3 All-Inclusive Mexico Destinations - Which is Right for You

When you've hit a point in life where you'd rather be sipping a margarita than planning a travel itinerary, all-inclusive Mexico vacation packages with airfare are your best friend. No math. No meal-planning. No "who's splitting the cab." Just unpack your bag, plant your feet in the sand, and let the staff top up your drink.

It should be as easy as grabbing your sunhat and heading for the door. Sun, sand, umbrella drink. CHECK. 

It should be. But hold up before you sink into that lounger—Mexico's beaches don't all play the same game. One's all desert cliffs and drama, another leans old-world and cobblestoned, and a third goes full Caribbean daydream. 

So, before you pack, let's unpack Cabo, Vallarta, and the Riviera Maya. We'll uncover the pros, cons, and a few insider secrets.

Cabo San Lucas: Desert Meets the Sea

Cabo seizes on towering cliffs, wide golden beaches, and sunshine that practically works overtime. Resorts here are flashy and plentiful, and you'll find plenty of last-minute vacation deals dangling online.

Why you'll love it: Whale watching in winter, sipping cocktails while staring at the Arch, and with more than 350 sunny days annually, a guarantee you won't get rained out.

What might bug you: Half the beaches aren't safe for swimming, downtown feels can have an eternal "spring break" vibe, and the fishing charters will make your wallet lighter.

Pro tip: Skip the crowded marina and head to Santa Maria Beach or Chileno Bay—two swimmable gems Cabo regulars try to keep to themselves.

Book: Best Deals on Cabo San Lucas Resorts

Puerto Vallarta: Cobblestones and Culture

Old-town charm runs strong here. Cobblestone alleys, glowing red tiles, a waterfront that feels like the town's living room, and jungle-clad hills rising just beyond. Art galleries bump up against taco carts, and the bay is calm enough you can actually swim without fearing for your life. Resorts are smaller, cozier, more personable than Cabo's mega-palaces.

Why you'll love it: Wandering streets that feel alive, dipping into a swimmable Pacific, and having a town with actual soul instead of just another strip of sand.

What might bug you: Sticky summers with surprise downpours, fewer last-minute flights in and out, and less glitz if marble lobbies are your thing.

Pro tip: If booking all-inclusive Mexico vacation packages with airfare, sleep in the Zona Romántica. It's charming, walkable, and makes calm evening strolls feel like the main event.

Book: Our Favorite Puerto Vallarta Resorts

Riviera Maya: Polished Paradise

The Riviera Maya doesn't do subtle. Last-minute vacation deals can land you on a shoreline of sugar-white sand and water illuminated in impossible shades of blue. Resorts here stretch on forever like mini empires. You'll never make it to half the restaurants before checkout. Beyond the empire's gates lies crumbling temples, jade-green cenotes, and ferries sliding across turquoise water to Cozumel.

Why you'll love it: Resorts that glide along like clockwork near the sea, and ancient stones just beyond the palm trees.

What might bug you: Wall-to-wall beach umbrellas, sprawling hotels, and summer seaweed draped across the shore. 

Pro tip: Ask about the seaweed before you book all-inclusive Mexico vacation packages with airfare. If it's heavy, you might want to reconsider Vallarta or Cabo.

Book: Most Popular Riviera Maya Resorts

Bottom Line

Cabo is your sunshine-guaranteed desert escape. Puerto Vallarta serves up charm and an unending side of tacos. Riviera Maya offers white-sand overload and history tours between pool sessions.

Whichever you choose, all-inclusive Mexico vacation packages with airfare make it easy: book once, get airfare, food, and drinks bundled in a neat little bow. Paradise, delivered.