Inclusive Cancun: New Beaches Suited for Everyone

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Thomas Lloyd

Quintana Roo’s beauty lies in its crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches. Unfortunately, for anyone who has any mobility restriction, enjoying the beach may seem more stressful than relaxing. For years, getting handicap access to beaches has been the state’s request, and while some beaches have started adapting, Cancun has finally come through. Although authorities began efforts in November of 2017, they are finally promoting the handicap access.

Handicap access finally installed in cancun beaches

Eduardo Martinez Salgado, director of the Rehabilitation and Inclusion Center of Cancun, announced that four beaches in Cancun are now accessible to people with disabilities or mobility restriction. But, what exactly does handicap access in a beach mean?

The beaches are accessible by ramps now. They also feature attention centers for any inquiries or to offer help to anyone who may need it. Moreover, authorities adapted the lounge chairs, bathrooms and showers. They are now suitable for anyone who may not be able to move freely without a wheelchair. The best part, however, is that they offer amphibious wheelchairs for everyone to enjoy actually being in the water. The city elected these four particular beaches due to its low tide and calm waves. This allows for the amphibious wheelchairs to enter the water smoothly, granting handicap access into the ocean.

quintana roo leading changes in infrastructure

Given the increasing amount of tourism to the area, having beaches with handicap access is perhaps one of the smartest authorizations the Quintana Roo government has issued. Playa del Carmen was the first city in the region to have a beach to accommodate people with disabilities. In Akumal, locals made efforts to introduce handicap-friendly snorkeling water bikes. They aimed to help those with disabilities see the wonders of the underwater world, although they were later removed. Today, Cancun has four inclusive beaches, including Playa Delfines, Chaacmool, Las Perlas and Playa Langosta.

This is great news for Quintana Roo’s tourism, as it goes hand in hand with other great things they’re doing. Just recently, Senator Jose Luis Pech Varguez announced the approval of a Cancun – Palenque fast train that will connect the whole south eastern peninsula of Mexico. The Riviera Maya has also recently been chosen as the pet-friendly destination for 2018 with many hotels, restaurants, bars and even beaches adapting to receive tourists with their furry friends. Lastly, private investment is overlooking the installation of electric car stations along the highway that goes from Cancun to Tulum in an effort to promote the use of eco-friendly alternatives to transport.

Spending a Day at the Beach

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Thomas Lloyd

The Riviera Maya has some of the most gorgeous beaches and beautiful turquoise Caribbean water in the world. Spending a day at the beach is like no other place you’d rather be. Hundreds of thousands of visitors, snowbirds and fulltime residents enjoy this wonderful experience on a daily basis.

Places like Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and even the smaller communities like Akumal are privileged to have such breathtaking beaches. Several online publications ranked Tulum on their ‘Top 10’ list as having one of the best beaches in the world. Playa del Carmen is considered one of the most sought out vacation destinations in all of Mexico. Its reputation for having quite a few ideal beach spots is no secret. Ask anyone who frequents this charming town.

Enjoying a day at the beach is super simple. All you have to do is figure out which way you want to spend it! Tulum, Playa and Akumal to mention just a few have plenty of beach bars and grills. Pull up a lounge chair – hammock, order your favorite beverage and put your toes in the sand. When you need to cool down, take a refreshing dip in the warm tempered Caribbean water at your leisure.

Spending time on the beach is exactly what the doctor ordered!

However, if you want to just relax and enjoy the day, there are plenty of locations to do just that. Set up an umbrella and beach chair, take a cooler packed with snacks and plenty of your favorite beverages and a good book. Don’t forget to take time and people watch in between chapters. Spending time in paradise doing whatever comes to mind is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Being on the beach can offer plenty of opportunities to meet new people and participate in many of the everyday activities. There are absolutely no communication barriers when spending a day on the beach. The young and not so young play Frisbee, kick a soccer ball around, and hacky sack to mention just a few activities. Afterwards, everyone sits down together and enjoy each other’s company.

Moreover, on many of the Riviera Maya’s beach destinations you can watch windsurfers perform their acrobatic jumps, twist and turns. They glide along the water waiting for the perfect updraft to catch their kite’s broad sail and off they go! You can create your own adventure buy renting a Jet Ski or small sailboat for an hour or two. Beach vendors also offer parasailing, snorkeling and fishing trips upon request.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t let life pass you by without enjoying Mexico’s fabulous Caribbean coastline. Spending a day at the beach offers no limit on what to do, see or experience. Palm trees, sugar fine white sand and tropical sea breezes can be a great way of life.

