Mexico: Quintana Roo travel guide

In Mexico, I can’t get enough of the landscape, the sun, the white sandy beaches, the Caribbean Sea, the colors, the food, but also the culture and the people.

Playa del Carmen is known for its festive nightlife, but there’s something for everyone. Accommodation is inexpensive and there are countless restaurants. The beach itself isn’t the best, but there’s plenty of choice nearby. There’s something for everyone!

Local activities include a trip to Xcaret Eco Park, which offers snorkelling and caving.

On the food front, the Fusion Beach Bar Cuisine, located opposite the sea, offers good food. It’s a friendly place, with its feet in the sand.

We had very good service at Zitla and the food was excellent. There’s a great atmosphere in this restaurant.

There’s no shortage of choice in Playa del Carmen! Here are the best restaurants in this corner of paradise.

Akumal is a well-known spot for turtle watching. You’ll discover a beautiful beach, not too crowded. The restaurant LoI Ha is a pleasant place to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat.

Swimming with turtles in Akumal Bay is the must-do activity to put on your agenda.

You could take the Ultramar or Winjet ferries to the island of Cozumel. The journey takes about 30-45 minutes. If you’re seasick like me, this will be difficult, but manageable!

Once there, I decided to rent a car and visit the whole island. It takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to complete the loop.

Please note that sea views are only available on the east coast. On the other side, there are only trees. I really enjoyed the ride in my Jeep convertible.

Along the way, you’ll see several stalls offering cheap beers and fresh coconuts.

The first restaurant on the road is Freedom in Paradise Reggae Beach Bar & Grill. A fun little place for a drink.

We chose to stop at Playa Chen Rio for a snack. There was a lot of coral, creating a very pleasant natural pool. I was surprised to see that surfing was an option here.

Our final stop was at the last bar, an ideal spot for a drink and a nap in the hammocks before getting back on the road (less than 10 minutes away).

Tulum pueblo has grown considerably over the years; a new international airport has been in operation since December 2023, and Air Canada now offers direct flights from Toronto. To get to the beach downtown, it’s a 25-minute bike ride or cab ride. Tulum has a hippie vibe with a touch of “rich and famous” luxury. Many celebrities come to this Quintana Roo village.

There are so many cenotes: nearly 6,000 on the Yucatan Peninsula. Ik-Kil’s is the most famous. It’s worth taking a day trip with several activities. You could book an excursion to Chichén Itza, Coba and the Ik-Kil cenote.

For our part, we chose Gran Cenote on the recommendation of the lady at our Airbnb, but also because it was close to our accommodation. It was really crowded! But around 4 p.m., just before closing time, it was the perfect moment. We took the opportunity to rent some snorkeling equipment.

I saw lots of turtles, but only when the crowd had gone. It’s interesting to rent equipment, especially to see the light as you leave the cave. There are also lots of bats.

Tulum is full of places to practice yoga, but the Sanara Tulum (the establishment has changed ownership and is now called the Lula Seaside Boutique Hotel) is very special to me.

This is one of the best yoga studios I’ve been to! You can hear the sound of the ocean in the background, and the view is simply breathtaking.

Playa Paraiso is a beautiful beach for a relaxing day out. Choose from a variety of beach clubs: we stopped off at Villa Pescadores.

It was a perfect beach day before heading off to Bacalar.

Our bus to Bacalar was at noon, so we had time to visit the ruins of Tulum in the morning. I suggest going at the opening.

By 9 a.m., it was already very busy. The tour lasts around 1 h, and you can hire a guide if you wish, or swim in the sea as the site is right on the ocean.

If you have time, book an excursion to Tulum and Cobá, which is also an archaeological site.

On the restaurant front, I loved Kitchen Table. The restaurant is in the middle of the jungle, with an open kitchen. They are very attentive to detail. There’s little choice on the menu, octopus, ribs or fish, but all the dishes were delicious.

Batey is a must when you visit Tulum. There’s always someone working on the sugar cane machine. Each cocktail is served with a piece of sugar cane, so good! They have the best mojitos!

Best burrito ever! At Burrito Amor, they’re incredible. The restaurant is equally charming. You should definitely add this place to your list.

Oh Bacalar! Certainly the favorite spot of my trip to Quintana Roo. It’s such a special place!

The lagoon is 55 km long and 2 km wide. There’s no beach here: we use stilt bridges to get to the water. Every restaurant on the water has its own.

On the catering side, Rafael, the owner of Mr. Tacowill give you a warm welcome in its small restaurant. It’s very inspiring to see someone who is so passionate about what they do, even though they work six days a week from 8am to 11pm.

The tacos are really good, with a good variety (12 choices) and the burritos are so big! It’s pretty cheap to eat here.

At La Playita, the food was decent for the price. The place is truly magnificent, and we went there in particular to enjoy the terrace and, above all, the view.

Don’t forget to use your American Express Cobalt^® Card at the many restaurants and bars to earn 5 points per dollar.

If you’re not going to a Marriott hotel, there are also strategies for saving money by booking independent hotels in Quintana Roo.

In terms of transportation, you’ll need to use at least 12,500 Aeroplan points for a one-way economy flight from Montreal to Cancun or Tulum airports, according to Air Canada’s points predictor.

Not familiar with the Aeroplan program? In our beginner’s guide, we explain how to easily collect points for your next trip.