Not all who wander are lost… My family likes to explore. When my husband and I had kids we both agreed that we’d always prioritize travel. Now that my oldest is in school, the timing is a little bit trickier but there is always spring break. This year we decided to go back to the Riviera Maya in Mexico.
We came here five years ago when I was pregnant with baby number two. The weather on that trip was crummy, but we took the opportunity to explore instead of lay on the beach. We saw Mayan Temples, Senota’s, and swam through underground rivers. All while 16 weeks pregnant with a two year old in-tow. To be fair, we traveled with my sister-in-law, her husband and my in-laws, so we had lots of help.
This time we wanted to go with just our little immediate family. We chose to stay at the Fairmont Mayakoba. We picked this resort because it had a 5 diamond rating, amazing reviews on trip advisor and had a family dining plan option. Pre-kid me hated all-inclusives, but with kids it’s so much easier! There are three restaurants on the property and service at the beach and pools, so it doesn’t feel like you are eating the same food.
Our kids loved the pools and the waterslide on property. I loved the beach, paddle boarding, and snorkeling options. They even had a private boat tour through the canals and we saw a baby crocodile! Everything is very spread out, which was nice because the resort did not feel crowded like you might expect during spring break. They also had complimentary bikes and golf carts to shuttle us around the property.
Since this trip was pretty short, we only had one real excursion. We took the boys to Rio Secreto which translates to the secret river. We had done this five years ago, but it was fun to come back and experience it with the boys. I was incredibly proud of them for being so adventurous. There were moments when we had to swim in the cold river and climb through narrow openings, but they were troupers and loved it all!
I never felt unsafe once on our trip. Even when we left our gated resort and went into the city. We went into Playa Del Carmen one evening and saw armed police, but I never felt in danger. I actually feel more scared in downtown Atlanta than I do in Mexico. The people are kind, respectful of families, and laid back. It is definitely one of those places with their own sense of time. I’d like to come again when the boys are older and explore the Mayan temples, try zip lining into a cenote, and experience more of the culture and restaurants.
Here are a few of the items I packed. Vacations are always a time when I like to look my best. I also like to try out new fashion trends. This trip I utilized Rent The Runway for a lot of my looks. I think the website opens up a world of possibilities. The idea is great, affordable and fun. I seem to always find things that I like.
However, I still ended up purchasing a few items. Here are some of my Amazon picks in the photos below. We managed to go the whole week without a burn. I spray tanned before I came so I’d feel more confident in my suit. Here are the sunscreens we used. I also wore a big hat to keep my face out of the sun. I have lash extensions so I don’t have to wear any makeup and used these tinted moisturizers with SPF. That’s pretty much the only make up I wore all week.
YouTube video COMING SOON
Have you traveled to this part of Mexico? Where did you stay? Eat? Explore?
XO
Kim
