Taking It Easy: Ruins, Resorts and Relaxation in Mexico

Mexico has it all: teeming cities, jungles, deserts, pueblos and more. It’s also a mélange of cultures, including indigenous tribes. As expected, there’s no shortage of things to do, from mountaineering and touring tequila farms to watching whales and checking out enthralling ancient ruins. All these make it an ideal country to catch a plane to and explore, with numerous airlines worldwide offering flights to Mexico. If you are looking to travel to Mexico any time soon, here is an outline of some of its most outstanding ancient ruins, resorts and relaxation spots:
Making for the resorts

While in Mexico, one of the nicest places to stay is Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. This fine resort features a ten-acre beachfront that rewards the guests with a view of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Imagine being able to step onto the stand… just you and the mountains. The resort is only a few meters away from a lovely championship golf-course. It also offers a wide variety of activities, either to relax or to stay active, such as tennis, water sports and yoga, and if you wish to cool off with a swim, there are three swimming pools and even a swim-up bar.
Take it easy spots

One of the best vacation spots in Mexico is Cozumel. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, this island is a popular diving destination. Then there are the botanical gardens and nature trails, not to mention a bustling nightlife in downtown San Miguel, which has numerous discotheques, bars, and cinemas. The surrounding waters are as good as tailor-made for kite surfing, surfing and parasailing.

If you’re looking to relax elsewhere, you can also try Merida, where you can also wind down big time. Christened the ‘White City’ because of its cleanliness and white buildings, Mérida is a melting pot of the Caribbean, Mayan and colonial influences. It was founded in 1542 by the conquistadors and still features some of the buildings built by the Spaniards. The center is mainly cultural and home to several museums, theatres, art galleries and opera houses, but if you’d rather just relax out in the open there are plenty of serene public parks to accommodate you.

All of this said, you can’t talk about relaxation spots in Mexico and not mention Acapulco. This city is also a resort and is characterized by beaches that will make you think that you’ve died and gone to heaven. Tamarindos, Icacos and Papagayo are among the most popular ones.
A vacation in ruins

Not in ruins as in “tatters,” no, but ancient ruins. Mexico has a large number of these, the most famous being the ChichénItzá ruins, which have some fascinating aspects and reveal some of the secrets behind the mystic Mayan calendar.

There are also the Tulum ruins, which don’t disappoint and are considered to be some of the most beautiful of the Mayan ruins. They’re walled and feature a wonderful beach. Moreover, they’re just about 130 kilometers away from Cancun and an hour’s drive from the lovely Playa del Carmen.

One more set of ruins that you should visit are the ancient Palenque ruins. They cover more than 15 square kilometers and are a product purely of human labor; no metal tools, animals or wheels were used.

Mexico is one of those places that have it all. There’s hustle and bustle if you want it, and if you don’t you can escape it and just chill it. This can be back at the resort, out and about in places such as Cozumel or appreciating Mexico’s past at the ruins. You’ll come back feeling rested and worldly. The trip has achieved its goal.

Images by ecooper99, Sean McGrath and Claire L. Evans used under creative commons license.