Mexico's Caribbean coast is kicking off 2014 with exciting new attractions and hotels.
Commune Hotel & Resorts will bring a Thompson Hotel to Mexico's ritzy Playa del Carmen as part of a mixed-use project. Slated to open in 2015, the luxury resort will be known as the Thompson Playa del Carmen. The property will have 125 rooms and suites and amenities such as a rooftop pool and spa. It will have a central 5th Avenue and beachfront location. The overall development, spanning more than 300,000 square feet, will include international retail, cafes and restaurants in addition to the hotel. This will be the first in a series of developments in different locations throughout Mexico, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Los Cabos and more.
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In 2013, Cancun surpassed its 2012 visitor numbers with 4.6 million tourists and a 96.6 percent hotel occupancy in December alone. This is an increase of 13.4 percent in hotel occupancy compared to 2012.
Club Med has announced a $14 million renovation for the Club Med Cancun Yucatan. The redevelopment plan includes 60 new beachfront family accommodations, two redesigned and expanded restaurants, a new Petit Club Med for children ages 2-3 and a modernized guest lounge.
Starwood also has hotels planned for Mexico's Caribbean. Recently the Aloft brand has been launched in Cancun. The W Kanai Retreat Riviera Maya and the St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya are also in the works.
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To start off the year, Cancun's Maya Museum is showcasing a new exhibition: Mayas, The Language of Beauty. This exhibit, which opened December 18, shows off 130 pieces from the Yucatan, Campeche and Tabasco regions. The Language of Beauty will showcase Mayan practices of beautification that include common decorative jewelry made from local items like seashell and jade; scarifications, tattoos and the tools used to accomplish these physical modifications; and the evolution of dress based on profession, social status, etc. The expo runs throng March.
In December, Experiencias Xcaret debuted a new attraction that pays tribute to the Xochimilco borough of Mexico City. Tourists can explore 4.6 miles of Venetian-like channels on trainers (gondola-like boats), while listening to traditional and live mariachi music. This new attraction is located five minutes from Cancun International Airport at Carretera Cancun.
A new Xenotes Oasis Maya Tour lets guests experience Cancun's scenery and four different cenotes in one day. Visitors will test their skills while they rappel, zip line, snorkel and kayak. These ancient sinkholes were important to the ancient Mayans and are all associated with the four elements of nature: K'áak or Fine Xenote, Ha´ or Water Xenote, Lik´ or Wind Xenote and Lu’um or Earth Xenote.