As with any niche market, it’s not easy to generalize about senior travelers. Whether travelers are age 55, 65 or 75, they represent an array of tastes and preferences when it comes to their vacations. But no matter what kind of vacation clients are seeking — from active adventures to simply some kid-free peace and quiet — Mexico excels at offering many rewarding vacation options.
These five destinations around Mexico are especially good at satisfying the needs of a diverse group of senior travelers.
Los Cabos
This Baja California hot spot proves its upscale appeal with a variety of luxury resort hotels, and senior travelers are sure to find plenty of grown-up excitement along its shores. From world-class sport fishing to teeing off at championship golf courses, Los Cabos provides myriad opportunities to stay active.
For indulgent, adults-only accommodations, top choices include Marquis Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort & Spa, which has three swimming pools and a 13,000-square-foot spa.
Meanwhile, foodies can satisfy their palates at The Ridge at Playa Grande, which offers the Farm to Table Dinner Experience at its eponymous restaurant, with organic ingredients harvested from local farms by Solmar Hotels & Resorts chefs.
/seniortravelmarquis.jpg?tr=w-768%2Ch-432%2Cfo-auto "seniortravelmarquis")
Marquis Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort & Spa Credit
Credit: 2019 Marquis Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort & SpaMazatlan
With its wide beaches, reasonable hotel rates and extensive outdoor and cultural activities, Mazatlan offers plenty for vacationers over 55 years old to love. No other Mexico beach destination, after all, offers the opportunity to spend the day on the beach and the evening dining in a beautifully restored historic downtown before heading to a performance at the pristine, 19th-century Angela Peralta Theater.
Among the best accommodation options for adults without kids is El Cid Marina Beach Hotel, an upscale property that sits on a marina, making it easy to arrange excursions such as catamaran cruises and deep-sea fishing for blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish. The hotel’s Elite All-Inclusive Plan is an especially good option, with benefits that include pool concierge service, VIP check-in and access to the Elite Club. Guests can also participate in painting and cooking classes, tequila tasting sessions, turtle releases and golfing at the nearby El Cid Golf & Country Club, which has a 27-hole PGA-rated championship course.
Puerto Vallarta
With its beautifully walkable downtown, award-winning restaurants and interesting art galleries, Puerto Vallarta is a wonderful place for travelers interested in culture and sophisticated dining. It’s also great for those looking to enjoy outdoor activities, including humpback whale watching and day trips to charming towns along the coast or tucked into the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Among the upscale options is the 73-room Hotel Mousai, for guests 16 years and older, which sits on a hilltop overlooking Banderas Bay for stunning views. Casa Kimberly, meanwhile, is a boutique property that was formerly the vacation home of Hollywood icons Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Cancun and the Riviera Maya
The famously diverse offerings in Cancun and the Riviera Maya are a major draw for vacationers of every stripe, and globetrotters leaving the realm of middle age will find a plethora of possibilities.
In the Riviera Maya, visitors can swim in magnificent cenotes and explore eco-theme parks such as Xcaret, while Cancun offers especially easy access to a variety of noteworthy restaurants, golf courses and water excursions — including the unforgettable opportunity to swim with whale sharks during the summer months.
For full immersion in the area's eco-activities and offerings, clients can book a stay at the family-friendly Hotel Xcaret Mexico or the adults-only Hotel Xcaret Arte, both of which feature an "all-fun inclusive" concept that includes roundtrip airport transfers and unlimited admission (with shuttle transportation) to all of Grupo Xcaret's parks (in addition to plenty of on-site offerings).
Luxury hotels in Cancun such as JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa are especially well-versed at pampering guests. In the Riviera Maya, the adults-only TRS Yucatan Hotel offers a beautifully upgraded all-inclusive option, with lots of extras such as butler service, 24/7 room service and impressive live entertainment.
San Miguel de Allende
Twice voted the “best city in the world” by Travel + Leisure magazine, San Miguel de Allende continues to garner praise for its irresistible blend of small-town charm and international sophistication. Visitors can enjoy an array of culinary and artistic diversions set along its historic streets, as well as relaxing hot springs at Spa La Gruta and Escondido Place, where the waters supposedly have medicinal qualities.
Senior travelers looking for a quiet, upscale oasis will do well at Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende, part of the La Coleccion Resorts portfolio, where a spa, a swimming pool, a cigar bar and an outstanding restaurant are among the draws.
