I’m getting excited for an upcoming trip back to Mexico and thought I’d share a couple of  pictures from prior trips. There are many popular destinations along the eastern Mexican Caribbean coast…. in Riviera Maya the water can be just as warm and turquoise blue along the shore as the heart of the Caribbean.

Accommodations abound! The lovely Iberostar Playa Paraiso Resort has several hotel options, we enjoy staying in the Paraiso Maya… so much, that this return trip will mark our fourth visit to this property.

Why go back? Let me show you!

The lobby and grounds for this hotel are an ode to the Mayan culture.  The lobby is shiny with marble and huge chac-mool statues and stone carvings. The Mayan pyramid gives the historic look to the property but is modernized by colorful lights shining on it after dark.

Don”t be fooled… the inside of the pyramid is the lobby bar “Kukulcan”.  Decorated with dangling vines and Mayan statues, light spills in from above during the day… and at night jewels glow from the column that the massive serpent clings to over the bar.  Each evening there is live music…. and of course, in an all-inclusive resort, your “magic bracelet” lets you sit back and enjoy cocktails worry-free.

My favorite cocktail at this bar is the Melon Ball. (Midori recipe here.)

The landscaping and attention to detail at every turn also makes this resort a great destination. At the Maya, there are winding paths that take you through the various hotel buildings. Each one has gardens and fountains or structures that add interest to the walk.

Then there are the pools. I can say that part of the draw to return here is the pools.

The Iberostar Lindo guests and Maya guests share the pools that wind between the two hotels.

Rows of chairs mean plenty of relaxation space… and plenty of palapas provide shade when that Mexican sun gets too scorching hot!

Pool options include a zero-entry wave pool, and a lazy river. (….this trip maybe we’ll do the lazy river… until now we’ve enjoyed being lazy all the way on the other side of the pools.)

The pool bar is just beyond a waterfall, while just above the waterfall is a balcony where the ice cream is served… the best coconut ice cream in the world, if you ask me.

There is an entire other pool on the other side of the pool bar (not connected by water). I lost that picture (among countless others) when my computer died last summer. But, this last pool before the beach has a couple of water falls that muffle conversations, and a great shallow ledge perfect for reclining in the water with a book.

If the beach is your thing…. follow the boardwalk.

If I built a boardwalk, I’d leave the palm tree growing through the middle of it too. (It’s been cut now, but it was a fun favorite, quirky feature the first two visits!)

The beach and that amazing blue water comes into view.

Plenty of seating and shade to be found under the beach palapas too. And no worries; the wonderful Iberostar staff will find you and make sure you don’t go thirsty!

Beautiful blue water to cool off in. Or, to just sit in the sand at let the waves come chase your feet.

See why I am looking forward to the trip? And this doesn’t even mention the great food, the friendly atmosphere and the cute shows the Star Friends put on each night. Options to take excursions, or just to stay on the grounds of the resort….

Now…. time to head to the office… it’s not quite vacation time yet… But rest assured that in my little cubicle I will be trying to resist daydreaming… and that Sand on The Brain.