It’s been pretty cold lately, and when it’s cold I find my mind drifting to warmer places. Not because I don’t like to play in the snow, but it’s always that we want that which we can’t have.   This cold weather always gets me thinking about the beach and the warm air, the smell of the ocean and sunsets that last for hours.   More than just dreaming about the beach, I’m thinking about where I honeymooned some time ago.    The Mexican Riviera and more specifically, near Playa del Carmen.

While I have been to the area quite a few times, there’s always more to see and do whether you enjoy an active vacation or just relaxing.   Next time I travel to the area, I want to experience a luxury Mexico vacation.   Not just a resort that offers the beach, pools and all the other goods.  I want a resort that’s tailored to the experience of the area and luxury.

Now, normally, I would write about the beach and what to do in the area. But this place is different and I wanted to share a little bit about Hacienda res Rios.  On 326 acres in a pristine nature park, located on the Riviera Maya, you’ll find this new resort that opened just over a year ago.  This is not just your average all-inclusive resort.  A short forty five minutes from Cancun’s airport, you’ll find the fusion of modern travel and Mexican and Mayan traditions.  This place offers an experience so unique, you’ll want to return.

The exclusive, eco-friendly retreat is in the heart of the Riviera Maya.  You’ll find jungle, mangrove forest and coastal dunes.  There are ten freshwater springs, a sandy white beach and three rivers as the name suggests.  Alongside all this, you’ll find a marina and yacht club, an equestrian center, convention center, estuary and nature park, bird sanctuary and botanical garden.  There’s also a spa, a beach club, and a Mayan cultural center.

As you ponder all that which this resort has to offer, think on the activities available.  Each guest has access to the Nature park and the beach, but you can also kayak or snorkel, take fitness classes or even yoga.  Maybe you like the directed activities by the pool, or enjoying a show in the evening.  There are even bicycles to ride!

Kayaking at Hacienda Tres Rios

Looking at the list of tours available, you can take guided tours through the property and learn more about the cenotes or the Plant Nursery, maybe kayak one of the rivers or jo along the Nature Park.  You can take a class and experience Tequila tasting or wine tasting.  Maybe learn how to carve fruit or learn to prepare some dishes native to the area. There’s so much to do that I can’t even list it all and you don’t have to leave the property to experience it all.

I’m not sure when I’ll be returning to the Riviera Maya, but this would be the ultimate destination.  Maybe at the next big anniversary I’ll be able to make the journey.

Welcome back!

Los Islotes is a protrusion of rocks rising sharply out of the Sea of Cortez off the tip of Espiritu Santa Island in Baja, Mexico. As you approach it, you are awed by gnarled shapes of the rugged guana covered cliffs. It’s not until you get close that you realize there are hundreds of golden-colored sea lions lazing on the rocks. These wild creatures have chosen Los Islotes as a rookery and, if you are very polite and respectful, they may allow you to swim with them.

All interaction with the sea lions is on their terms. Some days, the huge males rear up on the low rocks bellowing warnings to keep far away from their mates and offspring. But on other days, some of the young ones-not the new babies, but those that are perhaps a year or two old- playfully approach the swimmers who venture into the waters surrounding their rocky fortress.

At first, it’s rather scary. After all, they are large and swift and in their own element. They swim closer and closer until they are rushing within a few feet of you. Then, they gracefully arch their backs to avoid you at the last possible second and torpedo away. You can almost hear them giggling as you realize this is a joyous game to them and they are trying to get you to play.

Follow their lead, diving and spinning and swirling in the water and they often respond in kind. Soon, you find yourself partnered with a sleek sea mammal in a graceful underwater dance. If you reach your hands out, they may swim by and let you touch their backs. Many will swim up and look you in the eye with a mischievous whiskered grin from only a foot or two away .

As a bonus, the part of Los Islotes that is under the water is among the best places in the area to snorkel and scuba dive. So, even if you arrive on a day that the sea lions won’t come out and play, you’ll still enjoy the riot of colorful sea life around you.

