The Hallmark Channel’s Sun, Sand & Romance (2017) is set in sunny Cancún, but was the movie filmed there? Sun, Sand & Romance is a classic made-for-television rom-com that follows Kate Mitchell (Tricia Helfer) and her boyfriend Eric (Scott Elrod) who take a vacation to Cancún. Once they arrive, it becomes quickly apparent that Eric is more interested in working than spending time with his girlfriend. On her own, Kate runs into an old friend Michael “Shep” Shepherd (Paul Campbell) and the pair reconnect, with old feelings reignited. The plot is nothing new for Hallmark, but a fun locale and great chemistry between the leads make for an enjoyable watch.

Like any good Hallmark movie with a notable filming location, Sun, Sand & Romance’s setting is as much a character as the people in the story. Kate and Eric’s retreat is supposed to be a break for them both. Eric may be more focused on his career than Kate is, but she is still an ambitious land development executive and while on this vacation, it’s clear Eric is the one putting their relationship below his career, it’s implied Kate may be guilty of doing the same in the past. How the couple uses this time at the resort says a lot about each character’s wants.

Related: The 11 Best Hallmark Movies Of All Time, According To IMDb

Sun, Sand & Romance Was Filmed On Location In Cancun

A man and woman smiling at each other with climbing gear in Sun, Sand & Romance.

Reality star and actress Sadie Robertson played perky resort employee Chloe in Sun, Sand & Romance, and she told TV Insider that the movie was filmed on location in Cancún, much to her and the cast's delight. The escapism is real, and the scenic vistas of white sand beaches and crystal blue and emerald green salt water lapping on the shore are the actual ones found along the coast of Mexico. However, based on the color of the umbrellas in the movie, it appears that Hyatt's Andaz Mayakoba Resort in Riviera Maya is specifically where the filming took place (via Looper).

Related: 10 Storylines Hallmark Uses Often But Fans Still Love

Sun, Sand & Romance Interiors Where Filmed In Playa Del Carmen

A man with a microphone talking to a couple sitting at dinner in Sun, Sand & Romance.

For the interior shots of the resort, production used the town of Playa del Carmen in Riviera Maya. Sun, Sand & Romance is about Kate escaping the life she thought she was supposed to live, and having the scenes of this escape be the actual locations is crucial. The cast and crew were apparently ecstatic to be filming on location, and that happiness infects the movie. Fans love Hallmark movies for the chance to escape to somewhere beautiful for 90 minutes is a large part of the appeal. By filming on location, Sun, Sand & Romance jumps up a level of quality over its peers.