7 Romantic Adventures on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast

Estimated read time 5 min read



Sun-kissed white sand beaches, lush tropical jungles, funky little beach towns, and jaw-dropping natural wonders like cenotes (natural limestone sinkholes) make the Mexican Caribbean a romantic choice for an escape. Opportunities abound for bonding with your loved one over shared bites, from beachfront dinners to private sunset cruises to hitting the taco shacks with a local guide. Luxury resorts and all-inclusives dot the landscape and offer culinary adventures like mole and mezcal pairings, gourmet cenote dining, and private dinners aboard traditional Mexican trajineras (flat-bottom boats) under a blanket of stars. Here are some of my favorite culinary excursions to share with the one you love.

Cancún Taco Tour

Courtesy of Mexico Guided Experience


When I arrive in a new area, the first thing I do is book a local food tour. Wandering little-known neighborhoods with my husband, tasting the region’s food, and hearing the stories of the farmers, tortilla makers, and generational cooks creates connection to the place and each other. Josué Cruz of Mexico Guided Experiences always delivers the best experiences.

A must-stop on the tour, Taquería Bonampack offers juicy pork redolent with chilies and achiote paste, dripping in pineapple spinning on a trompo, ready to be shaved and loaded into the specialty, al pastor tacos. Each stop feels like settling into a home kitchen, sharing a meal with a local family. 

Parque de las Palapas

Besides the Obvious / Getty Images


This is a place to stroll hand-in-hand, sample some Mexican snacks, and gobble a snow cone while watching a cultural show. In the heart of Cancún, Parque de las Palapas is surrounded by street food highlighting the marquesita, a dessert from Yucatán, similar to a sweet taco. Cajeta (the Mexican version of dulce de leche), fruit, hazelnut cream, and queso de bola (Edam cheese) fill the crispy crepe — the sweet and salty snack rolled up makes a perfect shareable bite to enjoy while perusing the stalls stocked with artisan pieces.

Tres Reyes Mayan Experience

Courtesy of Mexico Guided Experience


If you want something a little more intimate and don’t mind a 45-minute shuttle from Cancún, Mexico Guided Experiences has something my husband and I still talk about years later. Cruz arranges a visit with a Mayan family to perform different traditional cultural activities in their home. The experience includes a Mayan purification ceremony orchestrated by the head of the family, cooking traditional cochinita pibil, a Yucatan pork dish wrapped in banana leaves and slow-roasted with Seville oranges, achiote, charred garlic, and a host of other spices. The earthy, sweet meat falls apart when loaded into the corn tortillas that you can learn to make from scratch. Every moment feels like a scene from Like Water for Chocolate, from the intimate setting to the warmth inspired by preparing a meal and then sharing it with strangers who become friends.

Cabo Catoche Tour with Fishing, Snorkeling, and Ceviche

Julie Bendlin / Getty Images


For the adventurous couple, this activity from Gamaextreme Tours combines snorkeling and fishing the pristine waters of the Mexican Caribbean, with preparing ceviche from your fresh catch on the spot to enjoy while you admire the view at Cabo Catoche. Off the tip of Holbox Island, you’ll spend the day exploring incredible marine life like sea horses, manta rays, and nurse sharks. After snorkeling and fishing, the day ends at Cocalito, where you can enjoy a relaxing swing in a hammock with your sweetie while sharing scoops of fresh ceviche. 

ATTA Restaurant at Shibari Tulum

COURTESY OF SHIBARI TULUM


Romantic cuisine and a cenote experience in one place? Yes, please. Cenotes draw many visitors throughout the year with their deep caverns, otherworldly water pools, and jagged stalactites. With private cenote-front tables, ATTA Restaurant provides the perfect backdrop to awaken and deepen any romance. The menu rotates seasonally and is always grounded in local ingredients prepared with ancient recipes. Though in the heart of Tulum, this spot feels like a jungle sanctuary created for couples.

Cocina de Autor

COURTESY OF VELAS RESORTS


Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a luxury all-inclusive resort, houses Cocina de Autor, recently awarded a Michelin star in the inaugural Michelin Guide to Mexico. Chef Nahúm Velasco crafts a multi-course tasting menu inspired by Mexican culture and local ingredients like jackfruit and cactus, with a fine dining touch that matches the crisp linen tablecloths and textured interior. I love the paired dinner, which offers a sensory experience that brings in Mexican wines and ancestral spirits — like the food of this region, the beverages tell a story of heritage and love.

Sacred Mayan Honey Tasting in Riviera Maya

There’s something sexy about honey. At Viceroy Riviera Maya’s Wayak Spa, visitors can sample the special honey created by the Melipona, “the sacred Mayan bee.” Honey from the stingless species cultivated by the Mayan people for hundreds of years offers medicinal properties that help the immune system, as well as being used to cure ailments, wounds, burns, and diseases. During the experience, participants learn about the fascinating species and taste three types of sticky, sweet, golden honey, discovering each one’s unique benefits and obtaining honey self-care recipes to use at home. What better way to say I love you than an afternoon focused on sweet wellness?





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