New Year’s resolutions can be pesky — they sound great, but they often don’t come to fruition. Avid travelers, however, might find more success if they include new vacation experiences in their plans for 2019.
Mexico — with its array of new hotels, attractions and activities — offers plenty of inspiration for those looking to inject the New Year with fresh excitement. Here are a few noteworthy ideas for the top vacation destinations.
Los Cabos
The number of new hotels debuting in Los Cabos is indeed impressive, and they’re providing plenty of new reasons to visit. Among the new properties opening in 2019 are Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, a boutique-style property with the brand’s trademark Japanese influence in decor and dining. Also ready to open in 2019 is Vista Encantada, the newest hotel in the Mexico Grand Hotels portfolio, with 37 suites.
Visitors to Los Cabos can also head north within Baja California to take part in one of the newest tourism experiences: coasteering, a multisport way to explore the coastline. Baja Excursions is among the companies that offer coasteering tours, which include swimming, rock climbing and cliff jumping.
Mexican Caribbean
Mexico’s most popular vacation region continues to provide new reasons to visit in 2019. Just outside of Cancun, Costa Mujeres is home to new all-inclusive properties, including the adults-only TRS Coral Hotel and the family-friendly Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa, both of which share a central village-like area with an amphitheater and access to the new Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre.
The pristine island of Holbox, meanwhile, debuted a new hotel in November. The 38-room Mystique Blue Holbox sits inside the Yum Balam biosphere reserve, with easy access to the island’s natural beauty.
In the Riviera Maya, vacationers are still discovering Hotel Xcaret, which opened last year as Destino Xcaret’s first on-site accommodations. And in 2019, they’ll have yet another option right on the park grounds: La Casa de la Playa, an adults-only hotel with a strong focus on culinary creativity. Also debuting from Experiencias Xcaret in early 2019 is Xavage Park, which promises “extreme land adventures” and all-terrain vehicle rides, as well as Suut Ha, the company’s first waterpark, which will have a 131-foot-high waterslide.
Oaxaca
The beautiful city of San Miguel de Allende may be getting lots of attention for landing yet again at the top of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, but Oaxaca, which has jumped to second place on the list, is another appealing destination that exudes history and culture.
National Geographic, meanwhile, has also recognized the region’s beauty, listing the state of Oaxaca as the only Mexican state on its Best Trips 2018 list. Seventeenth-century architecture, indigenous culture and authentic cuisine are among the draws.
Puerto Escondido
Travelers hankering for an off-the-beaten-path beach vacation can head to this town on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca. Vivo Resorts offers a variety of nature-oriented activities, including voluntourism activities through its Vivo Foundation, which oversees Palmarito Sea Turtle Rescue.
Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca is a good under-the-radar spot for a beach vacation.
Credit: 2018 Vivo ResortsRiviera Nayarit
Bloomberg predicts that this sunny stretch of Pacific coastline, just north of Puerto Vallarta, will become Mexico’s next “it” destination. Luxury hotel brands including Auberge Resorts, One&Only Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts have properties in the pipeline.
Slated to open in 2019 is Grupo Vidanta’s Cirque du Soleil theme park, as well as the 325-room Conrad Playa Mita, a multimillion-dollar revamp of the former La Tranquila Resort in the Litibu gated resort community.
Tlaquepaque
Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism launched the Pueblo Magico (Magical Town) program back in 2001 to recognize noteworthy smaller towns around the nation that offer historic attractions and authentic cultural experiences. Among the latest additions is Tlaquepaque, a town that sits in the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
Founded in 1530, it’s known today for its hand-painted arts and crafts, as well as live mariachi music. It has been a must-see stop on Guadalajara city tours for years, and with the Pueblo Magico status, it will likely attract even more attention.
