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The Mexican Caribbean is entering a new era that will see a huge transformation across the destination that sets the region on course to offer travelers more value than ever.
With the new year came the confirmation that 2023 was the Mexican Caribbeans’ biggest year ever, and saw some of the smaller destinations outside of Cancun and Playa del Carmen rise as serious vacation choices for travelers.
Big Changes To Convenience
With the huge rise in visitor numbers in 2023 travelers would be forgiven for thinking the destination is getting close to capacity, after all, there are only so many flights that can land at one airport.
But the tourism industry never stands still in the Mexican Caribbean, with Cancun airport recently announcing a big expansion coming to one of its terminals that will cater for an increased number of flights to the city.
On top of this, the opening of the Tulum International Airport will take a lot of the pressure off the already busy Cancun airport and make traveling to the region more convenient than ever.
With two major international airports servicing the Mexican Caribbean, it is also hoped this could have a positive effect on flight costs in the near future.
When an airport gets close to capacity, it can have a knock-on effect on flight costs as the airlines are charged more to use the airport’s services. It remains to be seen if and how big of a positive impact on costs this could have, but it’s a side effect many travelers are hoping for.
Railroad Renaissance
Another huge addition to the world of transport in the Mexican Caribbean is the Maya train.
One of the biggest infrastructure projects in recent Mexican history, the Maya train will cut travel times across the region down significantly while also providing a safe and hugely convenient way to get around.
Whether just as a form of transfer from Cancun or Tulum airport to one of the many vacation destinations in the Mexican Caribbean or as a way to visit culturally rich places like Chichen Itza or Merida, the Maya train is going to transform interstate travel.
New Destinations
Most travelers will be aware that Tulum, as the home of the region’s new airport, has become one of the hottest vacation destinations in the world since the end of the pandemic.
This highly Instagrammable town is growing fast, with new hotels and resorts being announced regularly. But it’s far from the only new destination in the Mexican Caribbean, drawing in more travelers than ever.
Further south, the towns of Bacalar, Mahahual, and Akumal are all entering a new era of popularity. While a lot less developed than the powerhouses of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, or even Tulum, they hold a huge amount of charm and Caribbean atmosphere that can be lacking in the more developed destinations.
Diversity Of Choice
Travelers who have kept informed of the changes in the Mexican Caribbean this past year’ll be very aware of the huge improvement in the diversity of choice that has taken place.
For example, just 5 years ago, a vacation to the Mexican Caribbean for most boiled down to choosing either Cancun or Playa del Carmen, both fantastic destinations, but both are also so big now that they have developed their own identity, rather than the relaxed Caribbean vibe they started with.
In contrast, the Mexican Caribbean is now a region that caters to every vacation preference possible. Whether travelers are seeking electric nightlife in Cancun, family-oriented vacations in Playa del Carmen, music festival madness in Tulum, or laid-back wellness retreats along the coast, it’s all on offer.
And this diversity of choice is only possible thanks to the huge changes made to transport, which makes previously tricky to get to destinations just a short train ride away.
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