Mexico is full of wonderful vacation destinations that will delight and inspire visitors, but two beach destinations that stand out from the rest are Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. These two celebrated beach vacation destinations are located on opposites sides of Mexico and attract thousands of tourists each month of the year.
Cancun – Caribbean Dreaming
A vacation paradise, Cancun is the ideal beach vacation destination for relaxation and fun. Located on the Caribbean Sea, Cancun enjoys unrivaled surroundings and dancing blue hues for which the Caribbean is famed. What makes Cancun distinct from other Caribbean destinations is that you benefit from stunning natural beauty as well as all the cultural riches and traditions of mainland Mexico. In addition to amazing beaches, you can experience historical sights, art and gastronomy.
Apart from its idyllic beaches, one of the most popular attractions in Cancun are the Mayan ruins that characterize the area. The Yucatan Peninsula and Cancun are adorned with fascinating Mayan archeological sites such as Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Tulum. Cancun City is also home to two smaller sites, El Meco and El Rey.
It is very easy to get to Cancun with Cancun International Airport being one of the busiest in Mexico with flights all over the world. Many people flock to Cancun’s shores thanks to the guaranteed sunshine and unbeatable temperatures no matter what month of the year you visit. To top it all, the food in Cancun is unbeatable with incredible fusions between local recipes and popular Mexican favorites.
An excellent range of resorts and hotels await you in Cancun, with many located in the hotel zone. For more upscale resorts, you should look to the Playa Mujeres neighborhood, where you can find more seclusion and exclusivity.
Puerto Vallarta – Pacific Peace
Puerto Vallarta is a relatively young coastal city located on Banderas Bay which has been attracting visitors looking for amazing beaches since the 60s. The Pacific Coast destination was once the favorite hang out for Hollywood stars such as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor who bought a house together in Puerto Vallarta and became godparents to a local boy.
The town center is a wonderful milieu of restaurants and stories boasting a wonderful boardwalk known in Spanish as the Malecon, which tourists never tire of walking. The Malecon is a hub of culture and art with sculptures lining the seafront, as well as performers, artisans and caricature artists. It is also a quaint place where you can enjoy guaranteed sunsets over the ocean.
Like the sunsets, great weather is certain in Puerto Vallarta no matter what the season. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, it is hard to rendezvous with bad weather in Puerto Vallarta. Ocean temperatures are warm during winter and like a bathtub in summer which makes Puerto Vallarta a perfect place to escape to in winter from the US and Canada.
Puerto Vallarta offers a range of beaches, all of which are beautiful and clean. There are great beaches for surfing and bodyboarding, beaches that are ideal for kids with shallow waves and stunning white sandy beaches to the south like Garza Blanca Beach and Playa Las Gemelas.