Los Islotes is a magical place for both the sea lions and their human playmates. If you’re ever in the southern part of Baja, Mexico, don’t miss it. The outfitters in La Paz run day trips out to the island or you can indulge yourself in a longer guided trip that includes sea kayaking and camping on some of the best beaches in the world.

This incredible island sits in the Sea of Cortez about 4 miles off La Paz near the southern end of the Baja peninsula. Once you escape the mainland and arrive on Espiritu Santo’s pristine beaches, you’re guaranteed to leave all your worries behind.

The island and its smaller neighbors are part of a National Marine Park and enjoy the protection of conservancy groups and the citizens of the area, who rightfully take great pride in their stewardship of this unspoiled ecosystem.

The western side of the island is slotted with protected coves that sport long sandy beaches flanked by rocky ridges dotted with cactus. The opposite side is a kaleidescope of colorful cliffs plunging dramatically into the sea.

Sea kayaking and camping on the beach are why people go to Espiritu Santo, as well as the awesome snorkeling, which includes visiting Los Islotes for the joyful excitement of swimming with exuburant young sea lions.

The seasoned and self reliant can venture out to the island on their own after renting equipment in La Paz. However, the rest of us can enjoy the adventure, too, by joining a trip led by very knowledgable local guides and boat crews who will take care of all the planning and logistics, including cooking hardy native dishes in an open kitchen on the beach.

If you’re looking for a water world adventure in a beautiful and uncrowded place, but don’t feel comfortable going it alone, a guided trip to Espiritu Santo could be just what you had in mind.

Cabo San Lucas is the most popular Baja getaway for tourists from the United States. As a result, it is very Americanized and commercialized. Depending on what you are looking for in a Mexican vacation, that may be either a good thing or a bad one.

The best thing about Cabo is the frequent, direct – and often cheap – airline service from several major hubs in the Western states, like Denver and LA. So getting there can be quick and easy, making it perfect for a long weekend or last minute sanity break.

Golf? Cabo has plenty of it, although the greens plopped down in the desert landscape often seem surreal or even arrogant.

Fishing? This is the place! Perched on the tip of Baja, Cabo is perfectly situated to take advantage of the superb sportfishing offered by both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. This is where the big boys go for the big fish.

Beaches? Aaaaah, the beaches. That’s what most of want from a Baja vacation, isn’t it? Sun, sand, surf, rest and relaxation. Beaches are where Cabo shines and luckily they are only a short stroll from wherever you happen to be when you’re in Cabo San Lucas.

Loreto is a small coastal city on the Sea of Cortez about 200 miles north of Cabo San Lucas and 700 miles south of the US border. As the second largest population center on the eastern side of the peninsula, it serves as the hub of commerce for a large area. The downtown area bustles with shops, restaurants and a very pleasant open air market well away from the traffic. Although it occasionally hosts a cruise ship, Loreto is much more popular among Mexican tourists than Americans.

The scenery around Loreto is truly dramatic. The Gigantica Mountain range rises 5,000 feet above the cobalt blue waters of the Sea of Cortez and the desert runs right up to the ocean. The coast is ideal for exploring in sea kayaks and the 800 square mile Loreto Bay National Marine Park is a haven for adventure tourists.

The hotels in Loreto may show well on the internet, but in general do not live up to US standards of maintenance, service and cleanliness. The trade-off, however, is a town with the motto, “Loreto, where even the sun is not in a hurry”. Who can resist a promise of rest and relaxation like that?

I suspect a road trip from California to Loreto, camping at quiet beaches along the way would be an experience to treasure. In the meantime, I’ll stick to the puddle jumpers that fly in and out of Loreto’s small, but adequate airport from Los Angeles, San Diego and the Mexican mainland. If you’d like to trek off the beaten path and enjoy scenery and adventure more than nightlife and pampering, give Loreto a try.