Cancun Guide
Cancun, Mexico, known for its aesthetics, beaches and crystal waters💦
Cancun is divided in 2 parts:
-The Hotel Zone: Which has beachfront resorts, wild nightlife and considered the main center for tourists. You can also find all-inclusive resorts and places just for adults.
-Downtown Cancun: here you find the real, also known as "Ciudad Cancun". The downtown gives you that local culture vibe with tasty street food, small shops, green parks, and Mexican Wrestling!. Who knows if this is where Rey Mysterio got his inspiration from?🤷♂️
Keep reading this article to find more info about Mexican Wrestling
Top things to do:
1. Ride an ATV
Start with an extreme ATV ride on the muddy, dusty and bumpy jungle trails, try the exciting flight on the ziplines. Latlty before betting snacks you should swim in an exotic cenote surrounded by a thick forest.
2. Tour & Swim in the Popular Maya Ruins
Time travel as you explore the Mayan archaeological ruins of Chichén Itzá on a guided tour. Connect with nature as you swim in the azure waters of the Cenote. Snacks available. Upon arrival at Chichén Itzá, look at the step pyramid of Kukulcan, known for the play of light from the equinox that casts shadows on each step to create an image of a serpent descending. Check it out
3. Check out Cancun Underwater Museum
This car sculpture is just one(1) of the 500+ sculptures this Underwater Museum (The Museo Subacuático de Arte) has. This is found in the Cancun National Marine Park, they were initially designed to be portals/platforms for coral growth to heal any ecosystem that had been damaged, this is a magical place you do not want to miss it. You can partake in the experience by snorkeling, scuba diving, and glass-bottom boat tours. As far back as 2009 when it was founded, there has been claims in witnessing a lot of springs and blossoming plants! isn't that awesome. Underwater Museum tours usually cost around 48.5 USD. Check it out
4. Go to a Hip Hop Boat Cruise Party
This is always fun trust me and if you have never been to one, this is your chance. Enjoy Snacks, Drinks(Alcohol or non-alcohol), DJs and vibrant environment. I always advice people to enjoy their stay wherever they travel to. Book one here
5. Chill on the Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres, a phrase that holds a strong meaning which translates to “Women Island,” is a smooth ride on a ferry away from Cancun. This place was a fishing settlement but due to its charm and modernization it grew into what it is today. You can do all sorts of things here such as fishing, sailing like a sailor, Kayaking, and swimming with unimaginable sharks are real and regular activities here. You can enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving in the crystal clear Caribbean sea. Sea Turtles are usually found in this part of the island. This can be done for as little as $8 or you can check more and choose the best that suits you. They have more costly options which stops by several islands on a ferry or a boat same day.
6. Check out the Cenotes
One of the world’s best underwater Cenotes (sinkholes that expose fresh groundwater) and cavern systems can be found in Cancun. Yucatan Peninsula has long been famous for its cenotes and were an important resource for the ancient Maya. Good cenotes near Cancun:
Cenote Zahil Ha (10 USD).
Cenote Azul (7.5 USD),
Gran Cenote (25.15 USD), and
Cenote Ik Kil (7.5 USD),
Most of them are less than 2 hours drive.
7. Explore Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is an ancient Mayan city heavily influenced by astrology this city is part of the 7 wonders of the world(See the other 6).
The city dates back to the 550 CE. It was home to an estimated 35,000 people & is the most populous city in Yucatan Peninsula. This is one of the long standing Mayan archaeological sites in Mexico. Feel free to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s ruins,
1.9 Square miles of Temples,
Tombs, and
even Ball courts. Entry is about $28. Explore Chichén Itzá here
This is a 5 in one Lagoon which has Caleta Nizuc y, Bojórquez, Nichupte’, Rio del Amor and , Río Inglés . You can decide to kayak or speedboat in any of them.
This place is like a jungle paradise. This the only ecosystem that remained after the creation project of the HOTEL ZONE. You can find so many rare fish species in this.
9. Watch a A Lucha Libre Show
Lucha Libre is a special kind of Mexican cultural wresting. This wresting usually consists of two fighters set with a goal of winning in which these fighters use a mix of acrobatics, theatrical maneuvers and wrestling to win their opponent this sounds a lot like Rey Mysterio! I keep telling you "who knows if this is where Rey Mysterio got his inspiration from? 🤷♂️
Fighters wear masks and are usually accompanied by drag queens or little people. Consists of 3 rounds and a winning option is throwing the opponent outside the ring. Most if not all Lucha Libre events are held in the DOWNTOWN not in the HOTEL ZONE. The price ranges broadly depending on the show but starts from $12 USD+ You also get served beer and snacks at your requests.
