Gluten-Free Cancun Travel Brief
If winter has you dreaming of a tropical beach getaway, follow our lead to the gluten-free-friendly shores of Mexico’s Cancún. With powdery white-sand beaches, Caribbean waters, and a string of fancy, nowhere-to-go-cuz-you’re-already-here beachfront hotels, this city along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is perfect for a resort getaway. This gluten free Cancun travel guide will be your key to eating healthy even away from home.
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Beach
If you do nothing but bob in the crystalline waters fronting nearly every hotel along the Peninsula, it’ll be a perfect vacation.
Isla Mujeres
A 20-minute boat ride from Cancún, this small, lazy island is touristy, complete with junky gift shops and a Señor Frog’s bar. But there’s a calm, shallow swimming-pool-like epic shoreline, and you can rent golf carts for exploring or lounge chairs for lingering on the beach all day. isla-mujeres.net
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Marriott Cancun Resort
With an expansive pool, a swim-up bar, prime beachfront, multiple restaurants (including one with karaoke!), and a hands-on sea turtle release program (seasonal), it’s easy to have a full vacation without ever leaving this elegant, palatial property. marriott.com
Hyatt Zilara Cancún
An all-inclusive resort in the center of the hotel district, this relaxed adultsonly property has six restaurants, a coffee shop, a spa, evening shows in the lobby, and a festive vibe. http://cancun.zilara.hyatt.com
EAT HERE
There’s good news for gluten-free travelers to Mexico: lots of Mexican food is intrinsically gluten-free. Beans, rice, corn tortillas, carnitas (shredded pork), chicken, salsa, guacamole, and just the beginning. Better still, many resorts are well-versed in what’s safe for gluten-free diners. During a recent visit, we found lots of tasty places to visit and eat gluten-free in Cancun. We share them here.
Note: Restaurants change their menus and recipes all the time, so be
sure to confirm with your server that all the dishes you order are in fact, gluten-free.
La Casa del Tikin Xic (aka Playa Lancheros)
The casual, feet-in-the-sand beachfront restaurant on Isla Mujeres specializes in fish tikin-xic—achiote-marinated freshcatch fish grilled to order, with midmeal swim breaks (if desired) and plenty of margaritas to go around. Must-try: tikin-xic; order a plate to share (they’re huge!) or bring a group, get sides of rice, salad, refried beans, guacamole, and corn tortillas for the ultimate DIY taco fiesta. No website
Sedona Grill
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa’s large, multilevel restaurant serves familiar Southwestern cuisine overlooking the property’s pools and oceanfront. Come for the delicious and extremely well-priced breakfast buffet or the awesome twice-weekly GF-friendly dinner buffet (plus à la carte options). Must-tries: chilaquiles at breakfast and the made-to-order tacos and chicken mole on the dinner buffet. sedonagrillcancun.com
