I’ve got this “bad” habit of checking for “nearby” places of interest when I’m planning a trip. So when I was looking up Cuba, I saw how close Mexico was. Having terrible geography of Mexico, my next thought was “it would be so cool if there was a Mayan temple in that area!” Cancún is in the east, so right next to Cuba, and the flight is short, so when I saw it was Chichen-bloody-Itza, the King of all Mayan Temples, I didn’t waste a second!
Cancún is the perfect base for Chichén Itzá.
Getting to and from the airport
If you’re not getting a taxi, the ADO Bus is your next best move. There are stops at each terminal, and go to either the Hotel Zone, or the main bus station downtown (Calle Pinto).
Shopping
Maybe it’s because I like cheap, or maybe it’s because I’d just come from Cuba, but I was really excited by the possibility of supermarkets and easy purchases with a currency I understood!😂
There’s no shortage of convenience stores like 7/11 and all those. However, if you’re looking for a full size supermarket I have the answer: Chedraui. There’s one downtown on Avenida Tulum (which was by our hotel), and an even bigger one in the Hotel Zone.
For souvenirs, I thought the best options were Mercado 28 (a huuuge, and slightly disorienting marketplace, with friendly and energetic locals), or, if you prefer to be left alone to browse without interruptions, there’s a Mexican outlet store in the Hotel Zone, Plaza La Fiesta. Trust me, you’ll notice it.
Zona Hotelera
While we’re mentioning the Hotel Zone, because obviously I can’t write a post on Cancun without mentioning it (and its beautiful beaches!) 👀
First off, getting there is really handy. There’s frequent buses (R1 and R2), and it always costs 12 pesos, whether you’re getting off at the first or last stop of the zone.
This is where you’re going to find your shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels (no way lol).
There’s also a couple of museums and archaeological sites. I went to the Museo Maya, which has a large collection of Mayan artefacts. Do bring your mosquito repellent if you head out to the ruins at the back though.
Kabah Park
One of my favourite places in Cancun, was Kabah Park. I accidentally found this place whilst Googling what kind of wildlife was in the area. We saw a coati, massive (and I mean massive) iguanas, and snakes. I love that it’s just a local park, not one with an entrance fee, and people are just jogging and enjoying life so close to these badass animals!
