After what was a much longer car ride than we anticipated, my husband and I breathed a sigh of relief as we pulled up to what looked like the most relaxing spot on earth. We were greeted with fresh drinks and the most helpful staff. We were excited to be at a beautiful all-inclusive resort that we could call “home” for the next six days.
Day 1
MORNING Marina El Cid was exactly what we wanted, a place to do nothing but spend uninterrupted time together and relax. We woke up to the sound of tropical birds right outside our room and took time to explore the resort. Marina El Cid includes a large marina of yachts and a very large beach. We ate breakfast at La Alhambra Restaurant, which offered many options, as well as a large variety of authentic Mexican dishes. We enjoyed sipping on cool smoothies while relaxing under the beach palapa hut.
AFTERNOON We found that the pool was our favorite spot from day one. There were plenty of activities, music, and entertainment that made our afternoons fly by. A swim-up bar was a fun place to meet other couples and enjoy all-inclusive drinks. When we grew tired of all the noise, families, or games, we would move over to the adults-only area that was a quiet zone. We loved the tranquility of the quiet zone!
EVENING Since we were so close to fresh seafood, there was no doubt that we wanted to try the seafood restaurant at our resort first. La Marina overlooked the marina of yachts and a beautiful sunset! I’ll never forget that meal and how much fun we had trying fresh seafood dishes that were full of flavor.
Day 3
MORNING Our resort offered many activities that were included with our stay. We decided to take a long bike tour to the neighboring port, Puerto Morelos. While there, we were able to spend time going through the shops, seeing the historic lighthouse on the beach, and enjoying the local courtyard and diners. The bike tour was a great way to see more of Riviera Maya while doing something more active!
AFTERNOON Lunch was always served at Alhambra, but we actually enjoyed getting room service sent to our room almost daily. Marina El Cid’s beach included games throughout the day. We joined a game of “Bags” and spent time soaking up the sun. There is nothing better than napping to the sound of the waves and feeling the hot sun on your skin!
EVENING We made it a priority that at least one night of our trip we would dress up and go to the nicest restaurant at the resort. We enjoyed exquisite food and drinks at El Alcazar. The staff put on a very special meal and made sure everything was perfect. We finished the night by going to the beach bar club.
Day 6
MORNING This was our last full day at El Cid and we wanted to make sure we spent plenty of time at the beach and pool. We spent the morning by the beach and enjoyed breakfast at La Alhambra.
AFTERNOON As luck would have it, we had lunch at Hacienda Arrecife and it was one of our favorite meals. We were craving some American food because we had been trying all the authentic dishes. We stayed by the pool in the afternoon and I joined in more pool games. We met a very fun couple from the United States and the entertaining pool bar staff kept the drinks flowing for the four of us!
EVENING For our last dinner, we made reservations at Hacienda Arrecife. Of course the menu was much different than our lunch and we devoured fajitas, tostadas and tacos. Hacienda Arricife overlooks the beach and palapa huts. We ended the night with a nice surprise-- a phenomenal saxophone player had a performance in one of the most beautiful lounges. This was a perfect ending to our week because Dan loves jazz music and we couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing evening. It will be a night I’ll never forget!
