Cancun, Mexico
A destination that nearly all United States Citizens are familiar with and one that brings up thoughts of beautiful beaches, All-Inclusive Resorts, shopping and partying. Cancun definitely has all of those things but also has ancient history right in the main tourist zone, theme parks dedicated to the Culture of Mexico, Cirque Du Soleil and more. Its the most visited international destination for US Citizens and one that I do not know that most people fully explore. We have actually only visited Cancun once in March of 2024 so I know we have not seen it all and have a lot more to visit in Cancun. Here is what my experience has been in Cancun.
Getting to Cancun and Transportation
Getting to Cancun is extremely easy from most areas of the world. All major US airlines and Low Cost Carriers fly to Cancun International Airport. We flew from Houston and it was only a couple hour flight to Cancun. Cruise ships do not port in Cancun but stop in areas near Cancun. The Ships port in the island of Cozumel but most tours no longer take you by ferry to the mainland. They also port further South on the Yucatan closer to Belize at the Riveria Maya but it might be too far South to visit areas close to Cancun. Flying to Cancun or the nearby Tulum International airport are the main options. There is also the very new Tren Maya (Mayan Train) that operates throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and crosses into several Mexican states. You could fly into Merida or another location and take the train but its not really necessary. Transportation wise there are plenty of Taxis but I usually do not recommend taking a random Taxi not in the official Taxi line or off the street. Uber works well in the Cancun area and is safe. From the airport to our hotel we took a transfer we booked ahead of time. Its easy to get around the hotel zone as well. We were told by our hotel staff that the local “Red” busses are pretty safe and easy to use. We went ahead and used Uber and booked some good tours while there. Shopping was within walking distance and so were plenty of restaurants if you stay in the main hotel zone.
Country Information
Most US Citizens won’t need a visa or need to fill out any paperwork to enter Mexico. You just need a valid passport. I always recommend checking the US State Department website to check entry information for a country before you go just in case things change. We had no problem getting through after we were asked basic questions. Spanish is the official language but since this is such a heavy tourist area in general English is well known. It will help greatly if you know some basic Spanish when out and about because you cannot guarantee they will know English. Our Spanish was good enough to get us through most conversations. At the time of the writing the Mexican Peso is worth about $.05 dollars so a dollar can go pretty far. Some people will take US Dollars but the Peso is preferred. As with any country situations can change so pay attention to US State Department warnings in a location.
Safety
Safety is always on the mind when people think of Mexico and Central America. Its good to be safety conscious and careful not only when traveling but anywhere you are. The US State Department at the moment of this writing gives Quintana Roo (Cancun) state a level 2 rating (the same as much of Europe) and does not restrict US Government personnel from visiting any area in the state. They do recommend being careful if you are out late at night. We were out at night but with a tour guide only. I personally do not like walking around downtown Houston so I wouldn’t do so in Cancun outside of areas with a good amount of people. Its also advisable not to be out partying late (goes for any US city for that matter) as that is not the safest thing to do. We found the area around our hotel and the places we visited such as Xcaret and Cirque Du Soleil. The museums and Mayan sites we visited are also safe we found. The shopping centers were no different than back home in safety.
Cancun's Mayan History
We flew in pretty early in the morning and after getting through the airport and checking into our hotel we were ready to go. We decided not to stay at an all-inclusive resort to save money as we try to travel on a budget much of the time. We got an Uber and headed to the Museo De Maya De Cancun (The Mayan Museum of Cancun). It is a very nice museum that goes over the history of the Maya Empire and of course the Mayans in the Cancun area. There are videos and many different artifacts you can see. The museum is also at the archeological site of San Miguelito that has a Mayan city. You can walk through a forested area right in the hotel zone to see the remains of the Mayans in the area. It’s a well-done museum that has both Spanish and English signage. It took us an hour or so to finish it up.
After the museum and San Miguelito we headed over to one more Mayan site called El Rey (the King). Its right across from a beach and you can easily miss the site as our Uber driver did as its somewhat hidden. There is a small cost to get in but its worth it. Inside is multiple temples and buildings that had many iguanas sunning themselves. We walked through the ancient city and learned about its history. After touring for half and hour or so we grabbed another Uber to head back to our hotel to relax a bit (and cool off) before our evening excursion.
Cirque Du Soliel - Joya at Vidanta
In the evening, we decided to go to a special Cirque Du Soliel that is a permanent show in Mexico. It is the only international Cirque Du Soliel production we have ever been to. All others have been in Las Vegas or traveling shows in the US. The theater is located at the Vidanta Resort that is just North of Playa Del Carmen. Its around 30 to 45 minutes drive from Cancun depending on the traffic. There are multiple different ticket categories at the show as this is a very unique show. This show has tickets that include a full dinner Cirque Du Soliel style, tickets with just a snack and drinks and then tickets that are just to see the show. We went with the full experience as we have never had Cirque Du Soliel Dinning. Since we did not rent a car as I have never rented a car internationally we opted for the transportation provided by the show for an affordable price. We walked to a pickup spot near our hotel that was in front of a nearby shopping center. A small bus ended up picking us up after a few minutes and got us to the show. The theater is beautiful and looks like a lily flower floating in the water. Inside we ended up having first row seats and the dinner was very unique. Everything was edible including the menu that was like a chip. There were edible flowers, things to mix with each other, dry ice appetizers, a meteor and dinosaur bones with the meal. The desert was served inside a book to open. It was all a great show and the food was good. The food presentation went right with the show that was about a scientist that experiments on many things and his carefree granddaughter. The show was great and had a very good message to it. Afterwards the bus was waiting for us and took us back to where we were picked up from. It was a short walk back to our hotel and there were plenty of people out to make it safe. There are two show options and two pickup times (one for each show) at each stop. The next day we had another adventure on this Easter Weekend!
