It’s a 15-mile strip of sand shaped like the number seven. Is it safe to drive in Cancun & the Yucatan? It’s my favorite way to get around! The COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).The virus was confirmed to have reached Mexico in February 2020. Taking a taxi is what most tourists do, but beware that the Yucatan has a “taxi mafia” that charges high prices whenever they think they can get away with it. The best site to book your car is with Discover Cars. But it’s also the most expensive and most crowded season. The Cancun Scenic Tower (aka Torre Escenica) offers amazing views of the Caribbean coast, and Cancun itself. Depending on the amount you added, the company will give you free credits. From Cancun Airport, you can rent a car, hire a private or shared shuttle or take the ADO bus to Tulum. Mexico is on my radar for next year. It is definitely doable. Pick the perfect room & save! The majority of states in Mexico, such as Quintana Roo, Yucatan, and Baja California Sur, are operating under the “orange” designation for COVID-19. Keep reading for tips on how to save money and reduce your spending while in Cancun. Las Coloradas, or “the red ones” are pink lakes in a small fishing village with the same name. Your email address will not be published. Spend the day sailing to the best islands off Cancun, snorkeling in turquoise waters and looking for for nesting birds. A Temazcal ritual is a traditional Mayan ceremony of purification which takes place in a tiny hut. These journeys generally last about 2 hours, and companies offer a bad-weather refund if it gets too stormy or rough. Please keep in mind that this summary is for two people, which means if you are one person you can cut it in half! Mexico has always been somewhere we have known little about in terms of affordability and always expected it to be maybe cheaper than the US but not as cheap. What would you do if someone handed you the keys to a $200,000 exotic luxury car and told you to drive it as fast as you can? Hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and many are operating at only 50-60% capacity. The view is spectacular and it’s my favorite beach in Cancun. The 13 miles of Cancun’s coast is lined with Instagram-worthy beaches featuring soft, white sand, teal-blue waters and a cool breeze. This is where all the people who work in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula tourist industry actually live. This is where most people stay. Required fields are marked *. One of the best sites for tourists to experience this underwater world is just at the end of Cancun’s hotel zone in an area known as Punta Nizuc. Mexico is cheap, but Cancun is relatively expensive. The tropical breeze and bird spotting complete this amazing tropical heaven. Downtown (Centro) is walkable as well, but you aren't as close to … Seasons & Weather, My Run-In With A Notorious Mexican Drug Cartel, How safe is Cancun? Once here you can relax and just take some pictures of the wildlife, before picking up your snorkeling gear and dive into the clear waters. Using the internet however will deplete your credits a lot quicker than calling or texting. But in the first 8 months of 2018, there were 342 homicides in Cancun alone. Thanks Laura! Super cheap. The music and food come from different Mexico areas, which makes the party a colorful display of local culture. I am sure your friends will have a great time there. Welcome to Cancun Airport Transportation.At Cancun Airport Transportation we have more than 20 years of experience doing Cancun Airport Transfers and Tours in Cancun and Riviera Maya so we know what you need.. We provide Private, safe and reliable Transportation from the Cancun Airport to your Hotel in different parts of the area, like Cancun Hotel Zone, Cancun Downtown, Playa Mujeres, … Mexico’s Riviera Maya and Isla Mujeres offer some of the most beautiful sunsets in the Caribbean and the best way to enjoy them is on a romantic sunset sailing trip off the coast. This is so useful, great work going to all that effort for the cost breakdown. I’ll be the first to tell you that Cancun is not my favorite place in Mexico. It has 4 terminals for national and international flights with more than 50 available destinations in North, Central, South America, and Europe operated by 20 international Airlines. One of the popular things to do in Cancun is riding All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) through a dirt road jungle route. Explore the freshwater canals and mangroves of Cancun, learning about local plant & animal biodiversity then watch an amazing sunset from your kayak. Make sure to bring your swimsuit and visit the hidden beach! Great stuff!! If your hotel is out of the immediate center you will neeed to take a taxi. We would love to know your take on it as Cancun has grown on us and now we love it. Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 11:00PM These ruins were probably related to Isla Mujeres and an important port for the Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula. $155 usd From: 135 usd Book Now. Most people visit them to go swimming, scuba diving or snorkeling. For more hotel options in Cancun click here. The Hotel Zone is the primary tourist area, synonymous with resorts, catamarans, wild nightlife and beaches. It’s a little bit more than what the locals pay but that is to be expected especially if you are only staying for a short time. That said, the city does have some awesome nightlife and beautiful beaches. Eat like the locals! You can also bring kids if they are above 8 years old – but it’s not appropriate for smaller children, as there is a lot of noise and people who party hard. March is typically when Spring Break madness happens. The best place to visit sea turtles is Tortugranja, the turtle farm and conservation center on Isla Mujeres. You would love it! The closest theme park where you can enjoy zip lining is Selvatica. We spent most of our time eating delicious street food and almost never went to a restaurant, unless someone else was paying. There’s signs everywhere offering a place to stay or rent. Cancun is less than cheap, actually. This former port city is home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, as well as beach clubs and yoga retreats. In the Cancun hotel zone, 8.5 pesos will get you to anywhere on the strip and even to downtown Cancun inland, where you can connect to long-distance buses to Tulum, Merida, and even Chetumal to cross over to Belize. Tulum was a major trading and religious center between the 11th and 16th centuries, and is one of the coolest Mayan archaeological sites in Mexico. They serve drinks in massive “yard” glasses, and a Conga line could break out at any moment. There’s a nice park too, called Parque Las Palapas. It is Bianca. Check out Mezcal Hostel if you are backpacker, Bed and Breakfast Eclipse if you are budget traveler who rather stays in a hotel than a hostel, Emporio Hotel & Suites Cancun if you want to stay on the beach and don’t mind paying for it. However, the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) reported two cases of COVID-19 in mid-January 2020 in the states of Nayarit … Save money by eating out at local taco stands, getting out of your resort, and renting a car to explore on your own. Temazcal was performed since ancient times, is seen as a purification ceremony that cleans the body, mind, and soul. Where I live, I can get all the way to the city bus station for 8 pesos. Had no idea Cancun could be this cheap! Just pay attention to the tides and warnings, as Delfines is known for strong currents, so you might want to skip swimming and stick with sunbathing. My favorite! If you’re visiting Cancun, you probably shouldn’t leave without stopping by the town and Ruins of Tulum, one the largest cities built by the Mayans. Cancun Airport is located 34.42 mi from Playa del Carmen, (approximately 50 minutes away), it can be less or more depending on the traffic situation. Located in the heart of the Hotel Zone, guests will find stunning outdoor pools with swim-up bars, a decadent on-site spa, and private butlers and pool attendants that are ready to tend to your every need. Visiting Cuba as an American Without a Visa. There is music, tequila, and delicious food, which makes Xoximilco a great way to taste local culture. But there are so many more things to do in Cancun besides the beaches! It is the closest airport to Tulum, at about 75-miles away. I’ve got a couple of friends who are going out there this summer so will send them a link to this. Your email address will not be published. Looking to enjoy a traditional Mexico fiesta? Petty crime like theft can be an issue, so don’t leave stuff in your rental car or unattended on the beach! Hey Autumn, the food was delicious and stomach issues free! An alluring adults-only property, Le Blanc Spa Resort is one of the top resorts in Cancun. Mexico has its share of drug cartel problems, but overall Cancun is pretty safe compared to other regions of Mexico. Just remember to bargain as much as you can, especially during low season. You can drive around the island in a rented golf-cart, visit Ixchel temple, check out Garrafon Reef Park, go kayaking, snorkeling, or visit the 19th-century ruins of Hacienda Mundaca. The sim card costs 150 pesos and came with 50 credits to use. You can spend a whole day there going cave swimming, rafting and zip lining, plus there is a lunch