immersive art installations, moving pictures, a 360-degree cosmic dome, and a magical walk through the treasures and natural beauty of Mayan culture. You'll even learn about such things as the butterfly sanctuary, witness whale watching, and explore a firefly sanctuary.

This museum lets you experience all the cultural diversity of Mexico in one spot. It's 50 minutes south of central Riviera Maya.

Riviera Maya shopping centres offer a wide variety of indoor adventures to escape from the nasty weather and get your shopping, dining, and entertainment on. Whether you're looking for a new bikini to hit the beach on the next nice day, a souvenir, or you're just looking to spend some time browsing big box stores, you'll find it. See a film or grab a bite at a food court or sit-down restaurant. A few better local malls include La Isla Shopping Village, Marina Puerto Cancun, Plaza Paseo Cobá, Paseo del Carmen, and many others.

Every major region from Tulum to Playa del Carmen has many shopping centres. Just head for your local destination and shop till you drop!

Cooking classes in Riviera Maya can be an enjoyable and cool way to take a day off you’re your outdoor adventures, learning all about the region's vast culinary traditions. Learn how to make fresh guacamole, recipes for various types of salsa, even how to make your own flour or corn tortillas at these cooking classes. You can find classes in Cozumel, Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and all across the Riviera Maya region.

Many cooking classes also take place in traditional covered markets, so after you level up your skills, you can buy all the ingredients you need, from fresh produce to speciality cuts of meat, herbs, spices, and even cookware.

Riviera Maya spas let you spend your rainy day getting full-on pampered with massages, hot tubs, whirlpools, elegant food, beauty treatments, and feeling like royalty all day. Just about every region in Riviera Maya has a full-featured resort where you can go to truly relax and unwind. Forget about the dark clouds and rain outside while an experienced masseuse works all the kinks out of your muscles and gets you ready for more adventures. Try out a temazcal, a Mayan sweat lodge with herbal-infused waters that will regenerate, detoxify, and rejuvenate.

Options abound, from large full-featured resort health spas to smaller intimate spa experiences. If you're on a romantic getaway for two, these treatments are a fantastic couples' option.

Riviera Maya bowling alleys are the ultimate in blue-collar fun, allowing you to forget about the bad weather and spend the afternoon with pins, balls, snacks, and brews. Whether you're in Cozumel, Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or anywhere else in Riviera Maya, you're sure to find a bowling alley to pass the time.

Even if you're not into ten pins, many bowling alleys offer bars, snack areas, pool tables, and even video arcades where you can enjoy hours of fun of just about every type. Bowling alleys are a popular destination where you can lose hours just having a great time with your nearest and dearest. Just a few include Barceló, Strikers Sports Bar, and Ocean Riviera Paradise.