Cancun might be the ultimate Mexican vacation destination, but long ago these lands were the stage of bloody battles between the Mayans and the Spanish and refuge for fearsome pirates. Nowadays Cancun continues to write its history through Mexican traditional cuisine with a few innovations and endless activities to bring you closer to nature and culture.
I am happy to share with you 7 things you definitely can’t miss on your next visit to Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
1. TOUR AROUND CANCUN HOTEL ZONE & CANCUN CENTRO
The city of Canun has many accommodations that usually adapt to all types of vacation plans. If you are looking to rest and get a little bit spoiled, you can choose the Hotel Zone with more than 200 all-inclusive resorts that offer the latest in architecture and amenities such as relaxing pools and spas, gyms, shows with high-level performers, and activities for the whole family. Likewise, vacation rentals in Cancun Centro can offer a more local, comfortable, and accessible experience with similar amenities. Wherever you choose your accommodation destination you can enjoy Cancun to the fullest since traveling from one area to another is very easy! Local transportation is based on buses, vans, and taxis which take you to the area where restaurants and nightclubs are, and shopping malls such as La Isla and Mercado 28 in Cancun Centro.
LEARN HOW TO GET AROUND CANCUN LIKE A LOCAL.
Photo by Gerson Repreza
2. SAVOR THE AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FLAVOR
Cancun Authentic Local Experience with Eating with Carmen Food Tours is for you! Experience tasting a variety of traditional dishes cooked by local chefs while a foodie guide takes you around Cancun’s most emblematic spots to make you feel like a Cancunense for a day.
Besides traditional Mexican restaurants, at Riviera Maya and Cancun, you can come across innovative gastronomic proposals such as local seafood restaurants, High-end restaurants with the finest juicy meats, and Japanese, French, and Italian food restaurants.
3. SOAK IN MAYAN WATERS
The spectacular Mexican Caribbean beaches in Cancun welcome Expats, Locals, and tourists all year round. One of the most popular beaches in Cancun Island is Playa Delfines, with a Blue Flag certification for its cleanliness, environmental awareness, and water quality, here is where you can take that iconic photo with the colorful letters of Cancun. Now, if you ask any Cancunense which is their favorite beach, they might not be able to decide between Playa Tortugas, Playa Marlin, or Playa Caracol, so you go on and visit them all to make your verdict.
Finish your day by taking a boat trip through the Nichupté Lagoon, the perfect plan for a romantic date or family afternoon. Besides the beauty of the white sand beaches, The Riviera Maya is decorated by Cenotes, mistic natural freshwater pools, which represent the entrance to Xibalbá, in the Mayan Underworld. They can be visited every day of the week, for affordable fees, and can be easily reached by car or by using public transportation like vans. You can also take the famous “Route of the Cenotes Tour” or come across one at any of the Eco-parks on the Riviera.
Photo by NEOM
4. IMMERSE IN THE MEXICAN CULTURE
The Yucatan Peninsula has plenty of Mayan vestiges, while many might not have been discovered yet, Cancún is guarding the Ruins of El Rey and San Miguelito located on Kukulcán Boulevard across from Playa Delfines. El Alacrán near Playa Marlín and El Meco 5 kilometers north near Puerto Juárez.
Take a road trip 1 hr 40 min away from Cancun to find the impressive ruins of Tulum. A bit further from Cancun, about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive, get to one of the 7 World Wonders, Chichen Itza.
Each of these majestic ancient structures narrates the busy days of commerce and veneration of the Mayan Gods. If you are hooked on learning more from our Mayan Ancestors plan a visit to Cancun Mayan Museum found at kilometer 16.5 of the Hotel Zone and dive into the Underwater Museum of Art MUSA with over 500 life-size sculptures located 8 meters deep in the ocean, made with special concrete made to improve the growing of coral reef. On the other hand, the result of centuries of observation and knowledge of the Mayans about the universe can be found in the Planetarium Ka’ Yok in Cancun Centro.
source: commons.wikipedia.org
5. DISCOVER THE FASCINATING WILDLIFE
The vegetation of the Mayan jungle, the mangroves, cenotes, and beaches of the region are home to a large amount of flora and fauna species endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula. Foundations, parks, and hotels are in charge of preserving their natural habitats without affecting their natural circle of life. Birds like grackles and woodpeckers, the local agouti, raccoons, and reptiles like el Tolok can be seen everywhere in town looking for food, likewise, in the Interactive Aquarium of La Isla take a closer look at the most impressive marine species of the Riviera Maya and if the Mayan Gods are on your side you might see the lord of the Jungle, the Balam, the jaguar while walking around his home in Xcaret.
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP
6. CANCUN EXTREME
For adventurous travelers in search of lots of fun and adrenaline, Cancun offers endless activities in and out of the water. Soar the jungle traveling through lines and lines of zip lines on the Xplor park or reach each corner aboard a bumpy ATV or by taking a chill horse ride. But if the sea is where you want to be, snorkel your way to the Great Mayan Reef where you can swim with the not-so-wild whale shark, turtles, and tons of colorful fish. For beginners and professionals, Cancun is the perfect coast to mix water and air and practice wakeboarding, parasailing, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, and the exciting Jet pack.
Photo By Melissa Villarán
7. ROAM BEYOND CANCUN
We know that it is difficult to leave these Caribbean lands but if you need more than your visit to Cancun, its beaches, ruins, and gastronomy to satisfy your hunger for Mexican culture, thanks to the relative proximity it is pretty easy to visit other Mexican Caribbean Islands, take a ferry trip to Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy. On a trip of about 2 hours north of Cancun, you will get to the port of Chiquilá where a small ferry will take you to a mini paradise called Holbox. Driving south, in approximately 1 hour you will arrive at the beautiful town of Xaman-Ha currently known as Playa del Carmen, and from there you can take a ferry that will take you to La Isla de las Golondrias, Cozumel. Add 45 min from Playa del Carmen to reach Tulum, Pueblo Magico. Quintana Roo is the state where the Island of Cancun is located and after a 4 hr road trip, you will make it to the neighboring state, Merida, The Colorful “White City” where architecture accompanied by delicious local traditional dishes and the warmth from the local people, will make the trip worthwhile.
Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery
Adventurous foodies, Cancun Island, and the Eating with Carmen Food Tours Team are waiting for you! And while you get here we will go get some tacos.
See you around!
-Abbey.
