From rustic bungalows to luxurious resorts, from gourmet dining to street tacos, Mexico’s idyllic beach destinations have something for every type of honeymooner. Whatever your budget, plan for the soul-satisfying trip of a lifetime.
Riviera Maya
Best-known for its cerulean seas, white sand beaches, and sprawling resorts, Riviera Maya is also a gateway to Mexico’s ancient world.
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Where to Stay: Set on 1,600 acres, the luxurious 130-suite Rosewood Mayakoba sits between a lush lagoon and a mile-long stretch of pristine Caribbean coast. The oversized suites are incredibly private, with gardens, outdoor showers and plunge pools, plus impeccable butler service. Room rates start at $515 a night.
Photo courtesy of Rosewood Mayakoba
What to Do: Take a guided tour of the pre-Hispanic cities of Cobá and Tulúm, or head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chichén Itzá, the Mayan city where architectural wonders include an 11th-century pyramid.
Where to Eat: Aldea Corazón’s menu is a bonanza of upscale Mexican dishes — from fresh ceviche to shrimp tacos in jicama tortillas. And this Playa del Carmen restaurant’s location in tropical gardens overlooking a cenote (water-filled cave) is as dramatic as it is romantic, and especially magical at night.
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Where to Stay: On a quiet Playa del Carmen street, the adults-only Hotel La Semilla has just nine guestrooms, decorated in a Mexican heritage style with global touches, courtesy of vintage finds from the globetrotting owners. Room rates start at $150 a night.
Photo courtesy of Design Hotels
What to Do: Rent a car or take a minivan to the cenotes in Tulum. Less than an hour south, you can swim and snorkel in the breathtaking Cenote Dos Ojos for an entrance fee of just a few dollars.
Where to Eat: Fresh fish with mole over guava and banana sauce is on the menu at relaxed La Cueva del Chango in Playa del Carmen. Surrounded by lush foliage, the restaurant serves local produce and has a large and varied selection of Mexican wines.
Riviera Nayarit
On the Pacific coast, visitors flock to Riviera Nayarit for its abundant marine life, luxe resorts and low-key beach towns, but it still offers a less-crowded alternative to other Mexican beach destinations.
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Where to Stay: For serious indulgence, book a luxury one-bedroom suite at the 120-room St. Regis Punta Mita, and enjoy beach views from your private hot tub. Double down on the pampering at the Remède Spa with an Ocean Pearl Body Indulgence treatment, which features crushed pearl as an exfoliant. Room rates start at $560 a night.
Photo courtesy of the St. Regis Punta Mita
What to Do: The concierge can arrange a tour to the nearby Marietas Islands, one of Mexico’s most important wildlife sanctuaries, teeming with diverse marine and bird life, including whales, dolphins and indigenous birds such as blue-footed boobies. Don’t miss Hidden Beach, also known as Playa del Amor, which can only be accessed by swimming through a tunnel.
Where to Eat: The peerless Pacific views from the terrace at the Carolina at the St. Regis Punta Mita are matched by the contemporary Mexican cuisine featuring fresh, local ingredients.
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Where to Stay: The all-inclusive Iberostar Playa Mita has 452 sun-filled rooms with balconies or walk-outs to the beach. or you can relax by the two pools — one with a swim-up bar — on the 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course or at the serene spa. All-inclusive room rates start at $90 per person.
Photo courtesy of Ibertostar Hotels & Resorts
What to Do: Thirty minutes from the resort, visit the laid-back surf town of Sayulita for a pleasant day strolling around art galleries and relaxing on the beach with a cerveza in hand.
Where to Eat: While in Sayulita, visit the oceanfront Don Pedro’s Restaurant & Bar, a local institution, and dine on Mediterranean-style dishes under a two-story thatched palapa.
Baja California
The long peninsula of Baja California stretches from Tijuana to Los Cabos, and northern Baja has some of Mexico’s most spectacular untamed scenery.
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Where to Stay: With 83 casitas set amidst 3,000 acres of verdant gardens beneath sacred Mt. Kuchumaa, Rancho La Puerta is one of the world’s top-rated destination spas where days are filled with hikes, classes and unwinding in luxury. All-inclusive rates start at $3,400 per person per week.
Photo Credit: Wendy Mansfield
Photo courtesy of Rancho La Puerta
What to Do: Activities at Rancho La Puerta include everything from yoga to concerts to art. Take a cooking class at the resort’s La Cocina Que Canta with top U.S. and international chefs and cookbook authors (classes start at $90).
Where to Eat: All meals and snacks are included at Rancho La Puerta, and ingredients come from the property’s own six-acre organic farm.
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Where to Stay: Set high on a hill overlooking vineyards and lavender fields, La Villa del Valle has six rustic but well-appointed rooms; half have balconies and all have sweeping valley views. Room rates start at $225 a night.
Photo Credit: Doug Gould
What to Do: Nicknamed the Napa of Mexico, Valle de Guadeloupe has excellent wines, food and vistas to rival its Californian counterpart. Tour the wineries along the “Ruta del Vino,” from the oldest, Santo Tomas, established in 1888, to relative newcomers, such as Paralelo.
Where to Eat: Corazon de Tierra at La Villa del Valle is considered one of the best restaurants in Latin America. The inspired menu, created by young chef Diego Hernandez, heavily features fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in the inn’s gardens.
Zihuatanejo
The untouched beaches and laid-back charm of the fishing village of Zihuatanejo in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero evoke the undiscovered Mexico of days gone by.
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Where to Stay: Set on a curving stretch of a private white sand beach, the Viceroy Zihuatanejo offers impeccable service and 46 open-air rooms and suites with chic, tropical decor. All have their own terrace or balcony framed by palm trees and lush foliage. Room rates start at $390 a night.
Photo courtesy of Viceroy Zihuatanejo
What to Do: Hop aboard a resort-chartered boat and sail to the secluded wide beaches and coral reef of Playa Manzanillo up the coast (excursion is $50 per hour).
Where to Eat: The nearby cliffside Tentaciones restaurant has stellar views and a menu that changes weekly to take advantage of the freshest local seafood and produce.
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Where to Stay: In the neighboring town of Ixtapa, the 219-room Emporio Ixtapa has a peaceful beachfront setting in Palmar Bay. After making use of the pool and tennis courts, relax with a treatment at the Oriental Spa or head out into the surf on a boogie board. Room rates start at $74 a night.
Photo courtesy of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
What to Do: Take one of the resort’s bikes on the five-mile trail from Marina Ixtapa through the Parque Aztlan ecological reserve — home to crocodiles and exotic birds — to Playa Linda.
Where to Eat: Pop into local favorite La Sirena Gorda on the waterfront in downtown Zihuatanejo for fresh seafood tacos and lively conversation.