Cancun - Beautiful Tourist Trap With Possibilities
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April 4th, 2007
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My first time in Cancun was 1989. I spent a month in Mexico with a hot young girl and her family. She later turned out to be my current hot wife and an excellent mother. That trip was actually a complete disaster but that apparently didn't scare me away. Cancun looks completely different today after a few major storms and lots of development. But it's still an amazingly beautiful place. Stunning beaches, great nightlife, beautiful women (and men?), excellent restaurants, great weather, and extremely safe. This resort town can be a tourist trap but there are almost endless possibilities for fun and adventure away from the crowds.
We've traveled all over Mexico since 1989. I think I've been here around 40 times. We've explored the whole country and done everything from crazy adventures in the jungle, mountain biking in the northern Barrancas del Cobre, to sipping umbrella drinks at a mansion on the coast. Cancun is not our favorite destination in Mexico but we keep coming back here every few years. It's a great place if you have children and you're guaranteed warm and sunny weather all year around. August, September and October is the official rainy season but they still usually nice. Even when it rains, it's usually only during parts of the day and you will most likely welcome a break from the extremely hot and strong sun.
We've just returned to Mexico City after 10 days in Cancun and had a nice time. The biggest challenge is keeping the kids from getting too much sun. The climate is hot and humid all year around. It's crucial to use sun screen and stay out of the sun during the brutal 11-2 pm time. Especially with kids. Our kids are half Mexican-Swedish but we still use sun screen with a factor of 50 to protect them. And they still get tanned…… If you visit, don't make the mistake of staying out in the sun too much. Being sunburned is a nightmare and will ruing your vacation. What most people don't realize is even if you're spending time outside during a cloudy overcast day, you will still get very tanned.
So what can you do in this town? It's a great spot for going with a group of friends and having fun. The nightlife is fantastic and regardless if you're alone or in a group you will find plenty of people to have sex with get to know many interesting people. Beaches are simply stunning and among the very best in the world. Water is warm, always around 28 C (83 F), and it's crystal clear. Water visibility is just ridiculous. It ranges anywhere from 20-40 meters (60-130 feet). The sand is incredibly fine and you have postcard views wherever you look. Any kind of water activity is phenomenal with an extra plus for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Why can Cancun be a tourist trap? Because it's too Americanized. It's like an extension of Florida. Except more fun, nicer weather, and no crime. You can pay in dollars everywhere and there are ridiculous restaurants like McDonald's, Fridays, and KFC. Cancun is nice but don't for a minute believe this town resembles Mexico. People are nice, service is fantastic, and you won't get ripped off but you will not get to know real Mexican people.
Cancun gets tons of clueless American assholes who are on their first vacation and think they own the town. Plus the drunk 17 year old spring breakers don't exactly give U.S a great reputation. But many also return year after year. There are many huge hotels, we've stayed in some very nice ones throughout the years but for the past 6 years or so we prefer smaller and more intimate places.
Most hotels are exceptional and of very high standard but there are also many places if you're on a limited budget. Choices are almost endless. While traveling to other places, it's always a good idea to consider safety. There is very little crime in Mexico, except for the horrendous Mexico City, and Cancun is no exception. Tourism is extremely important for the Mexican economy and police hold a much higher quality than Mexico City. I know it can't possibly get much worse than that but trust me when I say you will feel very safe in Cancun.
There are plenty of places where you can escape the crowds. Renting a car is cheap and you will avoid the dreadful tour buses. Head an hour south to the Playa del Carmen area or continue further south for the same amazing beaches without the crowds. Chetumal, way below the radar and on the border to Belize, is a stunning place where you will be completely alone on the beach. A real gem which is too far away from Cancun for most but a a real find if you have some time to kill.
One great thing with Cancun and its surroundings is that you can combine beach vacation with visiting historic places. Tulum and Chichen Itza are stunning Mayan ruins which you MUST visit. They're truly amazing. Both are within two hours of Cancun. Ecological water parks with smaller crowds worth a visit are Xel-Ha and Xcaret. They are ecological preserves where you can have fun, snorkel, swim with dolphins, eat nice food, and enjoy the sun.
If you love snorkeling or scuba diving you're in heaven in this area. The ocean seems custom made for checking out sea life up close. For scuba diving I recommend a visit to Cozumel, half hour boat trip from Playa del Carmen, where you can enjoy some amazing reef diving. The only place where I have had more fun in the water is Sipadan, the super tiny island of Borneo in Malaysia. Nothing can beat this place. But taking scuba trips out of Cancun also works well and you will get to see plenty of sea life in the warm water.
I love Mexican food but while spending lots of time in the country I also like a little variation. Cancun has a great selection of restaurants. For Mexican food we really like La Valentina, great food and you can drop a snack to the crocodile which swim freely in the lagoon behind the restaurant. We love Asian food and found fantastic food at Mr. Lau and also at Thai lounge in the La Isla shopping center. Mr. Lau is more casual dining while Thai is a gorgeous restaurant where you can sit on beds and check out the sunset and dolphins as you eat. Both are highly recommended. Senor Frog's plus Carlos and Charlie's also offer great views and unlimited fun. Senor Frogs at night after 15 drinks a few drinks is something special….. Even a boring Swede like me have fun there.
Talking about great places in a shopping center is weird but La Isla is something special. It's a truly different "mall" with great places. If you have kids, check out Come'n Go which offers a play room for children and also a great view of the famous Cancun sunset. The kids can play while you get dunk have a few drinks and enjoy the sunset. The Aquarium is a well made sea life museum where you can quickly go through and check out nice sea life and also pet sharks and manta rays. The kids will love it. If you feel like it you can also swim for an hour with dolphins. Highly recommended.
Cancun is basically a place where anyone can have a good time. Party people, serous scuba divers, families with children, and beach crazy folks. It offers something for everyone all year around. If you enjoy sun and hot weather, chances are you'll love Cancun. Just remember, Cancun is a great place but it's not Mexico.
Interesting! You are definitely making Cancun quite enticing to visit with Erik…not sure if Chhimi would change his mind in possibly visiting Mexico one-day. We crossed over once to Tijuana (basically an extension of California)….and Chhimi was not pleased just because of the huge hassle of crossing back to El Norte and definitely looks nothing like Cancun!!
My heart seized up at that picture. I loved Cancun and would love to go back. I remember being stunned by the color of the water, realizing that it’s not exaggerated for tourist magazines, that it really IS that turquoise. What a great week.
I loved Chichen Itza but I found Xcaret was incredibly expensive - I did get to swim with dolphins there though!
Ah, nostalgia.
Stop it you are killing me. I’m home with a sick kid all week and you are living the good life…man I want to be you!!!
Hello Hakan and Sandra with family! Gun and I surely remember the weeks in Cancun/Playa del Carmen in connection to your wedding 1995! We
lived together with your FIL and MIL in a fantastic 2-family apartment and really had a great and unforgettable time. Especially the evening at Sr Frogs was unforgettable because I did´nt remember it!
Anyway, I can clearly understand what you mean when you say Cancun is not Mexico! Of course, this is an extremly exploited area and that will only bring periferal songs of the old country. Anyway I think Cancun is great as a tourist resort.
Hugs from the two of us, who want to get back!’
Your mother and father
Gun and Åke
I visited cancun at 19 in 94… for the wedding of a guy who became my brother in law… yeah kind of scary isn’t it?
I got drunk at Senor’s frog with their crazy whistles and at Carlos’ and Charlies and …at the wedding where I didn’t make it to the first dance…but she still ended up marrying the drunk dude in 2000!
Apr 4th, 2007 at 12:24 am
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