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The Mexican Caribbean is welcoming a record number of international tourists right now.
The region’s most famous beach destinations such as Cancun, Tulum, Isla Mujeres, and Riviera Maya are welcoming more visitors than ever before.
The beaches of Cancun alone are preparing for the arrival of 1.8 million tourists during the December to February winter season.
Almost half of all the international tourists visiting Mexico right now choose to visit the Mexican Caribbean region of Quintana Roo.
Here’s why this beach region of Mexico is breaking all-time tourism records:
Record Airport Arrivals
ASUR airport group provided Travel Off Path with numbers for international arrivals to Cancun airport from January 1 to December 1.
In 2022 Cancun airport welcomed 17,750,000 international arrivals, and by the beginning of December 2023, that figure had already grown to 18,850,000 international arrivals.
During the high season, travelers from 120 national and international cities can fly directly to Cancun airport.
The recent opening of the new international Tulum airport, officially known as Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport has only enhanced the ease of reaching Mexico from the U.S. giving travelers even more options.
This new airport will increase the number of travelers visiting the region which means that the Mexican Caribbean is the most connected international destination for travelers from the United States.
The ease of access to Mexico for U.S. travelers goes a long way to explaining why it is such a popular destination.
New Tourist Train
Traveling around the Mexican Caribbean’s top tourist attractions just got easier thanks to the launch of the new Maya Railway.
The first section of this long-awaited new train has now opened, while the second will open early next year.
According to the Mexican government, the whole circuit will be open to the public by the end of February 2024.
The Maya train is a scenic train that travels on a loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, linking all of the top attractions in the Caribbean provinces of Mexico.
This train will be a huge draw for tourists hoping to see as many cultural and historical Mexican sites which ease and in one trip.
Travelers can stay in Cancun or other popular tourist resorts along the coast and take day trips to destinations such as quaint Bacalar, sunshine-yellow Izamal, or the Yucatan capital of Merida.
The Mexican government believes the Maya Train will increase tourism revenue in the region by 20% and serve to attract even more tourists than ever to the Mexican Caribbean.
White Sand Beaches
Of course it goes without saying that one of the main reasons for the enduring popularity of the Mexican Caribbean is its pristine white sand beaches.
The beaches of the Mexican Caribbean are considered some of the most beautiful in the world.
The Mexican Caribbean is also home to the barrier reef called the Great Western Atlantic Reef Belt. This is the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Playa Mujeres in Cancun is popular for a reason as it is frequently featured on lists of the world’s best beaches. But it’s near-impossible to list the best beaches in the Mexican Caribbean because there are simply so many.
If we look at Riviera Maya alone then you will find a 75-mile expanse of white sand beaches.
The Mexican Caribbean is also the top Mexican destination for archaeological tourism. Many tourists visit the region to explore the Mayan world’s most fascinating historical attractions.
Attractions include the 13th-century walled Mayan structure in Tulum National Park and the clifftop Castillo it incorporates. The pyramid and ruins of Coba. And of course the most famous archeological structure of all is Chichen Itza.
This is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in the world as well as being one of the largest Mayan cities ever built. It is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and should be considered a must-visit attraction for anyone traveling to the Mexican Riviera.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com