Many vacationers have considered a trip to Cancun, one of Mexico’s premier destinations for sub-tropical climates and gorgeous beaches with silky white sand. The peninsula is built up with a slew of resorts and a great mix of shopping exists in the form of local markets and commercialized world-class boutiques.

But for some travelers, Cancun can get a little too commercialized or cluttered with spring breakers to really support a relaxing and introspective vacation. For travelers with slightly more culturally refined tastes, we at Apple Specials love to recommend the Riviera Maya, just a few miles South of Cancun. Here, the resort atmosphere and new world culture is blended into ancient Mayan sites and ruins, which you can actually see skylines views of from most of the fine hotels in the area.

One of our favorite travel destinations for honeymoon vacations, couple’s retreats or family vacations with the kids is the Barceló Maya Palace; an absolutely magnificent four star resort nestled in the Riviera Maya. It’s a perfect pocket of paradise on one of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches. Crisp, white sand and radiant blue water make the beaches gleam in the Mexico sun when looking from the window views of the Palace, and the resorts luxurious pools nearly rival the beaches.

The all inclusive resort is absolutely breathtaking, and is only in its third year of operation, a luxurious juxtaposition to the ancient Mayan ruins or sites of extinct cultures located just kilometers away. The Barceló Maya Palace offers 5 restaurants on site, 2 are buffet style restaurants and three are ala carte, offering some of the most beautiful views and cross-cultural cuisine in Mexico, from French brasserie style fare to spicy South American Brazilian dishes.

The hotel proper is all assembled in modern colonial architecture and fixtures. It hosts a lit football field with locker rooms for guests, lit tennis courts for night games, basketball courts and archery facilities, a slew of nightlife shows and even yoga and water aerobics sessions in addition to their large gym, all furnished to suit the active traveler.

Located next to the Palace are the Barceló Maya Colonial and Barceló Maya Beach hotels, whose guests intermingle between facilities and night life attractions. For those looking to experience the country a bit, one of our favorite little secrets is to take a short ride to Playa Del Carmen, home to yet another amazing beach, and also a very eclectic city showcasing some great local fare and art, and offering a ferry ride to the island of Cozumel to make for an interesting day away from the resort.

If you’re looking for a fantastic vacation for rest and relaxation but want to experience some non-resort culture as well, the Barceló Maya Palace is one of the most beautiful spots Mexico has to offer. Check out some of the available Apple vacations packages we currently have here at Apple Specials.