Looking for new adventures in the Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan for this year’s Grand Residences vacation? Here are five sightseeing ideas for you.
Beach Bliss
Of course the beach at Grand Residences is paradise but when the spirit of wanderlust takes hold, you can’t go wrong with a day of beach hopping in the Riviera Maya and beyond.
Head for Xpu-Ha and the perennial family favorite in the Riviera Maya, the palm-lined bay in Akumal. Visit Tulum or take a ferry to the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres and relax under the palms on beaches like Isla’s Playa Norte.
Jungle Adventures
If you have never experienced the thrill of zip lining or rappel, perhaps 2019 is the year that you’ll decide to try some of the Riviera Maya’s jungle adventures. Fly through the forest canopy on zip lining circuits at adventure parks like Selvatica and Xplor. Swim and snorkel in cenotes and underground rivers, rappel down cenote walls and explore the caves of Rio Secreto and Aktun Chen.
If you prefer your jungle adventures to be on the ground, how about a bird watching trip in a nature reserve or horseback riding? Both are offered in the Puerto Morelos area.
Mighty Uxmal
May this be the year that you travel further afield in the Maya World to visit the beautiful ancient Mayan city of Uxmal in southern Yucatan. Like Chichen Itza, Uxmal and a chain of smaller archaeological sites nearby, collectively known as the Puuc Route, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Uxmal is famous for the artistry of its stone carvings and for temples and palaces such as the Magician’s Pyramid, the Nuns’ Quadrangle, the Palace of the Governor, the Great Pyramid, the Temple of the Birds and the Dovecote. It is an hour’s drive south of Merida.
After your Uxmal visit, spend the day exploring the archaeological sites of Kabah, Sayil, Labna and Xlapak, then stop off for lunch in the colonial towns of Mani, Oxkutzcab or Ticul. There’s also a Chocolate Museum to visit at Hacienda Uxmal in Uxmal.
Holbox Hideaway
Located in the Gulf of Mexico, a short ferry ride from the port of Chiquila, the island of Holbox is a treasure. Tropical and relaxed, it is a place to slow down and reconnect with nature. Long walks on the beach, fishing and birding trips, glorious sunsets, fresh seafood and the chance to see the whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles in the summer are its charms.
Bacalar, Lagoon of Seven Colors
Located in southern Quintana Roo, Bacalar, the Lagoon of Seven Colors, is definitely worth the drive. Seven colors, aquamarine, azure, turquoise and indigo, shimmer in the sun in this long lake set amidst the emerald green of the jungle and mangroves. There are boat trips and kayaks for hire in Bacalar village.
Built in 1729 to protect the village from marauding pirates, the colonial San Felipe Fort overlooking the lagoon is now the site of a Pirate Museum.
Ask your Concierge for more sightseeing ideas and for assistance in booking these and many more incredible travel adventures in the area.
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