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.

DO THIS

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

Mariott Cancun Resort

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

Beachfront swings at La Casa del Tikin Xic

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

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