Mexico - Caribbean Coast holidays

If you’re looking for a lively and energetic beachfront in Cancun, there’s nowhere better than Playa Gaviota Azul. There’s a long strip of restaurants and bars just behind the beach, and there’s music and dancing all through the night. Or if you’re staying in Playa del Carmen, Mamitas Beach is the party hotspot. There are watersports like jet-skiing during the day, and vibrant beach bars to visit come sundown. Just so you know, the beaches on this stretch of coastline sometimes experience increased levels of seaweed – called sargassum. It’s influenced by the weather and ocean currents. If your hotel’s affected, the staff will do everything they can to clear it.

Although Cancun has a reputation for being a party destination, its beaches are actually fantastic for families looking for quiet and fun spots. Playa Tortugas offers fine white sand and blue-green waters, and if you’re lucky you might spot a lizard or two. Alternatively, head just north of the city centre to Playa El Nino. Tucked away from the crowds, this Blue Flag beach has very clean waters perfect for a swim.

Believe it or not, it is possible to get away from it all, even in Cancun. Playa Marlin is great for relaxation. It’s a protected area for the local sea turtles, so it’s much quieter than other Cancun beaches, even though there’s still plenty going on. In Playa del Carmen, Playacar Fase 1 is ideal for unwinding. There are no amenities here, and very few tourists. Instead, it’s mainly locals playing ball games with their dogs.

Alongside most beachfronts on the Caribbean coast, there are gift shops selling all sorts of trinkets and small gifts. Kids especially will love browsing through the aisles, finding little souvenirs to spend their holiday money on. Wind chimes are very popular here, along with traditional Mayan jewellery. You can find t-shirts and magnets with town names on, authentic sombreros, and even Christmas ornaments.

Local gift shops are also good places to pick up some higher quality goods, particularly local items such as vanilla. Pure vanilla extract is easy to find on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Locally-made alcohol such as tequila and Kahlua can be purchased at good prices, but be sure to stay within your customs limit. If you’re in Cancun, be sure to check out the gift shops and boutiques in the Plaza Caracol shopping centre.

Cancun’s exclusive Hotel Zone, or Zona Hotelera, is the place to go for designer goods. Many of the big resorts here feature shopping areas, with designer stores such as Boss, Tiffany, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, and Armani. Playacar also has its fair share of designer stores, like Tag Heuer, Tommy Hilfiger, and Harley-Davidson. You’ll find the main shopping district here just behind the harbour and Los Fundadores Park.

Many travellers never venture out of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, but if you’re looking for a quieter nightlife experience, the city centre is perfect. There’s still plenty going on here, with Irish pubs, karaoke bars, and cocktail bars, but things are a lot more laidback. You’ll find this vibrant yet not-over-the-top nightlife in other parts of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, too. Check out destinations like Playa del Carmen and Playa Mujeres. You’ll still have your choice of bars, but without the exclusivity of Playacar or the Hotel Zone.

Cancun and Playacar are the Caribbean coast’s prime party destinations. In Cancun, stick to the Hotel Zone, where you’ll find everything from beach bars blaring out live music to chic cocktail bars and exclusive nightclubs with strict dress codes. You’ll have your choice of local joints, and global chains like Señor Frog's. In Playacar, the pedestrianised Fifth Avenue is a bar-hopping dream, with pubs, clubs, sports bars, and even dedicated tequila joints where you can sample all sorts of different brands and types.

The enchiladas and tacos that you’ve enjoyed at Mexican restaurants at home are certainly delicious, but you won’t find them on the Caribbean coast. Here, you’ll enjoy authentic flavours of the Yucatan and real Mexican dishes beyond Tex-Mex. Try papadzules, which are filled tortillas with a pumpkin seed sauce.

Across Mexico, pulled meats, beans, and veggies are considered staples. However, on the Caribbean coast, you’ll also find a lot of seafood on the menu. A very popular menu item here is ceviche, which is fresh raw fish cured in lime juice. It’s best enjoyed at one of the seafront restaurants, where it’s often freshest.

In the huge resorts of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, you can find pretty much any type of cuisine you’re craving. There’s seafood, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, and almost anything you can dream up. You’ll even find international franchises like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Bubba Gump Shrimp, and Hooters.

Mexico’s Caribbean coast can get very hot, and the locals love cooling down with a machacado de frutas, which translates to ‘crushed fruit’ in English. It’s a cool and refreshing frozen drink made from a mixture of fresh local fruits, condensed milk, and crushed ice, a bit like a slushie. The little ones are sure to love it.

One thing you’ll find in this part of Mexico is that the locals love blending sweet flavours and savoury tastes together. As the sun begins to set, the local street carts come out, offering freshly made marquesitas. These are crispy cheese crepes with a choice of sweet fillings like jam and chocolate.