You live in paradise, you get to see the tropical blue water and put your feet in the sand any day you want.  What a dream it is that you get to reside in a place where people come from all over and spend their hard saved dollars just to spend a little time, leave and remember forever in a photo album.  Yes, it’s very true that we are lucky in that respect and every day we should appreciate the beauty that we are able to wake up to each and every day. But how do people who already live in a vacation destination vacation?  Some might say, no need for vacation but this is a misconception.

Everyone needs to get away every once in a while.  But the amazing thing is that we live in a place where it is so incredibly easy to take off and explore a new paradise without having to save large amounts of money or travel far away. The most wonderful thing about the Riviera Maya is that each area has a unique experience and its personal beauty.  Even if you travel only 15 minutes away you can feel like you have traveled to a completely different place. With that being said, and in lou of Travel Tuesday, I would like to start off my paradise away from paradise series.

The first place I would like to take you is Mahahual in the beautiful Costa Maya region! If you are traveling from Playa del Carmen you are looking at around four hours driving. For those of you who have not experienced this area yet I can assure you it’s a gem.  Mahahual has a bay somewhat like Akumal and is a nice spot for diving and snorkeling.  There you will find pristine blue bay water and beaches filled with palm trees and plenty of hammocks for sheer relaxation.  If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is your spot!  There are quite a few options for places to stay although no major hotels or resorts. Here you can find nice cozy cabanas or smaller rustic but very clean hotel rooms.  It can be nice to get there at an early hour to find a place to stay for a night or two.  Mahahual does not stay open late.

With the exception of Sr. Frogs you will find many bars and restaurants close quite early around 10 pm or so.  So if you are a party goer this may not be your cup of tea.  In any case, during the day Mahahual is moving, small restaurants and cafes are open with great food, baked goods and drinks.  There are some nice beach club options.  Buy some lunch or a couple drinks and you are free to use their loungers or hammocks all day!  You can take a nice walk around and find some nice vendors and places to shop for souvenir type things or Mexican Handcrafts. Keep walking and you will end up at the lighthouse which is a staple of Mahahual.  If you are wanting a little more action head over to Sr. Frogs where they are playing energetic music and promote lots of fun.

. There are a couple of interesting things I would like to note about this particular area.  This is a normal and popular cruise ship stop and most of its visitors actually come from the cruise ship.  This little town of Mahahual caters very well to Americans and foreigners so much in fact that it’s even hard to find change in pesos.  Everyone will speak English and they prefer that you pay and receive change in American dollars.  Not to worry however if you only have pesos. They can accommodate as well.  When it is low season and not as many ships are sailing the little town can feel fairly deserted.  So if you are searching total serenity try picking a time when you know the season is low.  In any case, you will find this hidden paradise to be a beautiful option for an escape.  For those of us who live in the Riviera Maya we must remember to take advantage of some of the beautiful places that are surrounding us.  Having a change every once in a while can be refreshing.

If you have a favorite paradise away from paradise we would love to hear about it.  Find us on facebook and reply with key phrase “Paradise away from Paradise”.

It’ the simple things in life that can take our breath away

Sail your worries away, you’re on vacation!

-by Thomas Lloyd