Mahahual – A Beautiful Destination in the Yucatan Peninsula

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Thomas Lloyd

Mahahual is one of the many hidden jewels of the Yucatan Peninsula. A small fishing village where magic happens since you arrive. This small town is a very safe destination; and the perfect spot to escape and have a peaceful time off.

Mahahual is located south of Tulum following the 307 highway on the way to Chetumal.

Once you pass the town of Carrillo Puerto, you will see the signs pointing to take the road to Mahahual. Your destination is only 3 kilometers away from the Costa Maya cruise port. If you’re coming from Cancun’s International Airport, it is an easy and worthwhile drive to Mahahual; with plenty of cenotes and quaint towns. If you’re looking for a getaway to relax and to get some rest from the crowds of Playa del Carmen or Cancun, Mahahual is the perfect place to achieve this.

Here you won’t find big hotels, nor giant developments. Mahahual features beautiful small hotels in the heart of the town. You will find some grocery stores and, of course, delicious restaurants where food will give you another amazing experience. Mahahual offers a range of lodgings, from camping spots, boutique hotels and luxury villas.

In Mahahual there are several activities to do. It goes from eco tours, to snorkeling, diving and fishing. The weather conditions in the summer are excellent for fishing, so in this period of the year this town hosts amazing fishing contests. Also, you will find some beach clubs with excellent service to enjoy an amazing day at the beach.

Wake up every morning in this small paradise. You can have breakfast in one of the many coffee shops, so you can later get ready for an incredible day. The calm waters of Mahahual will allow you to dive in and swim all along the Caribbean Sea. Then, you can sunbath while you drink a fresh beverage. When you decide to leave the beach, you can go for walk on the main street, where you will find some local sellers with beautiful Mexican handicrafts; the perfect place to find a souvenir to take back home! Moreover, take the opportunity to rent out a bike and go across Mahahual, a short but lovely road.

Once the night arrives to Mahahual, you can go out on a romantic dinner under the moonlight and feel the ocean breeze. Enjoy every corner that this paradise has to offer. Mahahual has managed to maintain the beautiful Caribbean vibe that every tourist looks for.

Mahahual is another hidden jewel of the Yucatan Peninsula, and you must visit it before you leave Mexico. Once you’re here, you will not regret this amazing getaway!

The Best Destinations in the Riviera Maya

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Thomas Lloyd

You have asked, we have listened… Here are our 5 favorite destination spots in the Riviera Maya to retire.

Please read below, as to why we choose these specific places in the Riviera Maya! We hope we made your retirement decisions a little easier for you!

Playa Del Carmen:

We have voted Playa del Carmen as our top best destination spot to retire in the Riviera Maya because it has everything. From miles and miles of white sandy beaches, to Brazilian steak houses and some of the best Mexican cuisines you can find. Most importantly, it is well equipped with fantastic medical care, dentistry needs, among other health care practitioners. Salons for those who like to get freshened up every now and then. Wonderful cafes scattered around the town, with free wireless internet access available to their customers. Playa del Carmen at one point was the fast growing city in Latin America. It is located in the perfect spot. Only 45 minutes away from Cancun International Airport, which is convenient for friends and family to come for a visit. It is also only 20 minutes away from some amazing eco-parks. Akumal and Tulum are only minutes down the highway. If you are looking for a perfect place to retire, Playa del Carmen is highly recommended. You want a gated community, with access to the beach and a common pool area to use on your own time? Well, Top Mexico Real Estate can find you a place that meets all your needs.

Tulum:

Let’s talk about the beautiful-serene town of Tulum. The distance between Playa del Carmen and Tulum is only 45 minutes and 1.5 hours from Tulum to Cancun. Making it very accessible to reach a bigger city for your different needs. Tulum is famous for their turquoise waters and white sand beaches, but on top of that… their Mayan archaeological site from the 13^th century. Tulum’s national park is situated to overlook the beautiful Caribbean Sea. This archaeological site is one of the most fascinating Mayan walled cities in the world. Although Tulum is not as big as Playa del Carmen, it still has all the main necessities you will need such as: Doctors, Grocery Stores, Salons, Restaurants, Beaches and more. The real estate marketing in Tulum is growing every day! This eco-friendly, hippy loving beach town will surely put a smile on your face as long as you are here!

