MEXICO'S COASTAL ESCAPES

With Mexico rolling out the red carpet and opening flight borders to Americans, now is the time to redeem the pent-up wanderlust of the last year.

- STEVE LELAND

Increasing vaccination success has brought confidence back to travelers, and our neighbor to the south is responsibly doing their part to meet mandated health protocols.

U.S. residents seems to go to what’s closer: Those from the South and East Coast tend to gravitate to the beaches of Cancun, while West Coast travelers are quick to pencil in the sun-drenched resorts of Baja California. A convenient cross-country flight to either paradise might just be the necessary change of pace.

Perched on the northeastern point of the Yucatán Peninsula, Cancun is often perceived as party central. While there’s some credibility to that reputation, there’s no shortage of luxury resorts that cater to more refined tastes to its south, along the 65-mile coastal corridor known as the Riviera Maya. Grandiose resorts, boutique properties, and all-inclusive escapes from the ordinary share this stretch of pristine white sand lapped by the Mexican Caribbean. Its appeal is supplemented by the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba. Dive colorful coral reefs or swim through the fascinating underground rivers of Chaak Tun cenote.

On the Pacific Coast, Cabo San Lucas is in a class all by itself, as the premier destination on the Baja California peninsula, with ultra-glam resorts, exquisite cuisine, and world-class deep-sea fishing. The mountains and desert provide a cinematic backdrop, with all sorts of action-packed adventures to provide adrenaline rushes. Back at sea level, whale watching is as good as it gets, and sunset cruises around Los Arcos are a must.