The best place to start exploring Mexico is Cancun, a resort with white-sand beaches and the Caribbean Sea. In addition to natural beauties, it conceals Mayan archaeological heritage and a lot of places for entertainment and recreation.
Hop-On-Hop-Off sightseeing bus tourLet us tell you when to go, where to stay and what to do in Cancun – the place where dreams of serenity become reality.
» READ MORE – Not just Mexico City: Mexico’s 10 colourful cities for tourists
Weather in Cancun, when to go?
Mexico has two seasons, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, choose what suits your fancy:
| Dry (November-April) | Humid (May-October) |
| Dry and warm, ideal for swimming Water sports are good in these months, the water is clear |
2-3 times cheaper Few tourists |
| Many tourists Prices are higher |
Occasional rain and storms Temperatures can rise to 33 °C in summer |
If you don’t want to make a choice, you can go in the off-season – it’s the best option between the humid summer and dry winter.
Where to settle
Cancun consists of two parts: the tourist area, and the old town area. You can stay in one of the hotels on the spit or in the central downtown area.
All Cancun hotelsFor those who want to live by the sea, the Rue Caribe Hotel will be perfect. Sea, palm trees, service – that’s how you can describe this place in three words. In addition to its access to the sea, it offers many pools with sun loungers, parties and restaurants right on the premises. It’s only recently been renovated, so the rooms will please you with their freshness.
And if you want something less mainstream, choose from apartments in Playa Mujeres or Puerto Juarez.
To avoid getting lost on the Mexican coast, use the City Explorer Pass.
What to see?
Sandspit
The 25 kilometres of coastline are lined with hotels, beaches, clubs and other delights of civilisation. The main tourist avenue near the Sand Spit is Kukulkan Street, named after the Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza.
The spit itself is washed by waters from both sides: from one side – the lagoon of Nichupte, a greenish warm font, from the other – the turbulent Caribbean Sea.
Nichupte Lagoon
The safest place in Cancun, here the concentration of guards and lifeguards is maximum. Active sports lovers will be waiting for you at Nichupte! There are extreme sports to suit all tastes: diving, windsurfing, water skiing, kitesurfing, flyboarding and kayaking.
Jungle adventure tour by boatFor those who prefer something more peaceful – a boat ride and relax in the silence of emerald waters. However, you should be careful with the waters – there are crocodiles swimming around.
The lagoon is surrounded by mangrove trees, from here you can go on a tour to the coral reef, fish and enjoy the sunset.
San Miguelito Remains and Mayan Museum
If you don’t have time to travel, there are small ruins and a museum of Mayan culture within the tourist spit.
- The Mayans lived here for about 300 years: there are 40 buildings in total, 5 of which are accessible to the public
- Next to the ancient complex is a museum that contains ancient and modern relics. Three exhibition halls overlook the forest and the Nichupte Lagoon
Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is so called because of the statues of women found on the island in the 16th century, but it’s not the women who greet arrivals, it’s the pelicans. It’s easy and interesting to get to by ferry. The tiny island, just 8 kilometres long, offers a peaceful view of the waves crashing against the rocks. On the sultry beach of Playa Norte it’s pleasant to lie in the shade of coconut palms, and it’s convenient to rent a golf cart to get around, even a tour is available.
Local cafes serve the traditional dish tikenchik – guachinango fish baked in annatto seed paste, which makes the fillet red and spicy.
Here you can swim with sharks, take a break from bustling Cancun and stroll through colourful streets bursting with the scent of spices and Mexico’s atmospheric atmosphere.
MUSA Underwater Museum
Cancun Underwater Museum, aka MUSA, is an entire sunken civilisation at a depth of 2 to 10 metres, with over 400 sculptures fixed on the bottom. The point of the museum is to draw attention to the fragility of nature.
- Concrete blocks replace the coral reefs destroyed by man. The works of art are willingly loved by underwater flora and fauna, algae have grown on them, and colourful fish and turtles hide in the cracks
- In addition to full-length human sculptures, there is a reinforced Volkswagen Beetle car, so beloved by the local lobsters. You will meet these Germans everywhere and on the streets, Mexicans especially loved this model, they restore, tuning and are proud of their «Beetles»
There are different types of excursions to choose from: a full dive to the statues and their inhabitants in diving/snorkelling equipment, or an excursion on a glass-bottomed boat, so you can see the exhibits both outside and underwater.
