After our amazing 10-day trip to Hawaii this past October where we did all the things and ate all the foods, we were excited for a relaxing yet shorter one-week trip to Cancún over the holiday break. Hawaii may have a culture that is unique but it is still a US territory. As silly and obvious as it sounds, Mexico is a different country with its own language, culture, identity, and customs. Perhaps with luck, preparation, and additional fees/costs, you will have a smooth vacation. That was not our case.

My partner had previously been to Cancún. It was a blast for him and he experienced very few difficulties. Our trip last week was full of obstacles and issues. It was also more expensive than I anticipated.

Our first obstacle was because we chose an AirBnB vs. a hotel. That meant our options to get from the airport to the AirBnB were either the bus or a rental car. Ubers are not allowed at the airport and it is not recommended to take a Taxi at the airport (or taxis anywhere in Cancún). If you are staying at a hotel, you can possibly book a pickup transfer through your hotel. My partner had been to Cancún before and rented a car easily and cheaply at the airport. This time around, though, we were getting prices of $99/day. If only we could check online for the prices but alas there is no service in the Terminal area. We were stuck with what was available and settled at Avis for just under $500 for 7 days. Our trip began with the reality that costs were higher than anticipated and people were going to try to sell us anything they could (a manual car for non-manual drivers for example because the prices were better). After being shuttled to the Avis location near the Terminal, the rental agent tried to sell us an additional insurance package, and the attendant bringing the car around didn’t speak English. It was also not clear where to pick up the car. There weren’t enough spaces for the cars and we got stuck behind two other tourists grabbing their rental cars for 10 minutes before we could leave. Our car was not perfect. No windshield wiper fluid. The steering was not balanced and pulled hard to the right. The change engine oil light came on the next day as well during our trip.  The backup camera was out of focus. The CarPlay disconnected frequently. But it drove, was an automatic, and had air conditioning.

We had several hours before picking up my brother from his flight. The only activity we hadn’t managed to book in advance was our Scuba dive because my brother wasn’t certified and I wanted to get him a Discover class at the same time as an underwater 2-tank dive for myself and my partner. I wasn’t able to articulate this over the phone before our trip. I noted down 3 PADI-recommended shops to go to in person. Our top choice was Squalo Adventures but I realized they are located on Isla Mujeres and we couldn’t just walk up to that shop without taking the ferry… so our next choice was Solo Buceo. They are listed on the PADI website inside Hotel Dreams. We went to Hotel Dreams and the security guard told us we couldn’t park in the lot and we couldn’t go in the hotel unless we were guests. I was able to get inside by asking about booking as a guest of the hotel but the excursions booth inside the hotel had not heard of the dive center and told me they’d moved to the Hyatt Ziva hotel. We drove to this second hotel and were able to find street parking. My partner stayed in the car and I went into the hotel (no doormen in sight) and asked the receptionist where to find the Dive shop. At the Discova shop, I had a 30-minute conversation with the attendant Manuel Canesco and he helpfully called up the dive shop (presumably Solo Buceo) and booked both the Discover for my brother and the same boat 2-tank dive for my partner and me as certified divers for the day we wanted. He was able to nearly match the internet listed price and assured me how to park, where to meet, and when to meet. He also gave me his phone number to call if there were issues. Relieved that I was able to book the Scuba dive, we went to pick up my brother. Little did we know that getting back into the hotel for our actual dive the following Sunday would prove quite difficult.

Our next difficulty was finding our AirBnB’s location. The address led us to the wrong street in a gated community. The gate just happened to be open when we entered and we didn’t realize that it was a private neighborhood. We couldn’t get out without someone opening the gate for us. We still couldn’t find the AirBnB and had to message the host, who was delayed in his responses and we waited for 30 minutes before we were able to find him in front of his building. The directions for finding the AirBnB were the provided address and a picture of the front of the building, with no other instructions. The street was quiet and there was an outer gate with a door code to the 3-apartments in the building. We were given three options for parking – one of which was inside the coded gate but someone was always parked in front of the access door, blocking us from using it. The second option was to park anywhere there was yellow on the curb (parallel parking) but at the time of arrival, there were no spaces near the building. The third option was to park in the spots for the dentist’s office across from the building when they were closed.

