On your next Cancún or Riviera Maya vacation, set aside some time in your beach schedule for a spot of sightseeing. It’s time to visit somewhere new and try something different. Here are five of our favorite trip ideas, although there are many others! The Thomas More Travel representative at your resort will be able to give you more great recommendations or you can check online at www.thomasmoretravel.com
Tickled Pink
Take an eco trip to see the flamingos in the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Not only will you be treated to a vision in pink, you’ll see herons, kingfishers, prehistoric horseshoe crabs, crocodiles, raccoons and more. Don’t stop there, plan a visit to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve south of Tulum, it’s the second largest reserve in Mexico and a wonderland of jungle, wetlands, beaches and coral reefs teeming with wildlife.
Dive Deep
Learn how to dive. With the world’s second longest coral reef on the doorstep, Cancun and the Riviera Maya are the ideal places to take the plunge and once you have mastered the basics there’ll be no stopping you. You’ll soon fall in love with the underwater world of the Mexican Caribbean.
Summer visitors also have a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with the whale sharks, the world’s largest fish. From mid-May to mid-September, these peaceful giants –the size of a bus – gather to feed in the waters east of Isla Mujeres and Contoy and off the coast of Holbox and Cabo Catoche.
Time Travel
If you have already visited Chichén Itzá or Tulum, plan a trip to some of the other Mayan cities scattered across the Yucatán landscape. Explore the jungle city of Cobá or Ek Balam, Uxmal and the Puuc Route sites (like Chichén Itzá, they have World Heritage status) in the state of Yucatán. You could even organize a private tour and venture south to Kohunlich, Oxtankah and Dzibanche in southern Quintana Roo and the huge jungle stronghold of Calakmul in southern Campeche.
Colonial Charm
Leave ultramodern Cancún behind for a couple of days and head inland to see another side of the Yucatán Peninsula. Explore the stately old Spanish churches and convents of Valladolid and Izamal. Ready for romance, head for Mérida, capital of the Yucatán, where you can visit museums, art galleries and elegant mansions from the days of the henequen boom (late 19th and early 20th centuries), people-watch in tree-lined squares and enjoy dance performances, concerts and serenades every night of the week.
Riviera Maya Revisited
Rent a car, stock up on munchies at your resort store and go exploring. Spend the day snorkeling at Xel-Ha, see what’s new at Xcaret or relax on a beach you have never been to before – Puerto Morelos, Paamul, Xpu-Há, Akumal and Tulum are all great spots and there are many more. On your way back home, call in at Playa del Carmen for a sunset cocktail, homemade gelato and a spot of shopping on Fifth Avenue.
Share your Stories
We would love to hear about your favorite places in the Mexican Caribbean and the Yucatán. Which spots do you visit without fail every vacation and what about the new places you have discovered over the years which turned out to be treasures? Drop us a line and share your stories with us!
