The Perfect Beach for YOU is Probably in Mexico!Mar 08 '01 (Updated Oct 19 '08) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line If you're a beach lover, you MUST go to Mexico -- crystal clear blue waters, powdery soft white sand, good food, reasonable prices... Let's face it, most tourists today aren't visiting Mexico for its rich culture, for its fascinating history, nor for its archaelogical treasures. Most tourists don't know (and may not even care) about the country's rugged backcountry, or fabulous natural attractions like the Copper Canyon or the jungles of Chiapas. No...most tourists today go to Mexico for one thing, and one thing only: the fabulous beaches! With thousands of miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Sea of Cortez, it's no wonder that millions of foreign tourists flock to the country's many outstanding beach resorts. But with so many resort areas to choose from (not to mention the thousands of obscure, undeveloped coastal areas), the trick is how to decide which beach area is best for you. What's Your Bag? The first thing to think about when selecting a beach resort is, what do you want to do? If you're a gung-ho scuba diver, it would be pretty silly to spend a week in Los Cabos after your diving buddy told you what a great time he had in Cozumel. Los Cabos is a great place -- but mostly for people who love fishing, not diving. That's not to say there isn't diving in Los Cabos, there almost certainly are people diving there. It's just not the best place for it. Depending on what I wanted to do, here are some of my favorite beaches in Mexico: Nothin' but BEACH: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Ixtapa Sometimes I just want to lay on the beach, margarita in one hand, paperback novel in the other. Maybe jump in the pool. Maybe build a sandcastle. Nothing beats the long, wide powdery sand and crystal clear turqoise green waters of the Mexican Caribbean coast... Fishing: Los Cabos Wanna catch some REALLY big marlin, swordfish, or tuna? Los Cabos is the sport fishing capital of Mexican beach resorts. La Paz is also famous for its tuna catches. Scuba diving: Cozumel, Isla Mujeres What's your bag? Coral reefs with schools of tropical fish darting around in crystal clear water... shipwrecks of long-forgotten spanish galleons...maybe a nighttime dive, or a trip into the famous Cave of the Sleeping Sharks... Surfing: Baja beaches I'm not a surfer myself, but I see lots of people doing it all along the Pacific coast. Baja is most known. Maybe it's the proximity to California, or maybe it is just great conditions... Coastal Town: Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan Sometimes I like a place that has good hotels, restaurants, and shopping to offer a little diversion from constant beach time. Especially places with a dash of traditional Mexican flavor! Rising Stars: Oaxaca (Huatulco) Ixtapa/Zihatenejo, Playa del Carmen Some people prefer lower-key resorts. Places that aren't as huge as Cancun, but that still offer big international hotels with seaside pools and beach activities. These are already discovered, but not yet overrun. Great sunsets: Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta Let's face it, sunsets are better on the Pacific coast where you can watch the sun setting over the water. The only east coast beach resort that offers this kind of sunset is Cozumel. Spring break: Cancun, Mazatlan Yes, the drinking age in Mexico is 18. Yes, there are places where you can drink tequila and rum all night long for just a few bucks. Yes, there are places where the latin beat keeps dancers going til the sun comes up. Yes there are places where sex is for sale (legally). And yes, the police in these places will be happy to lock you up if you get too stupidly drunk, obnoxious, and unruly. Party on! Solitude: Quintana Roo coast (Punta Allen), Michaocan coast Sometimes I love finding a place where I'm the only gringo in the one small hotel in town. Where there's no phone, no TV, no internet, no radio: just cheap beer, a hammock in a hut on the beach, and grilled fish for lunch every day. Charm and Luxury: Manzanillo and the Costalegre If first-class service is your primary concern and getting just a bit away from the masses doing value packages is almost as important, check out the hotels south of Puerto Vallarta on down to Manzanillo. There are some opulent palaces by the sea here, some great golf courses, and some brilliant gems shimmering in the bright Pacific sun. Tips for Mexican Beach Vacations: When to Go: Don't come back and complain about crappy weather if you book your trip during the rainy season or hurricane season. I avoid the Caribbean coast from about late August to early November. I avoid some of the Pacific coast places around early fall. I also avoid popular beaches during spring break (usually mid-March to mid-April). I have nothing against teenagers and college kids getting drunk and blowing off steam, I'll just come back when things quiet down a bit. What to Bring: The sun gets hot and the mosquitos bite. Bring a hat and sunblock, and maybe some industrial-strength mosquito repellant. If you're heading to a small resort, bring lots of pesos -- they may not take credit cards or dollars. (Remote family-run hotels are almost always cash up front). Look at Package Deals: Most travel agents offer packages that can save you hundreds of bucks over what you could possibly do booking airfare and hotel yourself (even on the best internet travel sites). Of course, they won't offer those little family-run shacks on the beaches nobody has ever heard of, so sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do... Watch Aeromexico Fares: It's no secret that I love this airline! They have always given me top-notch service and they consistently offer great last-minute airfares (www.aeromexico.com) to some of Mexico's top beach resorts. As I write this, I see fares from several U.S. cities to Cancun for $199 round-trip. Take that flight, hop the bus to Playa del Carmen or Punta Allen, and stay in one of the little family run hotels, and you're talking about a great trip with first-rate international quality beaches, at bargain prices (less than you'd pay to go to most U.S. beaches!!!) For more info, see my reviews of individual beach resorts. I currently have several epinion reviews online for Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Baja California, and Playa del Carmen. And keep an eye on my stuff...I'm sure to post more reviews next time I head out to the beach for fun in the sun! See you on the beach, I'll be the kicked back gringo, relaxing in my lounge chair with a straw hat on my head and a margarita in my hand!! NOTE: This is a repost of an article originally written May 10, 2000. Unfortunately, the recent reorg of the site seems to have "lost" an awful lot of reviews...  |
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