4 Days and 3 Nights at Mahekal Beach Resort
Our suggested itinerary for your next Playa del Carmen escape
Bienvenidos a Mahekal Beach Resort! We are pleased you will be joining us for your next escape to our intimate and tropical retreat by the sea. To help plan your holiday in Playa del Carmen and our resort, we have prepared a sample 4 day and 3-night itinerary as a guide to the most magical experiences the resort and the region have to offer. Our friendly and knowledgeable Guest Experience team can help you arrange your plans. E-mail them at guestexperience@mahekalplaya.com for personal service.
Day 1
Upon arrival at our resort, our bell staff greets you and whisks you to the front desk for check-in. They assist you with your luggage, give you a tour of the resort and show you where the restaurants are. You can consult our resort map here prior to your visit to familiarize yourself with the property layout. After checking in, head on over to Itzi Bar for an afternoon snack of chips, guac, and salsa. Perhaps a Corona or Tecate, or handcrafted margarita will get you in the Mexican mood? Take a stroll on our pristine beach which is the longest stretch of beach in Playa del Carmen! After lunch, visit our Mexican craft center. Sisters Juliana and Victoria have worked for the resort for over 12 years and produce hand-painted pottery pieces and crafts. They are originally from a small town called San Juan, Tetelcingo in Guerrero, Mexico and wear traditional clothing originally made in that same small town. They are inspired by their parents and love to give each piece intrigue and unique details. The ladies love painting and teach all their students the way their parents taught them. They will help you paint, glaze and fire your own unique, Mexican memento. We recommend doing the painting early in your visit so the staff has time to fire your pieces and return them to you during your stay. If your first night is a Thursday, then try the beach BBQ (weather permitting). It’s a guest favorite! Nestled between the beach and Itzi’s Pool Bar, we arrange a beautiful beach barbecue with grilled steaks, seafood, salads and all the accompaniments. Drinks are available and seconds are encouraged! No reservations required. After dinner, head on up to Quinta Avenida for Arts night. Local artisans display their artwork every Thursday evening (weather permitting) along the Avenue. You’ll be inspired by the beautiful Mexican art, photographs, jewelry, and crafts. Finish the evening with a gelato or a nightcap at one of several bars along Quinta.
Day 2
Enjoy Breakfast at Las Olas, our gorgeous seaside restaurant overlooking the infinity pool and the turquoise sea. Be sure to try the chilaquiles and jugo verde (green juice). We have a station with different made-to-order delights each morning like smoothies, breakfast quesadillas, and omelets. For our fitness-focused guests, there is an air conditioned fitness center on the property with a treadmill, elliptical and free weights. We also have early morning sunrise yoga classes to start your morning off with a sunrise salutation or two! You may want to relax on the beach, hang out in your hammock, chill by the pool or if the sea is calm, try Stand up Paddleboarding. We rent them at our beach hut by the hour. For a very special treat, enjoy lunch at our Mayan Casita. Our Mayan Culinary Casita team preps and serves authentic Mayan food, crafted the way the original Mayan people cooked. This Mayan dining experience combines the region’s rich tradition and a historical look to present guests with an immersive culinary adventure. Our chefs and staff, many with ancestors that date back to the original Mayan people, still speak the Mayan language. As they prepare your feast, they’ll explain their techniques in Mayan, which will be translated to your language. The casita is decorated with colorful peppers—red, yellow, and bright green—along with vibrant tropical leaves. You’ll dine at our outdoor table, soaking in enough sun to match the cuisine’s warm palette. Tropical trees will provide plenty of shade. Mexico’s lush scenery will give you the perfect backdrop to match the Mayan’s luscious flavors. The meal features Lime and Chicken Soup, which will be created in large, clay pots with locally sourced ingredients. Spicy, aromatic peppers and condiments enhance the foods’ flavor. Our chefs will cook fish and other meats in heated pit ovens, steaming them to moist, delicious perfection. Our staff will also create tortillas by hand and cook them in the traditional Mayan style. Drinks include the refreshing local produce drink, Ixtabentum, along