Last fall, I took two of my sons on an amazing 9 day getaway to Mexico! We rented a car and explored the parks and beaches near Playa del Carmen, the gorgeous ruins of Tulum and Coba, and the many cenotes dotting the eastern Yucatán peninsula.
So let me tell you why Mexico is a great Covid Friendly getaway!
- No testing or vaccination requirement means easy access to enter the country.
- There are very few tourists right now so airfare is dirt cheap and hotels are very reasonable.
- Masks are required anytime you are indoors, or in crowded areas. We were even asked to wear masks when riding an outdoor water slide and when swimming in an underground river! That was an interesting experience!
Here are some of our favorite stops during our trip:
Cenotes:
A cenote is an ancient sinkhole that fills with water after the limestone has collapsed. Some of these are hundreds of feet deep, others are inside of caves and many are set up for public swimming. There are so many to explore and they are all so gorgeous and so different. We explored Cenote Jardin del Eden, Cenote Azul, Cenote Zaci and a few others. The cost is generally just a few dollars per person. While some Cenotes are known for their incredible scuba diving, others have great cliff jumping spots, and some have little fish that will eat the dead skin off your feet (free spa treatment anyone??). However, they all have crystal clear water with gorgeous surroundings.
Parks:
Mexico has incredible theme parks, such as Xenses, Xplore, Xcaret, Xel-ha and more. We went to Xplore which is known for its higher adrenaline activities including its huge zip lines, amphibious vehicles, all you can eat buffet, underwater rivers to explore and caves to wander through. We also enjoyed a half day at Xenses, which has incredible sensory experiences in addition to water slides and a zip line. These parks offer discounted admission if you purchase tickets early and if you purchase for multiple parks. http://www.xcaret.com
Unique experiences you will only have in other countries:
Ordering grasshoppers from a restaurant and then daring each other to try them! (We didn’t love them!). Enjoying marquesitas from a food stall In Valladolid. (We loved them!!). Holding a baby jaguar and playing with a baby lion. (When a guy on the street asks you if you want to pet his baby jaguar, always say yes!!). Getting our PADI open water certification for around $300! (Seriously, such a good price!) These are the kind of experiences we will remember and will cherish always!
Happy travels!
Want more adventurous travel ideas? Check out some of our other blog posts:
