I cover travel, specializing in adventure and the great outdoors.
We're slogging through the last stretch of winter, and, should you need a break from the Arctic blasts and snow shoveling tasks, a beach vacation is in order. Ahead, three luxury beach vacations in Mexico where you can trade winter blues for beach blues (plus golden sands, the bright sun, and swaying palms).
Just north of Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita is a 1,500-acre hilly peninsula packed with luxury and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides. The private development is a highly coveted international destination for golfers who want to schedule tee times at Pacifico Golf Course timed with low tide so that they can have a shot at playing Tale of the Whale Hole 3B, which claims to be the only offshore hole on a natural island.
Sunseekers can also tick Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach) off their must-see list of bucket-list beaches while on an excursion to the Islas Marietas that are off the coast of Punta Mita. A hollowed out skylight lets sun pour down into the clandestine beach area.
Check into the St. Regis Punta Mita where an open-air lobby provides a panoramic view of blue pools, flanked by palm trees, that descend in tiers towards the beach.
For some R&R, settle into a lounger on the quiet beach, where the sand stays cool even in the middle of the day thanks to the more porous coral composition that helps reflect the rays. Break for lunch at Sakana, a sushi bar set near the shore serving splurge-worthy bites like lobster nigiri and fresh-catch ceviche or take a siesta in a poolside cabana. Dinner choices include a table in the sand under the moonlight at Mita Mary with waves providing the soundtrack or opt for the 10-course tasting menu at contemporary Mexican restaurant Carolina.
Mexican and Mediterranean design meld together at the recently renovated resort's 120 rooms, with casitas and villas hidden away in lush gardens. Rooms come with the kind of amenities you hope for on a vacation -- outdoor showers and balcony views of fiery orange sunsets. For an elevated stay, book the beachfront villa complete with a private pool and jacuzzi.
Like you, humpback whales are also seeking a warmer locale from December through March, and you may spot them migrating through the Pacific so keep your eyes peeled for their blows and to see them rising out of the water.
To truly get into vacation mode, slip away to the spa for the "Burnout Treatment" that starts with an intention-setting ritual and continues with a 90-minute massage that zeros in on the areas of your body that hold stress. For a cultural spa experience, try out the property's temazcal, a "house of heat."
Perpetual celeb-favored Cabo is set on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula where desert terrain meets the Sea of Cortez, which underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau likened to the "World's Aquarium." Set out for a private sail to see the iconic El Arco rock formation, the famous arches that rise out of the water and make a stunning terracotta backdrop for photos and sunsets. While on a private charter, stop for a swim at Lover's Beach and strap on some snorkeling gear to witness this wild aquarium for yourself.
For a stay that feels as though you're booked at a seaside botanical garden, check into Solaz, a Luxury Collection, Los Cabos, which has rooftop gardens and photo-worthy pathways lined with cactus, agave, and other plants native to the Baja region. The museum-esque feel continues at El Gabinete Del Barco, an on-property archaeology gallery where you'll see the skeleton of a grey whale, ancient maps of the Americas, and replicas of tools from the region like harpoons and knives as well as videotaped interviews with archaeologists.
When it comes time to relax, there's many ways to do so. Olympic-sized infinity pools blend with the horizon and, crafted with a butterfly green granite to emulate the Sea of Cortez, they're a nod to the environs. Contemporary rooms blend indoor and outdoor living with amenities like patio hammocks, jacuzzi tubs, and ocean views.
Solaz also has a spa worth traveling for: Ojo de Liebre Spa. Treatments like reflexology massages, facials with organic products, and "sun repair" sessions with argan oils and shea butter are may be what draws you into the spa, but be prepared to spend a good part of the day here enjoying the amenities like a Himalayan salt cave with mediation blinders and a post-treatment relaxation session with a heated pad set on your shoulders and a mocktail. The spa also has an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy circuit with a hot tub, cold plunge, and warm pools in between as well as heated loungers perfect for a snooze.
For those traveling with a group of friends or gathering for a family reunion, Solaz's three-bedroom residences are a luxury stay with kitchens, oceanfront terraces and wrap-around decks showing off uninterrupted views, and jacuzzis.
Cabo is also a renowned spot for whale watching, with humpback, gray, and blue whales wintering in the warmer Pacific waters. More itinerary ideas while on a luxury beach vacation in Cabo include setting out for a four-wheeler tour in the desert or taking a day trip to Todos Santos to shop for textiles, pottery, and other handcrafted souvenirs.
Skip the busy hotel zone in Cancun and slip away to Isla Mujeres, a 5-mile long island on the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula that's named after Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility.
Isla Mujeres is a destination for those who believe the best types of beach vacation is spent in the water. Just off the coast, snorkelers, scuba divers and those in glass-bottom boats can check out the Underwater Museum of Art, an aquatic art gallery with 500 sculptures submerged in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Many also come to Isla Mujeres to swim with whale sharks, gentle giants that feed on plankton north of Isla Mujeres, but you have to wait until the summer months to do so.
Stay at the newly opened Almare in Isla Mujeres, an all-inclusive, adults-only stay with 109 suites, a half dozen restaurants, and kayaks and paddleboards to take out in the water.
Venture to the southern stretch of the island to Punta Sur, where you'll find craggy cliffs and lookouts, the historic El Farito lighthouse, as well as the remains of Ixchel's temple and a sculpture park with art dedicated to the goddess.
Looking for more beach vacation inspiration? Check out an annual ranking of the best beaches around the world for some ideas.