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 visited Cancun itself twice with one being in March of 2024 and the other in January of 2025. We have also visited the region on cruise ships with a day trip from Cozumel to Tulum and a day trip from Progresso to Chichen Itza. Here is what our experiences have been in Cancun and the Riveria Maya.

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. 

On our second trip to Cancun we used transfer services to Playa Del Carmen, to Cancun from Playa Del Carmen and to the airport. When traveling around the hotel zone we used both Uber and our hotel got us a local taxi when we were changing hotels. The Taxi was more expensive than Uber but was very nice and I was able to have a nice conversation with the driver in Spanish. We have not tried the red public busses but we have seen plenty of them and much of the time they are very full.

Food Court

In Terminal 4 of Cancun International Airport, there is a restaurant that serves traditional Yucatan style Mexican food. Mexican food differs from region to region just like in the US so we like trying typical food local to where we visit. The Hacienda Montejo serves food typical to the Yucatan and we have eaten there both times we have departed from Cancun.

Huevos (Eggs) Motulenos
Chilaquiles with eggs
Cancun has a modern airport nicer than some US airports
Public Buses

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. It’s 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. This has been our experience but always look into it yourself and gauge your risk tolerance as anything can happen anywhere. 

Hotels and Resorts we Stayed in or Toured

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 on our first trip to Cancun where we stayed. 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. Peak season is the Winter Time and shoulder season is the Fall and Spring. Low Season is during Hurricane Season. There are many different resorts throughout the Cancun Hotel Zone and throughout the Riveria Maya. 

We can plan and book your Cancun adventure and help with your resort stays. By booking with us there are sometimes specials we can get (not always but we try our best) and you are helping a small business grow. Use our experience and contacts in this area to your advantage and consider us for your booking. 

Cancun Hotel Zone Resorts and Hotels

Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla

On our first very quick trip to Cancun we stayed at a non-all-inclusive hotel in the mid/northern area of the Cancun Hotel Zone (La Isla). The Northern area of the Hotel Zone is where you will find large shopping malls, entertainment and clubs like CoCo Bongo. It’s a busier area of the hotel zone so if you like things lively then this is the area for you. There are pros and cons with staying in all-inclusive and regular hotels. Hotels like the Canopy are cheaper since food and entertainment are not included but you miss out on all the amenities of a resort. Since on this trip we were mainly doing tours outside of the hotel zone it worked out for us. All-Inclusive hotels are wonderful, and we stayed at multiple locations in January of 2025. 

Our Room
Nearby shopping center
The hotel pool

The Seadust Cancun Family Resort

One of the tours we got a wonderful, guided tour of on our most recent trip is the Seadust Cancun Family Resort. It is part of the Playa Resorts Collection that includes wonderful All-Inclusive Resorts we have stayed in while visiting The Dominican Republic and Jamacia. We have found they are high quality and always looking to improve. The Seadust is a family resort that has one of the most unique designs when it comes to the resorts in the area. It is designed to be like a cruise ship on land. It has a large promenade that has many of the different restaurants, shops and bars in an atrium surrounded by the hotel rooms. This way it is a short walk to anywhere you go, and you do not have to go out in the rain.  The promenade has Asian, Italian, New York, a Steak House, a Crepe Shop and so much more including a large buffet at the end. No reservations are needed for any restaurant. It’s decorated as a worldwide theme with Big Ben, the Arc Du Triumph and other landmarks as you walk along. The lobby is very large and the check in desks even has a small set of stairs to help kids check in. The hotel has security that checks every car that comes into the hotel. The design like a cruise ship makes this hotel ideal for families and those that might have mobility issues as it’s not an overly long walk. 

