|
Condé Nast Traveler picks
 Mexico for Romantics
For the traveler with romance on the mind, many countries offer tempting iconic images: watching the world go by from a sidewalk café in Paris or an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora's lagoon. Mexico, however, may overwhelm the lovelorn with its sheer diversity. Think of the images that capture the romance in the air in Mexico, for example: Bo Derek running along the beach in Manzanillo in 10. Or perhaps it is Tita winning over Pedro by baking delicate cakes and preparing elaborate sauces in Like Water for Chocolate. Is the romance of Mexico typified by rose petals arranged precisely in the shape of a heart on a bed at Zihuatanejo's Casa Que Canta, or the cloisters of colonial towns where nuns sell eggy confections based on recipes with roots in Spain, or the Mayan ruins of Tulum overlooking the Caribbean—ancient history in a postcard-perfect setting? The answer, of course, is all of the above—and more.
The Heart of Mexico Cobblestoned streets, mansions that date back to the earliest days of the Spanish Conquest, town squares with splashing fountains and churches in stucco and stone carved with all the swirling details of an elaborate, oversized wedding cake—these are some of the appeals of Mexico's colonial towns. San Miguel de Allende, perhaps the best-known among Americans, many of whom have made it a second home, is only one of many. Puebla, on the road leading from Mexico City to the Gulf of Mexico, is famous for mole poblano, a rich sauce of ground spices and, famously, chocolate. (No discussion of the romance of Mexico can avoid the country's complex cuisine.) And if romance leads to marriage, you're in the right spot: Some boosters claim that the city has 365 centuries-old churches, one for each day of the year—although the figure is actually closer to 90. In Taxco, perched in the hills 100 miles from Acapulco, you can shop for elegantly crafted silver pieces by day, then spend the night in the Hotel Casa Grande, the atmospheric eighteenth-century former mayor's residence (regrettably past its prime). Perhaps no colonial city offers as much atmosphere and romance as the largest of them all, Oaxaca. At the center of the city, the shady zocalo is lined with arcaded colonial buildings, many with cafés where it's possible to enjoy a café de olla, made with cinnamon and cane sugar. The city's Benito Juárez market is a paradise for shoppers looking for embroidery, jewelry, and other handicrafts. The Pacific Coast A generation ago, it was in Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta that many visitors first developed a passion for Mexico. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor made headlines living together in Puerto Vallarta while was filming The Night of the Iguana, and their love nest, Casa Kimberly, is now open to visitors. But many other towns along the Pacific coast also offer sunshine and beaches. In Cabo, at the tip of the Baja peninsula, the clear desert air offers countless stars to wish upon come night-fall. The fishing town of Zihuatanejo and the former coconut plantation of Ixtapa have more quiet alternatives than some of their larger counterparts. If those relaxed options still feel too crowded, others are even farther off the beaten tourist path. The Costa Careyes is a new favorite, with many beach resorts well separated from one another. Still not remote enough? If money is no object in your quest for privacy, book a room at Las Alamandas, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, where a maximum of 30 guests share the 1,500-acre beachfront property. Or perhaps the perfect hideout is the remote town of Yelapa, reachable only by boat. The Yucatán Peninsula Cancún put the Yucatán on the map for American sun worshippers, but many of its treasures are to be found elsewhere in the peninsula. Here, along Mexico's Caribbean coast, you'll find its latest tourism offering, the Riviera Maya, which begins south of Cancún and extends to Tulum. Resort options here range from comfortable favorites such as the Maroma to new properties from Mandarin Oriental, Fairmont, and other established chains. The calm blue waters of the Caribbean rival those of any island destination. For travelers whose ideas of romance include a night on the town, the restaurants and bars of Playa del Carmen draw an international crowd. Inland, the Yucatán has many converted haciendas that now welcome guests—usually no more than a dozen at a time. The state capital, Mérida, has all the charms of its colonial counterparts and bears the nickname the White City because of its many whitewashed limestone buildings. One of the Yucatán's attractions, however, is more timeless than even the treasures of colonial Mérida: the Mayan ruins that dot the peninsula, the most famous being the Chichén Itzá complex. Is there any more appropriate place to celebrate lasting love than in the shadow of temples that have withstood the ages? Truth in Travel is the guiding principle for all content published in Condé Nast Traveler. Other travel publications often accept free travel and accommodations. Condé Nast Traveler does not. It is independent of the travel industry. The magazine always pays its way, and, as far as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously. By doing so, they experience the world—both the good and the bad—as other travelers do, and their reports and recommendations are fair, impartial, and authoritative.
|
||
 |
