Club Med Yucatan is Cancun’s Hot Spot for All Ages

Cancun is thriving right now.

Yet, it wouldn’t be what it is today if it weren’t for Club Med setting up shop on 22 acres in 1976, turning the city into a hot spot for travel to Mexico.

The new updates and features make the already sensational Club Med Yucatan even more desirable now.

Travelers are in pure Cancun bliss thanks to fantastic restaurants, flying trapeze, multiple excursion offers, kids and teens clubs, land and water sports as well as a superb staff and a mobile app to keep their guests well informed of daily and nightly events.

Room for All

At Club Med Yucatan, there are family and couples options everywhere you turn. All 442 rooms have been renovated in 2017 and even more family style rooms will be added during 2018.

With a lagoon and the Caribbean, guests will have water views in Club rooms and Suites. There’s no true offseason so it may sound crowded, but the property is large enough that it never feels swamped with people. (I was quite surprised to learn that the resort was at 98 percent occupancy during my stay because it surely didn’t feel that way.)

Club Med also provides golf cart shuttles to easily transport guests. That said, it’s still an easy walk for those who enjoy a peaceful, leisurely stroll with beautiful views.

While some may think of Cancun as just a party spot, Club Med Yucatan is a tremendous place for families. The kids club keeps your little ones active and there’s a newly designed teen’s club. The pools were recently renovated as well as a new outdoor theater.

Aguamarina is the star of the family room options on the property. It’s a separate area complete with a children’s playground and your own beach. Aguamarina II will arrive in 2018, creating 60 additional family rooms. Kids under 4 stay free at all Club Med properties, and children ages 4-11 get discounted rates at select resorts. How great is that?

The newly renovated Jade 5T luxury space also has its own beach spot and a private pool for Jade residents only. Here you’ll find 37 Deluxe rooms and 18 Suites as well as your own pool and bar.

The bed and pillows I slept on here were phenomenal after long days in the sun. Perhaps the most underrated star of the room was the exceptional towels. (Never underestimate the power of a good towel while traveling; Nobody wants a rough towel, especially away from home.)

There’s also newly upgraded meetings and events space to meet your company’s needs.

Cancun for a business retreat? I think so.

READ MORE: Cancun, Riviera Maya Experiencing Tourism Surge

Food and Drink

Want to be surrounded by stunning water views everywhere you eat or drink? Club Med Yucatan delivers with three outstanding eateries.

The main restaurant is La Hacienda, which is a buffet style setup featuring international cuisine as well as local Mexican favorites. It overlooks the pool and the lagoon.

Then there’s La Estancia, the Argentinian steakhouse with a terrace looking out to the ocean. It doesn’t get much better than fine-cut meats grilled to perfection with a stunning view.

One could make the case that it does get better at Taco Arte, the beach lounge. This is the place to be if you love Mexican dishes. Delicious tacos, Mexican specialties and perhaps the best guacamole you’ll ever eat can be found at this completely new restaurant.

Club Med transformed this into a gorgeous space with incredible art and kicked it up a level when it comes to the food. I’m still craving that guacamole.

They even have a chef dedicated to making a fresh salad on the spot, chopping all the ingredients you want right in front of you.

If you’re not up for healthy options, don’t worry, because the dessert at every restaurant on the property is elite. The ice cream at Taco Arte is exquisite, as well as the creme brulee, cheesecake and chocolate mousse at La Estancia.

There are multiple bars located throughout the resort, with Jade residents getting their own private setup. The newly formed crepe bar is certainly a show stopper, while the beach lounge bar at Taco Arte is the best place for a drink in the shade and the main bar has perfect access to the large beach.

The bartenders are very nice and, if you want a frozen margarita, nobody is going to complain about making it. (The machine won't suddenly be broken like you'll find at most bars in the U.S.)

Additionally, they recently renovated the space below La Hacienda and turned it into a wine cellar. It overlooks the lagoon, which can make for a lovely romantic setting in the evening as well as a chill spot with friends. Sip on fine wines or try top-shelf tequila from all around Mexico while soaking in a fabulous view.

The views are superb at all Club Med resorts, but Club Med Yucatan may just take the cake when it comes to wining and dining by the water.

READ MORE: Colorful Paradise at Club Med Columbus Isle

Sports and Excursions

The various amounts of land and sports activities, along with the amazing excursions the resort offers, are great for those who want to be a bit more active during their stay.

The fitness gym and yoga patio feature a lagoon view, which can help put any workout at ease. Of course, if you really want to maximize the views while staying active, head over to the sports school dock and try your hand at sailing, kayaking, windsurfing or paddle boarding.

Just a short golf cart ride away is the snorkeling dock, where you can swim around the world’s second largest coral reef. (I’d recommend doing this in the morning, though, as the waves can get quite choppy in the afternoon.)

If you prefer the smooth waters of the lagoon, the resort also features water skiing and wakeboarding. These aren’t easy tasks, but the G.O.’s here are extremely helpful, going above and beyond to make your stay the best it can be.

In addition to bocce ball, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, soccer, water polo and ping pong, guests can try their hand at archery and trapeze.

Yes, that’s right, Club Med Yucatan features its own trapeze school. It may look daunting but it’s a ton of fun. Again, the G.O.’s here are very supportive. They make it safe and easy to learn. (Honestly, the scariest part was just climbing up the ladder. Once I was swinging around though I wanted to go again and again.)

So, try something new and you might surprise yourself.

As with any Club Med resort, you really don’t have to ever leave the property.

However, there are plenty of excursions available if you want to explore the marvels of Cancun and its surroundings.

You can go snorkeling with sea turtles, swim with dolphins, meet whale sharks and explore cenotes. Cave diving in these incredibly clear waters made for a memory I’ll never forget. Seeing the natural beauty below the Earth's surface was absolutely breathtaking.

Plus, my glasses fell off in one of the cenotes because I didn’t listen and forgot to put my goggles on before jumping in. (Thankfully my awesome guide dove down and easily found them for me.)

Club Med Yucatan also offers excursions out to Chichen Itza, Valladolid, Tulum, the ancient kingdom of Ek’Balam, the treasures of Isla Mujeres and so much more.

Seeing the Mayan ruins are a must during your next visit to Cancun, and staying at Club Med Yucatan should be a given. It’s the resort that started it all for what has now arguably become the hottest destination in Mexico.

Positive vibes and a good time—it’s what we all want on a vacation, right?

Special thanks to Club Med Yucatan for providing travel accommodations.

Follow @EricBowman_