buffet and unlimited drinks. You can also join a local Mexican Taco Tour if you’d prefer someone else led the way! Lucha Libre events are held downtown at Arena Cancun every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday night. All these adventure parks usually have other activities too, like ATVs and cenotes. The pork is marinated in a combination of dried chilies, spices, and pineapple. Green turtles, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles are the most common species you can see around Cancun and Isla Mujeres. There are two fighters, the good and the bad, who use a mix of wrestling, acrobatics and theatrical maneuvers in an attempt to win. Each fight lasts about three rounds and usually ends with someone thrown outside the ring. You can book a snorkeling tour directly starting at $30 USD. Travelers who decide to spend the night in the area can look for accommodation in Rio Lagartos, located 30 minutes away. Watch sea turtles hatching at the local turtle farm and conservation center. Thanks for the extra advice Claudia. Vist to Cancun is very affordable. Keep up the good work. All in all, however, I would not spend more than a day in Cancun. It’s quite a show! AIRbnb and such sources should be now suspended for the period of quarantine. The bright pink color of the lakes comes from red plankton and shrimp. Tours leave from Cancun, Isla Mujeres, or Isla Holbox. You can rent your own paddle board from the beach, or join a group trip to explore a certain area. The only areas that are actually walkable to restaurants and stores are 5 de Deciembre, and the Romantic Zone. The Mexpro website explains that if you plan to drive a vehicle beyond the Mexico Free Zone you will need to purchase a Mexico Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP). If you’re a foodie, make sure to stuff your face full of tacos from the vendors there. Other options are to paddle Nichupte Lagoon mangrove jungle or go on a sunrise wildlife tour. But if you’re planning to use it as a base to explore the rest of the area, 10-14 days will allow you to see a lot, and give you plenty of relaxing beach time too. The best time to swim with the sharks is between June and September. We’re heading back to Mexico mid year and are determined to make it to the Yucatan this time. If you get sick of the tourist Disneyland that is the Hotel Zone, Downtown Cancun provides a taste of local culture, with delicious street food, small shops, green parks, and Mexican Wrestling! But the highlight is the ancient walled city perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Caribbean ocean. Xplore is just one of Mexico’s many popular “adventure theme parks” located South of Cancun. My favorite was Verde Lucero, which has its own zipline! This is the easiest way to rent a car and drive in Mexico. A taxi will cost about 40 U.S dollars from the airport to Playa. One of the best ways to see what the weather is or what condition the beach is in by looking at a live webcam. Expedia's Hotel Search makes booking easy. There is a huge expat community here. In our opinion, Cancun is cheap. Working: There are some places that hire expats, though it’s under the table. It helped me more to from their end. So depending on your travel style and budget, you can spend anywhere from $10 USD to $400+ USD per night. It is the best way to go, as it is free and you get to stay with locals and learn the local way of life, language and culture. Hi Radhika, The Yucatan is beautiful, you have to visit at least one cenote while there. However, you can only retrieve these free credits if you register your phone. The Hotel Zone has many beaches where you can relax and sip your margarita, but some of them really stand out, thanks to their beauty and atmosphere. The new museum opened in 2012 with all kinds of cool Mayan archeological relics. I want emails from Road Affair with travel updates and marketing. One amazing underwater attraction is the Underwater Museum — or MUSA. Below you will find the complete summary of the amount we spent in Cancun during our month long stay. You have just about sold me on a visit to to Cancun. You can find the latest updates on traveling to Mexico here. The Maya city of Chichen Itza is a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its amazing ancient pyramids. HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you’ll find a map of highlights in Cancun, Mexico. Cancun has tens of thousands of rooms available for tourists, everything from budget backpacker hostels to 5-star luxury hotels. Located on Playa Delfines, which is easily accessible by bus, the sign is one of the local landmarks. Below you’ll find suggestions for good places to stay during your trip to