The Hotel Lobby
The lobby and Check in area
Seating area in the lobby
The Japanese Restaurant in the Promenade
Big Ben
The Bakery
Part of the Buffet
The Buffet
24 hour Snack Center

There are many activities at this resort that are good for everyone. The resort has a water park that has a pirate ship for younger kids and a castle with larger water slides. There is also a game room area that was busy with people playing pool, other table games, video games and board games. They have a great selection of board games that you can take with you outside to play games. Nearby the game center there is a nice Mexican restaurant you can go to as well to add to the culinary diversity. In another area of the resort and keeping with cruise them, they have a pretty large theater where they have entertainment. Most resorts have outdoor stages so that is plus in case of the rain. A big surprise for us was seeing our logo on the screen on the big stage welcoming us to the Seadust Resort. It was for sure nice to see on a large screen. Outside of the hotel they have swimming pools and a beautiful beach area. This hotel is on the quieter South side of the Cancun hotel zone, so you get a great beach with a more relaxing vibe. There are bars outside as well in the pool area. Also outside of the hotel, they have a small kids zipline and miniature golf that was popular when we were there. They have a kid’s zone where parents can leave their children with staff where they have plenty of room to play and do things. You have to come back and check on your kids every couple of hours so you need to stay on property for safety reasons. They have a locked gate so the children can’t get out on their own as well. On another floor of the hotel, they have a lounge that reminds me a lot of a cruise ship comedy club or lounge. Our logo was also all over the lounge TVs as well which was very nice. The hotel has a Spa but it is currently under renovations at this time (January 2025). There are tennis courts and other lounge areas that are being renovated as well. The Seadust also has a bakery where you can get your birthday cake made or a cake for any other event. 

Theater Entrance
The Waterpark with Castle and Pirate Ship
Our logo at the theater
The theater
The Kid's Zone
The Mexican Restaurant
Zipline and Miniature Golf
The Pool Area
The Beach Area
The Lounge Area
Our logo in the lounge

The Seadust is an older property so you can see places where there are a bit of wear and tear but to us it is still a very nice property. Playa is renovating the hotel piece by piece and adding new amenities. As for the hotel rooms they have many different categories from a basic two double bed to different suites. Another great thing about the resort is every room has a balcony and has both a lagoon and ocean view based on the hotel design. We toured many different room categories while we were there. The resort is a little more affordable compared to some of the others so that is another positive. The Seadust to us was an impressive and affordable resort that we want to bring our family to stay there in the near future to try out the hospitality for longer than just a tour! 

Standard Double Room

Balcony

Premium Suite Double

Deluxe King Suite

Lots of Storage

Family Suite King

Bunk Beds for kids (3)

Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe

We stayed for two nights and took a guided tour of the Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe. The resort is fairly new and is pretty large with multiple buildings and many different activities and amenities. There are plenty of great restaurants, venues for events like weddings, pools and entertainment at the resort. This hotel has a main building that contains all the non-buffet dinning, shops, the main lobby and a special check in area for Diamond Hilton Members like our selves. The hotel rooms are in a semi-circle around the pool and entertainment area. When we arrived, our driver went to security and gave them our names after checking in. Once we got to the lobby area staff greeted us by name and took us to the elite check in lounge. There we were able to get any snacks and bar items that we wanted. We got some cinnamon tea while waiting. We got a special check in and we were given our very unique room keys that was a wooden disk on a bracelet. It is handy because you never forget your key. Our room was not ready when we got there around 1 pm so we thankfully had time for a tour of the property. 

