When travelers think about the Mexican Caribbean, the first destination that comes to mind is undoubtedly Cancun, but it’s not the only place to visit in the region.
There are several amazing vacation destinations in the Mexican Caribbean that are loved by travelers from all over the world.
The top 3 Mexican Caribbean destinations that travelers couldn’t get enough of in 2024, though, are highlighted below, along with some information on where to stay in each.
Cancun
It’s no surprise that Cancun made the list of favorite Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations in 2024.
It’s been one of Mexico’s most visited destinations for several years now, and Cancun Airport is the busiest airport for international arrivals.
Cancun is known for its Hotel Zone, lined with white sand beaches, turquoise water, and luxury all-inclusives.
Where To Stay In Cancun
The Hotel Zone is Cancun’s most popular tourist area, where you’ll find the main beaches, restaurants, attractions, and plenty of hotels.
This is where most tourists visiting the destination stay and spend most of their time, so it’s probably where you’ll want to stay, too.
If you’re looking for something a bit quieter, though, you can opt for the Costa Mujeres, Playa Mujeres, or Isla Mujeres areas, which are just minutes from the Hotel Zone.
Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is another extremely popular resort town in the Mexican Caribbean, welcoming millions of tourists every year to its white sand beaches.
In addition to the coastal area, Playa del Carmen is also popular for its vibrant 5th Avenue or Quinta Avenida.
Along this well-traveled street, you’ll find bars, restaurants, shops, and more.
Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen
There are two separate and distinct areas that you can stay in when you visit Playa del Carmen.
You can stay closer to 5th Avenue, which is still close to the beaches, or you can stay right on the beach.
Staying on or near 5th Avenue will put you closer to the nightlife, while staying in a beachfront hotel or resort will be quieter and more laidback.
Tulum
Tulum has been steadily growing in popularity since the early 2000s, particularly over the last decade, and is considered one of the Mexican Caribbean’s trendier destinations.
It has gone through several transformations spanning centuries.
Tulum started as a thriving Mayan city, eventually transforming into a small fishing village and finally becoming the wellness and nightlife destination that it is today.
Where To Stay In Tulum
There are several different areas that you can stay in Tulum, most of which are close to each other, but still, each has its own personality.
Downtown Tulum is where the bulk of the hotels are located, and the hotels are more affordable, but they’re not directly on the beach.
You’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars in this area, though.
The Tulum coast is broken up into different areas with different vibes.
The central part of the stretch of beaches is considered the party area, the northern section is where the public beach and the ruins are, and the southern section is the quieter area.
Getting To These Amazing Mexican Caribbean Vacation Destinations
There are two convenient airports to fly into to get to these three trending destinations.
The U.S. has nonstop connectivity with both Tulum Airport and Cancun Airport, Cancun being the one with the largest connectivity.
American travelers can fly directly to the destination from 43 U.S. airports.
Once at whichever airport you use, you can book private transportation, buy a bus ticket, take a taxi, or ride that Maya Train to get to your final destination, where you’ll be spending your vacation.
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