MEXICO: PART 1 AKUMAL

This year we had some friends get married, and give us the chance to visit Mexico again! We left Thursday morning, and made sure to board the plane with our little carry on cocktail kit. We’ve used this before so I refilled it, and added an extra bottle with syrup for an old fashioned.

 We split the trip just like last year, with an all-inclusive resort for 3 nights, and then 2 nights in Tulum. The wedding was at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, a luxury all-inclusive (adults only) resort that was about an hour drive from the Cancun airport. The place was pretty amazing, with beautifully manicured grounds and A+ service. Our room wasn’t quite ready when we arrived, but we were greeted with a glass of champagne, and then went for a bite to eat while we waited.

The resort is a pretty good size and never seemed crowded. There are plenty of places to relax and 3 different swimming pools on the property. Some of them were quiet and perfect for lounging while the one close to the beach was a bit rowdier with a swim up bar for mingling and making new friends. Thursday we grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants, spent a little time by the pool, and settled in before heading to dinner. It was Cinco De Mayo and they had a giant buffet set up and a Mariachi band performing. Later that night we all went to the “night club” that is located on the resort for over indulging and some excellent people watching.

The beach was beautiful and there are paddle boards, snorkeling gear and kayaks readily available for no extra charge. You can venture out just off the beach to view the green sea turtle population that the area is known for. We spent Friday in the sun with drinks and food delivered on the beach before heading into Tulum with the wedding party for dinner. By Saturday we were ready to take it easy under the shade before the wedding.

There are 6 restaurants on the resort, but we only tried a few since there were some prearranged wedding activities. We did the breakfast buffet every morning, and it was stocked with pretty much anything you could think of. The chilaquiles were a favorite of mine, but I tried to pile a little of everything on my plate. There is also 24 hour food and drink access in your room or out in the cafe, and we felt that all the food and bev were pretty good for an all-inclusive spot.

We enjoyed quite a few Icebergs (beers topped off with frozen margaritas) while lounging on the beach.

The time seemed to go by so quickly and suddenly it was almost time to go. Saturday we celebrated, danced, and took tequila shots. Sunday we had room service, said our goodbyes, and hoped in the car for the 30 minute drive to Tulum. An all-inclusive trip is definitely different and not always the way to go, but it can be an extremely relaxing and worry free experience. A lot of our trips are to cities where It seems we are rushing around and not really relaxing. Sometimes its nice to just read a book, have a drink and take a nap. No phone, wallet, or ID needed.

Lots of photos from the second half of our trip to Tulum coming asap!