Driving in a foreign country can be overwhelming, but in Mexico, we find it not too difficult. Inside cities like Playa del Carmen and other larger cities the traffic can be a bit busy, but outside the cities, there are surprisingly few cars on the road.

Parking in Playa del Carmen is pretty easy to come by. Just don’t park where the curbs are yellow or otherwise posted no parking. Sometimes the yellow on the curb can be a bit faded so just look when you get out of your car, especially in the evening. The same goes for Tulum Pueblo (town).

That said, to be totally honest with you, the city of Cancun in itself is other than charming, especially compared to a historical city such as Merida o Valladolid or all the other colonial cities in Mexico. 

Isla Mujeres is without a doubt one of the most popular day trips from Cancun.

 A report by Brigitta Ine van Tussenbroek, an ocean researcher from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology at the National Autonomous University (UNAM) suggested that large quantities of sargassum seaweed would return to Mexico’s Caribbean coast in 2019. Her report was quite accurate. 

Jodie and I chose not to stay in Zona Hotelera and chose instead to stay in Downtown Cancun at Mezcal Hostel.

Once you step foot on this beach you may never want to leave. The water is warm and crystal clear, you can grab a cocktail from the beach bars and if you need to connect to the wifi it’s readily available here.

Next we drove to Punta Sur at the southernmost tip of the island. The epic scenery alone, with the jagged cliffs and the open ocean make it worth the trip down here. There are two main sections to explore on Punta Sur:

One of the popular things to do in Cancun is riding All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) through a dirt road jungle route. There are many companies which offer ATV tours of the jungle, one of them being Xplor Park.

Since there are two cenotes in Mexico with this name, we are talking about the Quintana Roo Cenote Azul (Blue Cenote). This popular cenote boasts crystal clear waters in a seriously tranquil setting. Iguanas laze around the edge and small fish dart around in the water. It is filled with boulders that give it shallow areas, making it perfect for families with small kids because they can stand up and jump off. There’s also a platform edge to jump into the deeper water of the large cenote. Cenote Azul is .....in an ‘L’ shape, so there are plenty of places to get away from the crowds. If you sit still in the water for a while, small fish will venture over to eat your dead skin – just like in the foot spas! Show less

Chances are when you visit Cancun, you'll be staying at an all-inclusive resort with its own beach. But some of you may be at a hotel on the lagoon and others may want to get off the resort.

The designs of Garrafon Natural Reef Park, specifically designed it to make you feel as if you’re standing in the middle of the ocean, offering the best of the Mexican Caribbean’s ecology. Visitors can enjoy taking a stroll along the edge of the sea, kayaking the gentle waves, biking through a seaside sculpture garden, and snorkeling on the reefs – but keep in mind that while there are colorful fish, when it comes to coral, much of it is dead due to hurricanes and human activity. The dolphin encounter program .....offers the chance to swim with dolphins, and you can even take a thrilling zip-line ride too. Show less

If you look at any of the top ten things to do in Cancun you can be assured that a trip to Chichen Itza or Tulum sits firmly at the top.  It’s probably one of the most interesting things to do in Cancun with family or on your own as part of a tour.  Nothing will really prepare you for the Legoland appeal of this most ancient site. 

One of the most interesting museums in the world sits beneath the surface of the Mediterranean off the coast between Cancun and Isla Mujeres, offering divers and snorkelers the chance to view ghostly figures that sit at the bottom of the ocean. The sculptures, created by artist Jason de Caires Taylor, were placed there to lure visitors’ attention away from the nearby natural reefs that can be damaged by too much tourist traffic. The more than 450 sculptures rest at a depth of between 13- to 30-feet and were made .....from a cement mix that facilitates reef growth, united the causes of art and environmentalism. The museum is one of the largest underwater art attractions in the world and features two galleries that are suitable for snorkelers. Show less

Royally embark on the new life by staying at this adults-only luxury resort. Stay in one of the five-star suites of Excellence Resorts. Each suite has an 807 square feet and a larger area that is embraced with all modern amenities including an extra-wide sectional sofa, flat-screen TV, private round Jacuzzi with indoor and outdoor access and a four-poster bed situated to take advantage of gorgeous views.With multiple dining options available you would be spoilt for choice. There are beautiful pools, a gorgeous spa with experienced staff to help you .....have the best honeymoon experience. To know more about the facilities and services, consider visiting its official website. Show less

Stroll on white sand beaches not far from the hotels and enjoy sunbathing with the option to order drinks from your beach chair. The ferry to Isla Mujeres also departs from here.

Bird watchers looking for a secluded island paradise will be in heaven on Isla Contoy. Not only does it offer spectacular natural beauty, but it’s the most important nesting place for sea birds in the Mexican Caribbean, home to over 150 species, including one of the largest populations of pelicans in the Caribbean. Just 200 visitors are allowed to be on the island at any one time, so you’ll need to schedule a visit with one of a only a handful of companies that are allowed to bring guests to .....this pristine ecosystem. Along the way, most boat tours stop to let passengers enjoy snorkeling with the tropical fish and sea turtles at Ixlache Reef. Once on land, a resident biologist is available for tours, and bird watching trips to a nesting site can be arrange too. A portion of the proceeds from the various excursions are used to support the ongoing conservation efforts. Show less

Chichen Itza is typically first place everyone wants to see when they visit Mexico. It’s not hard to get there, either by car or by bus. Just walk down any shopping area in Tulum, Cancun, or Playa Del Carmen to find a guide selling tours to Chichen Itza. It’s also very easy to rent a car drive to the ruins. Renting a car in Tulum was easier than renting a car in the U.S., and it’s a two-hour drive to Chichen Itza. We arrived early, but not early enough to .....avoid the crowds. The archaeological park opens at 8am, but by the time we arrived at 8:30, the hordes were already waiting. Chichen Itza is one of the most disappointing trips of our visit to. My advice is if you’re short on time, skip it completely. If you want to read more check out my post on Chichen Itza. Show less

The luscious, emerald-colored cenote is one of the best Cenotes on the Riviera Maya. It’s also one of the lesser visited, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll have the whole place to yourself! ‘Verde Lucero’ translates from Spanish as ‘green star’ but for this cenote, it also means ‘bright green.’

Cancun’s Maya Museum is a must for history lovers and archaeology buffs. Home to some of the most important collections of Maya artifacts, there are some 400 pieces found at key sites in and around the peninsula, including everything from ceramics and jewelry to sculptures. One of its most extraordinary artifacts are the skeletal remains that were discovered in the underwater caves in Tulum, and believed to be around 14,000 years old. The admission price also includes access to the adjoining San Miguelito archaeological site.

There are regular ADO buses that will take you all around the Yucatan Peninsula from the ADO Cancun Bus Station. Buses are comfortable and safe.

Check out the Moon Palace Resorts if you want a fantastic vacation, gorgeous location, good eats, wonderful white sandy beaches and crystal clear pools. Also, all-inclusive is always a great addition to any resort. We will definitely be back and would live to go to one of the other Moon Palace Resorts.