Enclave Welcome Lounge
Lobby area including tour concierge

We visited all the restaurants on our tour, so we had the chance to see what we might want to try. The resort has a webpage that allows you to see the calendar of events and allows you to make reservations for activities, excursions or restaurants. To eat at a non-buffet restaurant, it’s highly recommended to make reservations. As soon as we checked in right before the tour, we made our reservations. There is a steakhouse in the lobby that’s the smallest restaurant in the hotel, a Teppanyaki/Asian Food, an Italian, Seafood, and Mexican restaurants. There is also a 24-hour snack/grab and go spot, numerous bars and the buffet. The steakhouse was full on our first day as was the Teppanyaki Live Dinning Experience, so we reserved the normal Asian food and the steakhouse for the second night. On the tour we headed up to the top floor to get a high up view of the property from a small event space that can be used for small functions. It’s a very large property and can really see it from up there. We took some time to visit the spa area that was very nice but a little smaller than some spas at resorts. The hotel has a nice kid’s zone where parents can leave children to play (there are age restrictions). In the pool area there is a very large pool with a swim up bar and an area were activities go on throughout the day that you can check on the website. One morning we saw water aerobics going on in an area of the pool. The buffet is in the middle of the pool area and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Above the buffet is during the day is the private Enclave Guests area with pools for those guests. At night, it is where the nightly shows or parties occur. There are sea facing hot tubs and small pools and below a raised walkway are swim up suite rooms along the beach. The hotel has a great beach as well. There is a kids splash pad and small waterslide area near the main pool.

View of the hotel from up top
The Steakhouse
Asian Restaurant
Italian
The gym
Part of the Spa
The Buffet
Kid's Water Park
Kid's Zone activities
Enclave Area

While at the property we got a variety of Asian food at the restaurant from different countries like Thailand and China and we loved it. We could watch the Teppanyaki show from our table. We tried the steakhouse, and the food was great with things like French Onion Soup, steak with chimichurri and salsa matcha and truffle fries. We also went to the buffet for breakfast one morning and for the other since we had our early Coba tour, so we got some great coffee and a light breakfast at the grab and go area. We also watched a light juggling and acrobatics show one night and saw the Alice in Wonderland Party where staff dressed like the characters from the story and people danced and partied. We relaxed in the pool and even got Sueros at the swim up bar. There were red flag warnings for the beach due to a cold front that made the waves huge, so we just looked at the beach. It’s a great high-quality hotel that is a bit more expensive than some of the other hotels in the area. It’s in a quieter area of Cancun. Our room was very nice with two queen beds, an ocean view balcony and a separate shower and bathtub. We really enjoyed our time there. 

A special gift in our room
Pad Thai and Beef Teriyaki
Thai soup
French Onion Soup and Argentine Sausage
Light Juggling

Our Room - Premium Ocean View 2 Queen Beds

Premium King Oceanview

Same Shower setup as our room

Ocean View - Two Queen Beds

Smaller Juliet Walk out Balcony

Hyatt Ziva Cancun

While in Cancun we headed to the far Northern end of the hotel zone to visit the Playa owned Hyatt Ziva Cancun All-Inclusive resort. This is another fairly large resort with multiple different hotel towers. The resort has multiple pools and a nice beach area. The resort sits out on a point, so it has great views of the Cancun area but can be a bit windy on days similar to when we visited. The hotel has many different activities and some that are run by third party such as a dolphin experience, and a scuba diving school. The hotel has French, Italian (including freshly made noodles), Asian, Mexican, Seafood and even an American Style Dinner with a car from the 1950s inside. They also have many shops such as an elaborate candy store. There is a microbrewery at the resort where you can enjoy food and locally made beer as well.  This is a family resort but the newest tower there is an adult’s only area with luxury rooms that have butler service. While we were there, a couple were taking wedding pictures and at one of the Gazebos they were getting ready for the wedding. There are a couple Mayan buildings outside of one of the hotel buildings as well with historical information on plaques in front of them. They have a large spa with pools and other amenities as well onsite.  This resort is close to the busy area of the Hotel Zone that is not far from shops, and nightclubs like the famous CoCo Bongo. So, there is plenty to do including nearby shopping malls if you like shopping or going to clubs. Like the other resorts we visited it has great security checking to make sure who is visiting the hotel. Since we were not staying there, they double checked that we really were there to take a tour as travel agents. It’s a great resort and another one that is good for family and others looking to relax a bit.

