Mexico is packed with amazing destination for beach vacations but by far the most spectacular and best value for money and luxury are Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. On opposite sides of the county, these two world class Mexican vacation destinations pull in thousands of visitors every month and look to continue to do so for the next century and beyond.
Puerto Vallarta
Located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is a relatively new city but one that has been attracting tourism since the early 60s. The favored haunt of many Hollywoods stars, including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who set up home in Puerto Vallarta during the late 60s, Puerto Vallarta continues to lure the rich and famous with its fine dining and stunning surroundings.
Puerto Vallarta’s town center is a charming hub of stores and restaurants with a breathtaking boardwalk, known as the Malecon to attract visitors in their droves. Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon is a hive of activity with street performers, artisans, Flying Birdmen (Voladores de Papantla) and guaranteed sunsets every day of the year.
The climate in Puerto Vallarta is pretty much sunny all year round so that you can enjoy the beach and the ocean even during winter, which is why Puerto Vallarta is so popular with “snowbirds” who spend their winters in the sun escaping the ice cold temperatures of Canada and the US.
Puerto Vallarta is located at the heart of Banderas Bay, and the whole of the bay is lined with stunning beaches, each with their own distinctive charm. Some are fabulous for surfing, others are great for kids while the southern beaches such as Garza Blanca Beach are celebrated for their unparalleled colors with clean white sand and turquoise waters.
The are also a number of exhilarating adventures to be had in Puerto Vallarta including whale watching, horseback riding, ATVs, zip lines tours and much more.
Cancun
Cancun is a vacationer’s paradise and is the perfect destination to relax and enjoy the beach. Cancun is located on the Caribbean Sea and therefore benefits from the paradisiacal surroundings and colors of the Caribbean. However, as Cancun is also mainland Mexico, you can enjoy all the cultural riches and festivities that the city has to offer its visitors. It is more than a tropical beach, it is a thriving destination with traditions, art and a hospitable vision.
Cancun Airport is one of the most accessible airports in Mexico after Mexico City. There are flights to all corners of the globe at bargain prices. One of the appeals of Cancun is the unbeatable weather and great beaches combined with Mexican hospitality. The food is also incredible with a many venues offering amazing fusions between local Yucatan recipes and Mexican favorites.
The biggest attraction in Cancun apart from the idyllic beaches is the plethora of Mayan ruins for tourists to visit. The whole Yucatan peninsula is peppered with vestiges of the ancient Mayan world, with Chichen Itza being among one of the most celebrated settlements for visitors to explore.
You will also find a host of excellent resorts and hotels lined along the coast, with the majority of all inclusive resorts splurging out across the hotel zone. However, you will find more exclusive resorts located in the Playa Mujere area of Cancun a little more secluded from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cancun.
