Whether you’re an early riser or someone who lives for sunsets on the beach, Mexico is a place for luxury adventure.
In-between making films, the rakish actor Errol Flynn used to escape to Mexico in high style, sailing down the California coast on his yacht and living it up south of the border. If Flynn were around today, he’d want to pack his golf clubs along with his sense of adventure. Long described as an “emerging” golf destination, the day is drawing near when Mexican golf will be described as having arrived—indeed, that day may be here. Excellent courses are on offer in a number of locales, along with the always-present great beaches, sailing, fishing, cultural opportunities and delicious food. If you want to live it up like royalty, Mexico may be just what you’re looking for. Here are our suggested stops: One for those who like sunrises, and one for those who like sunsets. Buen viaje!
Whether on a guided tour of the ruins at Chichen Itza or via an ill-remembered college spring break, many Americans’ first experience with Mexico comes via the Yucatan peninsula. In fact, the peninsula’s beaches hold more than just inebriated collegians, and the historical offerings are among the best in the world, boasting perhaps the finest concentration of ancient Mesoamerican archaeological sites to be found anywhere. This is a place for kings—and a place for kings to play.
As one of Mexico’s most popular regions, it’s not surprising that there’s a course or two on the Mayan Riviera that will put your clubs to good use. Among these, El Manglar Golf Course is an excellent first stop vidantagolf.com. A Jack Nicklaus design run by Vidanta Golf, which operates a handful of top courses in Mexico, El Manglar’s 18 holes wind around 28 bunkers, two lakes and the natural vegetation of the Mayan jungle—all of which adds to the challenge of this lush beauty. Hole 7 puts players into the wind facing three bunkers around the green; Hole 17 adds a lake to its sand and helps golfers prepare for El Manglar’s final hole, which features an island-like green guarded by a white-sand filled trap. And of course there’s always the wind.
El Camaleón Golf Club at the exclusive and lovely Mayakoba Resort in Playa del Carmen is another great option. It’s not just good, it’s the site of The Mayakoba Golf Classic—the first PGA TOUR event to ever be contested outside of the United States and Mexico mayakobagolfclassic.com. In the three years since the tournament began, Greg Norman’s Great White Shark Enterprises has turned it into one of the finest events on the entire schedule (Norman designed the course and his company runs the event). The 7,039-yard layout bends through three distinct landscapes: mangrove jungles, limestone canals and picture-perfect oceanfront sand. A massive underground canyon features into the opening fairway, while access to the course is via a convenient ferry. A Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property, everything is first class.
While top golf could be considered a relatively recent addition to Mexico, the Cancun Golf Club at Pok-Ta-Pok is what might be termed an early example—from all the way back in 1976. A Robert Trent Jones, Jr., design, it’s just 20 minutes from the airport and absolutely beautiful. Other Yucatan options include the Moon Palace Golf Course in Cancun, the Cozumel Country Club (on the island of Cozumel, a quick ferry ride away), and the Golf Club of Playacar, in the town of the same name.
Before golf—before anything—there were the beaches. Today, the most desirable stretch of waterfront real estate runs from Playa Tortugas at the north end of Cancun to Playa Delfines at the south. Between the two, swimming, water sports, restaurants and bars abound. New government projects are securing the famous white sands and ensuring the wide expanses of romantic beachfront remain for all visitors. Among them, Playa Las Perlas offers some of the safest swimming, with small waves and plenty of crowds. Playa Juventad, on the other hand, is lesser known and more popular with offshore snorkelers and scuba divers.
The Eastern-facing beaches are the most luxurious, with amazing Caribbean aqua waves and postcard scenery. That said, they’re also among the roughest for swimming. The party set will head for Playa Chac Mool, across from the infamous Señor Frogs bar and restaurant. Great fun and crowd-watching abound.
No trip to the Yucatan is complete without a stop by Chichen Itza and its famous stepped pyramids. Dating from the 7th to the 13th centuries, these ruins cover approximately six square miles and hold a wealth of Mayan history. More than 30 buildings in this ancient kingdom still exist to visit, while many more have been reduced to little more than mounds. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is one to see.