The Lobby Area
The French Restaurant
Isla Mujeres in the Distance
The Buffet
Asian Food
The American Dinner
Italian Restaurant
Making fresh pasta
Dolphin Experience with the Dolphin View Rooms
Hotel Atrium
Tacos and Ceviches on the beach
Small Mayan building at the resort
Swim Up Rooms
Adults only lobby
In the Spa
Gym
Wine Paring Restaurant
Coffee Shop
Candy Store

Two Queen Bedroom with Patio

Wedding Pictures in the Background

Adults Only Tower- Swim up room

Occidental Costa Cancun

Located in the far Northern Hotel area close to Cancun city is the Occidental Costa Cancun. It is part of the Barcelo Hotel brand that is based in Spain. We stayed previously at one of their hotels in Guatemala City and it was wonderful. The Occidental brand of hotels is called “Easy Living” hotels, so they are more affordable than the main line Barcelo Hotels. The hotel we stayed in is a very affordable All-Inclusive hotel with multiple restaurants such as traditional Mexican, Italian, seafood and a buffet. This is a much smaller resort than the others we stayed at so it’s a quick walk anywhere and the restaurants are a smaller as well. The hotel has a very nice pool in the center of the resort and has a small beach area on a bay across from a dock for tourist ships. The beach when we visited had a decent amount of seaweed that they were cleaning up. The beach is nice but not the blue color of some of the other beaches. At night they have entertainment like the other resorts and the entertainment when we were there was three great Mexican tenors that sounded great. The surrounding area of the hotel is a little more run down as next door is a defunct “Playboy” hotel and casino and there are a few abandoned restaurants and shops. A little way away is the “Temptations” Resort that is an Adults only resort that is Adults only in every sense of that phrase. Next door is the Xcaret Scenic Tower and ferries to Isla Mujeres. This hotel is an ideal location to go on a day trip to Isla Mujeres and visit the tower. Don’t get me wrong, we really enjoyed this resort and had a very nice and clean room. The location is ideal for Isla Mujeres and Cancun City if you want to visit it but there isn’t a lot around the resort within walking distance. CoCo Bongo and the nightclub/shopping area is pretty close at around 10–15-minute drive. We saw people coming back from the nightclubs at around 4am when we were leaving for the airport from the hotel. This is a good value priced All-Inclusive with pretty good food. For us it would be a great place to stay and take tours from and enjoy the resort in the afternoon and evening.

The Lobby
The Beach Area
The Resort from the
The Kids Zone
Italian Restaurant
Inside the Italian Restaurant
Seafood Restaurant
Inside the Seafood
Tropical Birds
Activities for the week
Barcelo Hotels in Mexico
Trying the Mexican Restaurant
Fajitas
Tenors
24 Hour Snack Zone

Our Room - Double Room with Balcony

Playa Del Carmen Area Resorts

Playa Del Carmen is a smaller city of 300,000 people and another great resort area in Mexico. It’s part of the Riviera Maya and is around an hour from the Cancun International Airport. There are many resorts in the city and around the area. Xcaret is close to Playa Del Carmen as well. There is a ferry in Playa Del Carmen that takes you over to Cozumel if you would like to visit. The city has a lively pedestrian only street called 5th Avenue where you will find plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. The bars are open late so you can party at night. There are also beautiful white sand beaches along the shoreline. It’s a highly tidal beach so it will be very wide somedays and thin other days. It’s another great option when coming to the Yucatan for a great vacation. 

