Introducing the three amigos on wheels! As three wheelchair users we had a fantastic time at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach resort in the Mayan Riveria! It was a great escape from the cold and the snow. The heat and humidity goes a long way to help reduce my chronic nerve pain, and it was great not to worry about snowy or icy paths when rolling around. I would recommend this resort to any wheelchair user looking for some fun in the sun!
Check out a video of our time at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach here.
Before you go:
-Book with an accessible travel agent. Scott Beare (scott.beare@fareconnect.com) helped us get a great deal for the resort, arranged wheelchair accessible transportation, insurance, premium check in at airport, we each got our own row on the plane, and hassle-free vacation planning. Having our own rows on the plane was awesome! It allows you to stretch out, and you can avoid people climbing over top of you if you are seated in the middle or the aisle seat.
-Fill out customs forms, declaration and quiz 12 hours before departure flight. The customs / declaration can also just be done on the plane and doesn’t need to be done ahead of time
-Backup travel documents to the cloud, as screenshots, and/or physical paper copies ( just in case anything gets lost or stolen )
-Download the Iberostar resort app (this has info about the resort including: maps, menus, reservations, showtimes, ect.)
-Fill up your tires, tune up w/c before you go and pack a small repair kit in your checked luggage (allen keys, screwdriver set, bearing lube, tire patch kit, air pump)
-Know all of your wheelchair measurements and power requirements (they may ask when checking in at the airport)
-Practice some Spanish before you go
Useful Phrases in Spanish:
Hello…………………………. Hola
Bye …………………………. Adiós
My name is ………………. Me llamo _______
What is your name?……..¿Cómo se llama?
How are you? …………..¿ Cómo estas?
How’s it going?…………… ¿Qué tal? / ¿Qué pasa?
I am doing well ………… Estoy bien
Very good/good/so-so….. Muy bien/bien/asi-asi
Not so good…………….No tan bien
Good morning …………..Buenos días
Good Evening ………….. Buenas noches
Nice to meet you ……… Mucho gusto
Please ……………………..Por favor
Thank you ………………… Gracias
I would like ………………… Yo quiero ______
How much ………………… Cuanto cuesta
I need help ………………… Yo necesito ayuda
Can you help me?…………. ¿Me puede ayudar?
Delicious…………………….. Delicioso
Where is …………………….¿ Dónde es __________?
Is there a restroom here?……..¿ Hay baño ?
An Accessible bathroom …… Un baño accesible para sillas de ruedas
I don’t understand ……………… No entiendo
Do you have?……… ¿Tiene ______?
I’m looking for………..Estoy buscando _______
I’m just looking…….. Solo estoy viendo
How much for……….¿ Cuanto pide por ______?
I’m sorry……………….. Lo siento
Excuse me…………….. Disculpe
What is that? ………… ¿Qué es eso?
I need…………………… Necesito _____
Of course……………… Claro
It’s very fun……………. Es muy divertido
It is hot out…………….. Hace calor
I’m hungry………………… Tengo hambre
I’m thirsty……………………. Tengo sed
How far?…………………….. ¿A que distancia?
What a beautiful day……… Que día mas lindo
I’m Canadian…………………………. Soy Canadiense
I like/I don’t like……….. Me gusta/No me gusta
Are there stairs?……….. ¿Hay alguna escalera?
Is there a ramp?…………..¿Hay una rampa?
Good vibes……. Buena onda
Is it wheelchair accessible? ……… ¿Es accesible para silla de ruedas?
I cannot walk………………………No puedo caminar
You’re great/fantastic/incredible….. Eres genial/fabuloso/increible
Packing Tips:
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-Clothes in plastic ziplock bags, compresses the air and keeps everything waterproof
-Shoes in shower caps to keep things clean
-Use easy roll, or attachable luggage, hockey bags, backpacks, duffle bags and bungie cords. However, there are designated airport staff who will help you with your luggage
-Bring water shoes for the pool so you don’t scrap your feet
-Bring a cup holder (or two) to hold your drinks and water bottle
-Pack your own water bottle to fill up as there are no plastic water bottles at the resort
-Bring a small gel cushion to use when sitting on the sun beds
-Bring sunscreen with you so you aren’t charged a premium for it when you get there
-Pack several pairs of gloves so you can swap them out in case one pair gets wet or dirty
-Bring a small belt or velcro strap to help secure your feet/legs from falling off of your footrest when going over lots of cobblestone
-Take advantage of the one piece of luggage that flies free as a medical device bag
-Use a waterproof backpack cover to cover your seat cushion at the pool so it doesn’t get wet
-Place luggage identifying tags on all of your luggage
-For extra peace of mind, get some tile trackers or airtags always know where your bags/wheelchair are
-Make a sign to attach to your wheelchair with handling instructions
-A push assist unit or e-bike attachment is a big help when travelling or push over long distances
-Wear shoes that won’t fall off onto the airplane when you transfer over to your seat, compression socks can also help with swelling of the lower limbs.