Cancun depending on your budget. From tacos to full three course meals you will pay anywhere from 10 to 45 pesos (~$1-4 USD). Cancun International Airport is a world-class airport in Mexico and Latin America. Explore Mexico’s most famous archaeological zone, have lunch in a local colonial town, and swim in a cenote. You can feed them and interact with them under the care of a guide as well as crabs, urchins, and conches. For more hotel options in Cancun click here. Once on Delfines, you can enjoy the local white sand beach, which remains one of the least developed beaches in the area. Keep scrolling for info on all three options. By the way, I'm in the residential area, which is about a 10-15 minute ride to downtown central and the famous romatica zone and 5 minutes from the cruise pier and marina area. 65 Followers, 3 Following, 22 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from 1001 Spelletjes (@1001spelletjes) What about other suggestions? Just use free WiFi, which is not that hard to find. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. If you are on a tight budget or just prefer to save your money and spend it elsewhere, couchsurf. There is no do-it-yourself laundry. Huge hands, statues of locals and VW Beetles, the exhibits are surrounded by ocean wildlife giving you a really unique experience. One of the most touristy things you can do in Cancun is to get a picture with the colorful Cancun sign. The Yucatan peninsula is one of the places where you can swim with these large harmless creatures – an adult can reach 12 m long and can weight up to 20 tons, making them the largest known fish. Did you guys run into any stomach ailments, though? Between May and October you can see the turtles lay their eggs on the beach. Our budget was to spend no more than $1000 USD a month and $45 USD a day for the both of us. ... Cancun, Q.Roo. Cancun has always been a pretty chilled out place and boasted lower crime stats than much of the rest of Mexico. To add more credits to your phone, just go to any supermarket or gas station and give the cashier your Telcel number and the amount you would like to pay. Home » North America » Mexico » 30 Fun Things To Do In Cancun: Mexico’s Gateway To The Yucatan, As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. From there, you can book a private shuttle or take the public ADO bus (much cheaper). We couchsurfed for the first few days in Cancun and on our trips to Isla Mujeres, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. Fighters wear masks and are sometimes accompanied by little-people and drag-queens. Cancun is divided into two areas. There are regular ADO buses that will take you all around the Yucatan Peninsula from the ADO Cancun Bus Station. It’s located about 2.5 hours away from Cancun by car, or 3 hours by bus, and is the Yucatan’s most popular Mayan site. Some of the best cenotes near Cancun are located along the Ruta De Cenotes (Cenote Route) near the city of Puerto Morelos, about a 30-minute drive away. Join a paddleboard tour across the beautiful Nichtupe lagoon canals while looking for local wildlife. Don’t worry about the water in Cancun, that’s an old myth. Overall, we would recommend skipping restaurants and going to street vendors for a cheap food fix. It’s a theme park designed after the original Xochimilco in Mexico City, where families and friends rent out boats called trajinera and float down the water listening to live musicians. This is where most people stay. Baby whale sharks are very playful and known to play with swimmers. Most places in Cancun charge between 10 – 12 pesos per kilo with a minimum of 3 kilos. But seriously, why would you go and eat at a fancy, i.e expensive, restaurant when you can get three tacos on the street for 25 pesos and be full. Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its amazing cenotes, natural pools formed in limestone caves. The ticket costs about $5 and grants you entry to San Miguelito ruins, which is a spread of temples, pyramids and family homes of Mayans, set in the jungle. 30 Fun Things To Do In Cancun: Mexico’s Gateway To The Yucatan, you can swim with these large harmless creatures, When Is The Best Time To Visit Iceland? There is easy to find the any transportation guide for moving one place to another place, Oscar Cancun Shuttle Service is one of them. "We had them for all our other needs in town, including moving to another Airbnb house and to the airport." This is a Mexican party held on boats which travel on the canals near Cancun. Xplor Adventure Park also has two zip line circuits, each with 7 different routes, with the highest point at 45 m (147 ft). If you don’t want to wait until you get to Cancun to find a place to stay I recommend you check out Airbnb. Coba and Tulum Private Tour. If you spend long enough there, and are lucky to know some locals who do not work in the tourism industry (so, not just hostel owners), you can find cheap decent places to eat for – yes – 45 pesos (like in Mexico City). Beaches near Cancun are some of the best places in the world to find sea turtles. The Hotel zone, which is the tourist area is probably 20 minutes from Downtown Cancun. Ok, I can’t talk about Cancun without mentioning the nightlife. Transportación Cancún Hacia Cancun Hotel Zone ... y nos sentimos más seguros despues de llegar cansados del viaje o del parque de playa y que nos lleven a nuestro airbnb. It’s wayyyyyy cheaper then the US and have a lot of culture. I’ve always been very skeptical about Cancun and have been tempted to skip it but I enjoyed reading your post. Most people get to Cancun after flying into Cancun International Airport. Want to improve your photography? Most of the time I spend in Cancun and near by. You have your choice between a few different models, including the Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Murcielago, Lamborghini Gallardo, Audi R8, and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. For our cellphone services, we went with the company called Telcel which seems to be very popular in Cancun. Some sites will call the Romantic Zone - Old Town but they're the same place. Taxis in downtown usually have a flat rate and don’t cost more than $3 USD, unless you’re going to a touristy area where they will obviously charge you more. If we had to suggest the best way to get around Cancun, we would have to say public buses. Don’t believe us? We are not just suggesting that you eat street food because it is cheap but also because it is good, you support locals and get to experience Cancun the local way. 500 sculptures were created from materials which encourage coral reef development. Visit in October for the. Cenotes are created when the limestone surface collapses, creating an opening into the Yucatan’s large underground river system. Drinking water is treated locally and then often treated again at hotels or restaurants. With very cheap budget I have completed my tour. The service provides text, calls (both local and international) and data. You strip down to your underwear (or swimsuit), then enter the sweat lodge which is heated with hot rocks & water, turning it into a steamy sauna. You can also try tacos with beef, chicken, shrimp, and if you’re brave, even cow brains or udder. All the Best Webcams in Playa Del Carmen and Beyond. Flamingo tours can be booked from Rio Lagartos too. Transportation in Cancun is fairly good and cheap of course, just the way we like it. There’s also the thousands of students who visit Mexico during Spring Break to party hard and get a tan — completely skipping any cultural experiences. Most of the buses run until about 10-11pm and are marked with numbers and popular destinations on the front of the bus. The fresh water coming from the rocks underneath mixes with the salt water from the sea offering a comfortable, prosperous and protective environment for many species of fish to reproduce. What do you know about Mexico? ;). Food will always when over a picture of dirty laundry hehe. Best Airbnb in Punta Cancun: Cozy Apartrment in the Hotel Zone Smack dab in the heart of the city is this modern apartment. Hopefully you found it useful. If you know what to look for (you will after reading this article :D) and you don’t care about staying in an expensive all-inclusive resort, Cancun is actually quite a cheap place to visit in Mexico. There are many companies which offer ATV tours of the jungle, one of them being Xplor Park. From fancy beach resorts to backpacker hostels, Cancun has all kinds of accommodations. Enjoy! How Many Days Should You Spend In Cancun? All Rights Reserved. El Meco is a set of ancient Maya ruins that aren’t well known about, located North of Downtown Cancun. This sleepy fishing village offers a well-deserved pause from the crazy nightlife of Cancun. USA Transfers Official Site | Over 9 Million passengers since 1999 +15000 TripAdvisor reviews. Nichupte Lagoon is an enormous body of water made up of 5 different lagoons called Nichupte’, Río Inglés, Rio del Amor, Caleta Nizuc y Bojórquez. The waters are surrounded by jungle paradise, heaven for bird watchers and biologists. If it’s your first time booking with Airbnb, click here to get $40 off your first stay. If you are looking to travel on a budget, visit Cancun during the rainy season, from July to October. Thanks Conor. Renting a car offers the best flexibility to explore more remote and less touristy spots on the Yucatan Peninsula. Many