Destination Spotlight-Riviera Maya

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Do you look for adventure when you’re planning your vacations?

A destination that might be of interest to you is the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

The Riviera Maya offers an abundance of different areas that host all kinds of different adventures that you can explore. There are over 70 resorts that you can choose from, and I’m sure there is one to suit everyone’s desires.

Here is a week’s worth of adventures you could try while on your vacation:
1) Swim in a Cenote: Cenotes are large natural sinkholes, and an iconic feature of the Yucatan Peninsula. In Mayan times, they were used for fresh water supply and religious ceremonies, but nowadays make the perfect place for tourists who want to swim, snorkel and relax in a unique environment.
2) Snorkeling and Scuba Diving: The Great Maya Reef is home to some of the best snorkeling in America. One of the best places is off the beaches of Akumal. Akumal is a nesting ground for turtles, but you will also see several tropical fish, making it a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers alike.
3) Xcart Park: The park offers more than forty different attractions. You can explore jungle ruins, forest trails or float along the underground rivers in a raft. There is a wild bird aviary, an orchid greenhouse, and an aquarium. In the evenings, they have an on-site theatre that depicts Mexican culture through song and dance.
4) Tulum: Tulum has picture-perfect sands, and turquoise blue waters that leave you with a laid-back vibe. It is a town like no other and offers you the inspiring Mayan ruins that are a must see.
5) Playa del Carmen Nightlife: The nightlife is centered on the beach, and one of the biggest night time attractions is the flamboyant Coco Bongo, where the shows are comparable to those of Las Vegas. One can enjoy the Riviera’s finest cuisine, sip cocktails in beachside bars or dance the night away in the popular clubs.
6) Chichen Itza: Hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the New World, the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza truly deserves their status as the second most popular attraction in all of Mexico.
7) Relax: After all this is one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.
photo credit: Adventures of Cancun Tours

While the Riviera Maya has all the incredible activates, it’s also a brilliant place to relax and unwind.

It offers stretches of white sand beaches fringed with palm trees. The beach is quiet due to the protection of the coral reefs. The waters are calm and portray a turquoise blue. The long stretches of white sands are home to sea turtles and crabs. I think no matter who you are or what level adventure you desire, the Riviera Maya is sure to deliver.

Fun Fact: Xcaret is a popular 250-acre tourist area in the village of Playa del Carmen. It includes an aviary, Dolphinarium, turtle sanctuary, beach, and a Mayan village with ruins. With so much to see, visitors often spend an entire day there.-Travel Impressions

Main Photo credit: Chichen.com


Andrea Ward is an independent travel consultant of Boomerang Escapes, who is based in Wisconsin.

She has been planning vacation escapes for the company since 2013 and specializes in Caribbean Destinations. Her primary focus is on the all-inclusive vacation experience for adult or family getaways for individuals and small groups. Sandals and AMResorts are among the specialist certificates she holds.


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Andrea WardDestination Spotlight-Riviera Maya
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Destination Spotlight-Barbados

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Barbados, often called the “Little England” of the Caribbean, blends the finer elements of British tradition with the warmth of island hospitality. Barbados truly has something for everyone with beaches, rolling countryside, charming villages, and old plantations. It is also known as a diver and surfer’s paradise.
Barbados is sophisticated yet casual, warm and friendly, and always charming. It has something for everyone from expensive to affordable.

Barbados is a tropical island that has sun-filled days and balmy nights. Those that explore Barbados fall in love with this land and return again and again. The average annual temperature ranges from 70°F–87°F.

Barbados may not have any dolphins, but they still have an experience of a lifetime as you can swim with the turtles! It’s something I so desperately want to do. Barbados is the home to a healthy population of hawksbill and leatherback turtles. The turtles once were endangered by being over fished. However, these great creatures are now protected and monitored throughout the island.

Turtles are sociable and tend to stay in the same area following steady routines. They can be seen playing and feeding along the inshore reefs. There are certain monitored areas where they have become accustomed to humans and are very tame. You can swim with them as they feed along the coral, and one of the best ways to do this is by snorkeling.

There are programs in place such as the Barbados Sea Turtle Project to help recover the marine turtle populations. This is all done through training, education, and public awareness. Without such projects, we would not have the opportunity to enjoy these truly amazing creatures.

Fun Fact: Driving in Barbados, as on many of the Caribbean Islands, is on the left side of the road. Before you rent a car, please make sure you are comfortable driving this way. However, precautions aren’t only for drivers. Pedestrians must also remember to look right as well as left when crossing the street!.-Travel Impressions


Andrea Ward is an independent travel consultant of Boomerang Escapes, who is based in Wisconsin.

She has been planning vacation escapes for the company since 2013 and specializes in Caribbean Destinations. Her primary focus is on the all-inclusive vacation experience for adult or family getaways for individuals and small groups. Sandals and AMResorts are among the specialist certificates she holds.


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Andrea WardDestination Spotlight-Barbados
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Destination Spotlight-Grenada

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If you’re looking for a unique escape this time of the year, you may want to try Grenada.

Grenada is made up of three main islands: Grenada, Carracou, and Petite Martinique. Grenada is known as the spice of the Caribbean. It is an extremely fragrant destination and may boast more spices per mile than anywhere else in the world. It’s an ideal destination for those seeking a relaxing, tropical vacation. Grenada has 45 white beaches with exquisite turquoise waters, but if you’re looking for something a little different it also hosts 9 black sand shores.

If you’re more of a busy body with a love for activities, Grenada still has you covered. There are plenty of hiking trails that lead to waterfalls or back to the beaches. You can go whale or dolphin watching or just enjoy kayaking in the quiet Egmont Harbor. If you’re a diver, Grenada is known for the Bianca C, otherwise known as the “Titanic of the Caribbean”. It is the Caribbean’s largest underwater wreck. The Bianca C was a 600 foot 22000-ton cruise liner that sank off the coast in 1961.

The island’s easy rhythms and friendly residents give Grenada an atmosphere hard to find elsewhere. You can expect to enjoy a steady, cooling breeze that helps maintain an average temperature of 75 to 85 degrees. If you pair that with the choice to relax or choose an adventure, it will be hard to find another destination that compares.

Photo credit: Dive Buddy and Destinations Gallery
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Fun Fact: Grenada is called the Isle of Spice because it is a major producer of spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa and others. In fact, the air in Grenada is permeated with their scent. Visitors can take a little break from the beaches and travel inland to explore the island’s many beautiful spice plantations.-Travel Impressions


Andrea Ward is an independent travel consultant of Boomerang Escapes, who is based in Wisconsin.

She has been planning vacation escapes for the company since 2013 and specializes in Caribbean Destinations. Her primary focus is on the all-inclusive vacation experience for adult or family getaways for individuals and small groups. Sandals and AMResorts are among the specialist certificates she holds.


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Andrea WardDestination Spotlight-Grenada
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