10. Go Clubbing
Cancun has one of the best touristy nightlife for both old and young adults although during the spring breaks thousands of college kids flock in to have a good partying trip. Most of the nightlife is centered around the Hotel Zone area some people call it the "Party Central” A lot of renowned DJ's do come there occasionally. Some of the top notable clubs to check out are :
Grand Mambo Cafe
Coco Bongo (the most popular in Cancun with acrobats, premium DJ/s and more its the picture i have up there)and
La Vaquita.
Always Remember that there are thousands of things you can research and do -
Recommended Booking resources for things to do, places to go & good flight prices to check out:
Expected costs
$50 A day - With a $50 a day budget you can afford a hostel dorm for yourself(from $17/night), public transportation costs to get to anywhere in the city (book a $6 bus that will get you from the airport to Cancun city and vice versa), you can also engage in a lot of free activities like visiting the beaches, site seeing the incredible cities and other cheap stuff like snorkeling can also be done. Street food can cost you $12 a day while you can spend $15 on activities to do(attractions etc.). Transportation could cost you $5 per day.
$90/100 A day - This can afford you a little more than the previous budget, with this budget you can confidently spend $20-$25 for meals at regular restaurants in the area, keep another $25 for paid activities like visiting the museums, going to bars, similar spots and paying for taxis to get around. Rare tip Uber is actually cheaper than the taxis in some cases so always optimize options or choose what best suits you. Transportation on this budget should cost you about $10 per day.
$180-$200 A day - There is almost no limit for the things you can do with this budget, $45 can cover several daily activities such as paying for more guided tours and more. Renting a car or taking the taxis is possible for your budget, setting aside $25-$30 should cover daily transportation costs. You will buy extra snacks, drinks etc. at anytime you feel like and afford to stay in hotels, there is a lot more you will find out. $55 for food daily will get you meals in luxurious restaurants. Lastly a $65 budget should cover the costs on accommodation.
NOTE: Spending within any of these ranges is totally up to you as you might spend more or less. More Breakdown of individual travel elements in Cancun
Food – You find all the Mexican food you know and the ones you do not know. Over there in Cancun you see a lot of veggies(tomatoes, avocado, pepper and corn), beans, fruits and rice. The usual Mexican Cuisine has the enchiladas, tamales (stuffed pockets of corn), tacos, salsa, pozole(stew of hominey with added onions), avocados, chilli and guacamole.
Street stalls which are mostly in the downtown area like i said, where you find the real there and a lot of locals. The street stalls are a very much cheaper alternative when it comes to buying food you find all all the above about $1-5. Street food is not only cheap but very tasty it's other human beings that buy and eat them. You can find tacos for as cheap as 5cents in dollars lol that's hilarious right? but it's the truth. This was my experience. Beer is about $1-$2 but at restaurants that price is usually around $4/$5.
Restaurants in the hotel zone as you should expect are more pricey than the ones you find in street stalls. Usually around $25 for a meal while in downtown you find meals for about $5-$15. They have French, Indian and middle eastern restaurants all around giving you food options like bagels, pasta, pizza, sushi's and more. Good downtown restaurants are Café Antoinette & La Troje. Any restaurant you see a lot of locals just know that is a good spot and try to mix and socialize the the nice and friendly locals to get insights on your trip. If you plan to do your grocery shopping because you want to be cooking, groceries costs around $25-$30(And you buy everything like chicken with the spices needed, tortillas, rice, vegetables and some extra stuff). Due to many hostels not having kitchen and the stress of cooking most people save their money buy buying food from the locals.
ACCOMODATION
Starting with the cheapest.
Cancun is unbeatable when it comes to finding the right place because there are thousands of good offers ranging from very good cheap hotels to luxurious beachfront resorts. I will start with the cheapest options:
The Hostels: The hostels in Cancun varies from rooftop party hostels to boat hostels and so much more. What i like in Cancun is that you can find hostels in both the hotel zone or downtown area. Check out your cheap hostel options. Cancun has dorm rooms to fit 6 people(random or your people) and this prices start anywhere from $9 per Night! Although most people looking for cheap end up paying anything from $20. If you want a private hostel room you can get that for about $30-$75 for a private room that will contain 2 people. Most of these hostels give you free breakfast and WI-FI.
Top Pick & Most preferred
Mayan Monkey stands out among several hostels. It is located in the area of Cancun which is classified as the tourist center. They serve you free breakfast & have free WI-FI It is also close to the beach which gives you that beachfront feeling while in a hostel. The price is usually $20 per night. Check it out here.