The AirBnB itself was adequate for our needs. Two bedrooms. Ceiling fans in all the rooms. One bathroom. The host was full of good information about where to park for the best beaches and that Ubers were safe to use. Yet over the next week, we discovered that one of the air-conditioning units would stop working, there was no hot water, the kitchen flooded in heavy rain, and the host would take hours to respond to any messages. Our first trip after leaving our luggage in the apartment was with Uber to the hotel zone and a dinner reservation I’d made the week before. The Uber was very reasonably priced and we experienced no difficulties booking or using the service.

Our first activity was a day trip to Chichen Itza and the reason we needed a rental car in the first place. We were prepared for the tolls on the highway but we were not prepared to come to a full stop for 30 minutes waiting for an accident to clear. This divided highway had no exit. We were stuck. People got out of their cars for smoke breaks, snacks, and to try to see what was going on. We were stuck with an additional delay as the 2 toll booths in operation were slow to process the cars ahead and there was a continual stream of cars, taxis, and vans cutting around to the front of the line. We spent $101 in tolls for both directions and accidentally got off the toll highway early on the way back due to bad Google directions. Chichen Itza is open from 8AM – 5PM and we finally arrived (with the blessing of an hour saved from crossing time zones) around 10:40AM. Before we actually got to the parking area we were waved to the side of the road and people tried to aggressively sell us a tour guide. After pulling over for the first official-looking flag waver and realizing this wasn’t necessary, we followed the van in front of us, not stopping and not making eye contact with any of these roadside scammers. The actual parking lot was full and we were turned around to a side lot to pay cash. People were crowded at the entrance to the site but we managed to get in a ticket line which ended up being two ticket lines (one for actual tickets and one to pay taxes). $109 later we were in the park and hassled by more aggressive salespeople. But Chichen Itza (and hundreds of tourists) were in site! We’d made it. According to their website, “As one of the most important city-states in pre-Hispanic America, Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico today.” We didn’t feel the need for a guide or to spend longer than an hour after checking out the Sacred Cenote.

I was sad that we couldn’t go up the stairs of the pyramids like you can in Teotihuacan, but they looked plenty steep! You won’t have to worry about forgetting to clap for the echo because there are many tourists and guides all around demonstrating this effect for you. I have mixed feelings. I think it’s important to visit archaeological sites and learn about a country’s history but when the country taxes you so heavily (tourists pay more than citizens) and allows vendors inside the paid portion of the site to pester you, it just doesn’t feel like a wholesome experience anymore. How can I appreciate the history I’m walking around in if I’m accosted by a sales pitch every few feet? I don’t think the price is worth it when you’re not allowed to enter the pyramid but only to see it from a distance and the experience is broken by more than just an excess of tourists. If you haven’t been to Chichen Itza, I wouldn’t say not to go but I would recommend booking a tour. After the sketchy driving to and from Chichen Itza, I would for sure book a tour that includes cenote(s) stops. We paid $101 in tolls to get to Chichen Itza and back alone and made some driving route errors. Buses/tour buses will use the best roads, and the most aggressive driving techniques to get you there, you won’t be hassled by people flagging you down to sell you a tour guide, and you won’t have to pay to park or be turned around if the lot at Chichen is full. You’ll also save on car rental prices and gas. If your tour is at all close to $125 then it’s worth every penny.

Another expectation vs. reality moment for me was the cost of cenotes. Choose your Cenotes wisely as they are not dirt cheap and some are off the beaten path. Plan to spend more than 20 minutes at any particular one and it will be worth the $15+ entry fee per person. Some cenotes accept credit cards but some don’t so be sure to bring cash. After our lunch in Valladolid with excellent food but terrible service, we stopped at both Cenote Suytun and Cenote Museo Zazil Tunich. Most of the Cenotes close at 5/5:30PM so we prioritized these two cenotes. You have to wear a life vest at Cenote Suytun and it’s included in the admission cost (MX250/person). You have to shower before going down the steps to get to the cave cenote.

There was a line of 15+ people waiting to get “The Photo” and enough people sitting near the water or swimming in the water to make it feel nearly too crowded. The water was cold (I was very glad for my shortie wetsuit) and we were ready to go after 20 minutes when the Cenote closed. It didn’t feel much like a hanging around and relaxing kind of atmosphere. Every minute or so an attendant would yell, “proximo” so the next person could get their Instaworthy photo under the hole in the ceiling. Pro-tip is to go to Suytun when the sun is overhead so that there is a beam of light for The Photo. Overall I enjoyed this cenote but would prefer to go during the day and when/if less crowded.