Six artists had a hand in the sculptures, with the majority of the work created by Briton Jason de Caires Taylor.
Cenote Azul
To reach the cenote, that is – the underground lake, drive about an hour towards Tulum.
These cave waters are the heritage of Mexico. After paying $4 for entrance, which is quite inexpensive in comparison with other cenotes, you will find yourself in the blue spring among the jungle.
Four cenotes in the center of the untouched jungleYou can spot fish at the bottom by renting snorkelling equipment for $1.5. However, due to the high transparency you can observe scaly fish without diving. On the walls grow greens and stalagmites, and bats hide in the latter. The particularly brave can practice diving from a height of 3 metres.
Parking, changing room and toilets are free of charge.
Dolphin Beach
The wide, snow-capped beaches of Cancún draw everyone’s attention to Mexico. Dolphin Beach is part of a sand spit studded with hotels, and if you’re lucky, you can spot the underwater creatures of the name from the shore in the morning.
- The gradient sea line, which locals say includes up to 7 shades of water. Instead of palm trees, there are straw umbrellas with iguanas running between them
- Here you can relax and swim, but if you want extreme – go on a board, glide on the waves! There is almost no algae, as well as cafes, but there are vendors on duty with sea delicacies
The beach and car park are free, there are toilets and showers nearby, open until 17:00
As lifeguards are only on duty in the morning and afternoon, different coloured flags are put out. Almost like a traffic light:
| Green | Yellow | Red |
| Swim to your heart’s content | Careful | It’s better to be on the beach |
El Rey Archaeological Zone
Where can you go without the remains of the Mayan civilisation! These ruins are in the midst of the tourist zone, 47 stone structures remain, the tallest being the temple pyramid. El Rey was an important centre of Mayan culture, where religious rituals and trade flourished. Its scale is much smaller than that of Chichen Itza or Tulum, but this has its advantages:
- You don’t have to spend time travelling
- Not everyone knows about El Rey, so it’s not very crowded
- You’ll get around the area pretty quickly, in an hour or two
On the walls of the buildings you can see former paintings: figures of rulers and animals, still recognisable, but already very faded by time. There are also all sorts of exotic lizards running around, they are already used to tourists and are happy to eat fruit (it is better not to give them harmful things, fruit is the best option).
» READ MORE – Sochimilco: 700 years of history at the site of an Aztec lake
Shkaret Nature and Recreation Park
Here, among the shady jungle, Mayan ruins have been preserved and restored. It is possible to come with a guide!
- There are cultural performances with traditional music and costumes, and national ball games
- You can kayak through caves on the Paradise River and visit animals such as jaguars, deer, turtles and parrots
- If that wasn’t enough for fauna lovers, you can swim with dolphins
- Flora fans can enjoy exotic species of orchids in the gardens
- Those who do not want to disturb underwater mammals can swim alone
In total, there are 40 attractions on the territory, from cultural to entertainment.
At the end of the day, a buffet with the treasures of local eateries awaits. No one will get bored in this place, and if active holidays tire you out, there is an area with hammocks.
Where to eat?
Taste the national cuisine, be it fresh seafood or stereotypical tacos and nachos, at colourful Tacuna, and passing dancers and mariachis will be happy to add sound and pace to your meal for a few coins.
The colourful café is dined by locals, so prices are lower and portions larger.
Leaving the southern region empty-handed is a crime! Souvenirs can be bought at local markets such as Mercado 28. Be on your guard, the sellers can be persistent, but jewellery made of precious stones and colourful magnets-sombreros are worth it.
Cancun is a city of colourful experiences, juicy fruits and exotic animals. An adventurous paradise where there is entertainment for every taste and purse. Cancun may well become a starting point for further exploration of Mexico, from here you can reach Mayan Chichen Itza and Tulum. Don’t forget to plan your trip and protect your skin from the sun.
Viva Mexico!
Roberto Carlos Román Don / Unsplash 
Israel Caballero / Unsplash 
Jezael Melgoza / Unsplash 
Jezael Melgoza / Unsplash
Roberto Carlos Román Don / Unsplash
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