Whether it’s a trip with friends, a wedding, or a honeymoon, today we’re talking about the perfect destination that meets all needs and exceeds expectations for any trip. Cancun, a Mexican city located on the Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean coast, is well-known for its charming beaches, superb resorts, and vibrant nightlife.
It’s a trip filled with fun for singles but also a super romantic destination for couples. This was the destination we chose to enjoy our long-dreamed-of honeymoon. Cancun offers a range of hotels and resorts for every budget and taste. We chose to stay in the Hotel Zone, which stretches for 23 kilometers, with beachfront resorts and very close to the nightlife. It is considered the best area for accommodations because, in addition to having a great location near the city center and main points of interest, it’s shaped like a “7,” which shields the sea from the winds, making the waters calmer for swimming.
We opted for the Krystal Cancun experience with an all-inclusive package (which was very worthwhile) and a room with an oceanfront balcony. The resort is very well located and features four restaurants, three bars, a snack kiosk, an infinity pool, a recreational pool, a spa, a gym, and shops. Everything is well-organized to guarantee the best experience of your life.
With the All-Inclusive option, access to the bars and restaurants is included, with Aquamarina and Las Velas available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Aquamarina doesn’t require reservations at any time, but Las Velas, which offers a romantic dinner setting, requires advance booking. The same goes for Mediterraneo and Mortero, which serve only dinner and have a smart-casual dress code.
Besides many delicious drinks and culinary experiences, the resort has a daily schedule of activities like Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, games, and musical performances. The resort itself is already an incredible experience for both relaxation and fun, so it’s highly recommended to reserve some days just to enjoy everything it has to offer. But also plan other days to explore Cancun and the surrounding areas.
Here are some excursions we highly recommend to elevate your travel experience:
Isla Mujeres
We highly recommend spending a day at Isla Mujeres. Located 13 km from Cancun, this island is on the southwest part of Mexico, also on the Yucatan Peninsula, and is one of 11 municipalities in the state of Quintana Roo. Considered one of the best beaches in the region, with warm, crystal-clear waters filled with dolphins and turtles, it’s also one of the most sought-after islands by tourists. In pre-Hispanic times, the island was dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of the moon, love, and fertility. Mayan girls would make a pilgrimage to her temple as part of their transition from childhood to adolescence. It wasn’t until the 16th century, when the island was invaded by the Spanish, that it was named “Isla Mujeres” due to the many beautiful women on the island, according to Francisco Hernández de Córdoba.
The fastest and easiest way to reach the island is by ferry or booking tours through local agencies. We did a day tour with the Catamaran Cruise, which included an open bar and lunch. The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, or meeting points set by the agency. The catamaran ride is incredibly fun, with a lively DJ and a bar offering refreshing drinks, alongside a tour guide who shares detailed history along the way.
There is a stop for snorkeling and swimming before heading to Playa Norte beach, where lunch is served buffet-style at a delicious restaurant by the sea. You’ll have a few hours of free time to enjoy the beach and explore the center of Isla, filled with local artisan shops, bars, and restaurants offering incredible cuisine and cultural landmarks. The return trip on the catamaran is even livelier, with dance competitions and other fun activities.
Cancun Nightlife
Cancun is known for its lively nights, which attract many American students during Spring Break. A wide range of nightclubs with different music styles and shows cater to various tastes. One of the most famous and sought-after nightclubs is Coco Bongo. A traditional club but with acrobatic, artistic, and musical performances inspired by scenes from famous movies and TV series, reminiscent of Las Vegas nightclubs.
The club became famous due to the movie “The Mask,” starring Jim Carrey in 1994, where he visits a club called Coco Bongo and dances with Tina, played by Cameron Diaz. The night ends with their iconic dance show. For those who want to enjoy the shows from a good and comfortable angle, the Golden Member Ticket is the most recommended option. It offers reserved seats in the upper part of the club, along with an open bar system where waiters take drink orders (saving you the trouble of going to the bar) and serve finger foods like mini burgers, chips, and hot dogs throughout the night. This ticket also allows access to all areas of the club.
Cultural Immersion – Chichen Itza
If you love to travel back in time and immerse yourself in culture, a visit to Chichen Itza is a must. Located about two hours from Cancun, this Mayan archaeological site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and in 2007 was named one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
It served as an important economic and political center for the Mayan civilization and to this day has well-preserved structures, which attracts many tourists and makes it the most visited city in Mexico.
The Temple of Kukulcán is the main monument. At 30 meters high, the structure is made up of square platforms stacked one by one. On each side of the pyramid there are 91 steps that lead to the top of the temple, totaling 365, which represents the Mayan calendar. As a safety and preservation measure, the stairs and the temple cannot be accessed by tourists, and the view can be taken from their surroundings.
During certain times of the year, it is possible to see the image of a serpent reflected in the sunlight.
In addition to this temple, there are many archaeological sites, buildings that reflect the most diverse characteristics, ruins and even a soccer field where it is still possible to have acoustic experiences.
The tour also combines a visit to a Cenote, with a stop for lunch and a taste of the local cuisine.
The Sacred Cenotes, natural wells or pools of fresh water, are formed by an underground system, measuring approximately 50 to 60 meters.
The pre-Hispanic Mayans believed that they were an entrance to the underworld and therefore offered precious objects to the god of water. At a certain point in history, the offerings became human sacrifices, with the victims being children, young maidens and warriors. The platforms served as seats for the participants in the ceremony.
It is now said that their waters have medicinal effects and, in addition to contemplating and admiring this natural beauty, many activities are offered to better interact with nature, such as diving, kayaking, zip-lining and rappelling.
The tour ends in the village of Valladolid, which preserves Mayan culture and heritage and boasts many colonial monuments. The historic quarter is full of charming traditional and colorful aesthetics and you will find many local shops, art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. In some of these stalls, you can learn about the process of making tequila and some special liqueurs from Mayan descendants, as well as participate in tastings.
Cancun, in addition to its paradisiacal beaches with white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters that are perfect for relaxing, is home to a wealth of cultural and historical heritage, with its ruins and archaeological sites that offer an immersion into Mayan culture, and vibrant nightlife full of entertainment with its wide variety of bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
Without a doubt, it is the perfect destination for your next vacation.
