What to do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Wondering what to do in Playa del Carmen? Our family loves outdoor excursions, but we like fun city adventures as well. While in Riviera Maya, we wanted to give our kids a taste of local city life as well as geological wonders, so we spent an evening on Playa del Carmen's safe 5th Avenue. This pedestrian-only street spans approximately 10 blocks and is lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and … [Read more...]

A day with Alltournative tours: Tulum and Jungle Maya adventure with tweens and teens

Mexico's Riviera Maya is rich with geological and cultural excursions for active families. It's system of cenotes (underground rivers) and abundance of Mayan ruins are accessed by many tour operators, but which one to pick? We spent the day with Alltournative Tours, a leading eco-archaeological guide service specializing in active, adventurous tours. Like most local tour companies, … [Read more...]

Swim with whale sharks in Cancun Mexico

One of the most memorable excursions in Cancun for my family was to swim with whale sharks. These harmless giants can be found in the open water approximately 20 miles off the coast of Cancun (past Isla Mujeres) from May to September, and if you're visiting the Riviera Maya area during this time period with older kids and teens, it's definitely an activity to consider. Who to book with: We … [Read more...]

Mexico with kids: family fun Huatulco style

Guest post written by Travel with Kids Mexico’s Pacific Riviera has been on the tourist track for decades with popular cities like Acapulco, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. But head a bit south in Mexico with kids, and you will find the nine beautiful bays of lesser known Huatulco. The town itself blends old Mexico style, with a huge Spanish colonial church and town square, with laid-back beach … [Read more...]

Best Beach Towns: Puerto Vallarta with kids

Puerto Vallarta offers a bit of everything for families enjoying a Mexican vacation, from beaches to city life to mountains, all touched by the warmth of the sun. While accommodations are an important aspect of any family vacation, no matter how great the resort, I always advocate getting outside hotel grounds to explore your destination further. During our recent stay, we couldn't pass up the … [Read more...]

Is Mexico safe for traveling families?

The short answer: it depends on where you go. Asking whether Mexico is safe for traveling families is like asking whether the entirety of the U.S. is safe, or the Caribbean, or anywhere else you may wish to travel in the world. One cannot judge an entire country by unsafe activities in isolated parts. For the long answer, I spent several days last month in Puerto Vallarta with the … [Read more...]

Family-friendly paradise: a stay at Velas Vallarta

Guests arriving at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico's Velas Vallarta resort should expect to be greeted in the spacious, breezy lobby by a friendly staff offering a cool, freshly scented towel and an ice-cold bottle of water. My husband and I were also greeted by a resident peacock. Throughout our four-day stay, we also made the acquaintance of a trio of iguanas, a turtle, a school of koi fish, and … [Read more...]