Senor Frogs on 5th Avenue
5th Avenue
A interesting crossing sign in between Playa Del Carmen and Cancun

Yucatan Playa Del Carmen Adults Only All-Inclusive Resort

The Yucatan Playa Del Carmen is located right on 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen and is owned by Playa Resorts that we find run high quality resorts. This resort is a Tapestry Collection Hotel by Hilton. It’s a smaller sized resort that is only a few blocks from the beach. The hotel has a nice spa and a great pool on the roof where you can see the ocean. There is a nice bar on the roof as well where you can relax. There are a couple restaurants at the resort including the buffet downstairs and where you can get breakfast. There is an Asian Restaurant and snacks at the roof top bar. There is a 24-hour coffee and snack station as well. We stayed one night there to try out the resort, so we didn’t get a chance to try lunch or dinner. All the food we have had at Playa Resorts has been great so I can only assume the lunch and dinner was good. We did get breakfast, and it was very good. The rooms and the resort were great with the staff helping us into our room with our bags and helped us with transportation. The only issue we had is our room was above a bar that was playing loud music that we could hear late into the night. It’s a nice resort that is a bit more affordable in the area but still all-inclusive and very nice! 

The hotel atrium
The unique pool
Our breakfast! (Huevos Rancheros)
The 24-hour Coffee and snack zone
The Spa
The Lobby

Our Room - Superior Room - 2 Queen Beds

Thanking us for our Hilton Loyalty

Hilton Playa Del Carmen All-Inclusive Resort

Around a 10-minute walk from the Yucatan Resort is another great Playa Resort that is right on the Playa Del Carmen Beach. The Hilton Playa Del Carmen is a very large resort with 8 different restaurants, a large spa and multiple buildings. We toured the hotel while we were in Playa Del Carmen. We started in the huge lobby and atrium that also acts as a stage for nightly entertainment. There is a large grass area that acts as a kind of plaza in front of the lobby area. We saw a grass pickle ball court with people playing. There was a main pool and a couple smaller pools in the area. In one of the pools there were setting up something we had never seen before and that is a water spin class. They have a couple different beach areas you can visit with reservable cabanas. The sea was rough with the passing of the cold front and the tide was in so the beach was smaller than usual. The hotel has a Spanish Colonial design to it that makes it a pretty walk around the resort. They have a full spa with all the amenities you would want, and we toured part of it. The hotel has two Mexican Restaurants (one casual and one more formal with Mexican style murals all around), a Mediterranean, Asian, Caribbean, a buffet and more available. The specialty dinning does need to be reserved. There is a smoothie bar so you can get your fix of healthy eating as well. There are of course plenty of bars including a unique bar near the lobby that has the theme of a Mexican Cantina. There are many different kinds of rooms categories to choose from including swim up rooms that you can make a family pool with side-by-side rooms that share a pool. In that area there is a quiet pool where you can relax without party style music. The hotel was very full, so we only got the chance to tour one room, but it was very nice. If you want to go to a larger resort in the Playa Del Carmen area this is a great option for you!

The Lobby and the Hilton Elite Check in area
The Main Atrium
The Mexican Cantina
The Spa
Inside part of the Spa
The Mexican Restaurant
Mural in the Mexican Restaurant
Swim up Rooms
The Quiet Pool

Junior Suite - 1 King Bed

Most rooms have this small door and passage that allows for room service to be delievered to your room.

More Hotel Information To Come Here!!

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. 

 

Mayan history in the middle of the resorts
A nice place to hike near the resorts

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. 

Iguana on an ancient pillar

Tulum

The first Mayan city we visited was the seaside city of Tulum on our first visit to Mexico on a Carnival cruise. Tulum is around 2 hours South of the Cancun area in the Riviera Maya. It’s a relatively new city in Mayan terms as it was built after the year 1200 AD and was inhabited until the Spanish came to the area. It was built after the peak of Mayan Civilization, so they were in decline already. The city was a port city for the larger Mayan city of Coba in the jungle. Tulum was a relatively rare stone walled city (the only one we have visited). The wall is still intact today and you walk through the small gate when entering the city. When you first arrive at Tulum there is a fairly large shopping area that includes restaurants like Subway. The city is around a mile walk from there so give yourself plenty of time to walk back to the shopping and parking area if you are on a tour. Inside the city there are several large and small temples with the spectacular El Castillo that is on top of a cliff overlooking the beautiful blue sea. There are plenty of iguanas and wildlife in the area as well. There are carvings and stellas (monuments that tell histories and Mayan events) in the city. There is one building that has frescos inside as well. Below the cliffs is a great beach that you can spend time in as well. We spent a lot of time visiting the city and had to jog back to the shopping area to meet the bus. Like in many sites the sales pressure can be kind of intense, but you have to keep in mind its people trying to make a living in a tough environment. The Tulum area has many resorts and now has a small Interational airport you can fly into. You can also take a train there from Cancun. As for us we headed to Playa Del Carmen to take a ferry back to Cozumel to get back on our cruise ship and head back to Galveston. 

