Cancun, Mexico

We recently returned from another trip to Cancun, our favorite city to visit when we want to enjoy some beach time. Also, my sister lives in Cancun, making it extra special for us to visit. Cancun’s proximity to many nearby destinations makes it a great central location to stay while exploring the Yucutan Peninsula.

We made our first trip to Cancun for our honeymoon in January, 1994. We both wanted to go somewhere exotic, somewhere outside of the United States. Oh, and we were young and just bought our first house, so we didn’t have a lot of money at the time. Since I speak Spanish, Mexico seemed like the perfect place to go.

Despite the ancient Mayan ruins in nearby Tulum (80 miles/130 km, approx. 1.5 hours) and Chichen Itza (124 miles/200 km, approx. 2.5 hours), Cancun is actually a very young city. “Cancún is a planned city, created to foster tourism. When development of the area as a resort was started on January 23, 1970, Isla Cancún had only three residents…” – Wikipedia.

One nearby place worth exploring is Chichen Itza, an ancient city built by the Mayan people sometime between AD 600-1200. We visited Chichen Itza for the first time in 1994. Back then we were able to climb to the top of the El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcan) pyramid. The structure is 24 m (79 ft) high, plus an additional 6 m (20 ft) for the temple at the top. It dominates the center of the Chichen Itza archaeological site.

You can read more about our visits to Chichen Itza in this post.

Another place we have enjoyed exploring is the Parque Urbano Kabah, a park in the downtown area that was declared a protected nature zone in 1995.

This park is home to Coatis, locals call them Tejones (pronounced ‘Te-Ho-Nes’), a member of the raccoon family. Unlike most other member of the species, Coatis are active during the daylight hours, which means they are very easy to find duing our walks.

Even though they look cute and cuddly, they are wild and you should keep your distance.

Another great day trip from Cancun is Isla Mujeres (which translates to “Women’s Island”), just a short ferry ride from one of the ports in Cancun. “The history of the island dates back 1500 years when it was the sanctuary for the Mayan goddess Ixchel, known as the goddess of the moon, happiness, medicine and fertility. A temple to honor Ixchel was known to exist on the southern tip of the island and doubled as a lighthouse for those who would come to worship. – IslandLifeMexico.com

“To take a ferry to Isla Mujeres, use the Ultramar ferry from Cancun, which offers comfortable, modern boats with frequent departures. You can buy tickets at the ferry terminals or online, and there are multiple departure points in Cancun, including in the Hotel Zone and Puerto Juarez. The ride takes about 20 to 30 minutes and is the primary way to travel between the two locations.” – Google A.I. Summary

This is a fun day trip, or you can book a night or two at one of the many hotels or Airbnb’s. One of the things that makes this island so much fun is that most people travel around by golf cart. There are quite a few rental companies near the port when you arrive on the island.

“Golf Carts are a hugely popular way to get around the island and can be rented in town on Rueda Medina when you disembark from the ferry. The price will be between $50-$65 for a day. Make sure the cart is in good working shape when you rent it and we suggest taking a quick video of it before setting out, especially of any dings or dents already present. Prices are regulated and the same everywhere so look for the best quality and service.” – Island Life Mexico

When you rent a golf cart, you will be asked to hand over your ID for them to keep. This is the reason we have an International Driver’s Permit. In the United States you can pick up an International Driver’s Permit from any AAA office for about $20 USD – you don’t need to be a member of AAA to get one. We don’t mind turning it over and, if it gets lost or stolen, it contains very little personal information and is much easier to replace than other forms of ID we have – a tip we learned from Rick Steves.

There is plenty to do on Isla Mujeres. Whether you just want to relax on a beach, take a sunset cruise, or have an adventure diving or snorkeling around the nearby MUSA Underwater Sculpture Park, go deep sea diving or swim with whale sharks, you’re sure to find something to do.

Our favorite past time is to rent a golf cart and drive the perimeter of the island, enjoying the views and ocean breezes, while stopping along the way for some cerveza, good food and toes in the sand.

Finally, this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Tulum, which is only a short 45-minute drive south of Cancun. “Tulum is a popular resort town in Mexico located on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its Mayan archaeological ruins, beautiful beaches, and vibrant nightlife. Visitors can explore the clifftop Tulum Ruins overlooking the sea.” – Google AI Summary

“One of the last cities inhabited by the Maya people, Tulum was once an important trading hub, generating enormous wealth exporting jade and obsidian. Now, it’s a fascinating city-museum, with well-preserved temples & stunning coastal views.” – TulumRuins.net

Cancun is a very colorful and vibrant city. Here are a few more pictures.

With so much to do, beautiful beaches, and a sister to hang out with us, we know we’ll be back.