Punta Brava Holidays in Mexico

Punta Brava is a purpose built resort erected 20 years ago by the Mexican government to fulfil the region's tourism potential. It is a perfect get away for romantic couples as the mix of beautiful weather, unspoilt natural beaches and peace and quiet is a great combination to spend your time abroad with the one you love.

Despite being away from the major Mexican hotspots of Cancun and Playa del Carmen there is still a wealth of activities to do whilst at Punta Brava. Xel-Ha is a wonderful natural park centred around four interlocking lagoons. Just as a scene out of a James Bond film it is an ideal place to relax the day away whilst the children explore the lagoons. The Aquatic Institute which is located in the grounds of the park offer snorkelling lessons on how to identify the underwater flora.

If you want to pick up some holiday clothes your first stop should be Dany Primus on 5th Avenue. It has a range of original clothes and artefacts as well as its own juice bar in the garden. Another worthwhile stop is Montezuma, a fascinating little shop that sells everything from beach bags to traditional Mexican souvenirs.

As with most Mexican resorts there are some fantastic beaches on offer in Punta Brava. Playa Torugas is the longest of the three beaches and is popular with tourists. Be careful when swimming here as the currents get quite strong. Parque Nizuc is the best beach to snorkel from offering a huge variety of underwater wildlife and finally there is Castillo Real, slightly quieter than the previous two mentioned but if you take a walk to the north you will come upon the Castillo Real Maya site.

For places to eat Punta Brava has some good restaurants. El Dorado Royale is the main resort in Punta Brava and offers a range of international cuisine in the Italian, Japanese and Mexican restaurants situated there. For something more authentic try La Habichuela Las Palapas, a beautiful if not small restaurant situated in a delightful garden. This one is perfect for a romantic evening in particular. Los Huaraches in Tulum serves up classic Mexican family cooking with dishes such as deep fried corn meal bread to stuffed tacos. The atmosphere is always fun here and prices are very reasonable. After dinner entertainment should start at Babalu II, a small bar offering jazz through to the early hours of the morning. It is owned by a exotic woman from Barbados and is the hangout for all those who are 'cool' in the area.

International flights go via Cancun where you will have to get a connection to one of the regional airports around Punta Brava. The most common one is to Villahermosa which is the nearest city to Punta Brava, however, it is over 700km from Cancun so strap yourself in for another few hours in the air. Once in Punta Brava there is not much to do outside the resort and pretty much everything is within walking distance. If you want to explore the Mexican villages that lie outside the resort's grounds then the only way to do this is to hire a scooter or car.

With sandy white beaches and beautiful views, Punta Brava is a piece of heaven for any romantic holiday.