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.

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.

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.

Loreto Bay includes Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrate and Santa Catalina islands and provides refuge for mother-of-pearl, starfish, sea urchins, fan coral, killer whales, blue whales, dolphins and sea lions.

The white sand beaches are exactly the kind you think of when you’re shoveling mountains of snow and the snorkeling is some of the best in the Americas. Small native pangas and sea kayaks are the best way to get around. You may camp on some of the islands, but the popularity makes reservations necessary.

The Marine Park originated as a grass roots effort by the people of Loreto, who prize and protect their unique ecosystem. The natives depend upon the Sea of Cortez for many things and live in harmony with it. Commercial and sportfishing is not permitted.

But back to Posada LunaSol. This is the type of place you’ll want to stay if you’re a bit adventurous and want to really experience Baja, rather than stay in a cookie cutter resort that caters to US tourists. It’s not cheap, but it is reasonably-priced. It’s tucked away in a quiet residential area, but is just a short walk to the beaches and downtown. It’s colorful, for sure, and clean and well-kept. There’s a little open air kitchen with a sink, fridge and stove where you can prepare simple meals and snacks. The best feature, however, is the spacious rooftop palapa with shade, lounge chairs and cool sea breezes for those lazy afternoons when it’s too hot to move.

The people who run this quaint little hotel seem generally happy to be your hosts. They helped us with where to go and how to get there and welcomed us back when we returned. They have internet access, which is great for weather reports and world news, happily accept major credit cards and communication was not a problem. The other guests we encountered were an eclectic mix of travelers from all around the globe. Ironically, I shared coffee one morning with a  man who’s daughter lives in my hometown.

As a bonus, part of the downstairs is occupied by an outfitter, Mar Y Adventuras, which means Sea and Adventure. These local guides can hook you up with everything you need for a sea kayak and/or snorkeling trip into the Sea of Cortez. You can hire a very knowledgable native guide or go on your own for an afternoon or a week or anything in between.

Read more about La Paz here and about the Beaches of Baja here.

Punta Mita means gateway to paradise. You’ll agree when you stay at La Palmas Punta Mita, a gated resort community on the Bay of Banderas 26 miles north of Puerto Vallarta.

Imagine an ideal year ’round climate with complete resort amenities and more than 9 miles of private, white sand beaches to enjoy with your friends and family. If your dream vacation is all about relaxing in luxury, this is the place!

To introduce you to this beach vacation destination, they offer these Spring Specials:

Hot Deal: Between now and April 6, 2007, you’ll receive a 10% discount off your entire stay.

American Express Special: Use your AMEX card to stay 6 nights and you’ll get a seventh night free at a 3 bedroom, 3 bath luxury golf villa with a private plunge pool.

See more photos and details about this incredible place at the Las Palmas Beach Club website, then call reservations at 800.332.5523 to book your Mexican vacation today!

While it’s at first startling to see cactus forests growing along the beach, you soon get used to the unsual flora and fauna of the Baja peninsula. The best beaches boast fine white sand perfect for barefoot beachcombing. Others consist of shell shards and rocks and require foot protection. However, even on beaches where shoes are a must, the privacy and scenery are well worth it.

Some of the best beaches are not on the tourists’ radar and can only be reached by boat. Camping is permitted in most places and requires toting along an approved portapotty.Whichever you choose, be certain, when wading in the water, to wear water sandals and to shuffle your feet along the bottom to prevent painful encounters with lurking sting rays. This Baja Shuffle will soon become a habit.

Info about La Paz, Baja’s largest city.

Off the beaten path, yet civilized, LaPaz is a the largest city on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. With about 200,000 residents, including a healthy population of Americans, this genteel metropolis is one of those rare places where the citizens generally seem content and happy to be there.

Although public works projects suffer somewhat from a manana state of mind, the sections of town where travelers are entertained are clean and well kept. The people are generally friendly and welcoming and many know enough English to enable language-deficient gringos, like me, to communicate with them.

La Paz is the kind of place where middle-class Mexicans take their families on vacation. While nothing is cheap, it is reasonably priced compared to more popular beach resorts. There’s enough nightlife and good dining to keep you entertained after the sun goes down and the malecon (seaside walkway) fills with pedestrians of all persuasions.

During the day, enjoy perfect, crescent, white sand beaches. Surf in crystal waters. Swim with sea lions at the Los Islotes Sanctuary. Snorkel with creatures you’ve only seen in aquariums. Sea kayak among dolphins and through natural arches. Fish for the big ones in the fairytale Sea of Cortez.

La Paz isn’t the place you think of when you dream of a trip to Baja, but maybe it should be. Learn more about La Paz here.

Chuck and Judy Nichols are adventurers themselves and lead many of their own trips. This is how they can give such accurate information about all of their tours on their website. Nearly every detail of the expedition I enjoyed, The Baja Islands Odyssey, was exactly as they described it.

The office staff quickly and confidently answered all my questions and helped with arrangements. Our guide, Carlos, and his crew were genuinely nice people who anticipated individual needs and took care of every little thing. Their knowledge and professionalism inspired confidence, even when the angry tail of an out-of-season hurricane whipped through.

The itinerary provided one “wow” experience after another – things I never would have done on my own, like snorkeling with sea lions and sea-kayaking at night. The food was outstanding and plentiful. I know I’m gushing, but that really is how incredible my experience was.

Join a group or organize your own posse. This travel outfit offers so many dreamy, soft adventure vacations that I still can’t decide where I want to go next, but I do know I’ll go with Nichols!

Those coming back into the country by sea and land may still use a driver’s license and birth certificate to prove their citizenship. However, that is expected to change in the near future.

Currently about 73% of all US citizens do not have passports, so this may cause a shift in travel patterns over the next few years. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands expect an influx of American vacationers, since they are the only Caribbean destinations not affected by the new rules.

Comments are now closed for this post – we recommend EVERYONE traveling outside the 50 United States have a Passport!! Apply for yours now.

Mexico
Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations. It is located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Los Cabos features luxury hotels, championship golf courses and some of the best sport fishing in the world. Other activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking and much more.

The Caribbean
The Cayman Islands offer many things for many people. 99% of the travelers visit Grand Cayman Island. It is easy to see why people go here. Of the islands this island offers the most when it comes to resorts and hotels. The fabulous snorkeling and scuba diving is not to be missed. When diving, you will think you are in a pet shop aquarium. The fish are abundant and the stingrays are gentle and fun to watch. If time permits, rent a Jeep and cruise around the Island.

Hawaii
Hawaii offers many choices for the traveling family. Each island is unique and offers something for everyone. Kauai is less touristy but still offers much to do. The surfing and snorkeling are not to be missed. Be sure to take a day and drive up to Waimea Canyon. This canyon offers many photo opportunities, and spots to get out and hike near beautiful waterfalls. Maui offers white sand beaches perfect for sunbathing and relaxing. Maui also offers great sightseeing and wonderful shopping. Of the islands, Hawaii, also known as “The Big Island” is the largest. Here you can visit the only active volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands. You will also find wonderful resorts, pristine beaches, great nightlife, fine dining and shopping.

South Carolina

Hilton Head Island offers a great beach vacation location – with plenty to do for romantic couples or families. There are a ton of activities and attractions in and around Hilton Head Island that will give both the young and the young at heart plenty to fill their days. Summer mid-day temperatures hover around 85-90 degrees – warm but perfect for beachcombing and swimming or kayaking in the surf or on the sound. Water temperatures average in the 80s from June through September so summer is a perfect time to visit.