Vacation in the Riviera Maya

The sun and fun of Cancún and the Riviera Maya are hard to resist, making it a popular choice for families.

When people ask me where to go for a tropical vacation, I consider numerous factors including flying time, ticket costs, quality of hotels, activities, natural beauty, friendliness of the locals and value for your money. The Riviera Maya/Cancún area in Mexico is the number one destination I have sent clients to for over 20 years.

American citizens of all ages need a current passport book (not card) to travel to Mexico. Check the latest regulations at travel.state.gov. It can take months to get a passport processed, so order one right away. Lucky for us, there are great flights to Cancún from the Eugene Airport on Alaska Airlines, United, Delta and American Airlines.

Where to go The sun and fun of Cancún and the Riviera Maya are hard to resist. Consider the four main areas: north of Cancún, the Cancún Hotel Zone, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. To the north of Cancún, you will find the newer resort areas of Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres. There are beautiful new hotels featuring spas and golf courses on long stretches of the beach. This area is about 20 miles from Cancún Airport. From the mainland you can take a ferry to Isla Mujeres, the Island of Women, which is only about 8 miles away. There are only a few hotels on this island; most people visit for the day. This is a fun day trip from Cancún, and you can rent golf carts to explore this island that is only 4 miles long and less than a mile across. There are beautiful beaches, water sports, shops, restaurants and beach bars.

The Cancún Hotel Zone is about 14 miles of high-rise hotels along a 7-shaped stretch of white sand beach with turquoise water. This area is great for those who crave excitement and high energy. You can shop till you drop, visit world-class restaurants and dance at lively nightclubs.

To the south of Cancún there’s a highway that goes about 80 miles to the town of Tulum. This area is the Riviera Maya. Along this highway you can drive towards the ocean and there are resorts carved out of the jungle along with the towns of Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen.

From Playa del Carmen you can take a ferry to the Island of Cozumel for a day visit or stay at one of the hotels located there. Cozumel is known for scuba diving and snorkeling with so much sea life to explore. The towns of Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen offer high-end and bargain shopping, local artisans, bars, restaurants and beach clubs. Throughout this area are underground rivers and caves. When a portion of the roof of one of these caves collapses, it forms a cenote — a natural pool you can swim in. Jungle tours are available that combine riding an ATV in the jungle, taking a zipline and swimming in one or more cenotes. There are nature parks including Xel-Ha, Xplor and Xcaret that offer all sorts of attractions and water sports. This area is full of outdoor adventures and natural wonders.

The area of Tulum has become very popular due to its “Instragram-able” sights. You can visit the Tulum ruins, which are on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There are beautiful beaches with fun beach clubs, so many cenotes to visit and a funky town with lots of personality. Be aware that many hotels with “Tulum” in the name are not on the beach and may actually be many miles away.

When to go

The weather in Mexico is tropical and sunny year-round. It’s a little warmer in the summer and a little cooler in the winter, with May through October considered the rainy season. Of course, their rainy season usually consists of bright sunny days, then it will cloud up, pour rain for a short time and then go back to sunshine.

In recent years the area has been plagued with a seaweed called sargassum. It’s a nuisance that hotels and government agencies work hard to remove, but sometimes it is overwhelming. It often arrives in the spring and summer. Due to the ocean currents, some areas are more likely to have sargassum — this is a consideration when planning a trip. Most resorts have extensive pool areas to enjoy even if there is a problem with the seaweed.

Hotel and airfare prices vary in different seasons depending on demand. Any school vacation period is high season with the last two weeks of December to about January 5 being the highest prices of the year, followed by the weeks of Thanksgiving and spring break. The lowest prices generally will be

in September, October, November (except around Thanksgiving) and the first two weeks of December.

Where to stay

In the last 25 years, all-inclusive resorts have become very popular. People love having meals, drinks, activities and entertainment included in one price. For families, special programs for children and the security of having everything you need on-site make this the easiest vacation you can take. If you are traveling without children, staying in an adults-only resort is a splurge you won’t regret.

There are vast differences in quality and atmosphere at all-inclusive resorts and you can’t just trust the pretty pictures and random reviews you see on the internet. It’s important to have a travel professional who is well-versed in this area to help you find the ideal location for your vacation. I visit these areas often, and I would be happy to help you find the perfect resort.

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Meet Vacation MOM

Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport

Donnita Bassinger is a mom to three sons, and she lives in Eugene with her husband. She has been a travel agent for four decades and is the owner of VIP Vacations, Inc. She would love to help you plan a great vacation.

Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272 or on facebook @VacationMOM