MexicoVacationTravels.com

My husband and I took the ultimate mexican vacation in December, when the weather of the Pacific Northwest was at its very worst.  We left the cruel winter far behind, and entered a world of  pure fantasy.  When our taxi  from the airport pulled off the main street onto a narrow cobblestone road,  that was lined with stately palms swaying gently in the breeze as though they were sentries announcing our arrival, I knew instinctively we were entering a very special place.  We had to pass through a massive wrought iron gate which absolutely defined the boundary between reality and fairytale.

Our taxi was met by an energetic welcoming staff.  We were given flutes of fine champagne as we exited the vehicle.   They said our luggage would be taken to our room and told us to relax and enjoy and that we would not have to worry about a single thing for the next 7 days, which proved to be exactly the case.

If one so desired, you could spend the entire 7 days right at the resort.  The food is unbelievable and abundant, and you have the choice of 5 gourmet restaurants, as well as 24 hour room service, a large buffet for breakfast and lunch, and snack bars set up on the beach.  There is a world class spa that offers a variety of different treatments.  I personally liked the hot stone massage, which was done on a deck over looking the ocean.

There are three pools, with the main pool having a swim up bar and a jacuzzi insert.  Of course, then you have the huge sandy beach which is dotted with thatch huts if you need a shaded break.  It is the largest private beach in Puerto Vallarta, which means you have plenty of space to spread out and catch the warm sun’s rays.

There is nightly entertainment specials and planned daily excursions off-site if you wish.  The all inclusive package is unbeatable, as it includes all drinks, meals, activities and gratuities.  The service awesome, and the staff makes the trip memorable for all.  Xavier, who was our server at the breakfast buffet presented my friend and I each a plate he had made, and  our husbands with a bottle of tequila gold, on the last day of our stay.  I know this will sound like a clique’,  but this is stuff of which dreams are made.  We will definitely return to this quiet paradise on the Pacific.

Via Dallasnews.com “CANCÚN, mexico – Even before the heat hits you from the mexican Caribbean’s springtime glory, a blast of ads and brochures and billboards offers nearly endless ways to separate you from your money.

A plastic bag handed out at the airport contains slick guides promoting outings that sometimes rival the nightly cost of a nice hotel. I see it touts the XPLOR cave experience for $129 plus transportation. The Xel-Ha water park is $75, and yes, first you have to get there.

A swim with the dolphins or a lobster dinner on a boat make those day trips look cheap, and there’s enough shopping and clubbing and watersports to turn this bargain Mexican vacation into a credit-card buster.

But before the fancy dining, powerboat rides and designer malls arrived, there was already plenty to do along the 80-mile stretch that runs from Isla Mujeres to Tulum, with Cancún and Playa del Carmen in between.

And before the tour buses and $100-a-day rental cars (the cost after you buy all the insurance you’ll want), there were plenty of less expensive ways to get from place to place in relative comfort and security.

In a time when people are getting back to basics, there are wonderful experiences, charming towns, outside dining, ocean travel and cultural marvels that make for a low-key vacation in this top spot for Texans.

It doesn’t matter where you stay – Cancún and Playa del Carmen are the most popular – because moving around can be easy, cheap and fast enough to fully explore an island, cultural spot or charming town in a day.

So, set aside the bag of coupons of dubious saving, and travel and sightsee the way locals do, stretching your vacation dollars as you go.

Isla Mujeres

Just off the coast of Cancún, this laid-back island favors rented golf carts, mopeds and bikes over cabs, and getting there – via ferry – is half the fun.

LAURENCE ILIFF/Staff

Sun warms a table set streetside at a cafe on Isla Mujeres, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

From Cancún, there are essentially two ways to go via the ferry service UltraMar, which offers inside and outside seating, snacks and even beer for purchase.

The supercheap way to reach a dock is to take a city bus (which has a prominent R-1 designation above the windshield) for 50 cents that goes from the “hotel zone” to Puerto Juárez a few miles away. A hotel taxi would cost $25 or more.

The wait for the ferry isn’t long. Boats leave every half-hour between 5 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., and then every hour from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Returns are similar: every half an hour from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and then every hour from 10 p.m. to midnight. Round-trip cost is 70 pesos, or about 6 bucks.

On the upper, open-air deck, a guitar player strummed a few Mexican tunes for tips, adding to a relaxed, 20-minute ride to the island.

On the return trip, I took the same ferry line, but directly into the heart of the resort area. That’s a nice option for safety reasons, given recent reports of local police in the pay of drug gangs and drug-related violence in the city proper, though it hasn’t targeted tourists.