The gate into the walled city
El Castillo
A Stella
Shopping Area
Playa Del Carmen
Playa Del Carmen

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was one of the largest Mayan cities in the Mayan world and is older than Tulum being built in the Late Classical period (800s AD). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has one of the most impressive temples in the Mayan world.  The city is located in the Yucatan State that is West of Cancun in the jungle. We visited on a cruise excursion when we stopped in the Northern Yucatan city of Progresso near Merida. It was a few hours drive from there and is about as far from Cancun. The main temple (pyramid) is the Temple of Kukulkan. Kukulkan is the Mayan serpent god that is called Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec world. It’s a large step type pyramid that has the serpent heads on the bottom. It’s known for the serpent shadow that slithers down the pyramid during the Spring and Fall Equinox. The Mayan people were astronomers that built observatories and buildings aligned with celestial events. It’s amazing to think that cultures so far in the past had such a great understanding of astronomy and engineering. The temple was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There are plenty of other temples and buildings throughout the site. One is the “Great Ball Court” which is the largest in the Mayan world where they used to play a tough game where they had to get a ball through a stone hoop without using their head, hands or feet. It is not known who was sacrificed but either the winner or the looser was sacrificed. Near the ball court is a “Hall of Fame” where there are many skulls carved in a wall. We did not get to see the entire city as we did not have time. Even though it was in the Winter it was still very hot there. Like other popular Mayan sites there were plenty of vendors and we bought a few things from locals. There are many tours that will take you to Chichen Itza and it’s a wonderful opportunity to visit a huge and formerly powerful Mayan Kingdom.

The Great Ball Court
Wall of Skulls
The Temple of Kukulkan

Coba

In 2025 we visited the large and powerful Mayan city of Coba for the first time. It is an older city that is believed to have been first settled in times before Christ. It grew to be another powerful and massive Mayan City State. The Mayan City of Tulum was most likely a port for Coba. The city is in the jungle to the West of Tulum and a couple hours South of Cancun. We booked a tour from Cancun that picked us up and took us to the city. It’s a little less visited city but still has a small shopping area. It’s a pretty far distance from the very small visitors center area to the main temple. You can walk, rent a bicycle or take a petty cab. Our tour company purchased tickets for us on all the petty cab that took us into the jungle. The main temple is the third tallest in the Mayan World with the tallest being in Tikal in Guatemala. There are stellas and other carvings to view as well. Coba is much less excavated than other Mayan cities and you can see many mounds where you can tell a temple lies beneath the dirt and trees growing on top. This site gives you a chance to see how explorers find these cities after the jungle reclaims the cities. You can visit multiple ball courts with one having carvings of a beheaded jaguar, a skull and headless person all pointing to sacrifices. The city has two lakes nearby and Mayan highways. There is another large temple called the Church Pyramid. Our guide gave us a lot of great information and good discussion about the situation in Mexico and US relations. We bought a few handmade items in one of the small giftshops before we headed out of this site.

