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In Mexico, I never tire of the scenery, the sun, the white sand beaches, the Caribbean Sea, the colors, the food, and also the culture and the people.
Why Quintana Roo?
I’ve been there many times for :
Playa del Carmen is known for its festive nightlife, but everyone can find something to enjoy. Accommodation is affordable and restaurants are countless. The beach itself is not the best, but there are plenty of options nearby. You’ll find what you’re looking for!
Among the activities in the area, take a trip to Xcaret Eco Park, which offers activities such as snorkeling 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.
You won’t be short of choices in Playa del Carmen! Here are the best restaurants in this corner of paradise.
Akumal is a place known for admiring turtles. You’ll discover a beautiful beach there, not too crowded. The LoI Ha restaurant is pleasant for a drink and a few bites.
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!
The island is quite large: 30 miles long by 16 miles wide, with an airport. If you love snorkeling, this is the place for you!
Activities include :
Once there, I decided to rent a car and visit the entire island. It takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to complete the loop.
Note that the ocean view is only accessible on the east coast. On the other side, there are only trees. I really enjoyed the drive in my convertible Jeep.
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 spot for a drink.
The advantage of renting a car is that you can stop at any point along the way to admire the different views.
Here is a list of all the beaches on my itinerary:
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 heading back on the road (less than 10 minutes away).
I really liked this unspoilt, natural side of the island. The Punta Sur Eco Beach park remains an interesting option. You can also visit it by electric bike.
Tulum pueblo has developed considerably over the years; a new international airport has been in operation since December 2023, and Air Canada now offers a direct connection from Toronto. To get to the beach from downtown, it’s a 25-minute bike ride or taxi. Tulum is a place that offers a hippie vibe with a “rich and famous” luxury side. Many celebrities come to this Quintana Roo village.
There are so many cenotes: nearly 6,000 in the Yucatan Peninsula. The Ik-Kil cenote is the most famous. It’s worth taking a full-day excursion with several activities. You could book an excursion to Chichén Itza, Coba and Ik-Kil cenote.
For our part, we chose Gran Cenote based on recommendations from the lady at our Airbnb, but also because it was close to our accommodation. It was really crowded! But around 4 PM, just before closing time, it was the ideal moment. We took the opportunity to rent snorkeling equipment.
I saw many turtles, but only when the crowd left. It’s worth renting equipment, especially to see the light coming out of the cave. There are also many 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.
At 9 AM, there were already a lot of people. The visit lasts about 1 hour, you can hire a guide if you wish or even swim in the sea since this site is on the ocean’s edge.
If you have time, book an excursion to Tulum and Cobá, which is also an archaeological site.
For dining, I loved Kitchen Table. The restaurant is in the middle of the jungle with an open kitchen. They are very attentive to details. There are few choices on the menu, octopus, ribs or fish, but all the dishes were delicious.
Batey is a must when you go to Tulum. There’s always someone working on the sugarcane machine. Each cocktail is served with a piece of sugarcane, so good! They have the best mojitos!
Best burrito ever! At Burrito Amor, they are incredible. The restaurant is also 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 is no beach here: you access the water via stilted piers. Each restaurant on the water has its own.
There are many free public access points. At other locations, you will need to make a purchase to enjoy the facilities.
My favorite spot was Parque Ecologico because it was so shallow that you could relax on the grass, more comfortable than the stilts. But watch out for itching!
For dining, Rafael, the owner of Mr. Taco , will warmly welcome you to his small restaurant. It’s very inspiring to see someone who is so passionate about what they do, even though he works six days a week from 8 AM to 11 PM.
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.
There are many Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Quintana Roo.
Here are some of them:
Marriott Bonvoy is the best-known hotel loyalty program in Canada. As a member, you can earn points redeemable for free nights, among other things.
The following two credit cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points directly:
These cards include a handsome welcome bonus, numerous insurance benefits and an Annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 points.
If you’re not staying at a Marriott hotel, there are also strategies to save on booking independent hotels in Quintana Roo.
For transportation, you will need to use at least 12,500 Aeroplan points, departing from Montreal, for a one-way economy class ticket to reach Cancun airport or Tulum airport, according to Air Canada’s points predictor.
Not familiar with the Aeroplan program? In our beginner’s guide, we explain how to easily earn points for your next trip.
Savings are this way:
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