Riviera Maya Getaways

One of the best, quick tropical getaways from my home in Los Angeles is the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Unfortunately, it tends to be dominated by Cancun, an overdeveloped strip of high rise hotels, tourist dives, and drunk college students. It wasn't until just a couple of months ago, however, that I learned about the less populated stretch of the Yucatan where hotels are few and the crowds are sparse.

The trick is to head south towards the Riviera Maya and leave Cancun far behind. In November, I spent a few days near Tulum, just a two hour drive from the Cancun airport. I was pleased with my discovery but have since learned there are even more exotic and remote locations even further south.

Secret Hotels of the Riviera Maya, a recent article in Budget Travel, explores eight such hotel "hideaways" along this (mostly) undeveloped coast ranging from the simple to the extravagant. More than half of those suggested range in cost from $70-80 while the most expensive is still a deal at $185 a night. Incidentally, the latter, Amansala's Casa Magna, was once a private residence of drug lord Pablo Escobar.

To whet your appetite, the photograph above is an aerial shot of Hotel Tierra Maya. Sure, it's a long 6-hour drive from Cancun (or 2 ½ hours from a small airport in Chetumal), but just look at that water! It's sure worth the journey--as is the $80 a night rates.

Filed under: Mexico