Resorting in Mexico
Whether you're looking for pristine beaches or an immersion in old-world colonial culture, relaxation is a given at any of these Mexican resorts
Mexico's most appealing resort areas, with their world-class cuisine, seemingly endless stretches of coastline, and centuries worth of history influenced by a range of cultures, lie less than four hours from many major U.S. cities. The country's iconic beach destinations, from Cancún and Playa del Carmen on the Yucatán coast to such Pacific havens as Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, and Nuevo Vallarta, are the biggest draw for visitors. For those who want to dig deeper into Mexico, a few days in Oaxaca, a charming colonial city set high up in the mountains, offers a trip through time to the heart of the region's Mayan heritage.
Cancún
The resort town of Cancún, on the Yucatán Peninsula, remains wildly popular, with a new level of hip South Beach style recently added to its time-tested mix of sun, sea, and shore. Cancún's beaches are legendary, with blond coral sand set against aquamarine waters. And you can bank on beach weather year-round. More than 150 hotels offer options for any budget, but the beachfront Riu Palace Las Americas is almost a destination in itself. Riu has properties in all the major Mexican beach resort towns, some of them all-inclusives. But whatever beachfront property you stay in, you'll find watersports and other activities available. If you're more partial to golf, Cancún has more than a dozen courses. You can head out for a day to explore the Mayan ruins at nearby Chichen Itza, or simply spend your stay falling into the rhythms of beach time, punctuated by eating, clubbing, and sleeping. That's Cancún living.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is the quintessential Yucatán beach town that boomed. Remarkably, it has retained a good measure of its original charm and simplicity. You'll still find thatched roofs but also a host of gleaming new resort properties, and a distinct European flavor among the visiting crowd. Set in the heart of the Riviera Maya (a 75-mile stretch of coast beginning about 20 miles south of Cancún), Playa del Carmen puts you within striking distance of the best sites along Mexico's Caribbean coast. You can explore the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve by kayak, investigate the Mayan ruins of Cobá, or spend an afternoon at the Xel-Ha ecological park. Daytime expeditions give you the chance to dive and swim in one of many cenotes, naturally occurring sinkholes filled with refreshing water. In Tulum, an hour's drive south of Playa del Carmen, Mayan ruins are perched on a bluff above the Caribbean. Palapa-shaded yoga retreats set the tone and offer an opportunity to slow down and refresh.
Cabo San Lucas
Once a sleepy fishing village, Cabo is now the sport and party mecca of Baja, with world-class golf courses, vibrant nightlife, and some elegant luxury resorts such as Las Ventanas al Paraiso. It's close enough to California that many Americans, including members of Hollywood's A-list, come down for long weekends. As an antidote to the fast-paced life, Cabo's appeal is readily apparent, from the town's classic surfing beaches on the Pacific — less intrepid travelers can ride a boogie board —to the laid-back beach bars where patrons sip margaritas at tables in the sand.
Mazatlán
Located in the heart of the Mexican Riviera (a group of resort towns along a stretch of the country's Pacific coast) Mazatlán exemplifies the appeal that Mexico has long held for foreign visitors: sun, sand, and surf combined with a rich history and authentic Mexican food and atmosphere. When you can break away from the beach, the narrow streets of Mazatlán's historic district are ideal for a stroll, taking in the cathedral, the marketplace, and Plaza de la Republica, the town's central square, or zocalo. And a trip up the steep hills in an open-air taxi called a pulmonia will give you a panoramic view of Mazatlán's bays, with the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in the backdrop.
Nuevo Vallart/Riviera Nayarit
Just above the resort town of Puerta Vallarta, on 100-mile-long Banderas Bay, the largest natural bay in Mexico, lies Nuevo Vallarta. This was once a surfer's paradise, but the long boards now share the trophy beaches with luxury hotels, which are blessed with views of beachfront, tropical jungle, and the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. This is the beginning of the Riviera Nayarit, a pristine section of coast that's now undergoing development. In half an hour, you can be in Puerta Vallarta, a city that has miraculously managed to preserve its old town and its great beaches while serving up what may be the widest range of international cuisine in all of Mexico, with options including French, German, and Japanese. Day trips can take you deep into the jungle for a zipline flight through the trees, or to the mountains for a horseback excursion. Take a day trip north to sleepy villages like Sayulita and Bucerias or the master-planned resort development Punta Mita, with its luxury hotels and golf courses. At day's end, the best attraction is invariably the perfect sunset over Banderas Bay.
Oaxaca
For a distinctive contrast to sea and sand, head to the mountains for a stay in Oaxaca, some 5,000 feet above sea level, where warm days are offset by refreshingly cool nights. The center of Oaxaca, a vibrant city of some 255,000 people, about 250 miles southeast of Mexico City, was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1987. For any serious traveler to Mexico, it's not only a key destination for authentic cultural experiences, but also the capital of serious Mexican cooking, often called the "land of the seven moles." Oaxaca is a remarkably well-preserved enclave of adobe buildings decked out in Crayola colors, with a tree-shaded zocalo at its center. Do as the Oaxacans do and stroll the cobblestone streets at a leisurely pace. Visit the Cathedral de Oaxaca and the governor's mansion, but also be sure to stop at a café or restaurant, or peruse the wares in a boutique or an artisan's studio. Wherever you turn in Oaxaca, Mexico's rich past is in full flower.
Getting There: Continental offers service to 29 destinations in Mexico, more than any other carrier.
Photographs: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels; iStockphoto