Cenote Museo Zazil Tunich was blessedly open later than most of the other cenotes but also off the main roadway. Therefore, it was getting dark as we were leaving, and that made the road trip back to Cancún more difficult. A tour is included in the pricier admission to this Cenote whether you want it or not (MX350/$21 per person). If you skip the tour you can go straight down to the cave cenote for a swim. This cenote was larger than Suytun and only one other couple was swimming with us. It felt much more relaxing and magical without other people disturbing the peace. I would recommend budgeting more time at this Cenote than we spent and taking advantage of the included tour.

When leaving DO NOT follow driving directions for anything other than backtracking the way you came back to the highway and Valladolid even though it’s the longer route. Unfortunately, maps routed us to a ‘faster’ path that ended with a 6km trek on an unpaved road and we turned back after 500 meters of clenched teeth when it was safe to make a 3-point turn. That raod was dark, deserted, bumpy, rural, and the sketchiest part of our trip. Stay on the toll highway for the duration of your journey, DO NOT exit early or you will be subjected to a 2-way bumpy road full of speed bumps, potholes, and slow trucks you have to pass on the wrong side of the road if you can at all.

The next day we went to two additional cenotes on the way down to Xplor: Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Calavero. We hit another 20-minute slowdown in traffic on this drive and saw again that taxis, buses, and some other cars didn’t follow the road/rules and would drive on the shoulder to pass/cut in front of people. Cristalino Cenote’s admission (MX200) included an optional life vest. The cenote sprawls so there are multiple access points and multiple little areas to find your own little sunny or shady spot to float around. Be aware of jutting rocks under you as you swim around. There is a small area roped off to jump from the ledge above if you dare!

My favorite cenote out of the four we went to was the Cenote Calavero because it was the most casual yet fun one. Priced at MX250/person with an additional fee if you want a life jacket, this cenote was the smallest. It is an open-topped semi-cave cenote with a large sturdy wood ladder leaning into the middle. The main entry point is to just jump in, which was the exciting part! There were also two smaller holes you could jump into if you dared. This cenote also features a swing hanging above the water’s edge. It was fun to watch people gather the courage for their first jump-in. There were also a lot of chairs and hammocks around the perimeter of the cenote for relaxing as well as a small offering of food and drinks on site.

Still wet we stopped to fill up our tank with gas and then headed to Xplor around 5:30PM when they opened for their “Fuego” portion of the day. Xplor is open for the day or the nighttime under the name Xplor Fuego from 5:30 PM – 11PM. Our tickets came with free parking, 2 lockers, one entry into the BBQ buffet with unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, and fun mostly water-based activities. We weren’t sure what Xplor Fuego was going to be like and I didn’t realize almost all the activities (other than the zip lines and the dry ATV ride) would be water-based and I was getting cold in the nighttime air. After going to Xcaret later in the week, I would prefer to spend money at that park and not at Xplor as they are both pricey and I thought Xcaret was better. Xplor’s activities were too long and once you started you couldn’t easily stop. The first thing we did was the underground river that ended in a slide. It took us an hour from entering the park to exiting this first activity. You walk in 3-4 feet of water with a rocky bottom for quite a ways so you have to walk carefully as you traverse the underground winding river. The slide was very fun but over too quick after the long trek to get there. You have the option to ride the slide again without going back through the lengthy tunnel river but might have to wait in the inevitable line of people at the end.

Getting geared up for the ziplines and waiting in that line took ~15 minutes and the ziplines themselves took about 45 minutes. If you wanted to leave midway, good luck. There was no easy bail option because you zip from tower to tower until the end. The ATV ride has both a ‘wet’ version and a ‘dry’ version and if you want one over the other you will have to make that request known in advance. The ATV was very fun but also you are handed the keys to an albeit slow vehicle and told to follow the road for 5km. There are attendants placed sparsely along the path, but otherwise, you are told to leave at least 10 feet of space between you and any cars ahead and to have fun. I felt like I was the kids driving their sphere in Jurassic World, away from other people, but contained by the path ahead. If something were to happen, we’d be on our own for a while.

I wouldn’t buy the Xplor photo package again since we brought our GoPro and could take selfies and singles with it just as good as the photo package, though the cameras and the way you touch your wristband to the sensor and it takes the photo were very easy to use. If you are on a budget and bring your own way to take pictures (waterproof phone pouch/GoPro) then you can possibly skimp on the photo package. With the photo package, the cost is $156/per person! For comparison, a Disney World 1-day ticket starts at $164 on 12/23 (with their photo pass Memory Maker it is $250) and a Busch Gardens 1-day ticket with all-day dining is $189 without any discounts.

