Oh L'Amour: Honeymoon hideaways in Mexico

Sweet Surrender: Mexico’s One & Only Palmilla woos lovebirds from the spa to dinners on the beach.

By Jennifer Olvera

Whether it’s a hacienda-style hideaway or a no-holds-barred luxury resort, Mexico vacations give honeymooners a slice of paradise. From personalized touches and idyllic surroundings to four-star eats and gracious palapa-dotted shores, one thing is for sure: south-of-the-border gems take romance to heart.

At the verdant, serene One&Only Palmilla in San Jose del Cabo, history meets modern-day luxury with red-tile roofs, vibrant blooms and a cacti-frocked Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Built for the son of Mexico’s president in the mid-1950s, it now boasts a restaurant by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; houses a posh, pampering spa; and offers couple-friendly amenities, such as private excursions and moonlit dinners on the beach.

Still, it doesn’t get lovelier than the Zen sanctuary-inspired Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Set in a gated community with access to the turquoise sea, it’s dotted with private, pool-outfitted villas; cut by a meandering, mangrove-lined waterway; and features Thai cuisine, served on a floating waterside deck. Adding to the appeal, the sprawling, picturesque property is navigated by bike. Seaside, ceviche-laced lunches give way to other niceties, like midday massages and languorous afternoons on white-sands.

At the intimate Hacienda Uayamon, located along the Yucatan peninsula near Campeche, a dozen rooms reside within an 18th-century building; birds lazily soar above in marshmallow-cloud skies; and candlelight illuminates private gardens where frogs sing an incomparable – and undeniably romantic – chorus.

Not to be outdone, beachfront-perched The Tides Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen woos lovers with a tropical, forested setting, seven miles of powdery beach, and a “Mayaterranean” restaurant set beneath a thatched roof overlooking the Caribbean Sea. That said, it’s the details – like a dine anywhere/anytimepolicy, 800 bottle-strong wine list and full-service spa with natural curatives – that sends honeymooners, well, to the moon.

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Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based author, editor and food enthusiast, who travels often – usually in search of her next great meal.

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