Mexico Adventure Weddings
Who doesn’t love the idea of an adventure wedding? Maybe a small destination wedding in near a beach in Mexico with some big fun planned around your wedding? Read on for some ideas that may suit you and your loved one:
Puerto Vallarta
The most important decision to make in planning a destination wedding is picking the location. You want somewhere you’d love to visit, with plenty to do for you and your guests before and after the day of the ceremony, and with beautiful backdrops for wedding photos and romantic wedding venues. With its rich cultural background and natural wonders, Puerto Vallarta offers all of that and more!
Celebrating your love through a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta is a great way to combine your special day with an amazing vacation, making it truly an unforgettable event for both you and your guests.
Located in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is a popular beach destination on the western coast. Nestled against the Sierra Madre Mountains, it sits on the coast of Banderas Bay, the largest bay in Mexico, and is known for its Pacific Ocean’s deep blue waters, bordered by golden sand. It boasts miles of beach, including swimming beaches and wildlife sanctuaries. Puerto Vallarta is a romantic destination perfect for weddings, but it is also a friendly spot for families of all kinds and is known as a great LGBTQ beach vacation spot.
Puerto Vallarta was founded in 1851 by Spanish settlers. Little is known about its pre-colonial history, but some evidence suggests it was once home to people of the Aztec Empire. Since the 1960s, Puerto Vallarta has become a destination for tourists around the world thanks to its charming architecture and natural attractions. Its tourism boom began, at least in part, thanks to some of its most famous residents: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor who made a home for themselves there in the 1960s.
Puerto Vallarta is at the same latitude as Hawaii, which means it has similar near-perfect weather and climate all year long. The weather in Puerto Vallarta is warm and tropical, with similar warm temperatures in every month. The warmer months of July and August see highs in the low 90s and lows in the 70s, while the winter months see highs in the mid 80s and lows in the 60s.
There are only two seasons in Puerto Vallarta: rainy and dry. The rainy season goes from June to mid-October, and the rest of the year rarely sees rain. The air is hot and humid all year, and rainstorms and showers during the rainy season generally come in short bursts. Hurricane season is in the fall, but the Bay of Banderas offers some protection against the storms.
Cancun
Cancun is a part of the Riviera Maya region, located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, bordering the Caribbean Sea. It is known around the world as a travel destination with postcard-perfect beaches, ancient Mayan roots, and a lively resort, nightlife, and restaurant scene making it perfect for hosting weddings. Just off the coast of the Riviera Maya lives the world’s second largest barrier reef, allowing you and your guests to enjoy some snorkeling while you are away. Along with Cancun, popular beach and resort destinations of the Riviera Maya include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Coba.
The pre-Columbian historical roots of this region run deep. The ancient Mayan civilization once called this beautiful region home, and the traces of their culture and architecture still remain. Visitors to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya love to explore the archaeological ruins, including Chichen Itza, one of the largest Mayan cities dominated by a pyramid-shaped temple. You and your history-loving wedding guests will also enjoy excursions to Tulum, Ek Balam, and El Meco.
Along with its storied past, Cancun features geographical features found nowhere else in the world. The Riviera Maya is known for cenotes: a natural pit that exposes fresh groundwater. Anciently, the cenotes were sacred to the Mayan people, who considered them passageways to the underworld. Today, there are many beautiful and mysterious cenotes to explore in this area. The waters are fresh, cool, and fed by underground rivers and rainwater. Your guests can swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in the refreshing water while exploring otherworldly cave formations. Once the wedding is over, consider scheduling a trash the dress photo shoot in a cenote for unique memories that will add personality to your wedding album.
The weather in Cancun makes it a great year-round destination perfect for weddings. December to April is peak tourist season due to the lower temperatures and mild humidity. The winter weather in Cancun sees temperatures in the low 80s. July and August are the hottest months, with average temperatures in the high 80s. The summer months are also very humid.
Cancun has two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season spans from November to April, and with pleasant temperatures and warm waters, is a great time to plan a wedding. May to October is the rainy season, featuring heat and humidity. You can expect plenty of sunshine during these months, as the storms are quick but intense, leaving stunning overcast lighting for wedding photos no less than perfection.
Cancun is truly a foodie’s paradise, with dishes that combine both the Mayan and Spanish heritage of the Quintana Roo and Yucatan regions. The cuisine takes its flavor from local ingredients including cilantro, oregano, chili peppers, and achiote and chilmole paste.
If you’re looking for local fare, be sure to order the soft and creamy papadzules, spicy cochinita pibil, or huevos motulenos, a Yucatan twist on huevos rancheros. Plus, the fresh seafood is amazing! Foodies will be in gastronomic paradise in Cancun.
Valle de Bravo
Valle de Bravo is considered one of Mexico’s pueblo mágicos (magic towns). There certainly seems to be a bit of magic in the air, from the pine and fir forests carpeting the surrounding hills to the gleaming Lago Avándaro, a hub for recreation. This is where Mexico City’s elite come to play. Leave time for an unhurried stroll along cobbled streets to the town plaza, where centuries-old buildings (each crowned with a terra-cotta roof) now play host to buzzy bars, cafes, and boutiques. Though it’s been likened to vacation hotspots like Switzerland and Lake Como, Valle de Bravo offers a quintessential Mexican countryside experience entirely its own.
Also known as Valle de Bravo Reservoir (because the man-made lake helps supply water to Mexico City), Lago Avándaro is the main draw in Valle. Enjoy all manner of aquatic recreation here, including sailing, kayaking, boating, and waterskiing. Cast a line into the water in search of catfish, mojarro, and carp. Even land-based activities revolve around the lake — hike or mountain bike through the neighboring forested hills to reach a scenic lookout over the lake, or go where the wind takes you on a paragliding or hang-gliding excursion to catch a bird’s-eye view.
The lake hasn’t always been here. It sprung up in 1947, after a newly built dam flooded existing farmland in the valley. Today, the beauty and tranquility of Lago Avándaro has thrust Valle de Bravo into the spotlight as a popular vacation spot for residents of Mexico City; still, it may be one of the country’s best-kept secrets when it comes to international tourism.
For more information about vacationing in this destination, contact your Care team.
