Our family of 4 loves adventure (jungle treks, snorkeling, ATV, white water rafting, caving) and have avoided MEXICO to date. We have been to Costa Rica a ew times and love it...now thinking of spending Christmas holiday somewhere and contemplating the Mayan area... should we bother? any recommendations of places to stay or what to do?

What about Cuba?? they have all those things less the white water rafting!!

We went to Los Cabos this year and loved it!

Puerto Vallarta in my opinion is a better choice. Almost guaranteed great weather that time of year. You risk rain on the Mayan side. The PVR area has lots of what you’re looking for and has recently a much safer crime record than the Cancun side.

Christin Agreed, we prefer PV

Christin the ocean is just that little bit rougher and it’s not Azure Blue like the Yucatan

Love the Mayan
We have stayed at the Grand Sirenis- loved it. As the Grand Bahia- also nice- but we prefer the ocean at the Sirenis more - more calm

The Mayan Riviera is beautiful. The ocean is far nicer there than the Pacific side.

Lesley do you mean the gulf? Or do you mean going more
South?

Beverly the Yucatan, fly to Cancun and head South

Loved PV!

We love the Mayan with kiddos and have gone multiple times. So much to do there. Google Xcaret, Xel-ha and Xplore, I think they are right up your alley. I highly recommend Sandos Carocol Eco Resort. So much to do right on the resort including water slides for all ages, cenotes to swim in just to name a few.

Los. Cabo’s is a win

I love Cabo too, but you need to know that you cannot swim in the ocean on this side as it is too strong of an undercurrent. If this is important to you, you won’t like Cabo. Hubby & I went and he hated it because he wants to be able to go in, not just look at it.

We just returned from Mexico and stayed at grand Bahia principe Tulum. Was great. Loved it. Did xel ha and they had ziplines, snorkelling, dolphins. So much to see and do.

Brenda I've heard great things about that resort from coworkers

Puerto vallarta is our fav place. Lots to do and great weather.

Try Peru!

Definitely check out Xcaret resort and parks if you love those adventures. Most amazing trip we've ever been on. They have the resort and 5 parks. You can even snorkel on the resort grounds.

Very touristy my friend..... not sure if its your jam.
Have you looked into sayulita? Might be more your style......

I second the Sayulita!

Panama

panama is great. Nitro city might have lots they can offer. I sky dived onto the beach there. (Travis pastranas resort)

Brooklyn vocals del Toro, although looks like it is quite developed now

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Nicaragua! We’ve been a couple of times and there’s lot of adventure there for those who are willing to get off the beaten path! Cheap too!

I do love Costa Rica but have had lots of fun on the Mayan side. If you stay near akumal you can swim with the turtles. Just go yourself and rent equipment/locker from dive shop on the beach. Explore is great fun! Xel-Ha is also really fun.

Jamaica’s awesome aswell...I do love riviera maya tho

Loved Belize!

Melissa you sound like a perfect fit for Hotel Xcaret and it’s all inclusive fun! Check it out and feel free to message if you’d like any information/quotes. I just booked my friend there for a honeymoon and it’s top of my own personal list to take my son as he’s so active!

Puerto Morelos is a beautiful place , 20 minutes south of Cancun.

Have been 4 times to the Mayan Riviera side and loved the ocean on that side, always at an all-inclusive which we find so relaxing. Stayed at Azul Sensatori in Puerto Morelos (45 of us for daughter’s wedding) and it was a wonderful resort. The resorts further south have nicer beaches though. Stayed at the Barcelo and Bahia Principe and the beaches were nicer, reef right off of the Barcelo. You can book all kinds of excursions from the all-inclusives (Mayan ruins, snorkelling from catamarans, Xcaret, repelling into caves etc.). Not the same type of holiday as Costa Rica (spend a month there last winter) but very enjoyable. We did not like the Riviera Nayarit/Puerta Vallarta side as much (spent a month there) mainly because of the poor ocean swimming conditions. We also loved the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Enjoy!

Carol did you have kids with you at Barcelo and Bahia? I’m trying to decide between those 2 resorts, thanks!

Jaime No we didn’t but our friends did. If I recall correctly at the Bahia there is a breakwater which provides a great swimming area for little children. But at the Barcelo there was the reef for snorkeling if you have older children. At both resorts you could wander between their sister resorts. Barcelo definitely had a children’s pool, can’t remember it at Bahia but I’m sure they do to.

They had green algae in the Mayan Riviera lately and lots of drug lord related crime. You might want to check to see if the algae is still there.

My favourite place on the Yucatan Pennisula is El Cuyo, off the beaten track and access to some fantastic places. Fly to Cancun and then it's easy to get to. Here's my blog https://www.solotravelz.com/el-cuyo-mexico/ and you can check out elcuyo.net too.

Hotel Xcaret has all of that. Mayan in beautiful!!

https://panamajackresorts.com/playa-del-carmen

our family of 4 recently stayed here, it was amazing! blocks away from the downtown strips, decent food, steps from snorkeling tour destinations. great accommodations and staff. Our first all inclusive and would happily go back.

Go to Nicaragua and go volcano boarding

We love the Mayan Riviera as do the kids. We prefer to stay in a condo and do our own shopping and cooking and anyplace in the Playacar area or near by is great as you have access to the beach and 5th ave shops and restaurants. Great adventurous places to go like Xel-ha and X-Caret (highly recommend).

I recommend the Altournative Tours. Small group excursions and the rappelling into the cenote was a highlight for my daughter and me on our trip to the Mayan Riviera. https://alltournative.com/