Cancún is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. 6.4 million tourists brought in 22.5 billion dollars in 2019 alone! Travelers, mainly from Europe, the USA, Canada, other parts of Mexico, flock to Cancún for the beaches, snorkeling, zip lining, and perhaps a little ruins excursion.
Growing up, I remember friends returning from their Cancún Spring break vacays with braided hair and tanned skin. My family was more of a “let’s explore the jungles of Costa Rica!” than a “relax on the beach with a beverage” sort of group. Not to mention, my mom would have NEVER let me get my hair braided. (In hindsight… thanks Mom!) Yet, I was always a bit jealous…
Now, as a 28 year old adult, I finally headed to the beaches of Cancún to see what the hype was all about.
Let’s Dive into My 2 days in Cancún…
Initial Impression:
There are people of all ages roaming around with a “what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico” and “I’m on vacay!!” type of attitude. You’ll see young people looking for a good time, retires ready to relive the glory days, gaggles of women on their yearly girls trip, groups of men looking for said girls, and a surprising amount of families sprinkled about. Sunburns, fanny packs, nondescript cups, no shirts, no problems.
For the first night, we stayed in the Hotel Zone– mega hotels, overpriced food and drinks, and plenty of tourists dawning brightly colored “Cancún” souvenir attire.
For the second two nights, we stayed in an AirBnB in the downtown area– much more local, little pockets of venues, and a surprising amount of dilapidated buildings.
Where We Stayed:
For night one, we scored a mega deal on Aloft Hotel ($30usd). There was a decent gym, the room was perfectly nice, and to our surprise, we got a wrist band with open bar access from 11am-11pm! We were asleep by 9pm, but I did wake up with quite the headache… obligatory for anyone who visits Cancún, I suppose.
For the second two nights, we stayed in an AirBnB near Mercado 28. It was part of a complex that was clearly all AirBnBs. There was a stove, microwave, mini fridge, bed, and bathroom. A good location and fast wifi, but everything was teetering on the brink of breaking down.
TIP: There is a war between Uber and taxis. Taxis clearly have a monopoly on prices, and you’ll only be able to use Ubers in certain locales. In fact, chaos ensued when we did catch an Uber. A nearby taxi driver ran over and began shouting and taking pictures of the Uber driver’s vehicle. It was quite strange and uncomfortable. But our fare to the beach was easily 50% less than it would have been in a taxi.
What We Did During Our 2 Days in Cancún:
The point of spending 3 nights and 2 days in Cancún was to catch up on computer work and just chill out. We hit the beach, walked around the town, and mostly just took it easy.
What We Ate:
Al Pastor Tacos from Takito in the Hotel Zone.
Mercado 28: Fish tacos, tostadas, and enchiladas
Patravali Indian Cuisine: When in Cancún, why not try Indian food? The samosas were too small and crispy, but our entrees were loaded with veggies and had great flavors.
Las Tostadillas Del Mar II: If you find yourself in Cancún this is the spot to go. In fact, it was so good that I wrote a full review that you can find HERE!
Señor Frog’s: We agreed that we needed a taste of the classic Cancun experience, which led us to 3pm over priced yard glasses from Señor Frog’s. The atmosphere was one big party with loud music and enthusiastic servers. At one point, Shots by LMAFO started playing. On queue, servers came around pouring shots down everyone’s throats. Except the toddler and baby next to us, of course. It was a cultural experience in of itself, but for the price, not one I care to have again.
Final Thoughts on our 2 days in Cancún…
Cancún isn’t a travel destination. It’s a vacation destination. People go to relax by the beach, eat, drink, and forget about work for just a few days. While it isn’t my cup of tea, I get it. I’m happy to have spent 2 days in Cancún, but can’t say I’ll ever be back….
