Spring break on the Riviera Maya: far enough away from college kids going wild in Cancun, but close to Xcaret, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, places we could travel to during the day and still let the kids get some swim time in at the resort. We left Edmonton when it was -10 Celsius and snow on the ground, arrived in Cancun six hours later and 33 degrees (C). Ahhh.
Our destination: 
The Grand Mayan Resort 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport, and 25 minutes north of Playa del Carmen. A sprawling resort with seven restaurants and turquoise pools that never end. The beach is a fair size but not great for swimming thanks to Hurricane Wilma’s lasting effects from 2005. But that was okay, the pools more than made up for it.
Our mission: to experience real Mexican food, to satiate ourselves of sun and heat, and to alternate our days between relaxing poolside and exploring as much as we can while considering everyone’s wants and needs. A tall order for a family of six.
A taxi ride in to Playa del Carmen (PdC) costs about $20 per car load, meaning we had to take 2 taxis, or 1 van at $40. You can definitely rent a car, but we decided to leave the driving up to the brave and experienced. When in PdC, you have to stroll down 5th Avenue, the main street loaded with shops and restaurants. Be prepared to be approached by shop owners who try to entice you into their store. The competition is furious, but the people are good natured and the whole experience should be taken in good humour.
place. It’s massive, a bit pricey, but hey…in for a penny, in for a pound, right? We swam with the dolpins, floated down an underground river and ended our day with the “Big Show” where actors and musicians told the story of the history of the Mayan people. Spectacular.
Of course you have to visit the ruins. We picked the hottest day of our trip to go to Tulum. Word of advice: wear sunscreen. Take sunglasses. Hire a guide. Pack water. It was 35 Celsius that day.
Highlight of the trip: going to The Jungle Place -a paradise within paradise. The Jungle Place is a sanctioned reserve for the endangered spider monkey and royal toucan and run by Heidi and her husband, Joel, two people who should receive medals for the work they do. Go in the morning, do not wear sunscreen, and remove things like sunglasses, jewelry, flip flops – basically anything that a monkey can steal. If they get ahold of it you’ll never see it again. They’re quick little monsters, and absolutely adorable.
The Playa del Carmen area is a fantastic destination for families because there is so much to do. The weather in March was wonderful, the food fantastic, and the people friendly, helpful and genuinely happy to have you as visitors. PdC depends on tourism and as a result they have triple the number of police units on the streets and the safety of tourists is first and foremost in their minds. Most resorts have water filtration systems, and if you’re still worried, there’s plenty of cerveza and margaritas.
Would we go back? In a heartbeat…we’re already planning our next visit.