Cancun, Mexico - Yucatan Peninsula - Beyond the Zona Hotelera

We decided to celebrate my birthday this year in Cancun, Mexico. I tried hard to get an airbnb but none of the ones available were suitable for us. Finally we settled on a resort hotel (not my favorite but still). We got a great flight deal and so we just bought tickets at the spur of the moment. (Tip: Try to find good deals on SouthWest airlines. You can take 2 checked in bags, plus no change fee!!!)

Cancun-Marriott

Cancun is in the Yucatan Peninsula (map) of Mexico and is surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean sea. Tropical weather year round, azure waters, mouthwatering seafood, fresh water Cenotes, heartwarming people... that describe this place.

Caribbean view

I never get all inclusive packages for hotels. I think it does not let you experience the true culture, the people and especially the food in that place. Anyone who knows me can tell I love eating. I love all kinds of food and will experiment - unless you ask me to eat alligator meat. I cannot fathom the idea of eating alligator. Nope!! Not happening!!

Okay before I digress, we stayed at JW Marriott in Zona Hotelera.

View from hotel room

It was a very good hotel with exceptional views of the Caribbean ocean. As soon as we entered the lobby, the wondrous blue waves met my eyes and immediately I was in love. It is something about the blue ocean that drives me toward it and exhilarates me. 

Fish tacos in Mercado 28

However, we were extremely hungry, so as soon as we checked in, we dropped our bags and headed to the local market in town called Mercado 28 (map). It is about 20 min drive from the hotel zone depending on where you are staying. Carry cash because most of these places accept cash. (Tip: check with your hotels if they do currency exchange. That way you don't have to carry a lot of cash.)


It is the liveliest place you will ever go to in Cancun - even better than the night clubs. There are innumerable stalls with vendors selling their merchandize. There is a lot to buy here from hand crafted bags, hats, bikinis, cover-ups to silver jewelry, decorated skulls, and of course... FOOD!!

Mercado 28

People will surround you with their menus offering you all kinds of deals such as gratis (free) margarita. From everywhere you will hear them calling out, they have the best tequila, tacos and what not. The hustle and bustle of the market, however, does not interfere with laid back approach inside the restaurants. You are sitting in the liveliest place in the entire market with little kids trying to sell small items such as bracelets, rings, pins, etc.

There are local singers and musicians who play music for you. And if you look at them, then they will come to your table and play some song and music for you. They are there to make a living, so don't shy from giving them some pesos. Even a small amount is very well appreciated.

Shopping at Mercado 28

However, when you shop there, they know you are tourists, so they will mark up the prices. Try to check in multiple stores. You can indulge in some friendly banter over the prices, but do not go overboard.

I bought a lot of memorabilia from there especially the hand designed purses and hand painted wooden bowls. We headed back to our hotel with full stomachs and delightful memories.

Hotel beach

On the beach

Evening was pretty much spent lazing around on the beach watching the waves crash on the shore, enjoying some drinks on the beach (non alcoholic since I am a teetotaler) You could see blue as far as your eyes could take you. The sand was sparkly white and as the sun made my skin warm, the soft sand kept me cool.

El-Castillo Chichèn Itza

Next day, we wanted to visit Chitchen Itza which is located in Yucatan, Mexico. We drove ourselves over there. It is about two and half hours drive from the Hotel Zone. There are a lot of bus tours that will pick you from your hotels and drive you to the Pyramids, and neighboring Cenotes. But it does not give you the freedom of spending as long or short time you want at any place. So I believe, driving is a better option. Chichen Itza is considered as one of the new wonders of the world. It is an archaeological ruins site built by the Maya people and is on UNESCO's world heritage list. Almost all blogs will tell you that!! However, there are some new regulations that you have to consider before you visit. Since recently you are not allowed to climb the famous steep steps of the El Castillo temple.

The crowds at Chichèn Itza

It is partly to protect the stone steps from human influx causing damage to the historical site. But most importantly, it was due to a fatal accident that occurred a few years ago resulting from a fall from the steps. For that matter, most of the sites are also inaccessible. So for me, it was actually quite disappointing to see it just from the outside. There are guides you can hire, but they charge an exorbitant amount. And for something that you won't even be actually experiencing; I was not willing to shell out any money.

I understand why they have stopped people from visiting the top, but I was looking forward to getting some good hike to the top and actually experiencing the view. Don't get me wrong, however, you could still visit it. It is marvelous architecture and it does blow your mind away to see how massive it is. It is intriguing to know, that there is a secret sacred Cenote (fresh water sinkholes that are abundant in Yucatan peninsula) right underneath where you are standing, on which this pyramid was built. But that's about it.

Street vendors at Chichèn Itza

On your way there again there a lot of vendors trying to sell you some more souvenirs that you may want to buy. T-shirts here are just about 20 pesos, so get some for you and your friends. The Cenote Sagrada is in the same area and you could visit it too. Again, its not open to the public and mostly the water has become very unclean and is not maintained properly.

(Tip: Be wary of tourists scams. Those are common as well.) Overall, I would rate the experience was good, but not mind-blowing. I guess the reality did not meet up to my expectations.