Wild Turkey
The Main Temple
Stella
Mayan Writing
The Ball Court
Beheaded Jaguar
Skull Carving
Beheaded man
A Hidden Temple
Hidden Temple
Church Temple
A second Ball Court

Cenote Kuxtal

After visiting Coba, we headed to visit and swim in a Cenote. We had never swum in a Cenote before, but we had seen a couple before. This Cenote is run by locals in the small community and is down a dirt road not too far from Coba. At the site is a thatched roof building that is a gift shop that contains handmade and other items from the local Mayan People, a small restaurant, rustic changing facilities, and two cenotes. In the giftshop there was a Mayan Shaman who blessed the entire group going swimming. We purchased a couple Obsidian handmade art pieces, and the Shaman performed a ceremony that was said to activate the stones and bless us. The man spoke Mayan and not Spanish or English. After our shopping we headed to go swimming in the Cenote. A Cenote is a sinkhole that is full of water that has seeped through the limestone. They have a staircase down to the water. Cenote depth vary but this one was a pretty deep one. We were given life vests just to be safe. The water was pretty cold, but you get used to it as you swim. I could see fish in the pretty clear water and roots and vines hanging into the hole. We heard squeaking from the ceiling of part of the Cenote and saw a colony of small bats. There were also some interesting looking bee hives hanging in a cavern. None of the bees or bats bothered us. They were just interesting to watch. We were not so adventurous this time, but you can jump into the Cenote. After changing we got our lunch that was included in the tour. It was a buffet with different local Mayan seasoned dishes like Chicken, Pork, tortillas, rice and beans. We visited the second Cenote that is not open to swimming in before our guide and driver took us back to the hotel after dropping off other guests at their resorts. It’s a unique experience to go to a Cenote and swim. 

Giftshop and blessing
The Shaman ready for our blessing
Inside the Restaurant
The Restaurant
The Cenote that you can't swim in
The Cenote we swam in

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!

The shopping mall near our hotel
Heading into Joya
Edible Menu
All edible appitizers
A Meteor
Desert Book!
The Joya Theater

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. 

Our bus
A wild animal we saw in the park
Park Map with different tour routes
Mayan Village
Mexican Cemetary
Mayan Ball Court Replica
Mayan Hut
Replica Mexican outdoor Chapel
The bird sanctuary canopy
Replica Mexican outdoor school house
The beach
Mayan Ruins at Xcaret
The boat ride River
Wild Bird
The boat ride
Horse Stables
Cave Chapel
Art Museum
Replica Mexican Church
Horse Show

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.  

Mayan Warriors
Mayan Priestesses
Ball game with fire
Festival!
Voladores
Finale

Tickets and transportation to Xcaret (click link below):

Xcaret Scenic Tower in Cancun and Isla Mujeres Ferry

In the Nothern area close to the city of Cancun is another part of the many parks and experiences Xcaret has to offer. There are two Xcaret attractions in that area and we went on the Scenic Tower while we were staying at the Occidental Costa Cancun. The second Xcaret attraction is the Xcaret Ferry to Isla Mujeres that operates multiple times a day. The tower is over 200 feet tall and rotates 360 degrees as it goes up and at the top so you can get a full view of Cancun and the Carribean Sea. There is a narration giving history and pointing out different places you can see in both Spanish and English. The sun was starting to set when we went up in the tower, so we saw beautiful sun rays poking through the clouds over the area. It’s a great experience and worth going to visit. We want to take the nice Xcaret Ferry in the future!

The Occidental Costa Cancun
Pirate Ships for the Pirate Cruises and shows
A mangrove forrest
An Xcaret Ferry

Our Hotel and the Area

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 or Jason Miller and we can help you book your dream trip today including customized trips, guided tours, cruises and much more. Our travel planning services are completely free if you book with us. Contact us at donnamiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com or jasonmiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com to book today!

Others Tours to Book (Click Links Below):

Chichen Itza Tours

Tulum and Coba Mayan City Tours

Cancun Catamaran Tours

Playa Del Carmen Catamaran Tours

Cancun ATV Tours

Other Cancun Area tours:

Transportation:

Don't like the tours we picked? Click Below for more options:

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Hilton All-Inclusive Specialist
Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Specialist
Seadust Cancun Specialist
Wyndham Alltra Specialist