Mexico

Mexican Caribbean

Destination Overview

The coastal honeymoon eden known as the Mexican Caribbean stretches from the world-famous paradise of Cancun to the Grand Costa Maya, where you’ll discover treasures like Bacalar, Ma-hahual and Chetumal. You can explore the only Mayan seaside city: the mysterious and enchant-ing Tulum. Here, the warm aquamarine waters of the sea lap against this 81 mile strip of flat land and sun-kissed beaches. Low tropical jungles and wonderful towns, both big and small, dot the landscape of the Yucatan Peninsula’s easternmost edge.

Magical honeymoon spots such as fun, funky beachside Playa del Carmen, pristine, laid-back Isla Holbox, and the charming little island of Cozumel are just a few of the other places that are ideal honeymoon havens. Much of this beautiful area is still undeveloped and vast tracts of unspoiled terrain separate some of them. You’ll soon discover that the entire area is a nearly perfect choice for a beautiful honeymoon getaway.

Ecological parks and preserves, Mayan archaeological sites, pristine white sand beaches that won’t burn your feet, countless exotic animals, rare plants and an endless supply of activities sur-rounded by some of Mexico’s most clear waters are just a few of the amazing attractions that you can enjoy every honeymoon day. Wherever you go, you’ll find the people are warm and friendly, ready to welcome visitors and especially honeymooners to their world.

Until a few years ago, a bumpy, partially paved road led to the archaeological site of Tulum, the only Mayan seaside city. Today, it is a broad highway lined with ultra modern hotels and resorts, bustling towns like Playa del Carmen, and tiny Mayan villages where the ancient Mayan lan-guage and culture is on display. The area is filled with ancient civilizations and sprawling nature preserves. A beautiful beach is never farther than one kilometer away. You may want to stop the car and try them all!

About Mexican Caribbean

At a Glance

  • FEEL THE SAND IN BETWEEN YOUR TOES: Wherever you go in the Mexican Car-ibbean, the winding coastline is full of gorgeous vistas and sandy bays. Many are protected by an outer reef, the world’s second largest, which creates a gentler surf and abundant soft sand. So, no matter which Riviera Maya honeymoon spot you choose, you’re in for the pinnacle of relaxation.
  • GO BENEATH THE SURFACE: The water sparkles as blue as the sky above, while be-low the warm waves is a world of startling beauty. The crystal clear water, incredible reefs and colorful tropical aquatic animals are simply begging you to explore by snorkeling or scuba diving. The Mexican Caribbean is prime location for some of the best underwater adventure around. Chances are your resort offers lessons and guided tours. If you want to stay dry, you can’t go wrong by visiting the caves at Aktun Chen, just south of Akumal along the highway. Be prepared to see an incredible amount of stalactites—and monkeys, too.
  • ENJOY THE SPORTING LIFE: If you and your new spouse are active, you’ve come to the right place. Scaling the steps of ancient Mayan ruins, driving a ball on world-class golf courses and literally all types of water fun from snorkeling and diving to sailing and deep sea fishing is right at your fingertips. The low-lying jungles provide excellent hiking and tropical wildlife-spotting as well. The options are as endless as your imagination: horse-back ride on the beach, play tennis at virtually every resort or soar above the jungle on a zip line tour in Selvatica. Perhaps one of the most unique features of the Yucatan is its cenotes, which are deep pits or sinkholes that expose underground rivers and caves. A snorkeling or swimming tour at one of these cenotes is truly a one-of-a-kind Riviera Maya experience.
  • EXPLORE A MAGICAL PAST: Spectacular remnants of a bygone civilization are sprinkled all around the Yucatan, and the Mexican Caribbean holds many of the finest. Getting to a Mayan ruin may take a trip of up to two hours, but the majesty of it all is well worth the effort. Some of the best include Cobá, about 30 miles west of Tulum. This area has ancient buildings still covered by jungle, and the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan, No-hoch Mul. Then there’s Tulum, the only archaeological site situated on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and Chacchoben, which is about 110 miles south of Tulum and boasts incredi-ble, yet seldom-seen ruins.
  • XCARET: Located just south of Playa Del Carmen, Xcaret is one of the largest and per-haps best eco-park in Riviera Maya. Xcaret is a Mayan version of Disney World based on water related activities. You’ll want to set aside a full day to experience the underground river, aquarium, jaguars and pumas, sea turtles, ruins, Mayan village, beach, dolphins and much more. Then, the night comes alive with firelight Mayan sports, and ceremonial danc-es and wonderful regional music from all around Mexico.
  • BE IN GOOD HANDS: Take care of your mind and body while surrounded by the seren-ity and beauty of the Riviera Maya. World-Class Spa centers can be easily found in virtual-ly every resort and town along the corridor. Indulging your senses can be done together as well with a relaxing couples massage in Akumal, Puerto Morelos and Cancun, but they are not always advertised so you may need to ask the spa itself if it’s offered.
  • Snorkel almost anywhere. Just put on a mask. Often, you don’t even have to swim. The colorful tropical fish will swim around you!
  • Visit Sian Ka’an, Mexico’s largest ecological preserve. The flora and fauna will amaze you!
  • Linger over a “café” on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen. You can watch the local world go by. After dark, it revs up into action packed merriment. Everything from mariachis to salsa music fills the air, and the fun is contagious.
  • Visit at least one of the amazing archaeological sites such as Tulum or Coba to get a feel of the ancient past.
  • Go off the beaten track at Maya Ka’an, the region’s latest ecotourism destination. Learn about the history, traditions and culture of the Mayan communities of the Yucatán.
  • SHOPPING: Paseo del Carmen is located within the Quinta Avenida. It’s an outdoor shopping center that starts at the southern end of Playa del Carmen, and runs all the way north . Easily the hippest, most internationally diverse street in the entire Caribbean, it’s “divided” into the Old Quinta and the New Quinta. The Old Quinta extends more or less to 15th street all the way to the Quinta Alegria Mall, and it’s busy with restaurants and nightlife, with clubs hosting top DJs. Other great shopping malls are Calle Corazón and Quinta Alegría, where you can find some of the world’s most famous boutique shops and high-fashion stores featuring world-renowned brands. Farther down, the New Quinta is more laid-back, with a cool bohemian vibe at its restaurants, bars and boutiques. Along the Quinta Avenida you will find a lot of souvenir stores as well.

