Puerto Morelos

The first major town south of Cancun, Puerto Morelos has managed to maintain the tranquility and pace of a sleepy fishing village. Unlike Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the town has seen little change in the past decade. Recently, we are noticing a surge of development. Beachfront villas, new hotels and even condo complexes are springing up seemingly overnight. The introduction of El Cid may have spurred this new interest in the area but, comparatively speaking, Puerto Morelos still remains a quaint and quieter alternative to busy tourist driven towns.

Playa del Carmen

What was, only a few years ago, a quaint fishing village, Playa del Carmen has become a hot destination for tourists world-wide. Currently, the fastest growing city in the world, Playa has a unique charm and a quirkiness that seem to be almost irresistible to anyone who visits. The city has seen phenomenal growth in the past ten years. It is nearly impossible to turn a corner without seeing a new condominium building in the works. While prices have risen along with Playa's popularity, there are still some good investment values to be found.

Playacar

The gated resort community of Playacar is located at the southern end of Playa del Carmen. Encompassing what is essentially Playa’s hotel zone, Playacar is designed around an eighteen hole Von Hagge designed golf course. The residential landscape of Playacar is varied. One can find multi-million dollar seaside villas, luxury condominiums and economical apartments all within the gates of this lush 800 acre compound.

Puerto Aventuras is a gated residential  resort community located twenty minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Here, a well planned infrastructure seamlessly blends upscale resorts, condominiums and private villas with a variety of shops and restaurants. Puerto Aventuras is primarily designed around its marina, the only one on the coast from Puerto Morelos to Belize City. Residents and guests can also enjoy the nine hole golf course, tennis facilities, Dolphin Discovery, world class sport fishing and the Omni Beach Club.

Akumal

Mayan for “Place of the Turtles” Akumal remains a protected haven for the gentle creatures that return every year to build their nests and lay their eggs. This attention to preservation and environmental concerns has limited the development in this tranquil beach community. The coastline of Akumal is dotted with luxurious villas and smaller hotels and resorts. A favorite spot of snorkelers, Akumal boasts an easily accessible reef system full of vibrant living coral and teaming with sea life.  The tiny seaside village supports a full service dive shop, a small grocery store, a handful of cafes and restaurants and even a lovely art gallery.

Tulum

Touted by some as the next Playa del Carmen, Tulum is indeed slated for tremendous growth in the next few years. Building had begun on the new international airport on the Coba road and a large parcel of land has been surveyed and subdivided in anticipation of the tourist boom the new airport will surely bring to this small Mayan town. The arrival of Tulum's new International Airport will surely bring worldwide attention to this rustic hideaway. This may truly be the next great investment opportunity on the Riviera Maya.