Holidays to Mexico’s Caribbean coast are about more than sombreros and slammers. Prepare for white-sand beaches, bright blue seas, and those mysterious cities of gold.
Top beaches
The beaches on Mexico’s Caribbean coast are seriously impressive, especially the ones along the Yucatan Peninsula. This whole sweep is quilted in soft white sands and lapped by turquoise waters. Factor in coral reefs and watersports, and you have a beach scene and a half.
Beyond the coast
Inland, the Yucatan Peninsula offers Spanish colonial towns, rainbow-painted haciendas, and steamy jungles. Delve a bit deeper and you will unearth cities that long ago surrendered to Mother Nature – vines twist over forgotten pyramids and tree roots curl around great blocks of stone.
Mayan ruins
Mexico’s age-old cities are the handiwork of the Maya – the country’s ancient people. Along with the Aztecs, they left behind a permanent mark on the country. At last count, archaeologists had unearthed a staggering 14,000-plus historical sites. And this part of Mexico lays claims to some of the biggies, like Chichen Itzá and Tulum.
The main hubs
Leading the way in terms of places to stay is Cancun. It is packed with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and nightclubs, all inches from amazing white sands. Then there’s hip Playa del Carmen, which turns things down just a notch. If you are on the lookout for complete peace and quiet, though, make a beeline for the palm-fringed shores of Playacar and the Riviera Maya.
TUI Holidays is offering direct charter flights from Dublin to Mexico. Flight time is approximately 10 hours on the 747 Dreamliner. Fourteen nights in the four-star Grand Bahia Principe Coba is €1,199pp all inclusive, or the five-star Ocean Coral and Turquesa by H10 is €1,369pp. Contact Fahy Travel on 091 594747 or [email protected].
