A holiday in Cancun is the most awesome, envy-inspiring experience you can have. The powdery white sand and crystal clear blue waters are the stuff of dreams. This is why so many holidaymakers flock to the Mexican resort year after year. A heavily tourist-driven resort, however, Cancun itself is incredibly busy during peak season (December to April). Sitting on a crowded beach, no matter how beautiful that beach may be, can take the edge off the bliss, to say the least. Therefore, it is worth considering resorts an hour or two south of Cancun, which, along with being less crowded, are largely less expensive than those in Cancun’s ‘Hotel Zone’. Tulum, and Playa del Carmen (which caters for the all-inclusive crowd), are leading resorts outside of Cancun itself, as is Mérida in Yucatan, although this is an airline flight away.
Whilst Cancun is famous for its lively nightlife and its beaches, it is also a gateway to the ancient ruins of the lost Mayan civilisation. No trip to the area would be complete without seeing the historic relics, which are among the Seven Wonders of the World. As you would expect, there are plenty of daily tours to the ruins of Chichen Itza and the Pyramids of Kukulcan from Cancun, and from Playa del Carmen. It is perfectly possible to make your own way to the Mayan ruins, despite them being one hundred and fifty miles from Cancun. Catch the bus bound for Merida, or hire a car for the journey. Be sure to time your trip to arrive before nine am, as this is when the organised tours arrive. Of course, the organised tours are fine, but it depends on whether you want to experience the ruins as part of a large group of tourists, or independently.
Once you arrive, the main sites to see should include the Pyramid of Kukulcan (aka El Castillo). As the most famous, and in itself one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it is not to be missed. At times, it is possible to climb the pyramid; however at other times climbing is banned. You’ll have to check before you try! Next, see the Cenote of Sacrifice, where the Mayans performed human sacrifices to their rain god. After that, try to see as many of the other temples, palaces and sweat lodges (‘zumbul’) as you can. Make sure that you bring plenty of bottled water with you, as well as a sun hat and sun cream. You will find yourself spending quite a long time out in the sun, likely with little shade.
Other Mayan sites to visit include Coba, about 90km from Chichen Itza (and 2.5hrs drive from Cancun), which is composed of the remains of various Mayan communities. There is also Ek Balam, Tulum and Kohunlich. Unless you are in Mexico specifically to visit the ruins, it may be difficult to reach all of the different sites. Chichen Itza and Tulum are perhaps the most widely-visited, but each site has its own unique qualities, so deciding on which you would like to see the most is simply a case of personal preference. After a long day of travel and sightseeing, no doubt you will be glad to spend the rest of your holiday sipping cocktails in the shade, happy that you ticked one great sight off your bucket list!
