Here are some Cancun vacation ideas for your next trip, make this the year that you discover more of the Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan. Thomas More Travel, the in-house travel agency at Royal Resorts will be your trusted guide as you embark on a journey that will take you to see ancient Mayan cities and the villages of their descendants, colonial cities, hidden beaches and cenotes, nature reserves teeming with wildlife and adventure parks for a fun day out with the family. Here are some ideas for your 2019 travel experiences:
Island hopping
Visit the four treasures of the Mexican Caribbean, its islands: Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Contoy and Holbox, all beautiful and with their own charms.
If you are in Cancun, then Isla Mujeres is the easiest island to visit; it’s just a short ferry ride across the bay and is famous for picture-perfect Playa Norte. Eco trips are available to Contoy, a palm-lined island bird sanctuary north of Isla Mujeres and Cancun.
Ferries to Cozumel, Mexico’s largest inhabited island and world-famous dive destination, operate from Playa del Carmen during the day. In addition to its spectacular reefs, Cozumel offers lovely beaches, lagoons and jungles and the vibrant capital of San Miguel. With its Mayan archaeological sites and pirate past, it is steeped in history.
The fourth in the island quartet is peaceful Holbox, a place to leave the frenetic pace of modern life behind and reconnect with nature. Long walks on the beach, a rustic fishing village, fishing and birding trips, glorious sunsets, fresh seafood and the chance to see the whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles in the summer are its charms. Located off the Gulf coast of northern Quintana Roo, it is a half-hour ferry ride from the port of Chiquila.
Go snorkeling or diving
From the Cancun Underwater Art Museum to the reefs in Puerto Morelos, Akumal and the coral kingdom of Cozumel, the Mesoamerican Reef has many marvels to show you.
And if you are due to visit Cancun in the summer and you love nature, don’t miss the chance to take an eco trip to see the whale sharks that gather in the waters east of Isla Mujeres, Contoy and off Holbox to feast on plankton.
Visit Rio Lagartos and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserves
From sightings of flamingos and wood storks to exciting boat rides along canals winding through the mangrove forest, get ready for a day of natural wonders and adventure in these two amazing biosphere reserves. Rio Lagartos is located on the Gulf coast of the Yucatan and Sian Ka’an is in central Quintana Roo.
Discover Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and Valladolid
Spend the day exploring eastern Yucatan, a land of mighty Mayan cities, colonial towns and villages and mysterious cenotes deep in the forest.
Start at Chichen Itza, the ancient Mayan capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Jaguars, the Observatory, the Ball Court, the Sacred Well and many other temples and palaces.
Ek Balam is a 20-minute drive north of the town of Valladolid and while smaller than Chichen Itza, is no less interesting. Climb the Acropolis to see the ornate stucco bas-relief depicting ancient rulers and nobles and take in the panoramic views of the forest.
After a refreshing dip in one of the area’s many cenotes you’ll be ready for lunch and a stroll through the streets and squares of historic Valladolid.
Take a Mexican Cooking Class
Want to know the secrets of the Mexican kitchen? Take a class at a Cooking School in Cancun or Puerto Morelos and learn how to make salsas and a range of delicious dishes from cochinita pibil and perfect guacamole to beef fillet in beer and frijoles charros.
Bacalar Bound
The Lagoon of Seven Colors is in southern Quintana Roo but it is definitely worth the drive. Seven colors, aquamarine, azure, turquoise and indigo, shimmer in the sun in this long lake set in the emerald green of the jungle and mangroves. There are boat trips and kayaks for charter in Bacalar village.
Built in 1729 to protect the village from marauding pirates, the colonial San Felipe Fort overlooking the lagoon now houses a Pirate Museum.
Book your Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan trips with Thomas More Travel
We hope these Cancun vacation ideas give you some inspiration. Visit www.thomasmoretravel.com to start booking your Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan trips online and for more ideas be sure to call in at the tour desk at your resort.