Bacalar:

Bacalar is known for it’s seven color lagoon pictured above. It is located 40 km north of Chetumal, which is the closest big city. Chetumal is where you go if you want to take a boat across to Belize. From Playa del Carmen it takes roughly three hours. Bacalar is one of our top destinations because it is the epitome of pleasure. You feel like you’re in the jungle, mixed with this incredible lagoon. It is a hidden paradise off the beaten path. There is vacant land for sale around the area if you are looking to build.

Akumal:

Have you heard your friends or family members talk about that cool little fishing village, where you can snorkel with large sea turtles for free? Well yes, that would be Akumal! This amazing small town has a great coral reef, where you can see lots of colorful fish, big turtles and other interesting sea creatures. Akumal is only 25 minutes away from Playa del Carmen, making it very easy to commute back and forth when needed. It is a small, beachfront neighborhood in Mexico. There are a lot of North Americans that have property in this area.

Cancun:

Yes, we can’t forget about Cancun. A great city with all the amenities you would ever need. Not many big cities are surrounded by some of the top rated beaches in the world. Not to mention restaurants with world-class chefs, and some of the best shopping in the world. Of course Cancun has a wide selection of medical care and real estate. Being the big city like it is, makes it easier for you to find the best places and necessities for the best price. If you are into golfing, Cancun is a golfers dream. If you like culture and history, Cancun is filled with it. Although it is a big city, it is still enriched with Mayan civilization. Cancun is also known for it’s fishing. There are way too many things to do in Cancun to include everything, but it is definitely a place to enjoy if you like having all your necessities in walking distance from you as well as the beach.

We hope you enjoy one of our top five best destination spots in the Riviera Maya for your retirement, and you see for yourself just how amazing life here in Mexico really is!

Things to do in Isla Mujeres

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Thomas Lloyd

If you are visiting or living in the Riviera Maya, you can’t miss the opportunity to spend a day in this amazing Caribbean island. Isla Mujeres is the perfect spot to take a trip with your partner or your family. Only a short ferry trip away from Puerto Juarez, Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a place you must visit.

This popular destination’s name translated from Spanish means “Women Island”. And a lovely island it is. The tropical landscape blends perfectly with the Caribbean waters that surround its beautiful glistening shores. The swaying palms and gorgeous weather is just two of a thousand reasons why you would choose a getaway to Isla Mujeres. You can reach this unique Mexican island by taking the Ultramar ferry from Puerto Juarez, Cancun. If you are planning to bring your own transportation, there is a ferry that transports vehicles from one port to another.

Once you arrive on this dreamy island, the frontage road that follows along the shoreline offers various open-air restaurants, boutique shops, and services such as golf cart rentals and excursions. The parkway thoroughfare will eventually lead you south towards more of the Island’s natural sites. If you want to set out on your own, grab a self-guided map and rent a golf cart for the day and do some exploring. It’s hard to lose your way on an island that is 4.3 miles long and a half a mile wide.

Don’t let the size of the island fool you. There are plenty of places to see and things to do in Isla Mujeres. You can snorkel through and around an underwater museum, experience the Dolphin Discovery or visit the turtle farm to just mention a few. If sipping on your favorite beach beverage while working on your tan or relaxing under a palapa is more your style, Playa Norte (north beach) is the place to be. Let the servers cater to your thirst and snacking needs.

When your day is winding down and it is time to relax, Isla Mujeres Centro has a pedestrian friendly street that offers plenty of choices to dine on fresh seafood, tacos and other Mexican food cuisines. The ocean breeze and glowing sky from the sunset creates a magical evening for all to sit back and enjoy. If you are staying on the island, there are a variety of accommodations that will fit everyone’s specific needs.

Isla Mujeres is a great place to have a vacation home, an investment property or a combination of both. With the increasing popularity of the Yucatan Peninsula being a vacation haven, more and more tourists are flocking to the area. Isla Mujeres is one of those destinations that is experiencing incredible growth. No matter if it is summer or winter, people want to see this quaint island paradise. It might be time to start thinking about investing and living in Mexico!