With its varied terrain that ranges from soaring mountains to lush jungles, from sparkling beaches to pristine parklands, Mexico just might be considered paradise for meeting planners looking to send meeting and incentive groups outdoors.
“Mexico offers endless possibilities for adventure,” said Ximena de Cordova Cole, public relations executive coordinator for the Mexico Tourism Board. “In one trip alone, groups can experience the contrast between the desert and the sea in Baja California by either sandboarding, camel or ATV riding, and surfing.
“The river rapids in Veracruz and Morelos or the clear skies in the states of Mexico and Hidalgo appeal to groups seeking an adrenaline rush,” de Cordova Cole continued. “If rock-climbing sounds like the perfect challenge, choose the rugged horizons in Colima, Puebla and Morelos. With an extension of 756,000 square miles, Mexico offers everything that you could possibly dream of during an adventure in the great outdoors.”
The definition of adventure, of course, can vary based on individual interests.
“Mexico has activities for every group,” de Cordova Cole said. “From climbing along the gray limestone walls of El Potrero Chico in Nuevo Leon, to diving and exploring the hidden wonders of the Jalisco coast, to paragliding and horseback riding in Valle de Bravo, Mexico offers activities for all types and sizes of corporate groups.”
Here are just a few of the possibilities that await.
The Caribbean Coast
A large array of group-friendly hotels and meeting venues assure easy access to outdoor activities for groups on Mexico’s east coast, especially along the corridor that stretches from Cancun through the Riviera Maya.
The Moon Palace Cancun provides the option to participate in a program that rescues leatherback and loggerhead turtles in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, at the Palace Turtle Conversation Camps. NIZUC Resort & Spa, meanwhile, recently debuted a new luxury catamaran for groups of up to six; the 56-square-foot vessel can take guests for afternoon sails along the coast, to Isla Mujeres and even to the Cancun Underwater Museum for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Farther south, planners will find additional options.
“Playa del Carmen is an amazing place where meeting planners could offer to their clients several extraordinary locations to explore, blended with unique meeting rooms as well as facilities and services supported by Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort,” said Fabio Nonato, the hotel’s director of operations.
The Grand Hyatt organizes a variety of itineraries for meeting and incentive groups, including visits to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a 1.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site where visitors can take boat rides to view local flora and fauna and go snorkeling.
At the Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa in Playa del Carmen, planners can arrange excursions that include deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and golf. Groups that prefer to enjoy the outdoors without leaving the property can opt to stage open-air meetings and private events by the pool or on the sands of Maroma Beach.
Indeed, various hotels have on-site space for groups that want to stay outside without leaving the property. The Occidental at Xcaret Destination, for example, stages outdoor events at an actual Mayan ruin that overlooks the Caribbean, as well as at a garden gazebo with views of Cozumel. And the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort, which encompasses five hotels (the Barcelo Maya Beach, Barcelo Maya Caribe, Barcelo Maya Colonial, Barcelo Maya Tropical and Barcelo Maya Palace) offers an especially large beach with no curfews or sound restrictions, giving planners the opportunity to stage private events on the sand for more than 6,000 attendees.
West Coast
The thousands of miles that extend along Mexico’s Pacific coast provide myriad options for meeting planners. In Los Cabos, ME Cabo hosts open-air group functions like cocktail receptions and presentations at its upper-level pool area, and works with local tour operators to organize group excursions that include scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, cruises, zipline and ATV rides.
In Puerto Vallarta, groups can savor warm temperatures as well as freshly prepared meals in the herb garden at the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. The garden is available for seated functions for up to 10 participants, and the chef can also lead garden tours to explain the role of homegrown spices in local cuisine.
