Mexico from East to West, A Diverse Experience

With so much of the world closed to travel, Mexico has become the hottest destination for those with a valid passport. Because we were getting so many requests for Mexico, it was important for Wishes Travel to get fresh eyes on the destination. Over the span of two weeks this past fall, we visited both the Cancun and Los Cabos regions of Mexico. Though both of these tourism regions sit on peninsulas along Mexico’s coasts, the experiences couldn’t be more diverse!

Cancun

Most people tend to picture Cancun as hotel-lined beaches clustered on the tip of the Yucatan laden with loud music and flowing alcohol, ripe for the next day hangover. Many don’t know that this region also features lush landscapes, picturesque nature preserves, and pristine beaches spanning north and south of the city along the stunning Caribbean Coast.

In order to get a good perspective on the area, we visited both the Playa Mujeres region north of the city as well as Riviera Maya south of the peninsula. While the resort areas differ in local activities, both regions offer gorgeous sunrises, beautiful white sand beaches, and jungle-like landscapes.

Playa Mujeres is actually a gated beach resort community offering even more enhanced safety and security. As a result, you won’t see many locals on the beach. This is THE destination for those wanting to relax and enjoy their resort. While in Playa Mujeres, we stayed at the gorgeous Atelier Resort and thoroughly enjoyed the natural beach scenery and the amazing food, including the innovative restaurant Maria Delores. But our favorite moments were catching phenomenal sunrises from our rooftop suite.

For those seeking a little adventure, you can book a catamaran to nearby Isla Mujeres for some shopping, exploring the ruins, and even visiting a turtle sanctuary.

Transitioning to the Akumal region, we learned about all the amazing activities and attractions found in and around the Riviera Maya region. A not-to-miss experience is the famous Xcaret eco-park with over 50 attractions which include Mayan ruins, snorkeling, swimming with manatees or dolphins, and careening down water slides. You’ll also want to make time to swim in one of the amazing freshwater cenotes (natural freshwater sinkholes). Many are located in absolutely breathtaking caverns. Heading south, you can visit the world-famous Tulum ruins.

We completed our tour of Riviera Maya at the UNICO 2087 resort where we took advantage of complimentary spa services and excursions that included only a 25-percent service fee. At UNICO you’ll want to spend your time at the three pools throughout the property providing a vibrant friendly social scene. Although there is a lovely beach here, it is a bit rocky. Like Atelier, this amenity adults-only all-inclusive was most impressive.

Los Cabos

Seven days after our return from Riviera Maya, I was invited to visit the Los Cabos region along the west coast of Mexico, courtesy of our favorite supplier. Another warm tourist zone of Mexico, I was amazed at how different the experience was here.

Where the Yucatan offers lush vegetation and a humid climate, Los Cabos, on the southern Baja Peninsula, is “where the desert meets the sea.” The climate is arid with hills covered in palm trees, cacti, and desert-thriving scrub.

Los Cabos is actually made up of two resort areas likewise diverse. Where Cabo San Lucas is the newer, livelier and more touristy region filled with bars, restaurants, and the famous marina, San Jose del Cabo, about 45 minutes away, is a town teeming with culture, artisans, architecture, and history. Between these two towns, you’ll find a diverse array of accommodations from all-Inclusive resorts to traditional hotels and residences.

The entire Cabo region sits along the juxtaposition of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. The ocean on the Sea of Cortez is somewhat calmer, while the Pacific side is excitingly wild. Very few beaches are swimmable, so much of the enjoyment here is sunbathing on the picturesque sands and listening to the crashing surf.

Although we toured many different properties on this trip, we stayed at the Hyatt Ziva resort, a family-friendly all-Inclusive property just minutes from San Jose del Cabo. While we knew we were in for gorgeous sunsets in Los Cabos, we never expected to enjoy such beautiful sunrises as well thanks to the resort’s location on the Eastern side of the Peninsula.

During our few days spent in this region, we barely scratched the surface of off-property activities. While we didn’t have time for camel riding in the desert or taking a whale-watching cruise, we experienced the immense beauty of a sunset sail around El Arco, the iconic rock formation on the southern tip of the peninsula. We also spent an afternoon at Los Tamarindos, where we enjoyed an al fresco cooking class at this amazing farm-to-table organic farm and restaurant.

Our Los Cabos trip was topped off with dinner at magnificent Sunset de Mona Lisa, relishing in Italian delicacies while serenaded by Italian tenors. The highlight of the day was watching the sun slip behind Cabo’s iconic arch.

The challenging part of planning your next vacation to Mexico will be choosing the destination for your warm-weather escape. Since both coasts offer romantic retreats and family-friendly accommodations along gorgeous coastlines, it truly comes down to your choice of adventure!

Of note: Wishes Travel is aware that COVID-19 protocols can change quickly. We are keeping abreast of the situation and are pleased to announce that Mexico has gone above and beyond to accommodate recent CDC protocols for return to the U.S., including free COVID testing.

Additionally, in the event a guest does test positive and is not cleared for flying, most resorts are offering free quarantine (up to 14 days).

A blog by Kristy Mosolino, Owner Wishes Travel