Vacations in Mexico: what's new in Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, the jewels of the Riviera Maya
Recognized for its paradisiacal beaches with turquoise seas, its wide range of hotels and its immense cultural and archaeological value, the Riviera Maya is one of the most chosen destinations in the world, and more now in times of Covid-19, since Mexico is one of the few countries in the world that does not have no entry requirement.
Cancun with its all-inclusive hotels, Playa del Carmen with its countless beaches and cenotes and the Magic Town of Tulum are three unmissable locations in the Mexican Caribbean, in the state of Quintana Roo, which can ideally be visited on a 15-day trip. What to do in each destination.
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1. Cancun
Cancun is the gateway to the Mexican Caribbean. It is the place where the flights from Argentina arrive and for this reason it is the ideal destination to begin or end the trip through the Riviera Maya.
With a plethora of all-inclusive resorts, planning to stay at a hotel right on the beach, with all meals and drinks included, is perfect for relaxing, unwinding, and getting right into the mood. holidays in a paradisiacal environment.
Among so many lodging offers, it is best to analyze what type of services each hotel offers and -fundamentally- if it has access to the beach. Among the all-inclusive hotels located on the coastline, one of the most outstanding options is the Hard Rock Hotel Cancún, which combines relaxation and fun, whether for a family, couple or friends trip.
Located in the Hotel Zone, at kilometer 14.5 of Kukulcán Boulevard, the experience at this 5-star hotel goes beyond a 24-hour all-inclusive food and beverage service.
From the decoration, which includes the display of guitars and the costumes of established rock artists such as Santana and Slash and pop artists such as Shakira and Britney Spears, to the luxury services offered, everything it is thought and designed to make guests feel like celebrities.
Once the bracelet is on, at the time of check-in, you don't have to worry about anything else. Luggage remains in the hands of the concierge, who disinfects it and takes it to the room, and what follows is to enjoy in a loop the different experiences offered by the hotel: a infinity pool with open bar, lounge chairs on the beach, gym, yoga classes in the morning, spa (at an extra cost), 5 restaurants, 2 bars, 24/7 room service, room with hydromassage and private balcony, and a different show every night (you can't miss the tribute to Queen and Michael Jackson).
A characteristic of Hard Rock hotels is music. Throughout the hotel you can listen to songs by great bands like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Foo Fighters, with a DJ that plays pure rock music on sunny afternoons by the pool.
Typical of an all inclusive, recreational activities cannot be missing: here there are everything from Poker tournaments to guessing games in the pool, karaoke nights, Zumba classes in the water and Tik Tok challenges for the little ones .
On the other hand, gastronomy is a central experience in an all-inclusive hotel. The breakfasts are buffet and include an endless number of sweet and savory stations, accompanied by infusions, juices and natural smoothies. For a more gourmet breakfast, they have a restaurant that serves it a la carte.
During the day the gastronomic options for lunch multiply, since the restaurants are joined by different proposals to eat by the pool: there is a day of ceviche, tacos, paella, meat and roasted vegetables and more.
Dinner, for its part, does require prior reservation. The experience proposes trying delicacies from different parts of the world: Asian cuisine in Zen; authentic Mexican food at Frida, accompanied by margaritas and tequilas; Italian in Ciao; grilled meat and fish at Ipanema Steak House, with Spanish wines; and Pizzeto, open-air and without reservations, with pizzas and dishes with a Mediterranean influence.
And if you still have energy after the show and dinner, you can go to downtown Cancun, located less than 20 minutes from the hotel, where there are discos, bars, and nightclubs. The options are endless on Mexican night.
2. CARMEN BEACH
Playa del Carmen is the heart of the Riviera Maya. Formerly it was a fishing village, but today it is a cosmopolitan beach city with a wide gastronomic offer and shopping centers.
The ideal plan is to visit the beach or cenotes during the day, and when the sun goes down or at night visit Fifth Avenue. This is the famous pedestrian street that runs parallel to the beach and houses restaurants, art galleries, bars, ice cream parlors, cafes, shopping malls, handicrafts, and international brands of clothing, perfumes, and makeup. There you can find high-end stores, such as Rolex and Armani, and other more popular ones, such as Forever 21, H&M, Zara and Bershka.
To relax during the day, Playa del Carmen is strategically located to see many of the most spectacular beaches and cenotes in the Riviera Maya. They can be reached by taxi (arranging the price before getting in the car), by bus from the ADO company or the cheapest public transport option (shared vans).
There are beaches for all tastes, but there are 3 must-sees: Punta Maroma (private access), Akumal, a paradisiacal bay with crystalline waters where you can swim and snorkeling with sea turtles and Xpu-ha, which has many restaurants and beach clubs.
A surprising fact is that the Riviera Maya is home to more than 6,000 cenotes. These freshwater wells are supplied by underground rivers that are formed in many places in the Yucatan peninsula by soil erosion. For the Mayans, they were sacred places. The recommendation is to visit at least two: one closed (it can be a cloudy day) and another open (ideally a sunny day, to see all the shades of the water in their splendor).
One of the must-sees in the area due to the clarity of its waters is Chaak Tun. There you can see stalactites, stalagmites and aquatic animals. As part of Sac Actun, the cenote has a three-stage tour that begins in the Pixan cavern. On the second level, you enter Xibalbá, a cave used by the Mayans to perform different rituals, and on the third, the Aluxes cave.
3. Tulum
With beautiful white sand beaches and palm trees, turquoise blue sea, spectacular lagoons, cenotes, rivers and underwater caverns and impressive archaeological sites, Tulum is an unmissable destination in the Mexican Caribbean.
This Magical Town of Mexico has a bohemian and chic air and has become very fashionable in recent years. Its hotel zone experienced strong growth and today it is the trendiest area of the city: there you can find decoration stores, clothing stores, independent designers, restaurants and boutique hotels set under the guidelines of feng shui and the statues of Buddha.
A few kilometers from the hotel zone are the famous ruins of Tulum: the only ones that the Mayans built on the sea. The buildings, flora and fauna are a beauty that becomes surreal when the sea appears.
The Archaeological Zone is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The Castle is its main building: it was built by the Mayans on a cliff 12 meters above sea level, as a strategic surveillance point to prevent enemy attacks and guide navigators. Other important buildings in the area are the Temple of the God of the Wind and the Temple of the Frescoes.
One of Tulum's best kept secrets is the Kaan Luum Lagoon: it is a turquoise blue and green lagoon, similar to Bacalar. Although the price is expensive (300 Mexicans for the entrance), it is worth the visit. It has areas where its depth barely exceeds two meters, so you can swim calmly. In addition, there are hammocks and beds to lie on the water.
Another must-see is Xcacel-Xcacelito, a natural jewel of Quintana Roo that has fostered the conservation of sea turtle species for two decades. It is a Protected Natural Area, so it offers the most virgin beaches in the area. You can visit every day (closed on Mondays), but with certain rules that are explained at the time of paying the ticket (100 Mexicans): you can walk only through the delimited areas, you cannot bring food and you must only use sunscreen solar or biodegradable repellents to avoid damaging the ecosystem.
When to travel
The dry season extends between December and May, with the best weather for traveling to the Riviera Maya. The high season is distributed between Christmas, Easter and the months of April, July and August.
