Meagan Drillinger
In the previous newsletter we reported that the state of Quintana Roo had established its own tourism board. Whereas previously agents would have to work directly with suppliers in locations like Costa Mujeres, Isla Holbox and Tulum, now there is a one-stop shop for all tourist points within the state.
According to one hotelier in the area, the new tourism board is yet another stepping stone to Cancun's transformation to a destination of luxury.
"Cancun is growing every day more and more as a luxury destination," said Daniela Trava Albarran, general manager of Grand Residences Riviera Cancun. "Five-star hotels are opening every year, and now the state tourism board is ready to show off this other side of Cancun."
Until recently, conventional wisdom held that Cancun was more for the party, and Riviera Maya/Tulum was where travelers would go in order to seek luxury. But that perception is changing, with developments like Costa Mujeres, the expansion of exposure of Isla Holbox and even areas to the south of Tulum like Costa Maya.
"If you decide to spend a week here, or 10 days here, there is so much to do in the area, and what makes it great is that it's all along the same highway, all the way from the airport to Tulum and beyond," Albarran said.
But the aim of the tourism board is to show off just how much of a long-stay destination Cancun and Quintana Too can be. From cenotes to jungle ATVs, to theme parks like Hotel Xcaret, trips to Bacalar, and ancient ruins like Coba, Uxmal and Kohunlich, Quintana Roo is letting the world know just how diverse of a destination it actually is. "Quintana Roo is not just a weekend getaway," Albarran said.
What many travelers also fail to realize is just how much of Quintana Roo is left untouched. As of 2016 there were more than 30,000 hotel rooms in Cancun, and more than 48,000 in Riviera Maya. 2017 saw an addition of around 800 additional hotel rooms. There were also 7.2 million visitor arrivals to Cancun in 2016. But that does not mean that there is no where to be discovered in this destination. It is entirely possible to have an explorative trip to Cancun/Riviera Maya off the resort, and without attending a bus-style tour.
Some of Albarran's favorite beaches include Xpu-Ha, which sits between Puerto Aventuras and Tulum. A dirt road off of the main highway leaves travelers in complete paradise. "It's a huge bay of white sand, which h is not as developed as other beaches that you would find in Playa."
She also recommends Paamul, which has a beautiful cove where travelers can swim with turtles. "There are a lot of hidden beaches in between the big cities like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Look at a map, and if you see a random road, take it," she said.
"Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is one of the last hotels in what is called the Puerto Morelos hotel strip," Albarran said. "On either side what you'll find is miles and miles of desert beach. What the tourism board is trying to do is to put all of us on the map, including Puerto Morelos, to promote exposure of the destination not only as a beach destination, but as a nature and explorer destination."