With their many ameniities, all-inclusive beach resorts in Mexico are a favorite family getaway; below are some popular areas.
1. Cancun All-inclusives
Cancun -- in the northeast of the Yucatan peninsula, with shores on the Caribbean Sea-- is Mexico's tourism powerhouse: Cancun gets 20% of the country's tourism, and its 25-kilometre Hotel Zone of double waterfront (ocean and lagoon) is wildly popular with night-club-goers, shoppers, and diners-out... Cancun also has many all-inclusives that welcome families, and is a convenient launch-pad for day-trips in the Mayan Riviera to the south.
Photo © Teresa Plowright
2. Riviera Maya - Top Spots for Families
Mexico - Riviera Maya
The "Riviera Maya" south of Cancun, Mexico, is a top vacation spot for families for two reasons: many all-inclusive resorts offer watersports, daily activities, kids' programs for ages 4 to 12; meanwhile, outside the resorts, 130 km stretch from Cancun south to Tulum offers fun and fascinating activities.
Highlights include: second-largest barrier coral reef in the world; unique "eco-archeological" theme park Xcaret; lagoons full of colorful fish; cenotes" (natural pools of clear water-- lovely to swim in); fascinating Mayan ruins.
Photo © Teresa Plowright
3. Mazatlan for Families
Moving over to Mexico's west coast: Mazatlan has been one of Mexico's best tourist draws for decades, and has long stretches of beach, a historic downtown, a busy tourist zone, an aquarium, water park, and reputation for sportsfishing. Families can find a couple of "playas" (beaches) with calm waters; in other areas, kids can learn to surf.4. Puerto Vallarta for Families
About half-way up the west coast of Mexico (south of Mazatlan, north of Acapulco), Puerto Vallarta has nearly 30 miles of golden sand. Watersports include snorkeling and surfing, plus kayaking, windsurfing,parasailing, sportfishing. Visitors can explore an old town with cobblestone streets, and ogle the mansions that belonged to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton back in the days when they put Puerto Vallarta on the map. Jungle and canopy tours are nearby. Families can find all-inclusives, name brand resorts, resorts with suites.5. Los Cabos - All-inclusives
Dreams Los Cabos Resort and Spa; photo courtesy of AMResorts.
Los Cabos -- at the tip of the long Baja California peninsula, on the west side of Mexico-- has many resorts (all-inclusives and non) that suit families. There are actually two "Cabos" ("Capes") -- San Jose del Cabo, and (party-town) Cabo San Lucas-- connected by a 17-mile "Corridor" with resorts and golf courses. The area has some good snorkeling, whale-watching in winter, fishing, horseriding, and sightseeing in the artists' town of Todos Santos. Watch out, though: due to waves and undertows, few beaches are swimmable.
