Location: Mexico
Dates traveled: June-July 2024
Number of locations visited: 7
Total days: 19
Would I go back? 100% YES!
1st destination: Isla Mujeres (Highly recommend)
Located off the coast of Cancun. After a short 30 minute ferry ride from Cancun over the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean you will find you've arrived in paradise (you might spot a turtle or two on your way). Most visitors only visit for a day trip, we recommend staying on the island for at least 3 days to explore.
From the ferry it is a short flat walk to the North of the island where it is full of atmosphere amongst the hotels and beach clubs. Find beautiful shops and restaurants along the way. Getting around the island is simple, most people drive golf carts! Hiring a golf cart is easy. We hired from Joaquin (south of the ferry, at the time it was the cheapest).
It doesn't take long to drive to the South end of the island where you will find Mirador Punta Sur. To walk around the breath taking scenic park and crystal clear coast line it costs $100peso - $10 NZD (make sure to take a hat, there's no shade). We stopped for a beer & bite to eat at "The Joint" close by to the park.
We were so thankful to be in the Caribbean at the end of June, why you might as?
Whale sharks also known as the largest fish of the ocean migrate off the coast of Yucatán Peninsula. My favourite place to be is in or near the ocean. However I would have never dream't of swimming next to a 12 metre creature in the deep ocean, the thought of it would normally terrify me. Did I hesitate to jump in? No. (I surprised myself that day). Captain Ruben carefully drove the boat to a position where the whale shark was heading, we jumped in and as the bubbles disappeared in front of us the whale sharks mouth was directly in front of us... (its ok they only eat plankton). Before taking the tour we were told how to respectfully swim with the gentle giants. The tour concluded with a trip to the beach, where we enjoyed beers & ceviche. Would I do it again? YES.
The only activity we booked ahead of time was a cooking class with Ricardo. Ricardo & Devore welcomed us into their home with margaritas & fresh ingredients to make the most out standing & delicious Mexican food that had ever touch our mouths... even thinking about it now makes my mouth water. We went home with full bellys, happy minds & with a wealth of recipes & knowledge about Mexican cooking & food.
I could write a book about our experiences & people we met on this island during the 3 days we stayed there, but I believe you need to experience it for yourself with little exceptions like we did.
2nd destination: Valladolid
A quick 1 hour (ADO) bus trip from Cancun. Booked a hotel (Hotel Mesón del Marqués) in the centre of town and close to the ADO station. We spent 1 night here, this is enough time to walk around the small town & take a taxi (or tour bus) to Chichén Itzá.
I highly recommend visiting Casa de los Venados. With a small donation minimum $100peso ($10 NZD) you will be taken on a tour around the private home with a large collection of art collected all around Mexico. Truely incredible. I wish we had more time to look at all the incredible art.
Our hotel organised a taxi to take us to 1 of the 7th wonders of the world: Chichén Itzá (the taxi drive waits while you explore the ruins). We arrived at 9am, this was perfect timing before the air became hot and the crowds packed out the site. I would love to visit this site again, it still has me wondering. When you are there you can organise a guided tour, or do what we did - watch a youtube video the night before.
3rd destination: Tulum (DON'T recommend)
If I had to choose 1 place to not visit again it would be Tulum.
From the moment we stepped off the bus we found out this would be the place that would try suck your money dry & give you not much in return. I researched how much it should cost to get a taxi from the town to the beach zone.. it should have been $140 peco ($14NZD). NOT $800peso ($80NZD) for a 15 minute car ride. After the taxi's laughed in our faces, we found ourselves walking the streets waving down taxis & using our bartering skills. We managed to score a taxi for $350peso ($35NZD) from the same taxi company.
Beer was cheaper than water! $80peso ($8NZD) for 2 Sol beers in a restaurant, that is definitely what kept us hydrated!
We loved our accommodation, a tree cabin nestled in the jungle in the hotel zone. What we didn't love was that it didn't have beach access. If you don't stay on the beach you have to pay. OR find a hotel you can sneak through.
Our highlight from Tulum was the Cenote tour swimming through cenotes in clean clear waters after our not so peaceful ride their on on qaud bikes on the highway (we thought we might have been scammed). Visiting a cenote is a must when you are in Tulum.
4th destination: Bacalar (Must do)
This was place where we felt very safe and like a local. It was in Bacalar where we found lots fresh fruit and food finally! (it was very hard to find in the big cities).
Spent one afternoon on the lake a board a small tour boat, $500peso ($50 NZD) included the tour, drinks and 2 spots to swim near lake cenotes.
Stayed at a hostel for a change, The Yak Lake House was a friendly and safe environment, this is where we met travellers from NZ and Australia for the first and only time on the trip.
We had to cut our time short here because a stage 5 hurricane was approaching the Yucatan Coast. We left a day earlier to bus to Cancun to fly to Leon before the major storm hit.
5th destination: Leon
We arrived into Leon late and stayed with our Mexican friends who live in Leon.
Leon was a beautiful city, I probably wouldn't have spent time there if we didn't have friends who lived there. It was so much fun to be shown around by locals and taken to all the local food spots, this is where we ate REAL Mexician food. I didn't realise it was normal to eat tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner?!
Leon is the capital for everything leather. It was only appropriate to buy cowgirl boots right? $800peso ($80NZD) a pair, so of course I got 2 pairs.
6th destination: San Miguel de Allende (LOVED)
A quick 1.5hr journey out of Leon we arrived in a "Magical" town called San Miguel and it was defiantly magical. So much colour, life and art!
Spent the afternoon and evening enjoying food and cocktails at many rooftops to watch the sunset over the stunning little town.
Mexico does not sleep, if you're hungry you'll find many food stalls open at any hour of the night. And it will always be busy!
I brought art from a local artist and so many colourful pom poms from their gift shops. We spent only 1 night here, I could have happily spent another night here.
7th destination: Tequila (low priority)
Our final destination, it had to be iconic and involve... tequila!
A small town crowded within the day of day tourists drinking out of cocktail tumblers on the street and funky looking tequila tour buses. I had booked 2 nights here because it was cheap and thought there would be a lot going on in this town. If I could have booked it again I would do only a day trip here. During the night it didn't feel very safe, there was lots of loud dogs and cars driving around.
The Tequila tour we joined was the Casa Sauza, there was a english speaking tour guide available, tried alot tequila and learn't about tequila. Now i'll be looking for 100% agave on the bottles when I am in the bottle store.
Tequila is now ticked off the Mexico bucket list, but I do not feel the need to ever return.
Conclusion
Overall I didn't know what to expect before arriving into Mexico, all I dream't of is having delicious food and trying a real margarita. Those dreams came true plenty of times while we were there.
What I loved about the Mexican food was
Our experience with the locals was so welcoming, everyone was so friendly and helpful. We made sure not to go out during the night and the only times we felt unsafe was in Tulum and Tequila. Mexico can be dangerous like many places in the world, but most people don't travel to the destinations that are dangerous.
Must go to in Mexico
1. Isla Mujeres
2. Bacalar
3. San Miguel de Allende
Avoid
Tulum - unless you don't mind paying premium for very little
