Dream Destination Mexico
Longing to feel the sun on your back and the sand between your toes? Grab your sweetie and head south, where Mexico offers some of the world's most stunning beaches, fascinating culture, pristine nature and watersports galore. From funky inns to five-star resorts and fresh fish tacos to sophisticated international cuisine, there's something to suit every couple. Here are 10 honeymoon hot spots, each guaranteed to make you fall in love all over again.
Cancun
White sand and a sparkling sea, watersports, world-class hotels, shopping and hip clubs can revive even the most wedding-weary couples. Up and down Cancun's 14-mile coast - whether you're looking for spicy, sophisticated or serene - you'll love Mexico's No. 1 island playground. Dinner for Two: Try the wildly popular La Habichuela for local fare like chicken pibil baked in banana leaves. Beach Lovers: Steal away to Playa Marlin, a secret spot in the zone just south of Yamil Lu'um. Pleasure Trip: Play with dolphins at Xcaret on the mainland and float down an underground river that spills into Caribbean waters teeming with candy-colored fish. After Dark: Greet the dawn with hot salsa at Azucar.
Cozumel
Cozumel, a diver's paradise, floats on the horizon 12 miles off the Yucatan peninsula. Just offshore stretches Palancar, an underwater Grand Canyon, where dive buddies choose from more than 30 charted sites. Most of the island remains undeveloped, but friendly shops, bars and restaurants welcome visitors in the little town of San Miguel. Dinner for Two: Reserve a window seat at The Wynston and feast on upscale cuisine with bird's-eye views of the harbor and San Miguel. Beach Lovers: Sample the beaches along the wild eastern shore, each more deserted than the last. Pleasure Trip: Explore the fascinating San Gervasio's Mayan ruins at Cozumel's heart. After Dark: Party at the downtown plaza on Sunday. Live music fills the air, and everyone dances.
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres - the Island of Women - feels light years away from Cancun. But it waits just 15 minutes away by high-speed ferry. You can shop and dine in the brightly painted little town, launch watersports off Playa Norte or simply lie back and practice "wasting away" in Mexico's version of Margaritaville. Dinner for Two: Claim a table at Sunset Grill on Playa Norte for some of the best seafood on the island. Beach Lovers: Beach yourselves on Playa Sol, Playa Norte's quieter neighbor. Pleasure Trip: Visit the new museum profiling pirate Fermin Mundaca. Nearby, pay your respects to Ixchel, the moon goddess, whose temple lies in magnificent ruins above the sea. After Dark: End the day as nature intended, with only the stars, the moon and each other.
Riviera Maya
Caribbean waters caress 75 miles of silky white sand along the Riviera Maya. Roll out of bed, pull up a pair of beach lounges, and see where the day takes you. It might lead to Playa del Carmen, the region's ultra-hip hub lined with shops and restaurants, or to the temples at Tulum and a purifying dip at Xel-Ha (Where the Waters Were Born). Dinner for Two: Breeze into Pancho's Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen for the trendy Frida Bar, lobster ravioli and flaming coffees. Beach Lovers: Gaze at Tulum's romantic ruins from the sands below the bluff. Pleasure Trip: Watch for 266 bird species and 200 jaguars at Sian Ka'an Biosphere. After Dark: Groove to world beats at Tulum's Mezzanine, featuring top DJs from London, Ibiza or Mexico on Fridays.
Los Cabos
Los Cabos hugs the tip of Baja California, where the Sea of Cortez meets the roiling Pacific. Party hearty in Cabo San Lucas or bask in the charm of San Jose del Cabo. In between lies the 18-mile Corridor, where you can soak up the sun, play golf and tennis and explore the desert and sea. Dinner for Two: Savor the seafood at Cilantro's along with moonlit views of the rock arch off Cabo San Lucas. Beach Lovers: Hop a boat taxi for the aptly named Playa del Amor. Pleasure Trip: Kayak through the Rio San Jose estuary, then browse the shops and galleries in town. After Dark: Cut loose at Cabo Wabo Cantina. After all, this is Cabo.
Puerto Vallarta
You can be as active or as idle as you please in Puerto Vallarta, which is home to 25 miles of golden sand and a dazzling lineup of world-class hotels and resorts. Stroll through Old Town to feel the romance of colonial days or buzz around Banderas Bay on Jet Skis. There's also scuba diving, sailing, whale watching - the list is endless. Dinner for Two: Treat yourselves to escargot, roast duck or even schnitzel and spatzle at casually elegant Kaiser Maximilian Resort & Cafe. Beach Lovers: Splash in the surf, bake in the sun, indulge in a massage and dine by torchlight at Las Caletas, a privately owned beach. Pleasure Trip: Take a walk on the wild side - through the jungle - with horses and guides. After Dark: Dress up for dancing at the Christine Discotheque.
Costalegre
Costalegre, the Happy Coast, stretches about 80 miles from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo. A few exclusive resorts dot the coast, but you can also find less pricy digs in some of the towns and hamlets. Dinner for Two: Drop by Isadora's in Barra de Navidad for California-style cuisine served by starlight on the dock. Beach Lovers: Spend the day at Playa Mora in Tenacatita, one of the best spots for snorkeling on the coast. Pleasure Trip: Set sail from Melaque for an overnight tour of the Majahaus Biological Station, a sea turtle sanctuary. After Dark: Tuck in early, like all of Costalegre.
Acapulco
Acapulco pleases fun seekers 24/7. Golf and ocean sports rule by day, and you can almost hear the sunscreen sizzling on the beaches. Dinner gets going about 9 p.m., and the nightclubs start to swing a few hours later. True sybarites head home only at the first rays of dawn. Dinner for Two: View the city lights from El Campanario on Acapulco's highest mountaintop. Acapulquenos propose marriage here - just before the cherries flambe. Beach Lovers: Escape to Revolcadero Beach outside the city. Pleasure Trip: Explore Acapulco Bay in a glass-bottom boat. All tours stop at Isla la Roqueta, a great place to lunch, swim and snorkel. After Dark: Pulsate with the glitterati at the Palladium.
Riviera Nayarit
With the Sierra Madre on your right and the Pacific on your left, head north from Puerto Vallarta for the newly designated Riviera Nayarit. The 100 miles of scattered fishing villages, surfing compounds and artist colonies have more than 30 major hotel projects in the works. But for now you'll see just a few pockets of modern civilization in Nayarit's tropical wonderland. Dinner for Two: Gather around the open kitchen at Tapas del Mundo in Bucerias for small plates of tasty fusion cuisine. Beach Lovers: Behold the legendary waves from Papa's Palapas in Sayulita, an internationally known surf mecca. Pleasure Trip: Meet blue-footed boobies and giant manta rays at Las Marietas, a nature preserve off Punta Mita. After Dark: Ask your hotel what's happening. Or turn in early.
Merida
Merida, the Paris of Mexico, will enchant you with its horse-drawn carriages and wide boulevards, wrought-iron balconies and lively fountains. All around, living layers of cultural identity - Spanish, Mayan, old and new Mexico - give a sense of profound depth to Yucatan's capital and most important colonial jewel. Dinner for Two: Join the revolutionary-themed garden party at Pancho's in Centro Historico, where waiters dress like Pancho Villa. Beach Lovers: Chillout on the sands of Celestun, a fishing village and flamingo reserve 60 miles to the southwest. Pleasure Trip: Discover 1,500-year-old Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan site outside Merida. After Dark: Kick up your heels from midnight till dawn at the Mambocafe in Plaza Las Americas.
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