TRAVELS, MEXICO | 08/1/2018 – 08/06/2018
A Quick Trip & Travel Guide to Quintana Roo, Mexico
Destinations : Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Chichen Itzá
We were looking at going to Maui but somehow ended up booking for Cancun, and we couldn’t have been more pleased. It all started when my father realized summer was almost over and we hadn’t done an “out of the country” family trip. Usually, we do trips across the waters but this time we decided to stay close. Just in case you were wondering, we booked our trip with Expedia, which included flight, hotels, and car. And I can say we got a pretty good deal! For this blog, I will be sharing an overview of my trip. That includes spots visited, places stayed, vegetarian foods, must-haves, mini guide, and recommendations. If this excites you, read further! ( get a glimpse, and view travel highlights on my Instagram account @alifestylevolume )
CANCUN
We were already a little behind schedule due to flight delay and car rental issues, so beach time was not an option for the first day. As soon as we checked into our hotel we were out to find food. Now, I was told that it is hard to find vegetarian food here in Cancun but quickly learned that all is false. We ate at Mextreme and the vibe was just perfect to give you the taste of Mexican culture; there was outdoor sitting, performances, lively waiters, and tasty food. Note: hotels usually give out coupons/vouchers to restaurants in Hotel Zone so make sure to ask your hotel for them so you can get some discounts on your meals. To continue our night we headed to Plaza Forum, which is a walking distance from Mextreme. On our way, we did a little shopping from the locals. Plaza Forum is a shopping area which felt like a little mini Vegas so it wasn’t as exciting for me. But what was exciting was our last dinner at the Elefante Indian cuisine right next to the calming lagoon view.
REAL INN CANCUN HOTEL
This hotel is perfect for what I was looking for. I didn’t want to stay in a resort, as I wanted to explore Cancun instead. We found a good deal for such a cute hotel with amazing lagoon views.
ISLA MUJERES
I did not know what this Island had planned for me, but it came to be with great surprise. It was much better than I expected, because of its culture and vibe. Narrow allies, colorful houses, street shops, and blue water with powder sand all lives here! You can spend a day here if you love exploring Mexican architecture, culture, food, and beaches. We rented a GoCart to go around the Island. Note: A driver license is required to rent these and I recommend making a deal on the Island rather than from Cancun because we got ripped off on the price and didn’t even get what we paid for. There is also another Island called Cozumel, which is more tourist popular; however, as per a local of Cancun suggested to visit Isla Mujeres over Cozumel because it is a good mix of locals and tourist where as Cozumel is overly populated with tourist. (I have not visited Cozumel, therefore, I can’t promise if this information is accurate but I did feel that Isla Mujeres had a well balanced of locals and visitors)
XCARET PARK
On our way to Tulum from Cancun, we spent the day at Xcaret Park. Xcaret Park is a theme park that carries water activities, trails to explore the nature, open beach, heritage shows and so much more. My favorite part was swimming in the underground river that went from one end of the park to the other. Note: The price for this park is $100+ and that does not include the water activities. I was wondering why the tickets were quite expensive and then it all made sense when I watched the heritage show. The park has shows happening throughout the day but the main ones happen towards the end of the day so make sure to not skip those. If you are more into water activities then I recommend going to Xplor Park, which is right across.
TULUM
Tulum was only a destination of stay because it was the center of all the places we wanted to visit. It turned out Tulum is very much popular especially for young tourist and bloggers. A quite beautiful city that reminded me a lot of India, made me feel at home. Tulum is popular for its cenotes that are spread throughout the city. Cenote: a natural pit or a sinkhole that exposes groundwater in between the collapse of limestone bedrock. The best part of Tulum was the Gran Cenote. Activities such as snorkeling is a must in this clear blue water. I also want to add that food was amazing! The places we ate were:
SAASIL VILLA
It was because of this cute Villa that I discovered Tulum. Its interior and exterior brought in the comfort of a home away from home. We had so many things planned during our stay at Tulum that our 4 days flew by in a heartbeat.
PLAYA DEL CARMEN
If you are visiting Cancun, Chichen Itza has to be on your list to visit because hello, 1 of the 7 wonders of the world! My family and I did a tour with Amigo Tours that started with shopping and lunch, then a historical tour of Chichen Itza and ended it with a swim in Cenote Dzitas. I love being in water so the Cenote was the best part.
HIGHLIGHTS
I am a water girl so the best part of my trip had to be the Cenotes. I love nature and the creations of it. After seeing the beautiful formation of the cenotes, I was truly mesmerized. I would go back anytime just to visit more of them. I am also a lover & admirer of culture and history, therefore Isla Mujeres has a piece of my heart. The colors, architecture, beach and powder sand, locals and the overall vibe of the culture came with its distinctive flavor.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I personally learned that I am not a big fan of Cancun. Cancun is one of the tops most visited tourist areas that it has become overly populated by visitors making it feel no different from North America. Yes, it’s a great get away with the awesome resort! But I didn’t find much to explore in Cancun. If you are more of an explorer then I would recommend staying in either Playa Del Carmen or Tulum. In these cities, you will have the experience of getting a true feeling of Mexico along with finding some great hotels and food. However, if you just want a vacation to relax and detox, of course, Cancun resorts are a must. Note: Playa Del Carmen falls in the center of lots of tourist spots and activities. It is quite a highly visited city that tours of many touristy areas and boat rides to the Islands, depart from Playa Del Carmen.
- Booking tours/park visit from online in advance
- At least a little bit of Spanish 🙂
MUST HAVES
- Goggles
- Snorkeling gear
- Water Proof Phone case
(you can rent or purchase these items during your travels, but if you want to save some $, I recommend ordering them from online)
I hope you enjoyed my quick trip and guide to Mexico. View travel highlights on my Instagram page @alifestylevolume. Thank you for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts 🙂