-Bring a cooling towel or misting fan to beat the heat if you have trouble with temperature regulation (or check out other ways to beat the heat here)
At the Airport:
-Arrive 3 hours early to allow plenty of time to check in and go through security
– Expect a pat down and wheelchair swab going through security
-Limit liquid intake before your flight departure and always use the bathroom before boarding.
-Take a video or pictures of your wheelchair in the event that anything gets damaged
-Remove all detachable parts from your wheelchair (backrest, cushion, sideguards, moving booster, rgk frontwheel) (I left my calf strap and mesh net underneath attached). Bring a large empty backpack to put everything in so it doesn’t get separated).
-Let the airline crew know how to properly transport your wheelchair (where to carry from, where the brakes are and how they work, tell the them wheels don’t come off (less likely for things to go missing or damaged this way)
-Bring some bubble-wrap and tape to cover any delicate parts of your chair
-Cross your fingers and hope everything arrives in one piece!
-Inspect for damage before getting back into your chair, and make sure both wheels are secured ( I almost had one fall off on me, thankfully I noticed in time before it completely fell off the axel).
-Prepare yourself to be carried down a set of stairs on an aisle chair when deplaning on arrival. It’s a bit scary but it’s over before you know it. There is a portable ramp that is set-up so you can board the transport bus.
-Keep in mind you will likely be the first to board the plane, and the last to deplane. So be patient and plan accordingly
-There is a designated wheelchair line when going through customs, so you can skip the long lines which was a bonus
Accessible Transportation
-Transportation booked through Cancun Accessible, the driver was there early and waiting for us which was amazing.
-A spacious van with a roll out ramp with room for 3 w/c users! Although, one of us has to transfer from our wheelchair into a seat)
-About a 40 minute ride from the airport to the resort
The Iberostar Paraiso Beach Resort:
-The Iberostar Paraiso Beach is a 5 star all-inclusive resort, with a beautiful open air design that feels integrated into the surrounding nature
-Beautiful grounds, with lots of nature and animals to enjoy. There were flamingos, peacocks, parrots, turtles, pelicans, iguanas, geckos, swans, coatis, capybaras, monkeys, and lots more! Keep in mind you should not feed the animals and always keep a respectful distance. All of the animals are extremely friendly, and are used to having people around. The peacocks in particular seem unfazed by humans, and were regularly found chilling on the pathways and sitting on balconies.
-Smooth tiles and walkways throughout. All of the paths are barrier free and step free. There were only a couple spots with areas that had large cracks/divots. The paths were relatively flat which made for easy rolling. However, the paths were quite sinuous. There are no railings or edges along any of the pathways, so be sure you are paying attention at all times, so you don’t accidently roll of a path and hurt yourself! The paths are well lit in the evening so they remain accessible throughout the day. The paths are well maintained and are kept free of debris for easy rolling.
-The resort is spread over a large area, there was golf carts available, and they will put your chair on the back for you.
– Semi-accessible bathrooms in the lobby/common areas. Not enough room to angle a wheelchair beside to transfer over, but can fit a wheelchair in at 180 from the toilet. They had step push to flush which was not accessible to us as wheelchair users.
– Signed the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge. ( they use eco-friendly cleaning products)
-Free wifi throughout, the wifi was great even at the beach! Never had any connection issues at all
-Responsible seafood is served at all of the establishments
-One of 5 of the Iberostar resorts. When staying at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach you also have access to the restaurants and facilities at the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar. This gives you more to choose from! The most accessible way to get from resort to resort was by going through the parking lot/lobby entrances, this way you can avoid the extremely steep ramps in the theatre area
-The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and we all felt extremely safe wheeling around the property
-There are laundry services available on-site; however, this is an extra fee
-There were designated accessible parking spots in the parking lot of the resort
The Accessible Rooms:
There are 6 wheelchair accessible rooms on the property at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach. There are all located near the lobby/buffet area and are all ground floor units. Our luggage was delivered to and from the room for us which was wonderful. The rooms are all key card entry rooms. Some rooms have two double beds and some rooms have a single king bed. We stayed in a room with a double bed.
