Spring break is synonymous with Mexico, and at this time of year, the popular Caribbean destinations of Cancun, Tulum, and Cozumel are packed with tanned girls (and Americans who don't mind learning a couple of Spanish words). If you want to escape the cold, the west coast of the Caribbean is the place to go for a mix of luxury and authenticity, dotted with safe, gorgeous tourist destinations. Check out the following locales, which are perfect for culturally adventurous travelers who still want to enjoy an amazingly beautiful vacation.

This town, which locals call Jihua, feels a little out of touch with time: fishing boats enter the bay at dawn to sell their fresh catch, and the cheerful historic downtown is alive with fruit vendors, taco stands, seafood restaurants, and a bustling market. Sea turtles and dolphins are frequently spotted along the largely undeveloped coastline, and unlike the neighboring town of Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo has no huge hotels, just a few scattered on the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean where visitors can relax and soak up the sun. The Thompson Zihuatanejo (open in new tab) (opened last year), the only hotel in the area directly on the beach, is a major draw. The interior is also beautiful, highlighted by the work of local artisans, including mosaic tiles, hand-woven rugs, and stonework made from indigenous rocks. [It is a three-hour drive south of Puerto Vallarta on a windy road into the Jurassic Park-like jungle. (Of course, you can also get there by helicopter or yacht.) In other words, it's a dream come true for tourists who want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the boho chic atmosphere. Costalegre (meaning "happy coast") is almost uninhabited, with a few fishing villages, small towns, and mansions dotting the cliffs, beaches, and bays. Consider renting a villa or condo in Callejes, a vast private estate with pristine coastline (whales, dolphins, and sea turtles are common sights) and architecture that design lovers will drool over (literally, including the colorful cliff-side palaces that defined Mexican Pacific luxury architecture) : Eccentric founder Gian Franco Brignone broke with the conventions of Mexican resort aesthetics when he built this resort in the '60s (think bold jewel tones, beautiful thatched roofs, open-air living rooms, and Moroccan-inspired finishes).

If you are an urbanite, consider booking a flight to Mexico's second largest city. Guadalajara to Mexico City is like San Francisco to Los Angeles or Melbourne to Sydney: small in population (1.5 million compared to Mexico City's 8.9 million), but full of energy and charm. Don't miss the orphanage-turned-museum Hospicio Cabañas or the punchy political murals of renowned Mexican artist José Clemente Orozco in the Palacio de Gobierno. (The painting at the top of the stairs looks like something out of a dream.) Also worth a visit are the cafes in the La Americana district, famous for their coffee and delicious breakfasts, and the craft beer bars on Chapultepec, the main street for nightlife. Book a room at Casa Habita (opens in new tab) in Guadalajara's trendy Lafayette neighborhood for a comfortable, arty-chic stay. Its striking decor blends minimalism with Mexican flair, and the spa, pool, and café make it a pleasure to come home to after a long day of exploring.

The beautiful beach town of Riviera Nayarit stretches just north of Puerto Vallarta, and celebrities have recently made this luxe resort town their vacation destination, attracted by its luxury resorts, picturesque white sand beaches, and jungle-covered mountains. Go now before it becomes the next Tulum. We're obsessed with Imanta Resort (open in new tab) (where Kourtney Kardashian brought her boyfriend in 2018), a secluded 250-acre resort with 12 villas (with private plunge pools, ocean or jungle views with ocean or jungle views) and an open-air spa. If the $750/night price is out of your range, consider stopping by with a day pass: for 2,500 pesos (about $125), you get a daybed or lounge chair on the beach from noon to 6 pm, all the food you order at the beachfront restaurant, and all the drinks you can drink!

Riviera.

This funky little beach town on the Riviera Nayarit is a bohemian's dream: a cobblestone downtown with buildings more colorful than a bag of Skittles. Book a palapa at Maraica (opens in new tab), a boutique hotel built and run by three millennial sisters and full of murals. It's a boutique hotel built and run by three millennial sisters: it runs on solar power, treats wastewater to irrigate the gardens, uses no disposable plastic or Styrofoam, cleans with ecological fixtures, and locally made, earth-friendly, fully biodegradable soap in reusable glass bottles, They provide shampoo and lotion. (At Malaika, guests can enjoy beautiful, airy, thatched-roofed, minimalist rooms with balconies overlooking the ocean (with hammocks), complimentary breakfast, and a pool with a view.

Enjoy the sexy Mexican nightlife without being surrounded by a bunch of college kids like Señor Frog. Although technically part of Los Cabos, let me introduce you to Monument Beach, a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cabo San Lucas. The quieter part of the Sea of Cortez (usually visited only by hardcore surfers) has a quieter beach than Medano, Cabo's main beach where most hotels are located, and the famous El Arco (a natural granite arch carved by centuries of wind and sea). The Thompson Hotel's The Cape (open in new tab) takes Cabo's party scene up a notch with a craft beer garden, rooftop lounge, badass DJ sets, and a gourmet experience worth the trip (world-renowned chef Enrique Olvera's signature restaurant).

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