Cancún

The view from the descending aircraft over the Nichupté Lagoon and the powdery ribbon of Cancún’s hotel zone was an electric gradient of sapphire, cerulean, and bright turquoise. I arrived at the gated sanctuary of NIZUC Resort & Spa, secluded on the tranquil Punta Nizuc away from the bustling hotel strip. Escorted to my Ocean View Villa ($1,400/night), I entered a private world of Mayan stone walls, infinity plunge pool, outdoor mangrove shower, and an expansive deck overlooking the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

I spent the afternoon lounging under a draped private cabana on the resort’s white sand beach, enjoying chilled coconut water and freshly diced ceviche tossed with lime, mango, and habanero ($38). In the late afternoon, I experienced the resort's signature 90-minute Mayan Cacao holistic massage at the ESPA Sanctuary, which left my skin glowing and my mind completely at peace.

Dinner was served at Ramona, NIZUC’s gourmet fine-dining pavilion. Overlooking the calm sea, I savored a contemporary Mexican tasting menu featuring slow-braised short rib in black recado mole and grilled Caribbean lobster tails, complemented by a crisp Casa Madero Gran Reserva Chardonnay ($160).

The next morning, I chartered a private 55-foot Sunseeker yacht ($2,400/day) over to Isla Mujeres. We dropped anchor at Playa Norte, wading through waist-deep, crystal-clear water with chilled glasses of Veuve Clicquot in hand while swimming alongside docile sea turtles and stingrays near the Manchones coral reef. Cancún proves that when done at the pinnacle of luxury, Caribbean bliss is completely unrivaled.