Mexico is well
known for its tequila, moustaches and trigger-happy drug lords. Sadly, many
people focus on the negative side on Mexico, forgetting it is actually an
awesome travel destination that is rich in culture and history.
During a visit to the United States last year, my sister and
I spontaneously decided to head down to Mexico and we were lucky enough to
discover Cancun - one of the safest and most beautiful cities in Mexico. Cancun
is a vibrant city in southeastern Mexico, located on the Caribbean Sea. With
its idyllic beaches and warm tropical climate, Cancun is a favourite holiday
destination for thousands of tourists every year. One of the great things about
Cancun is that a lot of locals speak English, making it easy for kiwis to
explore this exciting city.
Cost
A return flight from Auckland to Cancun will set you back
around $2000, but may be more during the peak season. Although flights are not exactly
cheap, Cancun is still a very doable travel destination for students because once
you actually get there it is super cheap; we managed to get by spending less
than $50 most days we were there.
Where to stay
With a great selection of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and
beaches, many tourists choose to stay in the hotel zone of Cancun. Accommodation
in this area starts from around $50 per night for two people and for this price
you will get a room in a nice hotel with a pool and restaurant. If you are
looking for a slightly cheaper option, I would highly recommend staying in hostel
accommodation. Most hostels are located about a fifteen-minute bus ride from
the main hotel zone, in the downtown area that many locals live and shop in. A
bed in a downtown hostel will generally set you back less than $15 a night and
you will get free breakfast! The best thing about hostels in Mexico is that
they are usually small, making it very easy to meet people. Like the hotel
zone, the downtown area boasts a great selection on bars and restaurants, as
well as an open-air market where you can buy amazing, fresh Mexican meals for only
a few of dollars.
What to do
Daylight hours in Cancun are largely based around spending
time at the beach, sunbathing, playing volleyball, swimming and jet skiing. With
its pure white sand and warm, clear blue water, Cancun features some of the
most beautiful beaches in the world.
Another great thing to do while visiting Cancun is taking a
day trip. For about $10 you can take the two-hour bus ride to the small town of
Tulum to see the ancient Mayan ruins. Another must-do is getting the ferry
across to Isla Mujeres where you can rent golf carts and drive recklessly
around the small, beautiful island. A snorkeling tour is another great day out.
The tours generally include a boat ride, lunch and a lazy afternoon on a
private island, all for around $60.
If you like to party, you’ll love Cancun. The cities hotel
zone has dozens of clubs, ranging from Caribbean style clubs to hip hop dance
parties. A night at a hotel pool party is a must, as well as a visit to Coco
Bongo; a club that puts on a very impressive dance show every night. Tickets to
pool parties and Coco Bongo do tend to be on the pricey side (around $60) but
this does include an open bar, so most people do tend to get their moneys worth.
How to get around
Getting around Cancun is very easy, with buses costing
around 75 cents to get almost anywhere in the city. Buses between the beach,
hotel zone and downtown area run regularly almost 24 hours a day. Taxis are
also available, however they tend to be quite expensive so I would recommend just
waiting a few extra minutes for a bus. If you are staying in the hotel zone
almost everything you will need is in easy walking distance.
When to visit
With an average year-round temperature of 27 degrees, Cancun
is a great destination to visit almost any time of year. We visited Cancun in
April and the weather was hot and sunny every day. The only months that I would
recommend avoiding would be the rainy months of September and October. If
you’re looking for a real party atmosphere it is best to go between February
and March to take advantage of the massive parties that run throughout the
American spring break season.
Traveling on
From Cancun it is very cheap and easy to get to other
exciting destinations in Mexico and Central America. If you have a bit of time
on your hands I would highly recommend getting on an intercity bus and heading
to other cities in Mexico such as Palenque (rainforest) or Puerto Escondido
(surfing). Although journeys can be long, the buses are very comfortable and
cheap, journeys generally costing between $10- $50 depending on how far you are
going. Another option would be to fly to Cuba on one of the budget airlines or
continue down through Central America to visit countries such as Belize, Guatemala
and Panama.
Be aware
Although Cancun is a pretty safe place, the police have a
reputation for being quite corrupt. It is not uncommon for police officers to
ask for money instead of arresting western tourists, and because of this they
tend to pull young tourists up on silly things such as walking barefoot, being
too drunk in public and squashing too many people into a taxi. Don’t let this
put you off though. Keep yourself under control and don’t do anything overly illegal
and you will have an amazing time in paradise!
Image: www.priorityonejets.com
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