Xcaret

It means "small inlet" in the Mayan language , but one thing for sure is that Xcaret will be an unforgettable experience.
I'm talking about a theme park located in the place with the same name, some km. away from Cancun

This park has become one of the lost popular day trips for travelers, and let me tell you that whatever you hear about it (the good things) are true.
If you're planning to visit the MR, please make sure you include Xcaret in your itinerary. I can assure you won't regret.

To get there, I think it is best to book with one of the thousands of tour agents you can find in Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
The basic entry fee is about US$80. That is the cheapest but we decided to go for the Xcaret Plus fare which is the one I recommend.
This fare includes transportation, buffet lunch and the equipment to dive in any of the three underground rivers which is not included in the basic price.

The park is quite big and for some people even 1 day is not enough.
It has shows all day long, many shops to buy stuff and you can also see animals roaming around the park all freely and take pictures of them.

So, long story short, go straight to the underground rivers and amaze yourself with the deep blue color, look for the jaguars, don't miss the butterfly sanctuary and at 5 pm, head to the main auditorium and enjoy the Night Show "Mexico Espectacular" to enjoy dance performances from different regions of Mexico and learn a bit of how Mexico was born as a country (I personally loved the Pre-Hispanic ball game).

Chichen Itza. A World Wonder.

When you visit the Mayan Riviera, visiting Chichen Itza is a must. Probably anyone coming here already has this place included in the itinerary.
Chichen Itza, which in the Mayan language means "At the mouth of the Itza well" is definitely one of the most famous sites in Mexico. Thousands of people visit this place every year, and more since it was selected as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

It is located about 200 km. away from Cancun, in the state of Yucatan. You can get there with a tour or by yourself.
We chose to go by ourselves since have never liked joining tours, we like to organize our time on our own.
It is really easy to get there if you are travelling from Cancun. Just take a bus from the ADO Bus Station in downtown for MX$240 (US$18) one way. There is only one departure per day as I remember and it is in the morning (around 8). The bus that goes back to Cancun departs at around 4 pm.

Once you get there, the archaeological site is yours to discover. There are lots of ruins to walk around and you can get some info by reading some signs by them (you can also hire a local guide outside that can explain all to you).

The park is quite big and it will probably take all morning and afternoon to see it. However, I would say the 2 main highlights of this place are the Pyramid of Kukulkan (the feathered serpent god) and the cenotes (sinkhole).

Sadly, visitors cannot climb the main pyramid anymore. It used to be possible a few years back, but because of deterioration the authorities decided that the buildings were better put out of direct access.

I heard it was a bit of a challenge to do it, but for me the biggest challenge nowadays is to avoid  the massive amount of people trying to sell you stuff.

Don't get me wrong, they are all trying to make a living, but probably by the time you are getting ready to leave, you are kinda tired of walking under the sun and being bugged by lots of vendors adds a bit to the exhaustion. 

Overall, a very interesting place!

The Mayan Riviera!!

Cancun, is with no doubt, one of the most important touristic destinations in Mexico. When it comes to beach resorts, I believe Cancun can compete up there with the best.

So many people around the world have told me things like: it is too American!! Not the real Mexico!!, Too expensive!.
Well, well, It is true that Cancun can have that look of an all-included theme park,but let's remember that Cancun is just the gateway to what is known as the Mayan Riviera.
You want night clubs, American style restaurants ad shops, huge hotel complexes? Then Cancun has it for you!.
Once you get away the Hotel Zone, there are tons of things to see and discover.

This was my third time in the Mayan Riviera, and this time I was travelling with my bestie, Vilou.
It was her first time in Mexico. She is from Paris, so definitely it was going to be a new experience for her.
I decided to stay away from the Hotel Zone and rented a room in Playa Blanca (around 5km from downtown) on Airbnb (totally recommend that website!).
Apart from having dinner at La Isla Mall (A beautiful outdoors shopping mall), we didn't do much in the HZ.
We are not much into clubbing, so we decided to have a good rest as we were visiting Tulum and Playa del Carmen the next day. Plus those nightclubs in Cancun are really expensive. Although I heard the price is totally worth it for those who love clubbing.