items are handcrafted and unique, so they make great travel gifts. Spend the day sailing off the coast of Cancun, snorkeling in turquoise waters and relaxing on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Did you know, that half of a grilled chicken with frijoles (bean sauce), arroz (rice), salsa (sauce) and tortillas cost 48 pesos (~$4 USD) in downtown. It looks absolutely stunning. Experience a traditional Mayan healing and purification ceremony promoting physical well-being and healing. So not that far. Give Xoximilco a try! You won’t regret it. You can compare and book bus or minivan tickets on Bookaway. Explore downtown Cancun with a local guide, looking for all the best street art while learning the stories behind the artists. From textiles to maracas and leather items, you can find some cool Mexican souvenirs at Mercado 28. Learning from other photographers is the fastest way. Driving in a foreign country can be overwhelming, but in Mexico, we find it not too difficult. It’s a 15-mile strip of sand shaped like the number seven. The buses not going towards the hotel zone are 7.50 pesos (~$0.75 USD) per person and the buses going to the hotel zone cost 9.50 pesos (~$0.95 USD) per person. If you’re planning to spend some time in Cancun, I wanted to recommend some of my favorite fun and unusual things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Playa is located 50 miles south of Cancun. Isla Mujeres, which translates to “The Island of Women”, gets its name from the temple of Ixchel, the Maya goddess of fertility. Make sure to order some Tacos al Pastor, the classic Mexican-shawarma style pork meat taco featuring a pineapple slice on top. Food in Mexico is just amazing isn’t it? While you can’t drive over the US/Mexico border, you can still fly to cities like Cancun. A visit to Cancun doesn’t have to be expensive. The Whale Shark is on the endangered species list, so having the opportunity to swim with these magnificent creatures is going to leave a strong impression. For example, when we added 100 credits (100 pesos), we got 20 extra credits. © 2021 Road Affair, LLC. To get these gigs you will definitely need to be in town and getting to know the people, places, and other expats. Eat your way through Cancun on an authentic Mexican Taco Tour! Here you will find a lively atmosphere, where everyone is singing and dancing, plus you can eat there too. When we got to Mexico, we knew we were going to stay for a longer period of time and decided to rent an apartment instead of staying at a hotel. The house is spacious and well ventilated, it is very well located in the downtown area of Cancun. Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Excellent post, I love it when people are honest and give the real prices etc. Go snorkeling at some of Cancun’s best spots, including the MUSA Underwater Museum (if requested). There are several locations where newbies can learn scuba diving and get their PADI license. The best nightclubs in Cancun usually have long waiting lines, but it’s worth the wait. Stop by one of the local restaurants for food at a fraction of Hotel Zone prices too! A front row seat costs about $12 USD with beer and snacks available for sale. Most sunset sailing trips out of Cancun also offer an open bar and snacks, so you can sit back and relax. The temazcal ceremony takes place in complete darkness, as the shaman pours water over the hot rocks, chanting and using different herbs to summon spirits. "Our family of four (kids 14 and 16) spent a full day with Manny and a driver, leaving our hotel in Cancun at 10am and returning early evening." The ATV ride is included in the all-inclusive park entry fee of $120. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. If you are looking for nightclubs and bars, worry no more they are literally at the doorstep of this home. This means there are some restrictions, but not a total lock-down. MUSA continues to expand, as more sculptures are added, while the old ones are being eaten away by marine creatures. And I would much rather see a photo of more food than laundry any day! The street food looks fantastic! Damn I really want to go to Mexico now! All my experiences during visit in Cancun was amazing. The tropical beach backdrop is the main attraction of this picturesque, much-visited small ruin on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. Hear about the history of Cancun as the tower slowly spins 360° for a spectacular birds-eye view of the entire Hotel Zone from the 100 m (300 ft) tall tower. Mercado 28 is easy to reach by bus from the Hotel Zone, but if you have a rental car, remember which lot you park in, as there are 4 different entrances and parking lots that look very similar.