Isla Holbox is a small island located in the Northern part of the Quintana Roo province. It’s a fairly unknown destination in the Yucatán, making it a very special place to visit now before the tourists take over.  Getting to Isla Holbox is surprisingly simple – it’s about a 2-hour drive from the Cancun airport, and then a 20-minute ferry.  You’ll be greeted by golf cart taxis right at the pier who will escort you directly to your hotel.  Even though it’s close to Cancun, it feels like a world apart from the tourist-filled beaches and commercialism you see near the city.    

Isla Holbox is blessed with gorgeous beaches and insanely blue waters.  Spend hours walking the long sandbars, relaxing in hammocks and experiencing the amazingly soft sand. Enjoy the wide variety of excellent restaurants and bars – from chill, local taco stands to upscale rooftop bars, you’ll find something to match your budget and your style.  If you dare venture from your beach chair, you’ll discover a plethora of adventures awaits you – snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and more!

Traveling to Isla Mujeres is one of the simplest options for extending your trip for a few days before or after the music festival.  Often a day-trip for tourists staying in Cancún, Isla Mujeres is set up to tailor to English-speaking travelers who are not looking to step too far out of their comfort zone. 

There is plenty to do around the island: swim and relax on the beaches at North Shore, snorkel the nearby reefs, spend a day drinking on a party boat, or rent a golf cart and explore the island.  Choose to stay at North Shore if you want to be in the heart of the action, or opt for a quieter experience by staying towards the middle of the island.  There are a variety of options available to suit your needs and your travel style.

If you are ready to get away from the coast and truly experience Mexican culture, Valladolid is the perfect option. 

Less than a 2-hour drive from the Cancun Airport and a great jumping off spot for exploring cenotes and Mayan ruins, the colonial city of Valladolid offers an authentic experience.  Stroll the colonial streets, take a morning dip at the cenote, and indulge in local cuisine. Mayan culture abounds in Valladolid, from the traditional Mayan attire to the local handiwork and crafts for sale.

A visit to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, two of the Yucatan’s impressive archaeological sites,  is just a short drive away from Valladolid.

Rio Lagartos is a sleepy town located on the Gulf of Mexico, about an hour and a half drive from Valladolid.  Be ready to relax on the upper deck of a restaurant serving the freshest fish and tastiest margaritas while watch flamingos fly by over the water.  That’s right – flamingos.  Explore the area by boat with one of the locals, and they’ll take you through the waters to see mangroves, crocodiles and hundreds of varieties of birds – including beautiful, pink flamingos. 

Just a short drive from Rio Lagartos is the ecological park La Playa del Coloradas, and perhaps one of the best reasons to visit this area.  There are few places on the planet where the water is hot pink – and this is one of them thanks to the high-concentration of salt in the lagoon.  It’s a pretty amazing sight to see pink flamingos walking through and soaring over vibrant pink waters.

The town of Bacalar is located about 4-hours south of Cancun, near the Belizean border – but well worth the longer drive. The stunning, fresh waters of Laguna Bacalar are simply incredible.  It is hard to believe that these waters are a lake, and not the Caribbean ocean. 

Spend your days enjoying this fresh-water phenomenon in a variety of ways – swimming, kayaking, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, or simply floating off the pier at your hotel.  This “Lake of Seven Colors” is fed with the water from underground cenotes, and you’ll find several of them nearby to explore and swim in, as well.

Akumal translates to “Land of the Turtles” in the Mayan language, which gives you an idea of how good the snorkeling can be in this beach town.  While the main beach in town can be overwhelming with large groups of tourists, it’s easy to get away from the crowds in Half Moon Bay.

Just an hour from Now Sapphire, Akumal is also a terrific home base for getting out and exploring the area.  With 3 cenotés within a 30-minute drive, you could easily spend a day exploring and swimming and be back by dinner to enjoy the many restaurants Akumal has to offer.

Playa, as it’s known locally, is a relaxed beach town built around the town square, making it a very pedestrian friendly destination.  It is also one of the best spots to access the amazing diving and fishing the area has to offer. 

It’s proximity to the nearby large adventure parks, the local golf course and the monkey sanctuary provide something for the whole family.  Playa also works as a home base for exploring the rest of the region, easily accessed by car.

Puerto Morelos is just a short walk down the beach from Now Sapphire Resort, and is certainly worth a visit while you are at the festival.  With several restaurants and shops, you’ll get a little taste of life outside the resort!

If you don’t have the time or funds to plan a trip around Strings and Sol, at the very least take a stroll to Puerto Morelos.  Grab a drink or a bite, and experience something outside of an all-inclusive resort and the Cancún airport while you’re in Mexico!