If you’re after a Mexican vacation that’s more James Bond martinis than Animal House tequila shots then the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya near Cancun is for you. Exclusive, luxurious and dramatically elegant, the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya is a private escape that blends cultural history with top-drawer modern amenities to create a world fit for kings of any age. A full-service Brio Spa soothes the kinks out of a day on course—or a late night out and about. Accordingly, dining at the property is as good, with an array of top-tier restaurants and bars on-site. We like Tramonto, a relatively formal Italian/American experience that offers a welcome alternative to the inevitable tacos and enchiladas you’ll be enjoying. Likewise, when you feel the urge for local flavor, Frida’s Grill features an extensive Mexican menu and a selection of tequilas you won’t believe. Thankfully for all who enjoy the finer things in life, there are several Grand Mayan Resorts throughout Mexico. Information on these and their sister properties can be found at mayanresorts.com or directly on the excellent management Grupo Vidanta’s Web site: grupovidanta.com.
After seeing what the Yucatan has to offer, a trip to the Pacific side of things might well be in order. Many of the more dramatic photos of Mexican adventures are taken on the sunset side of the country, in the rugged romance of the Baja Peninsula or among the romantic beauty of Nuevo Vallarta. On Baja, the city of La Paz offers old-world charm with modern amenities and is a nice alternative to some of the better-known Baja destinations. Likewise, with activities that range from the inland rain forest to the endless beaches, it’s no wonder Nuevo Vallarta (near Puerto Vallarta) is attracting not only visitors, but residential opportunities as well.
If you can picture yourself on the deck of a luxury yacht, standing tall with your face to the wind while someone mixes you a tropical drink, then you can make it happen.
The Moorings Baja location offers luxury yacht charters that can turn any vacation into the experience of a lifetime. With numerous locations around the world, Moorings has a charter fleet of top vessels and makes sure each is outfitted with all the gear you’ll need, right down to the snorkeling gear and a BBQ grill. Yachts can be chartered for self-sailing or with a skipper and cook—the absolute height of luxury cruising. Find out more about The Moorings locations and services at www.moorings.com.
If you’re down the coast in Nuevo Vallarta and fancy getting on the water, the definitively named Nuevo Vallarta Tours offers sailing voyages that include snorkeling and even whale watching nuevovallartatours.com. Good fun, naturally.
The Moorings Baja location frequently works with the superb CostaBaja Resort—convenient because, in addition to the fantastic accommodations, CostaBaja will soon offer a great round of golf as well costabajaresort.com. Steps from the shimmering Sea of Cortez and a 10-minute shuttle ride from the fascinating city of La Paz, this resort is the complete ticket to living it up. The resort’s Marina Village—Pueblo Marinero—features galleries, boutiques, and gourmet dining. We like the Shell Museum, and its unbelievable collection. An extensive trail system on property makes for great hiking, while the resort’s Espiritu Spa will sort out any tired muscles. There are a few options for dining, but those in a festive mood will find the CostaBaja Beach Club Bar & Restaurant to their liking. When the Gary Player Signature Golf Course opens here in 2010, we’ll be there with clubs waiting. The course is meant to be a stunner.
Down the coast things are as beautiful. Grupo Vidanta should have their new Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta open by the time this comes out, and it’s going to be incredible. High ceilings, spacious rooms featuring the finest materials—white leather, imported wood, polished stone and top amenities—and white-glove service will be the norm at this lifestyle resort.
After visiting one of these properties, it’ll be tough to leave Mexico—and the good news is that you don’t necessarily have to. With purchase options from the likes of BBVA Compass bank, owning a home in Mexico has never been easier (see sidebar).
If you can’t wait for the new Player course, Paraiso del Mar is open now. An Arthur Hills design, this links-style course will remind golfers of courses in the British Isles—with fantastically better weather. If that’s not enough for you, or if you feel like getting out of La Paz, the Grand Mayan Los Cabos, on the southernmost tip of the peninsula, offers fantastic accommodations and the Punta Sur Golf Course mayanresorts.com. For a change of scenery, Sonora is just across the top of the Sea of Cortez (also called the Gulf of California)—worth the trip because of the lovely Península De Cortés golf course. With nine of its 18 holes on the startling blue ocean, the rest playing among golden dunes and deep green paspallum grass, the experience is as visual as it is top quality golf vidantagolf.com.
Whichever side of the country you choose for adventuring, we’re confident you’ll enjoy your time in Mexico—whether you stay for several weeks or for a lifetime. And while the fishing, dining, sailing, culture and food have always been first-class, we’re glad that in addition to swimsuit and a sunblock, it’s now imperative that you remember to pack your golf clubs. Play hard, then siesta. Que bueno.
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