Cenote Ik-kil

Now let me tell you something about the Cenotes. As I mentioned earlier, they are fresh water sinkholes which are widespread in the Yucatan peninsula. They were considered sacred sites by the Mayan civilization and there are many stories associated with them. We decided to visit them after going to Chichen Itza. The cenote that's the closest to The Mayan pyramids goes by the name Ik-Kil. It has a depth of 150 feet and you have to carefully climb down a large number of stairs to reach the cenote. Once you are there, there are multiple ladders to enter the water and if you feel very courageous, you can even dive from a height. It is an experience that you should not miss. Good thing about it is, there are multiple ropes going across and also large float balls. 

Swimming in cenote Ik-Kil

So even if it can be a little scary to jump into a 150 feet deep sinkhole with no light, you can be safe. There are also places outside the cenote where you can rent life jackets. I was not particularly feeling very brave to get in there, but then I decided, heck I am going to do it at least once and that's it. Ended up jumping at least 5-6 times!!! The cold water sent shivers down my spine, but it was exhilarating at the same time. Do visit it for sure. (Tip: Take some change of clothes, towels etc as those are not provided anywhere. Please use biodegradable sunscreen and mosquito repellent). There are multiple cenotes everywhere you drive, so it's pretty much up to you where do you want to go. 

Cenote Samula

We also visited the cenote Xkeken and cenote Samula. They both are gorgeous. The water in cenote Samula is extremely clear and the sun shining through the hole in the top, gives the water a brilliant shade of blue. If you have seen the movie Coco, you will know what I mean. The cenotes are of varying depth. Most of the times, your feet can't touch the ground. Get fresh in these cenotes after a hot, tiring day at Chichen Itza. (Tip: You can snorkel here, but it needs to have a flashlight on it, as it can be quite dark underneath. )

Steps to cenote Xkeken

Cenote Xkeken is much more darker since there are smaller openings in the rock to let the sunlight in and also there is a lot of calcium deposit creating stalactites and stalagmites. (Tip: Just a pointer, on our way between Ik Kil and Samula, we could not find any decent restaurants, except one. So you may want to carry some snacks with you).

Cenote Xkeken

Playa Del Carmen

Plan on staying one day in Playa Del Carmen, so you can visit the surrounding areas such as Akumal Bay and Tulum and Cozumel. If you have time, go to Tulum for sure. I have read about their gorgeous beaches, cliffs and marine life. We will be visiting Tulum soon!!! Akumal Bay and Tulum could be a separate trip all together.

Snorkeling at Akumal Bay

Akumal Bay is a boho beach town with cheery colorful villas. There is a road here that leads you to the Akumal bay beach where you will find some rare species of turtles such as the Loggerhead turtles and the green turtles. Once again be careful of some people trying to make some money off of you. They are not necessarily lying to you, but they are not telling you the entire truth. They may ask you to pay fees for entering the sea. That's right, there are designated areas that will need you to be with a guide. But the truth is, if you walk a small distance south along the beach, there is an entire area which is free to use for public. (Tip: You do NOT have to spend a dime for entering the water.) 

Turtle at Akumal Bay

Some more turtles

Take your gear and go snorkel. We spotted about 3-5 turtles swimming effortlessly in the water. Do not go too close to them or do not stand on the corals. It is a fragile ecosystem and we have already done enough damage, we don't need to do it anymore. Wear biodegradable sunscreen and mosquito repellent. I cannot stress it enough. 

I would also recommend you to visit the Yal-Ku Lagoon. It should be on your must-do list. It is about 1.5 km from Akumal bay, so you can visit both places in one day. Snorkel here to see some exquisite species of fishes. The water is clear, warm and is protected from the sea currents. We saw thousands of fish here. I even got carried away following an aquamarine blue fish called Blue Tang of 'Finding Dory' fame. However, Yal-Ku lagoon can be a little crowded. But there are multiple dive sites and so you can select a quiet area to enter the water and then gradually start exploring. You can easily spend a few hours over here or even an entire day. 

Playa Del Carmen

We stayed in Playa Del Carmen (PDC) for only one night. Playa Del Carmen is a very lively town, but also quite touristy. I thought it would be a laid back town, but there are malls with all the luxury brands and that's no fun. Who wants to go into a Burberry store in Mexico!!! There are a lot of roadside food shacks that you surely need to visit. And of course, you have to try their shrimp ceviche. You will not be disappointed. The succulent shrimp with freshly squeezed lime and habanero sauce is a delight for your senses. (Tip: Mercado 28 has better prices for local merchandize than PDC)

Hotel resort at PDC 

Sunset at PDC

While in Cancun we also did some water sports. The temperature of the water is perfect. (Tip: It is also quite cheap compared to a lot of places back home.) I did the fly-boarding which was quite an electrifying experience. Took me a while to get a hang of how to do it, but it was fun. The 'Aquaworld' in Cancun has all water activities and sometimes, the hotels where you stay may offer some deals for the water activities. 

Flyboarding at Aquaworld

I wish we could stay longer than just a week in Mexico.I would definitely love to go back. I loved the culture, food, music, liveliness and most importantly, the people. Their gracious and welcoming hospitality made the trip much more memorable. If anyone asked me, what is the best thing about Mexico, I would, without any hesitation say the people and their generosity. It is the best thing about Mexico!!!