When can I go back to Cancun? Five days is far too short for a visit to this tropical paradise for tourists.
Five weeks would be more like it. After all, the legendary Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Chetumal are only a few hours away, making a great side trip. And the Cancun nightlife has developed a reputation for variety that begs to be experienced.
Cancun is fairly new to tourism, established in the 1970’s thanks to former Mexican president Luis Echeverria’s efforts to outdo Acapulco by building a world-class resort city on the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico.
Located on a deserted sand spit, the resort city of Cancun was carved from the jungle on the eastern side overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Hard to believe it’s only been three decades since the now-bustling tourist mecca was inhabited only by Puerto Juarez, a tiny fishing village.
No doubt staying at two five-star resorts like Excellence Riviera Cancun and Finest Playa Mujeres was a major contributor to my enjoyment of Cancun. Both resorts are operated by Excellence Group, a company from Barcelona that specializes in creating all-inclusive resorts (also including Beloved Resorts) in exotic locales.
Riviera Cancun Resort
From the moment of entry into the gated Riviera Cancun with its classic Mediterranean-style architecture, everyone is treated like a celebrity. An icy glass of fine champagne was another welcoming touch.
The Riviera is for adults only, which makes it perfect for romantic getaways. There are six pools, a white sandy beach, and the turquoise waters of the Mexican Maya coast just waiting to be explored. There are also 10 restaurants featuring international cuisine, numerous bars including a swim-up bar, and a spa to pamper the resort’s guests.
Even when it was cloudy and slightly cooler than expected, our group of travel writers stayed busy and happy with so much to do inside the spacious resort. Seemingly endless supplies of delicious food and beverage choices—balanced with water wellness treatments, massages, and other spa experiences—made staying indoors a lot more fun than expected.
So when a morning with cooler temperatures kept us away from the beach, no one complained. But as soon as the sun peeked out, the beautiful Caribbean beckoned us to the beach. The Riviera Maya coastline on the northeastern tip of Yucatan Peninsula boasts one of the world’s largest reef systems. The resort offers exciting snorkeling and scuba adventures as well as boating.
