Cancun
Since the mid-seventies Cancun has slowly worked its way to the top of many people’s “must see” travel destinations, and it’s not hard to see why. Mayan ruins and white beaches offer the visitor a relaxed pace of life, whereas the many waterparks and in particular, Selvatica Adventure Park also cater to holiday-makers seeking more of an adrenaline rush. Aside from the usual tourist haunts, Cancun also has world class nightlife, particularly in The City, Latin America’s largest nightclub. All in all, Cancun can be an ideal spot equally for relaxing, or cutting loose.
Costs in Cancun
- Hostel Prices: Hostels are extremely cheap, probably because there are so many of them in Cancun. There are rooms for $52MX but $130MX is a more realistic price.
- Budget Hotel Prices: There are plenty of budget hotels in Cancun with prices starting at around $300MX per night.
- Average Cost of Food: By purchasing food on street stalls or in markets you can expect to spend around $200MX per day or less. Fast food here is much the same price as in the US so by eating in local restaurants instead, you’ll pay around $400MX.
- Cost of Internet: Internet is not generally included in the price of accommodation, though even most budget hotels and hostels have a computer room or wireless. Expect to pay around $10MX per hour
- Transportation Costs: Taxis aren’t metered but $15MX is a good guideline for city center travel. The bus service is 24hour and very efficient and at $6MX for a ticket, probably the best option for traveling around the city.
Things to do in Cancun
- Chichén Itzá. The large Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is a must-see if you’re going to Mexico. The site is 2 ½ hours from Cancun so it’s usually best to go very early in the morning or if possible, over two days. The most impressive structure on the site is the Temple of Kukulkan, or the Castillo as it is often known, but the elaborate wall carvings and columns throughout the entire site make this a world class attraction.
- Tulum. Tulum is famous for its Mayan ruins and their beachside setting and is Mexico’s third most popular architectural attraction. Admission is just $55MX so is very inexpensive for a day trip. But be warned, this place gets seriously hot so you’ll need plenty of water and bug spray.
- Go clubbing. Cancun has nightlife to rival any other big city. Most of the nightlife is concentrated around the Hotel Zone in an area known as “party central” – this gives you an idea of what to expect! All music tastes are accounted for and the world’s biggest DJs make regular appearances in the many clubs. For a true Mexican fiesta experience, head to downtown Cancun.
- Isla Mujures. Translated as the ‘Island of Women’, Isla Mujures is just a short ferry ride away from Cancun. Originally a fishing village, the Island still maintains its charming atmosphere, even with its bustling tourist trade. Kayaking, fishing and sailing are popular here, as well as the hair raising “swimming with sharks” experience.
- Chankanaab Park. Chankanaab is the island of Cozumel’s most popular tourist attraction. The park is great for snorkelling and scuba diving, particularly in its underwater trails, but aside from this, it’s a great place to just relax on the beach with a beer (at just $10MX a can). Other popular attractions here are swimming with dolphins, sea lions and manatee encounters, though these are quite expensive activities.
- Xcaret Eco Park. Xcaret is an eco-park named after the ruins of the same name and lies 42 miles south of Cancun. The park combines Mayan ruins, wildlife, snuba, sea trekking, marine shows and dolphin swimming, however, best part of the attraction is the evening show with traditional Mayan dancing.
- See a bullfight. If it’s your kind of thing then a bullfight is an exhilarating cultural experience. You’ll see four bullfights and a range of Mexican folkloric dances performed by the charros (sombrero wearing cowboys). At $400MX it’s a relatively inexpensive afternoon attraction by Mexico’s standards.
- Market 28. The traditional downtown area is home to most of the colorful local craft markets in Cancun. There are markets in the Hotel Zone but they are generally much more expensive. Market 28 in the downtown area is by far the largest of the marketplaces and a bit of a one stop tourist shopping Mecca. This is the ideal place to test out your bargaining skills when purchasing souvenirs. Leather, silver, pottery, glassware, artwork and handicrafts are all popular, especially the traditional Mexican blankets.
- Coco Bongo. Amongst all the pubs and nightclubs in Cancun, Coco Bongo is the jewel in the crown. The 3000 capacity club has a mixture of music and live shows made up of impersonators, scantily clad dancers and Cirque du Soliel style acrobat shows. It’s a bit tacky and has a pretty high cover charge at roughly $700MX but there’s a free bar inside and as it’s become a bit of a Cancun legend, it’d be a shame to miss it!
- Selvatica Canopy Expedition and Adventure Tour. It’s no surprise that Selvatica is Mexico’s number one tourist attraction. Within the park you’ll have the opportunity to ride ziplines over the rainforest canopy, go off-roading, quad biking, scuba diving and swimming in a cenote. Opt for the Night Flight adventure which includes zipping through the canopies, followed by a 3 course dinner – all under the moonlight.
Budget Tips for Cancun
- Eat local food. By buying food from the markets in Cancun you can save plenty of cash. For example, an avocado is just 3cents and bread is significantly cheaper than in the US. If you’re going on a day trip bring a packed lunch filled with cheap, local food instead of paying a premium at the tourist cafes.
- Travel Off-peak. If you’re taking in Cancun as a destination on a backpacking trip, rather than a summer vacation then try to visit in the off-season of June to November as accommodation is significantly reduced.
- Go online. As Cancun is such a popular destination, the internet is littered with special offers which you can avail of by downloading vouchers or buying attraction tickets in advance.
