Cancun, Mexico
Hyatt Ziva
A special event brought us to Cancun. On December 9th, 2017, we gathered under the Cliff Gazebo to celebrate the marriage of Chris & John. The weather on this day was a little rocky. Cold sand from below flew up at our faces, truly immersing us in the beach. Though it was windy, it still made for a beautiful ceremony with a breathtaking ocean view. The reception was moved inside where we sang, laughed, and danced the night away.
We stayed at the stunning all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva beachfront resort in Punta Cancun. Sitting along Mexico’s Yucatan Coast, we had access to 2 different beaches! With 8 restaurants, 6 bars, 3 infinity pools, and exclusive watersport excursions, we never ran out of things to do.
Each day brought new experiences. With options to kayak the scenic coast, fly along the ocean’s surface by jet-ski, test your balance on a paddleboard or snorkel under the crystal blue waters, we chose jet-skiing. We paid for 30 minutes but found ourselves out there for much longer. It seemed that if no one was next in line, we could keep going for as long as we wanted! The staff was genuinely excited for us and wanted us to have a good time.
View from adults-only turqiouse rooftop pool
Because my cousin held her wedding at this beautiful resort, she was considered a Turqiouse Guest. These guests have access to exclusive amenities others do not. One of these amenities includes the adults-only rooftop pool. She was able to get the entire wedding party access to this area with a gorgeous view of the resort and its own private bar.
Pictured above is the hub of the hotel that can be seen from the rooftop pool. The swim-up bar was our favorite place to lounge. We enjoyed tropical cocktails including frozen Miami Vices and creamy chocolate Mudslides. While this side of the resort allows for a beautiful view of waves crashing against the lighthouse, behind the rooms on the right is another beach facing west that beautifully reflects the sunset.
At the Al Fresco Ampitheater, we saw musical performances with talented dancers and acrobats. While enjoying the exhilerating show, we were served salty churros and hot chocolate.
All You Can Eat
We were blown away by the service and accommodations at this resort. When we arrived, the entire staff greeted us with so much joy, we instantly felt at home. During our stay, we made numerous visits to Pasteles, the resort’s contemporary dessert parlor. We indulged in a rich chocolate fountain, fluffy cotton candy and creamy ice cream. Our favorite dinner spot was The Moongate. This teppanyaki kitchen placed us in the center of the action, inviting us to witness culinary magic and enjoy world-class dishes.
El Mercado
The El Mercado offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Served buffet style, we had an endless variety of international dishes.
We ate here for breakfast every single day. With freshly squeezed juice, an array of fruit and endless pastries, we never ran out of options! I can’t tell you how many chocolate croissants I snuck back to my room.
Xenotes
Oasis Maya
Our exclusive family Xenotes Tour with Xcaret took place in Riviera Maya. The tour included transportation to all cenotes, a certified guide, photographer, and a picnic. We visited 4 different cenotes throughout our adventure. Being that it was December, the water was extremely cold. Though the scenery made sure we forgot that! Our first destination was the youngest of all cenotes, Lu’um. The way into this eight million-year-old cavern is from above. We repelled into the deep dark cave, spotting various rock formations on our way down. The next cenote was the ancient IIK’. With your choice of cliff jumping, hang gliding or swinging your way down, this cenote was a playground! With two circuits of zip-lines, members of our group crashed into the emerald green water side by side. Next was HA’, a semi-open cenote where we snorkeled and swam among water lilies. This cenote had another side to it where we kayaked in sapphire blue waters. Our final destination was K’ÁAK’, an open cenote surrounded by big stone walls. This cenote was covered with the lush vegetation of the Mayan Jungle. We entered these green jade waters by waterslide. We ended our undertaking of the Mayan Jungle with a picnic where we shared laughs as we reviewed the footage of us barreling and bolting into the water.