Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is about a 20 minute drive north of the resort. It has many bars, restaurants, stores, movie theatres and all the ammenities you could want. The beach is beautiful as well. It's a good place to spend an afternoon or evening haggling with local vendors and taking in a few drinks. Quinta Avenida or (5th Avenue in English) is the main strip for souvenirs but there are many hidden gems in the surrounding streets. There is also a Sam's Club, Walmart and other major department stores in case you need to shop for supplies not available in the resort shops. More about Playa del Carmen: http://wikitravel.org/en/Playa_del_Carmen

Puerto Aventuras

Is a small town about 5 km north of Barcelo Maya. It is made up of mostly condos. There is a marina and a boardwalk area around the dolphin discovery. It's the closest place to the resort for a pharmacy and bank machine. There are a number of bars and restaurants here as well. More about Puerto Aventuras: http://www.puertoaventuras.com/

Akumal

Akumal is about 10 km south of the resort. It is larger than Puerto Aventuras but also mostly condos. There are bars and restaurants and a great beach for snorkeling. Yal-ku lagoon is also located in Akumal. More about Akumal: http://www.info-akumal.com/

Cancun

Cancun is an hour north of Barcelo Maya. It is a big city with every ammenity. There are countless hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs. More about Cancun http://www.allaboutcancun.com/