Not even an hour after we checked into our resort, we were eager to find a grocery store to get water and food (we like to cook a lot while on vacation to cut costs). We were instructed to go to Walmart. Instead of taking a taxi, we journeyed via the public bus—much cheaper!
I often shopped at Walmart when I studied abroad in Mexico (2 1/2 years ago) so I was familiar with the selection and layout. One of the best parts is the bakery. My mom was pretty excited about the pastries!
Price is in pesos not dollars 
We selected a few delicious looking ones (and actually went back for 3 more savory ones).
We didn’t want to buy too much since we had to carry it back onto the bus. We got some beer, wine, water, spinach, eggs, yogurt, granola, water, sunblock and toothpaste.
Juicy guava (my favorite fruit, remember?)
Dinner involved yogurt + granola. I hadn’t eaten yogurt in almost a week–far too long.
We also dug into the pastries—oh so flaky and buttery!
***
This morning, I went to the gym for 45 min. on the elliptical. I then walked 40 min. on the beach to meet up with my parents, who were listening to a presentation at another resort.
The beach walk was HARD!!! I was speed walking (because I thought my parents were waiting on me but turns out they weren’t) and I still couldn’t keep a 3.0 mph pace!
Good thing my view was enjoyable.
When I arrived, I found my parents being persuaded by Ruth, the talented saleswoman . The resort treated us to not ONE but TWO free buffet meals at the all-inclusive resort.
By now, my pre-workout pastry was no longer in my tummy and I was hungry!
Enter: a lunch buffet.
There were so many fresh and healthy options. Lotsa veggies and authentic Mexican food, many of which I ate when I studied abroad here.
I <3 Queso Oaxaca + Manchego!
The highlight was the curried fish and fresh salsa. I used the huge leaves to make fish lettuce wraps!
Dessert bar!
My view.
We ended up spending the entire DAY talking with the saleswoman and we may or may not have traded our current timeshare for a new one.
We got several tickets for excursions, day passes to the all-inclusive resort and a $200 spa credit (all for $150)! It’s gonna be a fun week .
***
When we finally finished, it was time for dinner. Enter: another buffet similar to the one I had for lunch.
Peter <3s free food and beverages.
Mexican pumpkin!
Again, the highlight was the lemon butter fish!! I’m beginning to think the seafood here is muy excelente!
Plate #2
Desserts + fruit shared between the 3 of us.
After dinner, we did a little window shopping and then took a long walk on the beach.
We’ve got a short excursion planned for tomorrow and then enjoying the day at the all-inclusive resort. I better rest up!
Tell me: How do you stay active on vacation?
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re eating SO well!! Aaah! I love Mexican pastries, too. My school has several cheap and good ones a few steps off-campus.
You do know everyone is jealous you’re at the beach in this frigid season, right?
Honestly, I dont worry about being active. I get to go on vaca maybe once a year if I am lucky, so I am taking all that time to ENJOY!! The treadmill will be there when I get home.
Jeeez, now I wanna go to Mexico! The food looks delicious and the sights are breath-taking! Thanks for sharing!
Oooooo the buffet looks good! I try to walk as much as I can during vacations because I know that I’m eating more and am less motivated to do traditional workouts. When I went to Myrtle Beach after senior year, my friend and I walked 2 miles to Starbucks and 2 miles back to the hotel each morning.
Oh looks gorgeous was this at palace resorts?! I went to the one in cancun and punta cana, DR they are so gorgeous <3
Omagawd I am so jealous right now D: Two buffets in one day, AND an upgrade? O_O Jealous jealous jealous! Also: do you speak any Spanish?
Beach walking is hard!! Especially if it’s soft sand- whew! Those meals look amazing, buffets are.the.best. Well, if it’s good food..but they’re hard to beat no matter what!
Wow, all the food looks so good! I’ve always been a little wary of staying at all-inclusive places, because you don’t always know the quality of the food you are paying for. But everything looks so good!
I’m also impressed at how much exercise you’ve gotten in already! If it were me, I’d totally be laying by the beach or pool for the entire first day
Ooh la la! I’m jealous! From the pastries to the gorgey beach views. Looks like you’re going to have a great trip! Enjoy roomie!
Living vicariously right now. So very beautiful.
look at that buffet!! it is outstanding.. looks like you are getting some incredible eats!!
I lived on the beach this summer working at the provincial park… and walking in the sand is completely different from street walking! I remember after the first couple of days (I switched from walking my dogs about 2 miles on the road everyday to 2 miles on the beach) my butt and my legs were KILLING me!
I’ve never been on a real vacation, but if I were to I think I would only stay active by staying outside. What’s the point in spending time in the sweaty gym at a resort when you are in an entirely different country just to relax!?
I love Mexican vacations – they are the best!
Ah! I totally forgot about how awesome Mexican bread and pastries are!? I’m jealous! I want to eat my weight in their bread. Continue having fun!
Beach walking IS hard. I have no idea how some people RUN through the sand!
The last time I went on vacay was almost 3 years ago, and I wasn’t very active back then. I think the most exercise I got on that vacation was walking from the beach to the buffet.
I might be going on vacation in February though and hopefully it’ll have a gym there that I can use!
It’s beautiful!!!
My family has a time share too!
I usually try and go for long walks on the beach. Last year we did active family excursions like under water cave diving and tropical forest hiking!
I love walking on the beach, it’s so peaceful! What a great buffet.
I think vacations are the BEST time to stay active, especially one where there is a beach and a pool! Working out is always relaxing for me but running/walking along to beach or swimming waves even, if your not going for a hard workout, they always end up being one! And if you can get to the gym like you can there is GREAT motivation for being able to reward yourself with relaxing on the beach afterward!
Hey Allie -
Just wanted to let ya know your right sidebar doesn’t show up on my computer unless you scroll all the way to the bottom =/
Hope you’re enjoying a pina colada or something at the pool right about now =]
Look at that food… look at that VIEW. WOW. Wow. SO jealous. Have an incredible time! I’m sure you’ll have no trouble at all staying active just exploring and spending as much time as possible out on that gorrrrgeous beach. I can’t wait to see what kind of stuff you get up to.
Yum! Those pastries (and all pastries) look fabulous! I loveeee free food. When my family vacationed in Mexico, we stayed at an all-inclusive resort. It was Heavenly. All the meals, chips, and roomservice I could stomach.
I love running/walking around outside and exploring new areas. Of course, there is sometimes a safety issue with this tactic depending on where you’re traveling. Looks so gorgeous!!
Damn you are eating well down there
Mmm all that food looks so yummy! Your trip sounds like it has been incredible so far! I love the beach and warm weather, so I’m super jealous! I’m in Maine on travel, and I had the whole day to myself so I decided to enjoy it. My way to stay active is to rent a bike and see the sites! I rode about 40 miles all over the coast of Maine today. It was gorgeous!! Renting a bike is a great way to not only stay active, but to see the sights too!!
Mexican yogurt is the best, I love coco Lala!!
I am in awe of this trip. The scenery, the food, the food! Wow! So glad you’re having fun.
I LOVE going for a morning run/walk when on vacation. Such a nice way to see the place you’re visiting. I’ve run all around Europe (including Russia!) – such fun. Your vacation looks so awesome. Great eats too!
Heidi xo
Yummy eats, Allie, but the scenery photos are just gorgeous! Like postcards.
Love reading your blogposts; they are very well-written! I LOVE pastries and the ones you had there looked amazing! The Mex food too doesn’t look anything like the greasy ones I have back home!
Your so lucky! When I went to cancun we stayed at an all inclusive and although the place was beautiful the food was horrible…was never a veggie in sight…enter upset tummy!
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