I would recommend going to the Xcaret park towards the beginning of your trip because it can give you a wonderful little insight into Mexico’s biodiversity, is a relaxing atmosphere, and keeps you energized with all the walking you can do traversing back and forth to explore all the nooks and crannies. It was also one of the least confusing activities we did all week.

Because we we there during the day, it was very refreshing to spend 40+ minutes swimming down the partially underground tunnels. We did one tunnel without fins and the second go around in the other tunnel with the complementary fins (which I absolutely loved).

Your all-day Plus entry gets you access to some live performances as well as the Espectacular show at 7PM, one admission to any of the buffets on site, two river swims, a locker, and more. There are many more paid activities and several resort-style beach relaxation areas. We paid $136/person for the Xcaret Plus (bundled with the Xplor Fuego) with the added photo pass. My favorite photo from the pass is this one with large turtles swimming in the background from the top-down camera view.

I was very excited about the Espectacular show which has a display of the Pre-Hispanic Mayan Ballgame where the players hit the ball with their hips. They also, to my surprise, played a sort of fire hockey that was exciting. We arrived 80 minutes early and had the pick of the seats but you would have been able to find good seats 30 minutes before the show started and still find seats (higher up) near the start of the show.

There are many places for Scuba. Our AirBnB host recommended Scuba Aquatic or Scuba Cancun if you are booking a dive. Check with the PADI website and make sure you’re booking for a location that meets in a place you have access to and can either Uber to or park at without hassle (not in a hotel you’re not a guest of). Our boat ride from the Hotel Zone was about 25 minutes in 3-4 foot waves and choppy water.

Make sure you get organized before getting on the boat (dry stuff in the dry bag and all your equipment near you ready to put on or already on) as the boat ride is so bumpy it was difficult to do anything more than hold on! Everything on the boat got soaked, but we were able to put our dry bag in a bench compartment near the front so it could stay dry. If you book a beginner Scuba tour you may get put together with people with no certifications, slowing down your excursion. We wanted to stay with my non-certified brother, so we knew this in advance but in our group, there were 4 non-certified beginners and 2 certified divers. On our first dive, the instructor was holding one of the beginners’ hands the entire time and paid us no mind except for an occasional check-in (which we didn’t mind at all as we were comfortable in the <10-meter depth. We also had two snorkelers on the boat with us who went in and immediately bailed in the 3-foot chop. On the way back they looked quite miserable (seasick) on the boat. We brought our GoPro with a wrist strap and it worked very well for photos and short videos.

Spending a day in Isla Mujeres was one of the coolest day trips even though we got rained on halfway through the day. There are multiple ferry options. Our AirBnB host recommended the Xcaret Xailing ferry but we ended up taking the Ultramar. We had open tickets that allowed us to ride at any of the sailings (almost every half hour during the day) which was a great deal since we ended up leaving the island earlier than expected. The ferry cost was higher than I expected but the experience was efficient and logical. The seats inside were comfortable, the interior was air-conditioned, and the view from the windows was lovely. The recommendation is to arrive 30 minutes prior to your ‘boarding’ time because you will have to purchase tickets and then wait in line to have them checked before getting in another line to wait to board (our boat boarded 15 minutes prior to departure and left exactly on time).

One of my favorite activities was driving the golf cart on the island. Finding a golf cart rental was simple. People will try to rent one to you as you leave the ferry area, and then people will try to sell you a rental as you walk up the street. We went to three different rental locations and were quoted 3 different prices, so shop around. The first place had the best price and we went back (1200 vs. 1550 vs 1500) pesos for 11:30AM – 6PM return time. Cash only at Gomar’s (which was conveniently right across the street from the ferry terminal). They held onto my driver’s license, had me sign one piece of paper, and left us their golf cart. If you want a larger golf cart, we heard the price was MX2500.

The Dolphin Discovery experience on Isla Mujeres, though not unique to Cancun or Mexico, was amazing (once we were in the water) and I would do it again. If I did it again I would think twice about getting robbed blind by their photo package though! There are absolutely no photos outside of their service and they will charge you an arm and a leg to get even a single photo (over $40 for one print). They will also try to upsell you the ‘family’ package if you have any pictures taken with more than a single person in them (dolphins don’t count). It was very disappointing to pay for the photo package and to have the salesperson then tell us that it didn’t include every photo that was taken. The three of us had 6 additional photos with us as a group and my partner and I together and those were not included in the photo package. However, I’m glad we paid for the photo package because they turned out super great and will commemorate the first time I got to interact with dolphins.