To stay within the security of the hotel zone, skip Puerto Juárez altogether and take any hotel zone bus (R-1 or R-2) to Playa Tortugas. There, buy a round-trip ticket. It’s twice the price ($15) but still very reasonable, and you land at the same dock on Isla Mujeres.

Trip times are more limited from Playa Tortugas: every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for going and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to return.

On the north side of Isla Mujeres, you can shop and explore quaint restaurants within walking distance of the dock.

There are two oceanfront areas: one on the dock side with touristy watering holes such as Señor Frog’s and a more relaxing walking area within a few blocks that runs along a sea wall.

Nice beaches are near the ferry dock at Playa Norte and farther south on the island at Playa Paraíso.

Also to the south (which requires a golf cart, moped, bike or taxi) is the Garrafón water park (www.garrafon.com), lighthouse and a turtle park.

In downtown, convenience stores sell snacks, soft drinks, water and beer at peso prices. I saw foreign tourists paying $3 each for beers that cost just 50 cents at the minimarts. (You can walk around with a beer in tourist areas.)

Seafood and other meals at the many sidewalk cafes are reasonably priced and nicely prepared.

Playa del Carmen

Famous for its closed-to-traffic Quinta Avenida, Playa del Carmen was once visited mostly by Europeans looking for cool coffeehouses and local handicrafts. Americans now dominate the scene, although many languages are heard, some of them Mayan.

LAURENCE ILIFF/Staff

Playa del Carmen is equally populated day and night, with live music and cheap tacos, as well as fancy restaurants.

The town has become more modern, with upscale chain-clothing stores and Starbucks. It’s equally populated day and night, with live music and cheap tacos, as well as fancy restaurants. The beaches are white and powdery smooth, offering watersports, on-the-beach restaurants and reasonably priced drinks.

Along the avenue and its side streets is a nonstop mix of inexpensive and medium-priced restaurants and convenience stores.

Near the dock that takes you to Cozumel just offshore are cheap shops where you can buy sunglasses, T-shirts, towels and other last-minute items.

Even with more U.S. chains than in the recent past, Playa del Carmen is a nice contrast to the almost completely Americanized Cancún, which has a more clubby, partying environment dominated by high-rise hotels.

In “Playa,” as locals call it, the hip Básico hotel is the place to stay. Its sister hotel, Deseo, is the place to hang out at night, with its upbeat music and fashionable crowd around the poolside bar.

The Blue Parrot is another favorite for nighttime dining and drinking.

A more modern hotel area, PlayaCar, is adjacent to the more traditional town. PlayaCar offers high-rise, upscale, all-inclusive hotels but is within walking distance of the Quinta Avenida.

To get to Playa del Carmen from the Cancún tourist area, take the R-1 city bus (6.50 pesos, or about 50 cents) to the bus station (Central Camionera), where buses to Playa depart every half-hour or so.

The ADO bus line (www.ticketbus.com .mx; click “English”) features first-class buses with bathrooms. The cost is about $3 to $5, varying because some buses (the GL line) are fancier than others. A street taxi to Playa would cost $40, and a hotel taxi about twice that amount. The last first-class ADO bus to Cancún leaves Playa at 11:45 p.m.

Cozumel

An island much larger than Isla Mujeres, Cozumel is famous for the Palancar coral reef off its shore, which provides outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling.

Snorklers on a tour with Eco Jeep Adventures get pictures of a sea turtle at Punta Sur biological reserve at Cozumel.

The island offers sharp contrasts, from its supertouristy downtown where most cruise-ship passengers hang out to its beaches such as Palancar that are more European in flavor.

There’s also a mix of inexpensive downtown hotels, along with grand resorts farther south on the coast.

Getting there is easy. Ferries from the UltraMar line leave Playa del Carmen from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and return from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The cost is 140 pesos each way (about $10).

Buses leave from the Cancún bus station. (See the section on “Playa del Carmen” for details.)

Moving around inexpensively on Cozumel is a little more complicated than on the smaller Isla Mujeres or in Cancún with its excellent public bus service.

Moped rentals are popular, but the U.S. State Department warns about their condition, and taxi drivers say there are accidents with cars.

If you are content to stay in downtown, the ferry will leave you right there. If you want to venture out, you’ll have to take a taxi, which usually has set prices depending on distance. The Chankanaab reef and snorkel park, for example, is relatively close to the docks, while Palancar is farther out.

Organized tours are available, and they may be a good option if you have the time and want to get a better feel for the island.

