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Let's dive into everything you need to know before visiting Cancun Mexico! From what tours and excursions to go on to transportation services! This immersive travel guide hits it all, giving you personal reccomendations to make your tropical getaway to Mexico a trip to remember!
WHERE TO STAY IN CANCUN
Luke and I love a good all-inclusive resort, especially when the price is right! We stayed at Iberostar Coral Level Cancun (adults only) in March for 4 nights. The flights and hotel included cost us $1,200 total. For the caliber of hotel this was a fantastic deal! We booked our stay directly through Iberostar.com. Sometimes resorts offer there own promotions and deals! It is worth looking into the hotels official website before booking through a 3rd party such as Expedia, Kayak etc.
Our room had an ocean view, a king size bed with a sitting area, an amazing shower, and a balcony that featured a tub!
The hardest part about traveling is keeping everything organized and packing correctly. Over the years I have collected a few items that are convenient and make traveling easier, while other items just bring me joy. Once you bring these functional packing essentials with you on vacation, there's no going back!
THINGS TO DO IN CANCUN
We took a snorkel and speed boat tour through Cancun's mangroves and snorkeled a reef that featured an underwater statue! We drove our own boat following the guide leading us. The boat is fast and easy to drive. We booked this experience last minute and had an absolute blast!
DAY TRIP TO CHICHEN ITZA AND CENOTES
Take a day trip to Chichen Itza, where the echoes of ancient civilizations resonate in the air of this UNESCO World Heritage site! Visiting Chichen Itza is also accesible if you are staying in Tulum or the Maya Riviara area. Most tours include a visit to Cenotes too! We booked a tour to Chicken Itza and a Cenote, which turned out to be one of the most breath taking experiences we've had in Mexico! Read more about this experience and our time in Tulum.
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO ISLA MUJERES
I highly recommend taking a day trip over to the Isla Mujeres! There are two ways to get to the Island of Women, by ferry or by a catamaran cruise tour. The ferry is the cheapest way to get to Isla Mujeres, but many people prefer to book the catamaran cruise which often includes snorkeling, drinks, and snacks. While also giving you a few hours to explore the island yourself!
We chose to take the ferry from Puerto Juarez to Isla Mujeres and we booked through Ultamar. Round trip tickets cost $19 USD per person. The Puerto Juarez port was a 25 minute cab ride from our hotel.
There is a closer ferry port to Cancun's Hotel Zone called Playa Tortugas. The Playa Tortugas port has fewer scheduled times the ferry runs. Just be sure to check the time schedule to see which port works best for you.
WHAT TO DO IN ISLA MUJERES
Rent a golf cart for $40 USD to use the whole day! You will easily spot where the golf carts are rented along the main street close to the ferry port. It was great, easy to find parking, and explored the whole island up and down. Be sure to visit Playa Norte, the Isla Mujeres sign and the turtle sanctuary! Playa Norte is one of the most beautful beaches in Mecixo with crystal clear blue water and white sand.
SCUBA DIVING | ISLA MUJERES
Once we arrived at Isla Mujeres we had a short walk to the dive shop where Luke and I were fitted for our Scuba gear. We booked a 2 tank dive with Squalo Adventures. We dove at the MUSA underwater museum and the second dive was a coral reef. If your lucky you'll see turtles near the reef! Unfortunately, we forgot our GoPro on the boat and did not get any footage of our underwater adventure. It was an extra special and a total in the moment experience!
MEXICO TRAVEL TIP
If you are like Luke and I and prefer to be on your own time. I usually look up transportation services through Trip Advisor. Most times you can find a private transportation company (even if they are just offering airport service) contact them directly via email and inquire about hiring a private driver for the day to the destinations you’d like to go.
Most company's I’ve asked have been more then accommodating and offer very reasonable pricing. I have used this method of 'finding an affordable private driver' for our Bali trip and Jamaica vacation.
We personally used USA Transfers for our airport transportation. We booked a private air-conditioned van, no waiting, and it was cheaper then our resorts airport services. Highly recommend.
Dear Traveler,
See you soon in Cancun, Mexico! Hope this itinerary helps you along your journey. Let me know in the comments if you decide to plan a trip to Cancun and what activities you are planning?? I’d love to hear about your upcoming travels. Don't forget to check out other amazing Mexican destinations!