I would choose the foot push over a dorsal tow for experiences if I had to as it was very unique and we got to touch the dolphins quite a bit during the interaction part of the experience. The dorsal tow is much like touching the dolphin but you get a face full of water while you’re doing it. The kiss was the cutest interaction. Hug/handshake you could take or leave as it is similar to touching the dolphin but is for a specific photo moment. Just being in the water with the dolphin and trainer was an exciting experience.

We bought the Royal VIP swim package with photos and it included the following amenities along with our six interactions: pool, Wi-Fi, lifejackets, drinks, buffet, showers, and lockers. We were unsure where to check in and how to use the facilities and of the three people we asked for assistance they were not overly helpful and even gave us incorrect information, making us miss the time slot for the manatee interaction. One family near us was separated because they had paid for different packages. Customer service was some of the worst I’ve experienced but the trainer, the dolphins, and the interactions were stellar.

Cost breakdown for 3 people for 7 days in Cancún, Mexico: $5,826

• Activities: ~$1998
  • Dolphin Discovery Royal VIP Swim with photo package for 3 people: $530.25
  • Chichen Itza: MX1842 ($109)
  • Xplor Fuego for 3 people and Xcaret for 2 people with photo package: $740
  • Museo Scuba for 3 people with 2 dives: $430 (one Discover and 2 certified)
  • Cenotes (4) MX3192 ($189)
• Transportation: ~$641
  • Avis rental for 7 days: $500
  • Ubers to/from airport: $80
  • Gas for rental: $101
  • Ubers during trip: $93
  • Tolls: MX1,718 ($101)
  • Parking fees: MX 110 ($6)
  • Golf cart rental on Isla Mujeres: MX1200 ($71)
  • Ferry to Isla Mujeres: MX1714 ($101)
• Roundtrip flights: $1544 for 3 people
• Housing: Airbnb for 7 nights: $400
• Drinks, snacks, and personal care products: ~$187
• Food – restaurants: $644

Restaurant Review

Fred’s Seafood MX2715/$160 for 3 people including 3 mojitos

The food was good, but the prices were similar to what we would have paid at a nice restaurant in Austin, TX for the same dishes. $11 for a crepe cake dessert. $8 for a bottle of San Pellegrino for the table. $35 for a lobster quesadilla to share. $12.50 for a mojito. $18 for fish tacos. We ordered mojitos all around and many small plates to share, including pulpo cruj tzatziki, calamares empanizado, tacos de pescado res, crepe cake, tacos de salmon, lobster quesadilla. All the dishes were tasty but my favorite was the salmon tacos! Overall tasty dishes, quality seafood, delicious drinks, and good service. Prices are on the higher end, especially if you’re springing for the recommended dishes like lobster thermidor (I recall MX3500/$206)

 

Hostería del Marques MX1230/$ 72 for 3 people including drinks

We had stopped before the cenotes near Chichen Itza for lunch at Valladolid (which I still have trouble pronouncing because the order of vowels and consonants confounds my brain). We picked a highly-rated restaurant in the Meson del Marques hotel and proceeded to wait for so long for our food that I started to feel loopy from the sun, the lack of water, and our long trip that morning. The service was terribly slow but the food was amazing. Would I wait for food/service from there again? Nope. The servers were very nonchalant as we waited 20 minutes after being sat to come over to our table for the first time. This was after waiting at the door for 10 minutes and in the waiting area for 20 minutes. It took 30 minutes for our drinks to arrive after ordering. I was so thirsty I started drinking from the water bottles we had brought with us.

The food, surprisingly, arrived not too long after a basket of chips and salsas was brought to the table. I noticed the next table over got their basket of chips and salsa before us (and before their drinks). We ordered agua mineral, enchilada mole con Pollo, dzitnup, jugo verde, molcajete mexicano, and Milanesa de pollo con papas. Food prices were decent.

