We’ve put the spotlight on four destinations that are, as of late,“the toast of the town.”
By Paloma Villaverde de Rico
Puerto Vallarta
“Puerto Vallarta continues to be Mexico’s it beach destination because it is continuously renovating itself. With people from all over the world making the destination their home on a daily basis, the city is always changing and the tourism offering increasing,” says Javier Aranda, general director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. “Our historic center, a protected Jalisco Heritage site, is our heart and soul and its charm continues to draw people because it is so authentically Puerto Vallarta with its art-centric malecon, colonial architecture and restaurants. This, combined with the Bay of Banderas and the Sierra Madre, provides a unique destination.”
This unique destination welcomed 499,055 visitors from the U.S. from January to May, with 8,895 flight frequencies from the country. The destination has been the focal point of U.S. visitors, says Aranda, because it’s been splashed across the pages of top publications such as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Nylon, and Elle Canada. “This is a sure measurement of how trendy and hot Puerto Vallarta continues to be.” This destination, he continues, is made for local immersion. “Many people are drawn by our beaches and international properties,” he says, “but we invite all our visitors to come and experience an evening in our malecon and interact with the community: eat at one of our restaurants, shop at one of our many galleries, eat a taco, and watch one of the many free performances taking place across the city.”
Puerto Vallarta
Microdestinations on the south side of Puerto Vallarta such as El Tuito, Yelapa, and Majahuitas, are also not to be missed and offer visitors the opportunity to experience other sides of Puerto Vallarta.
When it comes to hotel happenings, the Sheraton Buganvilias just opened two new restaurants, and the Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel just completed room renovations.
Quintana Roo
Encompassing Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and a string of other towns, including Holbox and Bacalar, Quintana Roo is one of Mexico’s most popular beach resort areas due to its endless shoreline and Caribbean weather. But beyond its shoreline, says Dario Flota Ocampo, director of Quintana Roo Tourism Board, there’s much to discover. “The Mexican Caribbean is much more than its beautiful beaches, offering unexpected features for every kind of traveler, from solo travelers and adventurers to families,” he says. “Visitors are beginning to expect and enjoy a different side to the Mexican Caribbean, and we are happy to continue surpassing that expectation with adventure, gastronomy, and, of course, our strong Mayan culture.”
Cancun
The many options beyond hanging beachside include a new theme park from the Grupo Xcaret folks, Xavage, where activities range from the tame Xavage Soft to the challenging Xavage Ultimate as guests have the chance to horizontally zipline, whitewater raft and drive off-road vehicles—among other adrenaline-pumping experiences—through the expansive park. For culinary aficionados there’s Mexico Lindo Cooking School, featuring an array of hands-on cooking classes, workshops and farm-to-table tours that give visitors a taste of the region’s famous fare. The Traveler’s Table in Riviera Maya is another interactive culinary experience displaying the vast influences of Mexican cuisine from Spanish, African and Middle Eastern tastes. At the table’s communal setting, diners enjoy a 5-course meal prepared with flavors and techniques from the Mayan empire to the present day and paired with wines, mezcals and tequilas. And for clients who yearn to climb a pyramid, recommend one of the largest Mayan pyramids, Coba, located about two hours from Cancun; visitors can climb 120 steps to the top for breathtaking treetop views.
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The destination’s hotel offerings are also on the upswing with Grand Oasis Sens in Cancun rebranded as Now Emerald Cancun, offering guests 427 rooms, and the Grand Oasis Tulum reopening as the 360-room Sunscape Akumal Beach Resort & Spa, the first hotel for the brand in the area. Both reopened under new management on June 1. Margaritaville and Karisma Hotels & Resorts have teamed up to create a new inclusive resort experience—the Margaritaville Island Reserve by Karisma—combining signature elements from both brands; the first property is set to open in Cancun this winter, and additional confirmed locations include a second resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Additionally, Catalonia Hotels & Resorts has announced a new 434-suite property in Costa Mujeres that will open in late 2019 with dining venues, bars, a theater, a spa and fitness center with ocean views, and a nursery and kids’ pool, as well as a teen play area. The all-suite ATELIER Playa Mujeres opened this past April for guests 16 years and over; its accommodations feature contemporary Mexican art, technological innovation and stylish architecture, all with views of the Mexican Caribbean and Isla Mujeres.
Cozumel
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende, which from January to May, had 156,214 occupied rooms, “is one of Mexico’s hottest destinations because it is a colonial jewel like no other,” says Laura Torres, president of the San Miguel de Allende Tourism Board. “A UNESCO World Heritage city, its central location and rich history, as well as its culture, gastronomy, art and people, are a part of what contributes to its nickname as ‘The Heart of Mexico.’ The fabric of San Miguel de Allende is colorful primarily thanks to its people, who give themselves daily to preserve the city’s unique culture. The recent Faces of Our People campaign was a tribute to the San Miguelenses who help shape what makes the city so unique.”
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One of the destination’s most unique offerings is its thermal hot springs. The city was founded on the edge of an extinct volcano, which last erupted 12,000 years ago, and this subterranean volcanic activity has resulted in dozens of nearby healing thermal waters and hot springs, especially between San Miguel de Allende and nearby Dolores Hidalgo, only a 20-minute drive away. Recommend Spa La Gruta, whose waters are known for their medicinal properties. Visitors can make a full day of the experience with a traditional healing ceremony in the ancient temazcal, or opting for one of the spa services such as massages and facials, and dining at the onsite restaurant. Families can also enjoy the hot springs at Parque Acuatico Xote, where they’ll find swimming pools, lush jungle, water games, a temazcal, and the hot springs.
And the city continues to welcome high-end properties such as the Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende (for more information on this property, check out the June issue, page 58). Dream Hotel Group’s five-star luxe brand, The Chatwal, will be coming to San Miguel del Allende in 2020 in the form of a 169-accommodation property.Located at The Vines, The Chatwal San Miguel will be perched on a dramatic cliff overlooking the Laja River Valley and the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage church steeples of San Miguel de Allende.
Izamel
Yucatan
“The state of Yucatan is the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula,” says Michelle Fridman, tourism secretary for the state. Here, she says, “there are more than 19 archaeological sites open to the public. There are cenotes, haciendas, cultural cities, virgin beaches and nature.” And just in case you were wondering, the state of Yucatan is not the same as the Yucatan Peninsula. The peninsula is actually home to Quintana Roo, the state of Campeche, and the state of Yucatan itself.
The state of Yucatan has been experiencing positive growth in tourism numbers since October 2018—in April, Yucatan saw a 27 percent surge in arrivals, and air connectivity continues to increase, with direct flights from Miami, Houston and Toronto into the state’s capital, Merida. Grupo Xcaret is expected to open a cenote park near the colonial city of Valladolid and Chichen Itza, and the state is shaping a program designed to immerse travelers in the ancient Mayan indigenous culture, which still thrives on the peninsula today. Through these 1-, 2- or 3-day immersive experiences, visitors can live beside and learn from the Mayan people in the area. This program is expected to launch in 2020.
“We do not want huge, 800-room resorts,” says Fridman. “We want the eco-friendly and small luxury boutique hotels that are part of our essence.”
The state is experiencing an infrastructure development phase with 13 hotels currently in the works, and one of the newest hotels to open is the 120-room NH Collection Merida Paseo Montejo, the first for the brand in Merida. In fact, regarding hotel occupancy, the state of Yucatan has recorded increases every month,
despite the 2.4 percent increase in the number of rooms available. According to DATATUR, Merida was ranked first of the top five cities with the highest hotel occupancy in Mexico.