Sun-Chaser, Part Two: When Planning Your Next Trip to Mexico, “Better Safe Than Sorry”

Scrolling through your social media timeline — if it’s anything like mine — the pictures of Mexico are ubiquitous. The city of Tulum, in particular, exploded during the pandemic as the getaway of choice for American tourists. Once considered a destination that was off-the-beaten path from Cancún, Tulum is now the full-fledged star of Mexican tourism.

But if Tulum is a star, then the coronavirus is a supporting character. In January, Time Magazine reported that “COVID-19 has infected some 16,000 people in the state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancún [and Tulum], claiming over 2,000 lives. Limited testing means actual numbers are likely far higher.”

According to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, “As of March 4, [2021] Mexico has confirmed 2,112,508 total cases of COVID-19 within its borders since the beginning of the pandemic. Mexican authorities report widespread community transmission, thousands of cases of infection, and increased numbers of patients requiring hospitalization.”

A major reason for Mexico’s popularity as a travel destination was that, prior to January 26, 2021, Mexico did not require a negative COVID test for entry and imposed no COVID quarantine requirements on U.S. travelers.

A COVID test is now required for entry, but there are other factors to consider if you choose to travel to Mexico right now. As I share below, there are things you can do to manage the risk.

Your Hotel Matters — More than Ever

Choose a hotel with a focus on COVID safety. Sounds simple, right?

Some of us are so busy searching for the best deals that we forget to research a hotel’s COVID safety protocols and cleaning quality standards. During my trip to Mexico, I stayed at two resorts that I can recommend.

Mystique Holbox by Royalton, located on the island of Holbox (about 30 minutes off the Quintana Roo coast), has a small boutique feel and is situated directly on the beach. Immediately upon entering the lobby, my temperature was taken and recorded. I also had to sign a health affidavit attesting to the fact that I was not currently exhibiting any of the COVID warning signs, and that I had not tested positive for the virus within a certain time period.

While there, indoor dining was not available — we dined directly on the beach or at their outdoor, beachfront restaurant. Hand sanitizer was included among the usual toiletries in my room, and I could choose the frequency with which the cleaning team visited.

Back on the mainland, I stayed at the Royalton Riviera Cancún, an all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya. Here, in addition to the temperature taking and affidavit signing, there were sanitizing mats that we were asked to wipe our feet upon before entering the hotel and at the front of each of the hotel’s restaurants.

The resort is ginormous — a dizzying network of pools, bars, lounges, accommodations and performance spaces. I was relieved to learn that the hotel was limiting its occupancy to 50%.

The buffet was renovated, with plastic covering all of the food. Rather than self-service, servers with masks heaped portions on my plate from behind slanted glass. Other items were individually-wrapped so that I could easily add them to my tray.

At each of its reservation-only restaurants, the resort limited occupancy to 30–50%. While indoor dining was available, I opted for outdoor seating whenever possible.

There were signs at both hotels with the “Safety-Assured Vacations” seal, characteristic of all Blue Diamond resorts. This safety standard, according to Insider Travel Report, consists of “physical distancing guidelines, advanced dining safety, increased staff training and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), a 360 Degree Clean Approach of all resort common areas and Diamond Clean guest rooms where every touchpoint is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.”

The Pool or the Ocean?

When it comes to lowering the risk of potential COVID exposure, the ocean wins hands-down. Even a pool lover like me has to accept that.

This was most evident at the Royalton Riviera Cancún , an impressive resort with 840 rooms, 11 pools, 1 children’s splash park and 9 restaurants.

With 11 pools it was possible to spread out, but since it isn’t an adults-only resort, you may also encounter care-free kids who really aren’t concerned with wearing their masks or maintaining social distance.

Kids are less of a problem by the swim-up bar. But inebriated adults aren’t concerned with wearing their masks or social distancing either. Their main concerns, as I discovered, are getting their next drink and showing you random pictures on their phone.

To maintain distance, I would raise my feet while seated on a pool bar stool, intentionally creating space between me and the next person. This technique was effective but not foolproof. It also proved to be an exhausting leg workout.

The beach, on the other hand, was less populated and therefore, more peaceful. The resort has ample cushioned-seating that stretches across the sandy waterfront. There are bars located nearby so you won’t miss out on cocktails, and plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. It’s a perfect place to set up for a day of ocean-dipping and relaxing.

So, hit the beach. Your time in the ocean will be virtually undisturbed — save for the cooling sea-breeze and the occasional frothy wave.

The Island or the Mainland?

When it comes to managing COVID risk, the island — or to be specific, Holbox Island — wins it all.

With a population of only 2,000 people, and considering that the island does not allow motor vehicles (golf carts only, baby) there are a lot less people to contend with on your vacation.

Isla Holbox possesses the same unspoiled, no-frills beauty that Tulum boasts. Think bars and restaurants with straw roofs, art murals and hotels located right on the beach. And it’s only a 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland.

Attendance was sparse everywhere I went on the island. And God bless it. I frolicked freely on the beach. And I watched the sunset with no fear of crowds or obstructed views.

Mystique Holbox is the perfect refuge for these stressful times, with its rustic accommodations, decadent cocktails, rich food (“I’d like to add a lobster tail, please”), and stunning day-to-evening views. With all dining options outside, I never had to worry about requesting outdoor seating in advance or sitting near an open window when dining indoors (which was a concern during my Riviera Maya stay).

The island is harder to get to than other destinations, so I’m not sure if the resort even needed to limit its capacity. The pool was always tranquil and nearly empty; the beach was sparsely populated. My entire stay in Holbox felt exclusive, like being in the VIP section of Mexico somehow. (This made social distancing much easier than in Riviera Maya.)

In fact, the most populous thing about Holbox Island is the mosquitoes — these tenacious pests come alive as the sun goes down so bring your repellent and a lightweight cover-up to don as needed.

Compared with my experience days later in Riviera Maya, I felt much safer, more relaxed and more connected with nature on Isla Holbox. I highly recommend it as the ultimate, socially-distant getaway.