Honeymoon Hints

  • TELL THE WORLD: You’re celebrating your love on this trip. Mentioning you’re on your honeymoon to just about everyone can open the door to perks that make it even more spe-cial
  • Anywhere you go in the Mexican Caribbean, you’ll find settings made for romance. Laze the day away in side by side hammocks on the beach or suspended over a blue cenote, take an evening cruise, and watch the spectacular Caribbean sunrise and sunset.
  • Plan a special romantic dinner for two at the beach.
  • Rent a cozy cottage or a rustic cabin by the water for a quiet spot to retreat after the day’s activities.
  • Celebrate your romance with a night of bar and club hopping in Cancun.
  • Shop for local handicrafts, jewelry and other items that you can bring back for your new life together.

Travel Tips

  • GETTING THERE: Cancun International Airport (CUN) is your gateway to the Mexican Caribbean.
  • GETTING AROUND: A rental car is the best way of getting around to all tourist attrac-tions and destinations. Local bus and taxi services are available. On the small islands, pricate are are not allowed and you can get around on foot or by golf cart or bicycle.
  • MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS: If you’re planning to get married here, make sure you meet all legal requirements. You’ll find all information on marriage regulations here (link: https://www.mexicancaribbean.travel/weddings/requirements/)
  • CURRENCY: The Mexican peso. Rather than changing money at your home bank or at the airport, wait until you find an ATM in Mexico. They offer the best exchange rates!
  • ELECTRICITY: 110 volts, same as the USA and Canada.
  • WEATHER: The average annual temperature is around 80 degrees F. However, evenings can be cool, so pack a sweater, jacket or scarf.
  • DOCUMENTATION: You’ll both need passports. Immigration and Customs forms will be distributed on the plane. Fill them out completely and be sure to sign where indicated (Firma).A Tourist Card is your Immigration form. Part of it will be returned to you at Im-migration. Do not lose this piece of paper! Put it with your passport. It must be turned in when you depart.At customs, each piece of luggage will go through a screener. After sur-rendering your Baggage Declaration to officials, you must press a button. Green lets you go. Red means that customs officials will inspect your bags.
  • SMOOTH ENTRY: Pre-planning will help you navigate the busy airport. Once you have passed customs, chaos reigns. You can avoid it by contacting your hotel or travel agent be-fore you leave home to arrange transportation to your hotel. The person who will greet you should carry a sign with your name. To arrange transportation on the spot, buy a taxi ticket at an official kiosk or arrange to board a colectivo, a bus that carries other passengers.

Destinations to Explore

Additional honeymoon destinations in Mexican Caribbean you may want to consider:

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