Tulum

Tulum is Mexico’s only known archaeological site on a beach, with 60 well-preserved structures within three massive walls (www.rivieramaya.com). The scenery is stunning.

From Cancún, it’s a full day’s trip: 21/2 hours each way by bus (carry food).

Organized tours cost upward of $100, and they might be convenient for allowing you to stay for the light show at night

Tourists walk among the ruins in the Mexican Caribbean resort town of Tulum.

If you get up early enough, you could visit the ruins during the day, have dinner in Playa del Carmen at night, then take a late bus back to Cancún. Total travel cost: less than $20 per person.

The archaeological site closes at 5 p.m., and the last first-class bus from Playa to Cancún leaves at 11:45 p.m.

The ADO bus service sells tickets online (www.ticketbus.com.mx; click on “English”).

In the destination box, choose “Tulum” or “Tulum Zona Arqueologica” with more limited times.

The last first-class bus from Tulum to Cancún leaves about 9 p.m., although second-class buses run all night and pass by Playa del Carmen.

CC photo by Sergio Lubezky courtesy of Flickr

In 1992, the mexican government declared the Isla de Sacrificios a Natural protected area becoming a part of the Systema Arrecifal Veracruzano, Veracruz Reef System (VRS). The area is located off of the port of Veracruz in the Gulf of mexico. The area is a hotly visited tourist destination for day trips and is the subject in many postcard photos and paintings.

CC photo by Reaper Stinky courtesy of Flickr

The island is located right off the coast of Veracruz and can be reached after a short boat ride. The island’s beautiful lighthouse is a famous landmark and focus for many artist creations.  Guests are sure to take an interest in the informative visitor’s center and the massive collection of flora and fauna to explore.

CC photo by Jubilo Haku courtesy of Flickr

The island boasts many various transplanted vegetation, in addition to, the original greenery native to the areas. The area surrounding the island is host to several exotic species of fish and aquatic wildlife. Isla is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, in addition to beach combing for exploration.

CC photo by AboGabo courtesy of Flickr

The island’s history holds great intrigue and mystery filled with sacrifices and rituals giving power to its name. It is believed that Hernan Cortez stopped at the island before continuing on to the area where Mexico City stands today. Several archeological finds have recovered artifacts, as well as, a temple where the actual sacrifices took place. Because of the many tourists and scientific visitors, the government has taken a more active roll in insuring its protection.

The island is easily assessable from the Veracruz shores either by boat or kayak. The island stands a mere kilometer from the Veracruz seawall and offers a perfect way to spend a day adventure to and from the island.

CC photo by Mewzii courtesy of Flickr

Xel Ha is a natural water park offering gorgeous natural features highlighting the amazing local flora and fauna. The popular inlet is a magnificent adventure for visitors, especially families, offering over 70 recorded species. Occasionally sea turtles, manatees and barracudas visit the area. It is sure to start your visit on a high note.

CC photo by Umbrau44 courtesy of Flickr

One of the best times to have at Xel Ha is with the dolphins. These intelligent creatures are famous for coming to the rescue of injured swimmers by pushing them to the service. They are often seen playing in the waves for fun, just as their human counterparts. Here at Xel Ha, programs offer visitors a chance to see just how smart these beautiful animals are and a once-in-a-lifetime chance for children to experience marine bilogy firsthand.

For relaxation, find a hammock of lounging chair along the superb stretch of sandy beaches. beachcombers aren’t the only ones enjoying these sandy havens. The Xel Ha beaches save an average of 35,000 loggerhead and green sea turtle eggs. At the end of breeding season, and average of 20,000 hatchlings are released from Xel Ha each year.

CC photo by Ferran Rodenas courtesy of Flickr

Xel Ha’s  Chacah garden offers a walk through Chacah trees which have been planted by local and international celebrities. The Mayan wall showcases remnants of Mayan ruins which run along a footpath leading to the Xel Ha river. Cenotes at Xel Ha reveal results from the amazing event that occurred 65 million years ago when a meteor crashed into the Yucatan peninsula created various disturbances in the geology of the area.

CC photo by Javi Celard courtesy of Flickr

Xel Ha is a beautiful place for families to enjoy ecology education in a fun and fully interactive setting. They offer several different packages that are sure to satisfy various budgets and time constraints. The park is well thought out and wonderfully maintained. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and work hard to make your visit the best possible. Xel Ha is a true gem in the Riviera Maya.

CC Photo by Retro Traveler courtesy of Flickr

Bahia de Banderas is the bay where you will find the famous tourist destination, Puerto Vallarta. The area affords over 42 miles of beaches and all the fantastic aquatic fun you can have in the ocean. The bay is one of the deepest in Mexico, at a depth of 3000 feet, and is the third largest natural bay in Mexico. It makes the list of one of the world’s largest bays as well.

