With your table in the sand and the sound of the ocean roaring just a few feet away, the
Candlelight Dinner on the Beach—available at the El Dorado Casitas Royale, the El Dorado Royale, and the El Dorado Maroma—consists of a three-course diner’s choice gourmet menu. And for your sweet tooth, check out the
Chocolate Fondue for Lovers on the Beach at El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Seaside Suites. Dip strawberries, cake, and other treats into a warm chocolate fondue served at a beachfront table with glowing luminaries, tropical flowers, and a red, scented candle. A chilled bottle of California white wine complements this experience.
The El Dorado Seaside Suites offers an incredibly luxurious and relaxing 90-minute
Moonlight Massage. Listen to the waves lap against the shore and enjoy the moon’s shimmering light on the water as you melt under the healing touch of massage with your significant other right beside you. Sip on a sparkling wine and nibble on chocolate-dipped strawberries together afterwards to complete the whole experience.
Couples interested in meeting other couples on vacation shouldn’t miss the tequila tastings in the outdoor gazebos at the El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale, and the El Dorado Maroma. It’s a terrific way to meet others, loosen up before dinner, and learn about this national specialty.
Restaurant Recommendations
HC de Monterrey
Playa del Carmen
This tiny hole-in-the-wall serves as a butcher shop and restaurant. This local chain now boasts three locations, but this is the original and this is where you need to go. Known to some locals (and cab drivers) as “Super Carne,” you may notice more locals patronizing the place than tourists, but if you want to experience what may be the best steak meal you’ll ever have sans fancy surroundings, this is it. The Arrechera Nacional dinner costs about $12 and comes with a baked onion as a side dish. Incredibly sweet and tender, dip the onion into various cream sauces, including the garlic cream sauce – hands down the best of the batch. Open daily from noon to midnight.
Playa del Carmen
For an exquisite, over-the-top experience, head to Yaxche, right on the popular pedestrian strip that is Avenue 5 in Playa del Carmen. Recipient of a Five-Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, as well as includsion on the list of Distinguished Restaurants of North America, this is for people who want to experience true Mayan cuisine at its finest. Order malix, a dish of cream of chaya doused with white wine—it’s touted as a mystic aphrodisiac. Top it off with the Mezcal Flambee Crepe, a sweet crepe filled with banana and mango that is prepared right at your table.
Accommodations
You'll need a place to stay that matches the trip you're on. Our team recommends these hotels for this experience.
El Dorado Maroma, by Karisma
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El Dorado Casitas Royale By Karisma
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El Dorado Seaside Suites, by Karisma
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El Dorado Royale By Karisma
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Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma
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Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma - All Inclusive
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Azul Sensatori By Karisma
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Attractions
Lobster Dinner Cruise, Sightseeing & Tours
Enjoy a beautiful dinner cruise—complete with a scrumptious lobster dinner—as you sail along the Nichupte lagoon. This cruise is especially great for couples because it takes place at sunset and includes dinner and music on a beach.
Jungle Snorkeling Tour on Speed Boats
Enjoy the thrill of driving your own two-person speedboat (perfect for couples!) and snorkeling at the world’s second-largest coral reef.
Underwater Museum Snorkeling Tour, Water Activities
Seeking a serenely beautiful place to snorkel with your sweetheart? This tour has you snorkeling off the coast of Isla Mujeres and includes information about the area and preservations efforts that are under way.
Horseback Riding at Maroma, Sightseeing & Tours
Experience the jungle and beach from the back of a horse. Grab your loved one and ride through the mangroves, along the beach, and even swim with your horse in the sea.
Water Adventure in the Riviera Maya
For adventurous couples, the Riviera Maya offers excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities along the adjacent Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (the world’s second-largest coral reef system). Beyond the water sports, we recommend exploring any number of the region’s many cenotes. The Yucatan is home to thousands of these underwater caverns and pools. If you’ve toured a cave with stalactites and stalagmites, just image seeing that underwater and you have a cenote. Our tip? Take a romantic hike with your partner through the jungle and cool off afterwards in a cenote’s refreshing waters. With a bit of luck, you’ll even stumble upon a remote cenote where it’s just you and your sweetheart. See our tips for our three favorite cenotes and talk to us about how best to reach them—especially if you want to drive yourself and need to rent a car.
Traterra’s Top 3 Cenotes
Cristalino: Very popular with locals and tourists alike is Cenote Cristalino. Travel along Highway 307 to reach this cenote – it’s located just past Puerto Aventuras. This cenote’s attractions include a jump-off point, a cave, and restroom facilities. Our tip: Bring your own cooler with beverages and snacks. A nominal entrance fee is charged.
Azul: Located south of Cenote Cristalino, Azul is one of the area’s smaller cenotes. It’s wise to show up early – especially on Sundays – as the entrance is blocked once a certain number of people are in the water. Catfish are in abundance here and snorkel equipment is available for rent. A snack shack is also on site.
Tres Bocas: Just south of Puerto Morelos on Highway 307, there will actually be signs for a multitude of cenotes, but keep your eyes peeled for the sign leading you to Tres Bocas. Translated literally to “three mouths,” Tres Bocas is actually three cenotes in one area—though two require a serious hike to reach. Tres Bocas is more remote than other cenotes and is rarely crowded, which is a plus for couples. Admission is charged.