The first room they put us in was an “accessible room;” however, it was not suitable for the two of us as wheelchair users. There wasn’t enough room for us to get past each other, and the bathroom was not very wheelchair friendly. There was a tub with a grab bar to the right, a roll under sink straight ahead, and to the left was the toilet, but it was in a little alcove with no grab bars, so it would have been difficult to use as a wheelchair user. The door also opened inwards so it was difficult to maneuver.
Thankfully, we brought up our issues with the front desk, and they moved us to a room across the hall that was much more suitable. The new room had a roll in shower with a fold down seat to the right, the toilet was straight ahead, and the roll under sink was to the left. Unfortunately, the door still opened inwards, so to close the door, you have to wheel into the shower before you can close it behind you. If the door opened the other way, or if there was a sliding, or pocket door it would have been much more accessible, but it was manageable. The doors weren’t super wide, but thankfully we both have fairly narrow chairs, so it worked for us.
The toilet had enough space to park a wheelchair beside or at 90 degrees to it and a grab bar on the right side to help transfer over. The roll in shower had the seat mounted away from the towel rack, the shower controls and the wall mounted soaps. There were grab bars along the walls in the shower to make transfers safe and easy. However, if you have a wide wheelchair you may find it difficult or impossible to navigate the bathroom.
There was lots of counter space in the bathroom which was great. The sink was a roll under sink that was just high enough to allow our knees to roll underneath. However, there was one spot with a sharp rock piece that we both scraped our legs on a couple times. There was a magnifying mirror mounted on the wall, however it was at standing height, so neither of us could make use of it.
Other than the bathroom situation, the room was great, there was a lot of space, and the beds were at a reasonable height to make the transfer over easy. The beds were quite soft, so it made it more challenging in terms of mobility when moving around on the bed. I brought my push up bars with me to help give myself some extra lift and protect my wrists and shoulders when getting into bed.
There was a large couch in the room and a low table that we used to store our luggage so it was accessible. There was also a large wooden chair, glass table , a lamp, a desk and a tv. On the far side of the room there are curtains that can be opened to get natural light. The curtain rod was not at an accessible height, so we had to pull on the fabric to open and close.
On the balcony there were a set of chairs and a table, which we moved to the side to give us more space when sitting outside. The balcony was accessible and flush with the rest of the room. The first room they had us in had the balcony over looking the theatre area, so it was quite noisy and didn’t feel very private. However, when they moved us to the other room it overlooked the gold cart/walking path and was much quieter and relaxing.
The location was great since it was near the buffet and other restaurants, as well as the theatre and the lobby bar. However, it was a bit of a trek to get down to the beach area, but the pathways were beautiful and one of my favourite parts of the resort. It was about a 7-10 min roll from our room to the beach, and we racked up over 50km over the week going back and forth!
One downside to the room was that was only one electrical outlet (or at least only one we could see and access as wheelchair users), and it was located on the desk near the tv not by the beds. Thankfully there were outlets in the bathroom to use. I had external power banks I used to charge my phone and electronics, so we managed. But it seemed strange to only have a single plug in in the main room area. The mini fridge in each room was stocked with pops, sparkling waters and beers. These are free of charge and re-stocked as they are drank.
The Iberostar Paraiso Beach Resort Amenities:
The Restaurants
-All of the specialty restaurants were delicious and accessible. We were allocated 2 reservations over the 7 days. But we were accommodated every time we showed up to a restaurant without a reservation (wheelchair perks). This includes an appetizer/salad bar, a main course, dessert, and beverages.
-We tried out the Japanese, French, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Italian specialty restaurants. The only one we didn’t try out was the steakhouse.
-All tables were at an appropriate height that we could roll under the, without having to eat sideways or askew
-There was a bit of a steep-ish ramp in the Italian restaurant to get to the salad bar. However, the staff were very helpful and carried our plates down for us. I would recommend getting a table on the upper level so you don’t have to worry about going up and down the ramp with food.