Mexico’s original jet-set vacation destination, Acapulco, is getting ready to debut an especially breathtaking outdoor attraction in 2017: XTASEA, which is billed as the world’s largest over-water zipline. Running more than a mile at an altitude of 328 feet above Puerto Marquez Bay, the attraction will propel visitors at speeds of up to 75 miles an hour. Groups looking for a calmer way to experience the destination can head to any of a variety of Acapulco restaurants with outdoor event space, including Becco del Mare and Dibu, both of which have terraces with scenic views of the city and the bay, and Kookaburra, a French-Mexican fusion venue with outdoor dining and cocktail space at the upscale La Isla Shopping Village. In addition, the Mundo Imperial event complex has 479,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space.
PageBreak
Big Cities, Big Outdoors
Even Mexico’s largest metropolises have a surprisingly large number of fresh-air possibilities.
“Mexico City offers outstanding outdoor activities, like some of the best cities in the world—Paris, New York or Tokyo,” said Bernard de Villele, director general of The St. Regis Mexico City. “We recognize that meeting planners are seeking to provide outdoor activities that go above-and-beyond groups’ specific needs and desires, allowing them to reconnect and absorb the bustling city atmosphere. Many guests have enjoyed our Sky Yoga program, which takes place on our 492-foot high helipad, where they find peace and tranquility while embracing the wonders of Mexico City and the outstanding views that only our 24-hour helipad can offer. On a clear morning, the view of the volcanoes and all of Mexico City’s valley is a true spectacle that only our discerning group guests can have access to.”
The hotel’s 60-minute Sky Yoga class, designed by the founder and director of the Mexican Institute of Yoga, is available for groups of up to 15, and ends with light snacks and “power beverages,” as well as a group photo by a professional photographer.
Nearby, the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, D.F., recently debuted a revamped inner courtyard, complete with a garden, fountain and seating area with a fire pit. Pop-up events including tequila tastings are among the possibilities here. And most hotels and destination management companies can organize visits to Xochimilco, where a network of pre-Hispanic canals now provide the perfect setting for a relaxing morning or afternoon ride aboard colorful, group-friendly trajinera boats, complete with refreshments, food and live music.
Excursions outside the city are another interesting way to get groups out of the meeting rooms. The Hyatt Regency Mexico City is among the properties that recommend private group outings to Teotihuacan, the spectacular pre-Hispanic ruins, about 31 miles northeast of the capital. The hotel also organizes group day trips to the cities of Cuernavaca, the so-called “city of eternal spring,” and Taxco, which is famed for its historic architecture and silver products.
Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara, also makes it easy for groups to leave the confines of indoor meeting space. In the heart of downtown, planners can stage a private outdoor function with a postcard-perfect view of the city’s historic landmarks, on the rooftop at the NH Collection Guadalajara Centro Historico, a hotel that sits a couple blocks from the cathedral and other noteworthy landmarks.
Just one hour from Guadalajara is Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake. Here, groups can relax on a scenic morning or afternoon cruise, followed by a stroll through the streets of Ajijic, a picturesque lakeside town that has interesting shopping and dining options. For an outdoor excursion with a historic vibe, groups head to Guachimontones, a hilltop collection of ruins that dates to 350 B.C.
To be sure, every interior city is graced with is own unique opportunities for outdoor events and excitement. In Puebla, groups can view more than 2,500 animals representing some 300 species from around the globe at African Safari. Near the historic city of Zacatecas, attendees can blend history and thrills with a visit to La Quemada, an archaeological site that dates to 300 A.D. but also offers decidedly 21st century zipline and rappelling activities.
The expat-popular city of San Miguel de Allende, which has garnered praise from media such as Travel + Leisure, also serves as a base for diverse experiences. The Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada, one of the destination’s most luxurious hotels, works with a company called Coyote Canyon Adventures to coordinate hot-air balloon flights, rock-climbing and rappelling.
And in the heart of the Yucatan peninsula, the city of Merida is home to an outdoor option that also provides insight about ancient culture and tradition: The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (Great Museum of the Mayan World), one of the city’s newest attractions, has a sizable outdoor foyer that’s ideal for cocktail parties, against the backdrop of the museum’s dramatically lit architecture, which is designed to recall the form of a giant Ceiba tree.