with flat or sparkling water from Mexico and red or white wine. The meal concludes with a sample of Mexican desserts, and you can take the recipes and menus as souvenirs. After lunch head over to our on-site dive center, Vida Aquatica for an afternoon snorkel tour. Our daily 2-hour snorkel tour meets at 1 PM so guests can register and be fitted for snorkel equipment. The boat leaves at 1:30 PM. The Tour starts with a boat ride along the coast of Playa del Carmen – see Playa from a different perspective, the shades of blue found in the transparent water are spectacular. The ride takes 10-25 minutes depending on which reef we go to and water conditions. Sites we can choose from are Inah, Moc-che, Maroma, and Herradura. Once at the site, our experienced guides take snorkelers on an hour-long tour along the colorful coral reefs where they’ll see vibrant tropical fish, stingrays and sea turtles among other marine life. The guides are great at spotting hidden marine life such as squid, octopus and take excellent care of anyone who needs extra attention (young children, nervous snorkelers, etc.). For anyone who may get tired or feel chilly, the boat is right there and s/he can get on board. Trip gets back to the dive shop at 3:30 PM. For more details and prices please visit the dive center website. If this day happens to be a Friday, then relax and unwind at our Fuego Sandbox which is beachside under the palm trees. Here you will enjoy tango music, fresh handcrafted drinks and listen to tango music. You may even dance tango! Later, after the sun sets, we hope you will try Cocina for our sumptuous authentic Mexican buffet. We have an amazing assortment of regional and Caribbean cuisine, large salad bar and tempting desserts.
Day 3
It’s excursion day! We recommend getting out of the hotel at least once during your trip to see the sites and attractions of the Riviera Maya. The region is blessed with centuries of culture, world heritage sites, natural wonders, amazing beaches, and hidden beauty. There is so much to explore. Let our world renown concierge desk help plan your excursion or visit our website prior to your trip. There are so many tours to choose from. If your departure is very early, our kitchen will create a breakfast box to snack on during your transfer. We recommend a day trip to Tulum, Akumal & a Cenote In Tulum, discover the most important Mayan city posclásico facing the majestic Caribbean Sea, protected by a large cliff, from where you have a spectacular view. Also, be pampered by fine white sand, after performing a guided archaeological one of our guides to take you to discover the secrets kept this ancient Mayan City tour. After the tour of the Tulum Ruins, enter a section of vast Mayan jungle that holds one of the most spectacular places in the Yucatan Peninsula, Cenote el Sueno, where you will enjoy crystal clear waters surrounded by nature. Our expert guides escort you in and around the aquifers and show you the ancient formations of stalactites and stalagmites that decorate this beautiful place. The final stop is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean; Akumal Bay. Here there is an abundance of native green sea turtles, eating sea grass and swimming lazily by. This bay also contains a protected reef and is a very popular snorkeling spot. The tour also comes with a freshly prepared Caribbean lunch of chicken or fish. After your return from the ruins and swimming cenotes, you can try a spa treatment at Revive Spa; our on-site spa that specializes in Mayan treatments. The signature treatment, 5 Senses Massage, uses a blend of oils and that evokes all 5 of the senses. For dinner, we highly recommend Fuego Restaurante y Cantina. Our newest restaurant Fuego simply means “fire” and our skilled chefs masterfully incorporate fire into each dish. From the flame-kissed salads, grilled octopus, and tender Kobe steaks. Fuego features a “Tulum” style wood burning oven for pizzas and handmade bread. Even better than the food is the views of the swaying palm trees, sandy beaches, and the warm Caribbean Sea. Don’t forget to make reservations for dinner.
Day 4
On your final day at Mahekal Beach Resort, if you have time, check out the beach at Sunrise. The sun rises over the ocean and wakes Playa del Carmen each morning with rays and a gentleness as it eases over the sea. It is beautiful to behold! Your air-conditioned transfers await your return back to the airport, which is an easy 45 minutes. Our kitchen will prepare a snack for you if your flight is early. We hope you enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you again!