 

Restaurante Flor De Lis MX1019/$60 for 3 people 

We went back here after our first visit because the food was so good and I just had to try all the atole flavors after the champurrado was so good! You absolutely must try the atole if you’re a hot drink lover. They have rice, strawberry, chocolate, and Anise. They have many other drink options as well as many food options and a variety of baked goods. The first time we went we ordered especial chilaquiles, pozole blanco with Apollo, torta chilaquiles, emmoladas con Pollo, flan napolitano, bottle water, jugo de naranja, capuchino, atole champurrado.

The second time we went later in the week just my partner and I and we ordered a queso chorizo quesadilla, taco abuela ivonne, taco flor de calabaza, pollo con mole, Malteada de coco, atole fresa, and atole arroz for a total of MX555/$33.

 

Samura MX2226/$131

For drinks, we had a Limonada Samura, Green Light, and Kami Sama. Each of the three of us chose two rolls apiece and we shared them. We ordered
Dos Atunes roll, Caribe roll, Unakiu Maki roll, Shake Avocado roll, Pacifico roll, and the Kiuri Maki roll. There were so many intriguing desserts on the menu that we had to try four of them: Pastel de tres leches, Cheese cake tempura, Oreo tempura, and a Japanese cotton cheesecake. One of us had a cafe cappuccino with our shared desserts. The seafood in the rolls was good quality and the rice was perfectly cooked. I absolutely loved the sweet and savory combo of the Caribe roll and would order that one again. The prices for our rolls ranged from $9.70 to $17 but worth the price if you are a fan of sushi and want some on your vacation.

 

Gelato Monte Bianco MX280/$17

This place only takes cash. They have 2 tiny tables inside and a bench and table outside. The owner was very quiet but full of smiles. We had a two-scoop of pistachio and Ferrero, a two-scoop of pistachio and stracciatella, and finally, because we couldn’t resist trying more flavors: a six-scoop of dulce de leche, strawberry, wild berry, coconut, espresso, and hazelnut. The gelato was smooth and delicious!

 

Cafe Antoinette MX785/$46

I had my eye on this cafe since I first walked to the OXXO down the street from our AirBnB. This cafe was a short 2-minute walk from our AirBnB and the menu looked great. We had our final brunch together with the three of us before we dropped my brother off at the airport. We ordered a Mocha, Jugo de naranja, Brownie frappe, Croissant omelette, Chilaquiles rojo huevo, and a Vol au vent salmon. They were all very delicious. I am a big fan of their bechamel sauce. Super yum.

 

Tacos Rigo MX474
I really wanted to try huitlacoche before we left Mexico as I’d heard it was a delicacy and I really like to try different things when I can. Also known as corn smut – huitlacoche is a sporous fungus that feeds off corn before its ears fully develop. Tacos Rigo has huitlacoche on the menu in the form of a little quesadilla. It tasted much like a cheese and mushroom taco. We both enjoyed it. We also tried some of the more interesting tacos like brain, tongue, and a mix. The tacos were small but flavorful and very good with a little added lime.

They didn’t have flan Napolitano available but we got a chocoflan to top off our meal. The chocoflan is like a regular flan sitting directly on top of a very moist chocolate cake. I definitely prefer my flan separate from my cake after trying this particular dessert.

 

Parque Palapas Snacks

Elotes Y Esquines – One cup of corn with mayonnaise and cheese. You can add your own toppings off to the side. MX40 for the cup.

Michoacada ice cream – I got a double scoop cone with corn ice cream and chocolate ice cream and it was absolutely delicious. MX65 for the double cone.

Churros – My partner said it was the best and most fresh churros he’s had. They were quite delicious. MX60 for a full bag.

 

Guy Fieri Airport Brunch MX560/US$38.20

The burgers caught our eye as we walked past this sit-down restaurant and we had to stop in for some hot food before our flight. Service was quick and friendly. The burger – The Original Ringer – was absolutely delicious! The fries were decent and even came with ketchup. I had my last cappuccino in Mexico 😦

 

Food and restaurants

My favorite drink: Atole champurrado from Flor De Lis
My favorite snack: The Halo mandarin oranges we got from Costco to eat throughout the week
My favorite entrée: Emmoladas con Pollo from Flor De Lis
My favorite dessert: Gelato (especially pistachio) from Gelato Monte Bianco on Isla Mujeres

 

Honorable mentions:

• The Jugo Verde from Hostería del Marques
• Milanesa de pollo con papas from Hostería del Marques
• The airport duty free sample of Xtanbentun (sadly they didn’t have any bottles for sale)
• All of the various capucchinos we had at various cafes
• The jugo de naranja from Flor de Lis (large glass freshly squeezed and delicious)
• Flan napolitano from Flor de Lis
• The bacon mac n’ cheese from the Xplor Fuego buffet
• Limonada Samura from the Marakame Cafe
• Caribe roll from Marakame Cafe (cream cheese and plantain roll)
• The burger from Guy Fieri in the airport
• The mojitos from Fred’s Seafood
• Tacos de salmon from Fred’s Seafood

What I would have planned differently now that we’ve taken our trip and what I wish I had known before we went on our trip:

• Choose your Cenotes wisely as they are not cheap and some are off the beaten path. Plan to spend more than 20 minutes at any particular one and it will be worth the $15+ entry fee per person.
• Uber to places where driving is sketchy, parking is difficult, or you might want to enjoy a relaxing drink but make sure you’re aware of the places Ubers will/won’t or can/can’t go.
• If possible, I wouldn’t rent a car at all in Cancun. Use a hotel transfer option, Xcaret transport from the hotel, book tours with a tour bus, and Uber everywhere else. Driving and parking made the vacation relaxed mindset difficult.
• Cenote Calavero seemed out of the way from our next activity (Xcaret) but was well worth the extra drive because it was so cool and not overcrowded. It was the most chill cenote we went to during our trip.
• Don’t count on getting a good deal in person – specifically for car rentals.
• Speed bumps are everywhere and so are potholes so pay attention to the ground
• Not everyone will follow the road rules, especially taxis and vans so watch out for them driving on the shoulder to get in front
• People use their hazards while driving a lot!
• Driving can unexpectedly come to a stop of 30 minutes randomly, accidents clog up roads fast and aren’t moved out of the way immediately
• In Cancun you can park wherever there is a yellow curb, but not a red. In Valladolid you can’t park where there is a red or yellow curb!
• Tolls are pricey and take cash!
• Taxes are also expensive
• Many activities are more expensive for tourists (including the ferry)
• Gas is not cheap either and it’s also not self-serve (you have to go to a pump with an attendant)
• There are tricks to short you at the gas pump – so look them up and be paying attention
• T-mobile didn’t work in many areas and Wi-Fi didn’t always function either
• It’s frustrating that many restaurants have a QR code for their menu when you can’t get the Wi-Fi to work
• In some restaurants service is slow and people don’t seem to complain about it
• Street food is inexpensive but you need cash
• Coffee drinks are less expensive but…
• Food in restaurants is sometimes more expensive than our home city of Austin, TX
• The only things we found were consistently cheaper during our trip were the medicine and the Ubers
• There is an option to tip for almost everything, though people seem to expect it less than in the US
• Vacation-type activities are expensive and there aren’t a lot of details/instructions so you will have to wait to be told what to do and/or ask for help in a lot of instances
• People will try to get you to buy things off the street, yelling at you to get your attention like a mall kiosk person trying to get you to take their samples
• Some days tours/activities aren’t available but that wasn’t because of being booked full, but because of the locations not being open or operating at that time
• Booking activities and their online version of what you get can be different in person (expectation vs. reality)
• You can’t just walk into a hotel off the street
• There isn’t as much English spoken as you might expect from a tourist destination
• Cenotes can be crowded
• Costco is mad busy, you have to validate your parking inside, you need a barcode to validate membership, and it will take 20-30 minutes to check out
• If you don’t know what’s going on you won’t know what to ask and it’s not always obvious what you need to do or where you need to go
• Customer service was not as good as I would expect for a tourist destination

Trip planning checklist:

1. Different types of plugs?
2. Need a Visa or other travel document?
3. Arrange airport transportation – uber/parking
4. Time zone change?
5. What is the weather like?
6. Offline maps downloaded
7. Driving differences in Mexico vs. US
8. Can use Costco and how to in Mexico
9. Rearranged phone home screen for travel apps/useful apps
10. Travel credit cards identified and put in wallet
11. Charged electronics like a Go Pro, phones, watches, iPad…
12. Downloaded media while you still have fast internet: music, books, movies, shows
13. Pack your suitcase – decide if checking bag(s) and what that costs
14. Weigh bags/measure bags to meet requirements
15. Email – set away message
16. Airline check-in 24 hours prior to flight

Helpful apps you can use while on your trip:

• Airline app
• Airbnb
• Uber/Lyft
• Maps
• Currency exchange app (like Global Convert)
• Translation app
• Xcaret parks app