-The main buffet area was accessible for wheelchair users. There was an amazing selection of fruits, pastries, meat/cheeses, as well as rotating hot food stations. For breakfast there were omelette and egg stations. There was also a great selection of fresh juices available. As well as, an incredible selection of different salsas, and guacamole that I took advantage of every meal. The crowd favourite was definitely the coffee, it was fantastic and a welcome part of every meal. A word of caution though, some items seemed to be mis-labeled from time to time, so be extra adamant if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions
-The beach side lunch/snack bar is connected to the beach boardwalk, however the tables are all on the sand, but we just ate with our plates on our laps, or on the empty counter areas near the back of the snack bar
-All in all, the food and drinks at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach were fantastic, fresh and tasty!
The Pool
-There is no pool lift available; however, there are areas with stairs that could be bumped down.
-There are several zero entry areas, though the ramps were a bit steep, there is no water or beach wheelchair available on site, but one can be rented through Cancun Accessible
-The towel area was up on a single step platform, but the staff were extremely friendly and bought towels over to us
-The shower stations at the pool were not wheelchair accessible. However, there is an accessible shower station down on the beach with ramp access.
-There are wheelchair accessible massage stations located around the pool area
-The pool area was quite busy and chaotic during the day, In comparison, the beach was much more chill so we spent most of our time there
The Beach
-There is an accessible boardwalk through the sand
-There are 2 accessible palapas that have a boardwalk leading underneath them. However, the platform is quite small. We moved the sunbeds off of the platform and just sat under the umbrella on a rainy day and there was plenty of room for three of us in wheelchairs
-Spent most of our days here, it worked great to pull over the sunbeds so they were parallel to the boardwalk, from there we could transfer over to them.
-There is a massage area on the beach, but it is up a single step. However, the staff are very helpful and will assist with bumping your chair up the step.
Scuba Centre
-The dive shop is located on the far end of the beach
-There are free scuba trials available in the pool. However, dive trips on the boat are an extra fee
-We didn’t end up going for a dive, but talked to the dive shop and they said they would have been able to accommodate us as wheelchair users no problem, and would have had a designated dive master for each of us
Theatre
-The nightly shows were fantastic. There was a wide range of entertainment: LED lightshows, acrobatics, dancing, and live music.
-The main level of the theatre is the most accessible, however there are some super steep (45 degree) ramps that allow you to get down to the lower and upper levels. There is a server that will take your drink order and bring it to you so you don’t have to go up and down the steep ramp to get to the bar.
Shopping Mall and Shop Areas
-The shopping center is a couple minutes away and there is an awesome taco spot, a crepe/ice cream place, a coffee shop, as well as little stores to check out (although the aisles are quite narrow in some places and are not accessible for wheelchair users).
-This is a shared area for all of the Iberostar resorts, not just the Iberostar Paraiso Beach
-The gym, nightclub, casino, and a small playground are also located in the complex as well
The Galaxy Nightclub
-Located in the shopping center a few minutes away from the resort
-Semi accessible restrooms, there is enough room to pull into a stall, but not enough room to angle your chair beside the toilet.
-Steps down onto the main dance floor, but lots of space to have a dance party on the main level
Spa
-Massages, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, reflexology, sauna ,steam room
-Extra fee, many of the treatment rooms are up a set of stairs and are unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users. However, the indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms were accessible on the main floor.
Gym
-The main floor is accessible, however the equipment on the second floor is not accessible to wheelchair users
-There is no designated equipment for wheelchair users. however, there are a variety of resistance machines and free weights to use.
All in all there was plenty to keep us busy over the week during our stay at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach as wheelchair users!
Departure:
– There is an environmental fee to pay when checking out, it worked out to 11 or 12USD
-Arranged pick up time with Cancun Accessible during initial booking
-Download arrive can app and fill out while you have the strong resort wifi
-Tourist tax ( approx. 25 USD) at the airport (have cash on you in case, should be included with Sunwing vacation package)
In Conclusion
Overall we found the Iberostar Paraiso Beach Resort to be very accessible! We would recommend this as an option for any wheelchair user looking to enjoy some sunshine in the Mayan Riviera.
Check out a video of our time at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach.
Until next time Mexico!
