Tis the season of romance, and what better way to celebrate a wedding, anniversary, or newfound love than by jetting off to the soft, white sand beaches of Cancun? A Caribbean destination that combines the old and the new, the tranquil and the lively, Cancun has everything a couple needs to indulge in a memorable retreat from the day-to-day.
"From wedding consultants and honeymoon packages to spa treatments and loads of entertainment options, Cancun takes care of a couple's every need," said Fernando de la Torre, executive director of the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). "And, when you add in our amazing surroundings - the turquoise sea of the Caribbean, the lush jungle that envelopes us - we're a package that's hard for any couple to resist."
Weddings
Getting married in Cancun is a simple affair - couples need only produce original or certified copies of their birth certificates, valid passports, the tourist cards they receive upon entering Mexico and the results of blood tests taken two working days prior to the wedding. It is suggested, then, that couples arrive in Cancun three working days prior to the big event to submit all documentation.
A great number of hotels in Cancun not only offer banquet facilities and an expert catering staff, but their soon-to-be-married guests are also provided with the services of a wedding coordinator who will ensure that the documentation is in order and that not a glitch ensues on that day of days. Among these hotels are the Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa, the Hyatt Regency, and the Moon Palace.
Those couples who wish to celebrate their nuptials outside of a hotel, or in a non-traditional fashion, have much to choose from. Eco-parks like Garrafon on Isla Mujeres (a short ferry from Cancun) and Xel-Ha (approximately one-and-a-half hours south of Cancun) offer gorgeous natural backdrops of lush vegetation and azure sea.
At grand eco-cultural park Xcaret (approximately one hour south of Cancun), couples can take part in a pre-Hispanic Mayan ceremony that commemorates the union of earth and sky, represented by the woman and her fertility and the man and his dominion over all things on earth.
Wedding Packages
Among the wedding packages currently available in Cancun are the following:
The Hyatt Regency's Caribbean Breeze package for $1,140, which includes an on-site wedding coordinator, a licensed officiate or minister, documentation and legal fees, a bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere, a wedding cake for ten people, and more. More information is available at cancun.regency.hyatt.com.
The Moon Palace's Superior Wedding Package for $1,400, which includes the use of the wedding gazebo, documentation and legal fees, a justice of the peace, flower arrangements, the Holistic Spa Package, a candlelit dinner, and more. More information is available at www.moon-palace.com.
Ceiba del Mar's four-night wedding package for $2,470, which includes accommodations in an ocean view Junior Suite, three meals per day, a moonlit dinner, a holistic massage, a spa pass for the duration of the stay, and more. More information is available at www.ceibadelmar.com.
Rest & Relaxation for Two
Newlyweds, marrieds and non-marrieds alike have a wealth of spa and relaxation treatments to choose from in and around Cancun. Among these are the Ritz Carlton's Mayan Sanctuary Massage, performed in the privacy of the spa terrace in a beachfront palapa (Mayan hut); Paraiso de la Bonita's Thalassotherapy, a unique treatment that uses freshly-heated sea water to induce an exchange of minerals that soothe and rejuvenate the body; and the Temazcal pre-Hispanic steam bath performed at Ceiba del Mar, the Westin Resort and Spa and Fiesta Americana Grand Aqua.
Among special spa packages available now is:
The Westin Resort and Spa's Romantic Massage ($120 per person, 80 minutes; $90 per person, 50 minutes), in which couples share an ocean-side aromatherapy massage under the stars with incense and candles.
Shopping, Dining & Entertainment for Two
In Cancun, the opportunities to shop for one's mate are exhaustive. Shopping malls like Plaza La Isla feature everything from top-quality Mexican handicrafts to art, while Plaza Kukulkan has recently unveiled its Luxury Avenue section of shops, featuring the likes of Fendi, Swarovski, Gucci and more.
Come dinnertime, couples can treat themselves to a visit to La Habichuela, a romantic eatery in downtown Cancun with an intimate outdoor courtyard; Lorenzillo's, where lobster lovers can unwind underneath a huge palapa facing the Nichupte Lagoon; and, Le Basilic, a gourmet French restaurant located within the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Hotel.
After dinner, the new Thai Lounge in Plaza La Isla is a great venue to explore with its Thai-themed decor and the dolphin-filled wall it shares with an adjacent aquarium. Other options for couples seeking to venture out include Fiesta Americana Grand Aqua's Shore Club, which offers sea-side comfort in an outdoor lounge that features beds, chaises and cushioned seats; and Glazz, located in Plaza La Isla, a modern and funky restaurant, lounge and disco all-in-one.