Hotels
Cancun Hotels undoubtably has a lot of budget hotels starting from $18-$30 per night for a room that fits 2 people. You will also find 3-star hotels for $47 with goodies included(free breakfast, WI-FI and a private bathroom).
TOP PICK: MEZCAL HOTEL&HOSTELS
Mezcal Hostel provides a terrace, a garden and a library. Free Wi-Fi in public areas are available to all guests, along with a bar and a restaurant. This has one of the best ratings, outdoor pool, free parking, bicycle rental and good luggage storage facilities. It is also located in the downtown area.
Casa Caribe Cancun is another good typical beachfront hotel that is budget friendly for about $40-$50 per night. They provide you with a flat screen tv, free WI-FI, along with a bar and a restaurant. Lastly like most of the hotels there, they have a shuttle which could take you to & from the airport.
Airbnb's are also available in the area. I recall coming in contact with an Airbnb that offered $15 per night but you usually find Airbnb's in Cancun which starts at $29. If you are looking for more space, you can find $40 to $75 private rooms, entire homes, and studios.
Other Luxurious Options
This wonderful 1 Bedroom apartment gives you the crystal clear view of the oceanic LUXURY!.
An Adults only destination that provides a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and affordability for those seeking a tropical getaway.
El Dora Suites is the name of this one. Travelers can choose from a variety of accommodations, including family-friendly all-inclusive resorts and adults-only havens.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting to Cancun: Compare Flight Options🛫:🛬🔁
Compensair : Compensair provides air travelers with a convenient solution to claim compensation of up to €600 from airlines in the event of flight delay, cancellation, or denied boarding. Compensair handles all the necessary paperwork, airline negotiations, and legal proceedings.
Infobus: INFOBUS is a booking platform to help people find the best deals on flights, train and bus tickets.
CheapOAir: Just as the name implies. Apart from offering Insurance, they offer one of the largest selections of airfares, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages and travel deals obtained from multiple sources, including three of the most respected and widely used reservation systems at discounted rates. Enjoy huge savings on air travel.
Skylux: Is more of a Luxury business flights. They specialize in worry-free international flight arrangements. With a variety of destinations and affordable airfares, they provide seamless booking and 24/7 customer service.
Kiwi: (Formerly SkyPicker.com) allows travelers to find and book the cheapest flights possible. Due to its success and rapid growth, Kiwi has been featured by Business Insider, The New York Times, USA Today, and more!
GETTING AROUND
Public transportation – Cancun has a bus transportation system that runs 24/7 it usually costs around 5 cents. Try making sure to have the exact amount in MXN currency as most drivers find it difficult to break big bills.
Taxi 's – Taxi's in Cancun are not measured in meters they charge about 25 MXN
Uber/Lyft/e.t.c – Uber is sometimes cheaper than the taxi's i would recommend you use Uber or whatever suits you at the time.
Rent Cars - If you would like to rent cars while in Cancun it is very possible. You can rent book & several car type options and more using this Discovercars.com.
Kids Activities (Extra 3 Activities)
Cancun is not limited to kids. – This can also be enjoyed by adults. Before booking a resort you can check if they have a "kids club" which is an amenity where babysitters take care of kids in a playground.
Ventura : has 3 areas: Water slides, Climbing skills and a relaxing float down the lazy river. They also have any area for food and drinks. Check out Ventura
Adrenaline tour : This is a 4 hour excursion with several activities. Compete against each other like a real car race, they have nice decorations, arcade games and more Don't miss out the epic Laser tag battle. Book an Adrenaline Tour._
Xavage Park : is actually an all-inclusive park. They have 6+ activities to do: Zip lines, water canoes, everything you see in the picture and so much more. Check out Xavage Park.
The Interactive Aquarium : get to this underwater aquarium experience without getting wet, see up to 140 species from stingrays, moray eels, jellyfish, clown fish, lion fish oh my i can keep on going it is a fun and thrilling experience indeed. The fish tank area has 1,196 specimens. Book this Aquarium
Swim with Dolphins Ride : Take the aquatic ride with an interactive aquatic entrance. Let the dolphins be your vehicle in the water. They are really friendly, i keep on saying they are the dogs of the water creatures. Check out this aquarium._
Is Cancun safe?
South America especially Mexico has made headlines about Cartel issues but generally speaking about Cancun it is safe comparing it with other places in Mexico although little crimes such as theft can and do occur so just make sure you do not leave your bag unattended or leave your things without your eye_s on them especially when the beach is crowded.
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