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With the grand opening of the Tren Maya (Mayan train network) fast approaching, excitement is building with travelers at the prospect of a whole new world opening up to them that once required an adventure approach to vacation.
The southern corner of the Mexican Caribbean is no slouch either.
While it doesn’t have the bright lights and huge parties of destinations like Cancun and Playa del Carmen, it offers travelers a genuinely Mexican, and Mayan, cultural experience that could be argued has been lost from the big favorites.
Connectivity Is Key
It doesn’t matter how special a place is; if it doesn’t have regular and reliable connectivity, then the majority of travelers will likely pass it by.
In this respect, the southern corner of the Mexican Caribbean is receiving a double boost this winter.
With the Tren Maya soon going into service, it will cut travel times in a hugely impressive way and also become one of the most cost-effective and comfortable ways to take trips.
On top of this, the new Tulum International Airport is expected to go into service just a few weeks later.
The option to fly direct to Tulum and then to take a short train journey south in comfort and safety is a serious game changer for this part of the world.
Ease Of Access
Small destinations like Bacalar, Mahahual, and Xul-Há, amongst others, are just as beautiful and relaxing as the now world-famous Tulum.
The only thing that has been keeping them out of reach of the majority of travelers has been ease of access.
Diversity Of Choice
No one would deny that destinations like Cancun and Playa del Carmen serve a fantastic purpose.
The huge super-complex resorts provide almost every traveler with a vacation that sees them return home relaxed and rejuvenated.
But while the 90s and 2000s have been the era of all-inclusive resorts, not just in Mexico but in some of Europe’s most popular destinations as well, the vacation industry is starting to see much higher demand for other forms of accommodation.
In the south of the Mexican Caribbean, the vacation accommodation industry is dominated by bespoke offerings.
Airbnb is a big presence here, offering luxurious villa rentals and even 1-bedroom apartments, but it’s the boutique hotels that really shine.
Many of these boutique hotels have been very deliberate in their design, creating a complimentary aesthetic that blends in with the stunning nature that this corner of Mexico is famed for.
They often have a heavy relaxation and wellness vibe associated with them that can be difficult to find in the concrete jungle of Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
Innovative Vacation Packages
The south of the Mexican Caribbean is seeing new and innovative approaches to the all-inclusive landscape that deliver never-before-seen value to travelers.
The best example of this is the all-inclusive package being offered by select resorts in both Chetumal and Xul-Há.
This package means travelers don’t just eat and drink inclusive in their resort but also in a huge number of restaurants and bars in each respective town.
That freedom to choose to eat/drink outside of the resort, at no extra cost, is an immense plus to any vacation.
While this is a small trial currently in these towns, it’s expected this form of all-inclusive vacation offer will roll out across many more resorts in the southern Mexican Caribbean.
Food For An Adventurous Spirit
When it comes to activities, the southern corner of the Mexican Caribbean is the land of adventure and discovery.
The world is a traveler’s oyster here, with jungle treks, ziplining, cenote diving, and cave exploration, among others, right on the doorstep of these smaller destinations.
And it isn’t just on land either.
The watersports down here are phenomenal. Ranging from relaxing stand-up paddle boarding in the Bacalar lagoon to diving into the deep off the coast and exploring a genuine WWII U.S. naval ship that saw action in the Pacific Campaign.
Whether coming to relax or to taste adventure, the southern Mexican Caribbean is a shining gem that is just waiting for travelers to discover.
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