After spending four days in Tulum, Mexico, we decided it was time to get some more action so we hit the road to Cancun. Our hour-long ride from Tulum was set up through our Airbnb host and cost 105USD. Cancun is the epitome of fun, nightlife, and beautiful beaches all in one and with almost a full year of sunshine, this Caribbean vacation did not disappoint. We opted to fly out of our respective cities and met at the airport in Cancun. For a roundtrip ticket using American Airlines, to Cancun, Mexico, the cost was $420.00 and although free personal item and carry-on bag was included, it was $30 each way for a checked bag, The flight was 6 hours total including a 1-hour layover in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Accommodations
For our stay in Cancun, we decided, based on location and availability, to stay at a hotel in The Hotel Zone (tourist area). We chose Canopy by Hilton La Isla which is a 5-star hotel sitting right in the heart of La Isla Shopping Village. The staff at Canopy provided excellent customer service, the rooftop bar Wander was amazing and the overall ambiance of the hotel was so relaxing. We opted for a two-queen ocean view room that even included a hanging chair. The cost of this accommodation was $480USD for three nights. Since it was four of us, we paid only $160USD pp.
First Excursion
Second Excursion
Jungle Tours Speed Boat and Snorkel- While we HIGHLY recommend this activity; this excursion is not for the faint of heart. We had never driven a speedboat, or any boat for that matter. So, we were in disbelief when we were handed the keys to a 2-person speedboat and told to follow the leader; I guess there is a first time for everything. We were given easy to follow instructions and then sped off at about 60MPH on about a 20-minute journey through the Nichupte Lagoon. We roughly navigated through the mangrove canals finally arriving to our snorkel destination in Punta Nizuc. While snorkeling, we swam through a huge variety of marine life and even visited the MUSA statues (underwater museum). The cost of this excursion was $50USD pp plus a $13USD pp dock fee.
When it came to transportation, getting around Cancun was easy. The buses are plentiful, coming literally every minute and go up and down The Hotel Zone/ Downtown, Cancun. The fare is only 12pesos, which is less than $1USD.
For transportation to the airport, we decided to take a taxi, as it was the most convenient option for us. The taxi fare was 550pesos, but we were able to negotiate for 500pesos ($25USD). The duration of the ride from our hotel to the airport was about 20 minutes. There is a bus alternative available, which would cost about $2USD, but it consists of catching a bus from the hotel zone to downtown and then another bus from downtown to the airport.
"I Got Secrets, Can't Leave Cancun"
-Nelly
After spending four days in Tulum, Mexico, we decided it was time to get some more action and hit the road to Cancun. Cancun is the epitome of fun, nightlife, and beautiful beaches all in one and with almost a full year of sunshine, this Caribbean vacation did not disappoint. We opted to fly out of our respective cities and met at the airport in Cancun. For a roundtrip ticket using American Airlines, to Cancun, Mexico, the cost was $420.00 and $30 each way for a checked bag, a free personal item and carry-on bag was included. The flight was 6 hours total including a 1-hour layover in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jungle Tours Speed Boat and Snorkel- While we HIGHLY recommend this activity; this excursion is not for the faint of heart. We had never driven a speedboat, or any boat for that matter. So, we were in disbelief when we were handed the keys to a 2-person speedboat and told to follow the leader; I guess there is a first time for everything. We were given easy to follow instructions and then sped off at about 60MPH on about a 20-minute journey through the Nichupte Lagoon. We roughly navigated through the mangrove canals finally arriving to our snorkel destination in Punta Nizuc. While snorkeling, we swam through a huge variety of marine life and even visited the MUSA statues (underwater museum). The cost of this excursion was $50USD pp plus a $13USD pp dock fee.
Transportation
Food
Takito Resturant
Mextreme Restaurant
Johnny Rockets Restaurant
Money
The exchange rate is $1USD=20pesos, however, we found that many businesses posted their own conversion, which ranged from $1USD=17pesos to $1USD=20pesos. Because of this, we highly recommend that you exchange your money to pesos to get the best bang for your buck! We were able to exchange our money, fee free, through our banks.