Tips I noted before our trip:

• Carry your passport at all times but don’t lose it!
• Don’t use the taxis but make sure you know where Uber can/can’t go (airport, hotel zone in the wee hours in places)
• Don’t drink the water (don’t brush teeth with the water)

Movies we watched or wanted to watch that were set/filmed in Cancún/Mexico

Movie	Date	Location notes
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar	2021	Hyatt Zilara Cancun, Blvd. Kukulcan, Cancún; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Cancun, Mexico; Mexico City, Mexico
Going Overboard	1989	Cancún, Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo, Mexico
License to Kill	1989	El Castillo, Chichén Itzá,
Against All Odds	1984	(Pyramid & Mayan Football Pitch); Cozumel, Quintana Roo; Sacred Centote, Yucatán
When a Man Loves a Woman	1994	La Casa Que Canta Hotel in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Books I read (I didn’t finish the travel guide but bounced around looking at the different sections/recommendations)

The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer	Next-to-last YA book in the Artemis Fowl series. From Iceland to Cancun.
Feathered by Laura Kasischke	YA book about two best friends who travel to Cancun for Spring Break.
Curses! by Aaron J. Elkins	An archaeological dig on the Yucatan Peninsula uncovers an ancient Mayan curse, but anthropology professor Gideon Oliver suspects the spate of murders that follow may have a more corporeal cause
First Things First by Delinsky, Barbara	Chelsea Ross is renowned for her success at locating missing children. But when a wealthy Boston socialite asks her to track down her 40-year-old son, Chelsea is thrown for a loop.
Travel Guide	Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán by Harrell, Ashley

And my packing list for the 7-night trip:

• Plane outfit Outgoing and Plane outfit Returning
  • Sneakers, socks, comfy pants, comfy shirt, underclothes, sweater
• Seat Bag Folding backpackSeat Bag Folding backpack
  • Electronics pouch, iPad charger, Phone, Phone charger brick (2), Phone charger cord (2), cordless charger pad, Carplay cord, Watch charger, Watch, Airpods, Airtag, External Battery, iPad, Reusable water bottle, Sunglasses, Sunglasses case, Carabiner (when swimming), Wallet, Passport, Driver’s License, travel credit card, Dollars/$5 dollars/Cash in Pesos, Ziplocs

• Toiletries bag
  • Toothbrush, Toothbrush cover, Toothpaste, Floss, mouthwash, Deodorant, Eye drops, Clippers, Tweezers, Chapstick, Hairbrush, q-tips, sunscreen face, sunscreen body, aftersun care, First aid, Tylenol, Zzzquil, Dayquil/Niquil, antibiotic cream, Face lotion, Body lotion, Hand sanitizer, Bidet
• Plane Carry On
  • Airtag, Water shoes, water shoe container, folding hat, swimsuit jumpsuit, one-piece swimsuit, 2-piece swimsuit, rash guard, swim shorts, short wetsuit, 7 shirts, 1 pair shorts, 1 pair leggings, 7 pairs socks, 7 pairs underclothes, black sports bra, packing cube for underclothes, packing cube for shirts, flippers, scuba shoes, dive log, snorkel mask, towel, PADI whistle, PADI scuba certification

• Shared carry-on items
  • Waterproof phone pouch, waterproof pouch bag, mask defog/cleaner, Bug spray/bug repellant, Bug Bite fixer, GoPro, GoPro bag, GoPro accessories, Laundry bag, snorkel wet bag, snorkel/beach dry bag, dive flashlight, wet packing cube for swimming clothes

• What I didn’t need to bring:
  • Fins (included in dive price or Xcaret plus)
  • Reusable water bottle (only fill stations in Xcaret and didn’t carry a bag the whole time)
  • Dive flashlight (too difficult to use in dive but could have used during dive)
  • Single phone dry bag (only used waist pouch)
• What I could have used if we brought
  • Niquil DayQuil nose stuffiness travel medicine
  • Travel Neosporin
  • Cough drops
  • Tissues
  • Conditioner
  • More zip locks
  • Napkins
  • Travel Poo-Pourri /bathroom refresher
• What I was super glad we brought:
  • A dry waist pouch to keep our phones and cash on us at all times
  • Portable bidet
  • Multiple swimwear options
  • Shortie wetsuit
  • The Uber app on my phone
  • The Globe Convert app on my phone to quickly understand local pricing
  • GoPro