They say good things come to those who wait, and in our case, we waited nearly two decades! After hurricanes, swine flu, and the Zika virus foiled our previous attempts, we finally touched down in Cancún, Mexico. Was it worth the 19-year wait? Let’s dive in.
We stayed at the Moon Palace Cancun, specifically in the Sunrise section. It’s a massive resort—so big that you actually need a golf buggy to get to some of the restaurants!
We were upgraded to a Presidential Suite, which offered a stunning direct view of the ocean. The room had a few unique touches, like a jacuzzi right in the bedroom and—this was a first—a mini-bar with full-sized bottles of spirits built into a pull-out dispenser!
I’ll be honest with you: the beaches weren’t exactly like the brochures. Depending on the time of year, seaweed (Sargassum) can be a real issue. While the resort works hard to clear it, the smell of it drying in the sun is… let’s just say, “unforgettable.”
Also, a huge heads-up for anyone visiting Cancún: keep your wits about you. We met some lovely travellers who were scammed out of $600 by local police for smoking on the beach. Mexico has incredibly strict (and sometimes confusing) smoking and vaping laws. Even at Chichén Itzá, you can be arrested for just having cigarettes in your bag. In Mexico, as the locals say, “It’s all business, Amigo!”
The highlight of the trip was a visit to Chichén Itzá. It’s a 2-hour 20-minute drive from Cancún, and it is sweltering!
Pro Tip: Don’t take the first price from the souvenir stalls. A pyramid trinket started at $15 and eventually went down to $3. It’s all about the haggle!
The Ball Court: Seeing the ancient rings where they played their legendary games was surreal. It’s a lot larger in person than it looks on TV.
After the heat of the pyramids, jumping into a Cenote (a natural limestone sinkhole) was the ultimate refreshment. We visited a couple of different ones, including one where you could swing in on a rope. It’s intense, a bit scary, and the water is “bloody freezing” when you first hit it, but it’s an absolute must-do.
Despite the “money-grabbing” nature of some tourist areas, the food was surprisingly good (even the buffets!) and the people we met were fantastic. Whether it was the beef carpaccio at the Golf Club restaurant or the handmade vanilla ice cream in the old town of Valladolid (near Tulum), our taste buds were well looked after.
Mexico, you were a long time coming, but you certainly made an impression!