One of the main things we constantly get asked when people are searching for their dream Riviera Maya home is how pet-friendly the region is. Whether you are retiring permanently and bringing your pets, or are a snowbird who travels with them every year, you want to make sure they are welcome in the area. Luckily, the Riviera Maya is very pet-friendly and safe for your furry family members.
Pet-friendly transportation
A main worry for those without a car is how to transport them. Luckily, there are many pet-friendly transportation services available. Whether they are special cabs, vans or even some colectivos, you will find a way to move your dog from the airport, or anywhere else you might need to. However, the Riviera Maya is quite easy to walk in. So, talking your dog around on his leash should do the trick.
Make sure you ease your dog into his new environment
Going to a new place can be stressful for your cat or dog. There will be new smells, sounds and a different temperature. They might not be used to the sea, or the pool. In fact, they might not be used to seeing certain jungle wildlife like raccoons, sereques or coatis. Make sure you bring their favorite toys and blanks and keep their familiar feeding and walking schedules.
Luckily, there is a great deal of pet-friendly real estate available throughout the Riviera Maya where your pet can settle into and start enjoying a new life. Some pet-friendly properties are part of condominium complexes that have certain rules about where they can or cannot go; so, make sure you are constantly checking you abide by them.
Time for a walk!
There are many places where you can take your dog for a walk throughout the Riviera Maya. In Playa del Carmen, you will see a handful of people walking or running with their leashed dogs on Fifth Avenue. But basically, any street in the area is perfect for a walk. You will also find a few doggy parks where you can unleash your dog and allow him to run freely.
The official fenced-off dog park in Playa del Carmen is across the highway on street 38 by Magic Express Hotel. You can meet other dog owners and let your dog socialize, off the leash. There are other dog parks in Real Ibiza, Parque Cebiam and downtown on street 24, between Avenida 10 and 20. In Cancun, there’s Hacienda Del Caribe II Park. Curiously, local law says you can’t walk more than three dogs without formal training!
In Tulum, the hotel zone has a walking path and a biking path where hundreds of people take their dogs for walks or runs. The nice ocean breeze is perfect to keep you both cool while walking around. Make sure to always take your dog out early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid burning their paws with the heat.
Pet-friendly beaches: myth or reality?
While for many years all beaches in the Riviera Maya were pet-friendly, that is now just a distant memory. Today, there is only one formal dog-friendly beach located in Cancun. Playa Coral is on km 25 on the hotel zone. The beach is also one of the few Blue Flag beaches in the region, guaranteeing clean water, security and restrooms. Although the beach is pet-friendly, it is wise to bring bags and to always clean up after your pet. Dogs must enter and exit on a leash. The good thing is that even cats, hamsters and ferrets are welcome here. There is no cost to access the beach and opens to pets every morning from 5:00 am to midnight.
You can also take your dog to Isla Blanca in the northern part of Cancun. Unfortunately, other pet-friendly beaches are hard to find. Mostly, because the Riviera Maya is an important sea turtle nesting destination. However, other beaches that used to grant pet access closed this due to the lack of interest from owners in cleaning up after themselves. You might still be able to find other pet-friendly beaches further south from Tulum.
Some Playa del Carmen beaches are not officially pet-friendly but also do not frown upon the presence of dogs. You can usually take your dog out for a swim or run before 9:00 am on Colosio Beach, or after 6:00 pm at Paradisus on Street 88. Some beachfront restaurants like Bianco in Puerto Morelos or Taqueria La Eufemia in Tulum accept dogs within their concession zone.
Pet-friendly places
More and more pet-friendly spaces are now open in Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cancun. You will find restaurants, bars, and even shops that will allow you inside with your furry family member. Restaurants along Fifth Avenue that have seating area on the street will usually accept dogs. Even some beach clubs allow you to come in with small-sized dogs like chihuahuas as long as they are kept on the leash and are well-behaved.
Some bars are also pet-friendly and will even give you water or snacks for your pets. In Playa del Carmen you will be able to walk through the open-air shopping malls like Quinta Alegria, Calle Corazon or Paseo del Carmen with your pets; but not all shops will allow you to enter with them. If your pet is well-behaved, you can leave it outside waiting for you.
Where to get help
Lastly, what happens when your furry babies need medical attention? Luckily, there are quite a few options for your dogs, cats, bunnies, and more. Playa del Carmen has large and small veterinarian centers, all with specialized equipment that can cater to small and large injuries, surgeries, and more. There are also constant sterilization campaigns that charge either just a voluntary fee or nothing at all to sterilize your pets. And if you want to adopt a dog while in the Riviera Maya, all three main cities have great animal shelters that are looking for homes for their residents.
If you’re traveling short-term outside of the Riviera Maya and need to leave your dog behind, there are a couple of places where you can leave them for both cheap and expensive (depending on your needs and tastes) that offer large playing areas, pools, grooming, veterinary services, shops, daycare and even training programs. In Playa del Carmen you will find a cat hotel that specializes in sheltering cats while their owners are away and offer them full privacy.
The reality is that the Riviera Maya is one of the most pet-friendly places in Mexico. It continues to prove that it adapts to the trends and needs of its community. The best part, however, is the amount of real estate opportunities available for those looking for their retirement home alongside their furry friends. Contact one of our professional Buyer’s Representatives and they will help you find the perfect home for you and your four-legged family members.
And remember, at Top Mexico Real Estate…we make it happen!