The area is known for dolphin sitings, as well as, sea turtles, huge manta rays and many exotic fish. For this, it is a favorite spot among scuba enthusiasts and snorkelers as well. The Islas Marietas, a tiny island chain right off the coast, is home to several exotic birds, including the Blue Footed Booby.

CC photo by Christian Frausto Bernal courtesy of Flickr

With eco-minded travel becoming the hot trip idea, many are visiting this gorgeous coastal community because of it’s whale watching adventures. The area is both the breeding and birthing grounds for the Humpback Whale. These intriguing and breathtaking adventures take place beginning the first week of December and run through the end of March. While Whale watching season is only about four months, there are several tours and excursions for you to choose from.

CC photo by Waywuwei courtesy of Flickr)

The bay is composed of land belonging to both mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. While the municipal seat is Valle de Banderas, the area is composed of several cities including Jarretaderas, San Juan de Abajo, Bucerias, San Jose de Valle, and San Vincente.

CC photo by Waywuwei courtesy of Flickr)

The geological make up of the area, including a valley, create a wonderful opportunity for agriculture and livestock. The valley holds man cattle farms while abundant crops of corn, bean, rice and exotic fruits contribute to commerce. The fishing industry thrives along the coast both for local stocking and the tourist trade. The area offers a plenitude of tourist attractions, but also holds on to traditional culture and lifestyles that many visitors find so alluring.

Coastal beauty (CC photo by Gahan78 courtesy of Flickr)

Much like the mainland, Baja California is the gateway to sub tropic environments that embrace an amazing collection of flora and fauna made famous in mexico. The Pacific Coast of Baja California is where the colder waters of the north give in to the warmer temperatures closer to the equator. For tourists, this means amazing aquatic fun with warmer waters, but it also means more stunning colors in the animals they may encounter.

Just as Gloger’s rule explains why animals get more colorful closer to the equator, the warmer waters of the subtropics explain the amazing collection of bright and colorful fish. There are many more species of fish in the warmer water which requires brighter colors to help tell each other apart. This makes breeding much easier and it makes snorkeling and scuba diving much more fun. This also helps with camouflage because, as crazy as it seems, brighter colors help hide prey from predator in the water since certain colors are not as bright the deeper you travel.

The warmer waters also bring northern visitors. Whales migrate to the warm waters to birth to their offspring. This offers the wonderful opportunity for Whale Watching Tours that have become a popular hot spot off of Baja California. More the 20 species of whales frequent the area and the best time for viewing is between the months of January through March.

Recently, the area of Baja California has become an important place for evaluating climate changes and global warming trends. The warm waters and the animals who migrate to the area give a good picture of the overall health of the ecosystem. The area is often frequented by Marine biologists for its expansive menagerie of sea life, but more climatologists are visiting to figure out what is happening and how quickly the changes may come.

The area is simply stunning and there is so much to do that families will have excitement every day of their visit. The sea is brimming with beauty both above and below and the shores are perfect for rest and relaxation. The temperatures remain delightful year round making this subtropic paradise a wonderful choice for your mexican getaway.

“Place where there is writing on stones”, that’s what Dzibilchaltun means. These spectacular archaeological ruins connect a direct line from mexico’s rich history to modern times. The site offers the Temple of Seven Dolls and can be found a mere 15 minutes outside of Merida. While the ruins are stunning, what draws many to the area is the amazing cenote, Xlacah, just waiting to refresh and cool visitors in crystal clear water.

The Xlacah cenote is a gorgeous watering hole that locals enjoy mostly on Sundays when admission is free. The perfectly blue water holds an amazing collection of colorful fish that are best enjoyed up close with the help of snorkeling gear. The cenote is perfect for families as one end is very shallow and then drops to a deep 140 feet.  Some 30,000 artifacts have been retrieved from the water so keep on eye out for possible finds.

The site is a photographer’s dream with amazing shots of both water and land. The cenote remains fairly open during the week and visitors can enjoy the peace and quiet during this time. This is the perfect place for candid shots of Mexico’s beautiful wilderness and the natural beauty of the country. Even the simplicity of lily pads adrift become shear photographic poetry in the serenity of Dzibilchaltun.

The cenote is located eight kilometers north from Merida. You can take Progresso road to the turnoff, which is well marked, and travel another four and a half kilometers to the site. Many choose to take a taxi out to the site from Merida which can be accomplished at a reasonable price. It is definitely the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.