Page 13 - AAA Hudson Valley – AAA Every Day – March/April 2019

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Cancun & the Mayan Riviera
Once a sleepy fishing village, Cancun has become Mexico’s premier resort destination on the Yucatan Peninsula. Its main strip, Boulevard Kukulcan, is lined with dazzling hotels, restaurants, clubs and shopping complexes. Its beaches are picture perfect.
diving, while some of the best reef diving is found in Cozumel.
Cancun lies near Isla Mujeres, Xcaret, Cozumel, Xel- ha and Tulum, so taking an excursion is a must. Just a ferry ride away, Isla Mujeres is known for its cave
The eco-archaeological park of Xcaret is a Mayan playground of beautiful coves inlets and grottos. Here, you’ll find beaches, a dolphin area and aquarium.
Cancun sits on approximately 2,000 archaeological sites and is known as the gateway to the Mayan world. The ruins of Tulum, perched high on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean, include several excellent examples of Maya architecture. Not far away is Coba, an ancient city situated along five lakes. There are more than 6,500 structures at Coba, many of them temples and pyramids, though only a few have been fully uncovered.
Approximately a four-hour drive from Cancun lies the most spectacular of the Mayan sites, Chichen Itza. Settled by the Itza around A.D. 868, the site offers some of the most amazing remaining examples of Mayan architecture.
Istock, Lunamarina
Istock, Elenathewise
Los Cabos & Puerto Vallarta
on the Pacific Coast
At the tip of Baja California Sur, you will find the dual destination of Los Cabos. Tranquil San Jose del Cabo retains the look and vibe of an authentic Mexican town. Cobblestone streets, intimate restaurants and boutiques occupy the central main square and mission church. Conversely, rambunctious Cabo San Lucas is known for its funky bars and the slick Luxury Avenue Mall centered around the town’s marina.
its old-world charm, from the cobblestone streets lined with bougainvillea-covered houses to the local fishermen selling the day’s catch just moments after docking their boats. Still, within steps of the quaint reminders of days gone
Familiarly known as Land’s End, as it is the last piece of land in the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos is where the sapphire Sea of Cortez meets desert and mountains. A 17-mile stretch of highway connects this famous resort town with San Jose del Cabo and offers views of the dramatic, mountain-framed coastline. Along the Corridor sprawl the luxury resorts, spas and championship golf courses for which Los Cabos has become famous. The Corridor is also home to some of the area’s best beaches for water sports. Medano beach, located on the end of the Corridor where Cabo San Lucas begins, is the epicenter for party and play.
by, visitors find modern resort-style hotels, busy shops, restaurants and bars.
To the far south of Los Cabos lies picturesque Puerto Vallarta. In large part, Puerto Vallarta’s allure stems from
With more than 300 days of sun per year and an average temperature of 77 degrees, Puerto Vallarta also makes
an ideal beach vacation destination, with miles of sandy beaches and a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy.
During Hollywood’s Golden Age, scores of palatial homes sprang up in Puerto Vallarta. For a closer look at a piece of Hollywood history, head for Gringo Gulch in the historical part of Puerto Vallarta’s downtown area. Named after the hundreds of expatriates from the United States who settled in the area in the 1950s, it is also famous for being the setting of “The Night of the Iguana.”