Tickets and Tour to Joya (click link below):
Xcaret Park
On our last full day on this very quick trip we headed to the Xcaret Park at the advice of a good friend. We originally planned to visit the Coba Mayan City which would have been amazing but we wanted to try out Xcaret. We once again booked transportation with Xcaret and they pick up at your hotel pretty early to get you there when it opens. Xcaret is South of Playa Del Carmen so its closer to an hour drive or over to get there. Our bus came pretty much on time but a few other buses came to take people to other Xcaret parks. They have multiple including an adventure park, a park like Xochimilco in Mexico City and the original park that we visited. Our bus was purple and was decorated with luggage and produce all over the bus. It was made to look like a stereotypical Mexican bus. Inside it was very nice with great AC. We got to the park and got our wrist bands and headed in. The Park is huge and has so much to do. We honestly could take a couple days to see it all. It reminds me of the World Showcase in Epcot in a way but instead showing the different regions, cultures and history of Mexico. There are restaurants that represent the food of different states, a Mayan village that sell crafts representing the culture, a traditional Mexican Cemetary, an underground cathedral, a bird and butterfly sanctuary with waterfalls inside, a replica of the Mayan Ball game court and so much more. There are also shows throughout the day including a show highlighting the great Mexican horse-riding skills. We got our lunch that was included in the price of our package and we ate at the Oaxaca Buffet. It was full of all kinds of traditional Mexican foods including Cactus. After lunch we started to do the more adventurous activities they have. We took a guided boat ride where a guide used a pole to move the boat along a scenic jungle river. There is a large underground river you can float through that is a wonderful experience. It is very long and life vests are required. You go through caves, jungle vegetation and underneath some of the attractions. There are many different exits if you want to get out early and there is signage letting you know how much longer you have and when the next exit is. There are lifeguards swimming through the caves pretty frequently. They have a rope along the cave walls for you to grab onto as well. I really enjoyed the swim and felt very safe the entire time. They also have a nice beach there as well. Xcaret is also built around a small Mayan City so you can also visit the ruins of Mayan temples and learn about its history. They also have an art museum that goes over art and Mexican home styles. After all that activity and getting dressed we watched a couple shows and then headed to the grand finale.
At the end of the day everyone goes to the large theater for the Spectacular show. It has many actors and actresses that show the entire history of Mexico. I have never seen the Mayan Ball game played and they played the game including with a version of the game with the ball on fire. It went over the fall of the Aztec Empire by the hands of the Spanish including re-enacting battles. You see the flying Voladores and then a representation of the different dances and cultures of the various states of Mexico. At the end everyone is brought together for a massive finale that includes many free flying parrots. It is a wonderful show and teaches you so much about the very diverse culture that is in Mexico. We headed back to our bus and went to the hotel. There is only one freeway between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. Unfortunately for us there was a major accident that clogged up the freeway on the way back. Even the emergency vehicles had trouble making it to the accident. We ended up getting in very late (around 1 or 2 in the morning) but our bus driver was entertaining and up beat. There was nothing Xcaret could do and we still had a great time. Our last day we rested, explored the shops a bit (we bought some Bath and Body works items on sale) and then our transfer picked us up and we headed to the airport for our flight home.
Tickets and transportation to Xcaret (click link below):
Our Hotel and the Area
There are plenty of resorts and hotels in Cancun. If you want an All-Inclusive there are plenty of options. They can be very expensive during holidays like Easter so we decided to stay at a cheaper but still nice location in the middle of the hotel zone. All-Inclusive resorts are amazing to stay at and I highly recommend them especially for longer stays but book early if going during a holiday. We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla and it was great for us on this very short trip. The area is very nice and fancy in the hotel zone (La Isla).
Tips and Other Tours
Our first trip to Cancun was a very quick one so we only were able to do a few things but it was still a great trip. There are great beaches, shopping, restaurants and snorkeling in Cancun but there is so much more. I enjoy relaxing days from time to time but I also enjoy seeing the culture and history of the country I’m visiting. In Cancun you can visit Mayan cities like Chichen Itza (home to the El Castillo Pyramid), Tulum and Coba in the area. There are multiple Xcaret parks and Cenotes (water filled sink holes) you can go to. There is ferry service to Cozumel as well you can take. Take some time to enjoy your resort but also take some tours to see more of what the region has to offer. From a safety perspective you should be paying attention to your surroundings and if you stay out late avoid getting drunk as just like in the US it could be trouble. Cancun is a wonderful place to visit so if you get the chance try it out!
If you are Interested in this trip:
Contact Donna Miller and she can help you book your dream trip today including customized trips, guided tours, cruises and much more. Her travel planning services are completely free if you book with her. Contact her at donnamiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com to book today!
