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Cancún, Mexico
After almost 11 hours on the plane (coming from Frankfurt), we finally arrived
in Cancún and headed straight to our hotel. Except for a dinner in the downtown
area, we wanted to spare our energies for the following days.
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Valladolid, Mexico
Valladolid is a rather small town, about two hours from Cancún, which is known
for its beautiful cenotes. Even though the town has become increasingly popular
in recent years, it still belongs to the hidden gems in Mexico! The town itself
emits a special charm, which perfectly welcomes you to Mexican life. I recommend
taking a walk through the streets and letting yourself drift away together with
the locals around you. If you want to learn more about this charming town, make
sure to check out my post about the best things to do in Valladolid. For me,
Cenote Zaci has been my highlight in Valladolid. It is a beautiful outdoor
cenote, in which you can go swimming as well. Cenote Suytun (photo below), which
can be found near Valladolid, is one of the best cenotes of Mexico!
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Chichén-Itzá, Mexico
Pisté is a tiny village that is mostly known for being located next to Chichén
Itzá, one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Chichén Itzá was formerly one of
the largest Maya cities. Nowadays, the ruins, including the popular temple El
Castillo, are one of the most visited archaeological sites around the world.
Tourists have to pay 250 Mexican Pesos for the entry. As always, being early not
only has the advantage of avoiding the burning sun in the middle of the day but
also avoiding the tourist masses.
- Chichén Itzá Archeological Zone (Zona Arqueológica de Chichén Itzá)
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Mérida, Mexico
Old colonial architecture and historic buildings, local markets and shops, Mayan
culture – a colorful hustle and bustle. This is Mérida – the beautiful capital
of the Mexican state Yucatán and one of the best cities in Mexico according to
many visitors. A must-see is the city’s cathedral and the Plaza Grande in the
city center as well as the impressive Jose Peon Contreras theatre and the city’s
most popular market named Lucas de Galvez Market. Another great thing about
Mérida: your pesos are worth more compared to other popular and more touristic
Mexican cities like Cancún or Tulum.
- Parque de San Juan
- Lucas de Gálvez
- Plaza Grande
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Campeche, Mexico
When walking through the streets of Campeche you will easily understand why this
place is called the rainbow city of Mexico. All the houses are painted in
different colors and give the city a cheerful and dreamy atmosphere. I
especially liked the marketplace with the San Francisco church in the middle of
Campeche. Other recommended activities include strolling around the waterfront
or visiting Fort San Miguel.
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Chetumal, Mexico
Chetumal is located right at the border to Belize and thus serves as a transfer
point for most tourists. We only stayed in Chetumal for one night to rest from
the long drive from Campeche as well as to get prepared for the upcoming journey
to Belize City. As far as we noticed, there are not a lot of attractions or
things to do in Chetumal itself.
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Belize City, Belize
Before our trip, we read a lot on the internet about the difficulties which
might occur on the Belizean border, such as long waiting times or unnecessary
fines. However, the border crossing was quite an easy and uncomplicated process.
We had to exit the bus twice, once a passport control on the Mexican side,
followed by second passport control and a completion of a form as we entered
Belize. We didn’t see much of Belize City – however, we got the impression that
it is not the prettiest and safest city. That’s why we only went to have dinner
nearby and decided to return to our hotel early that night
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Caye Caulker, Belize
The small island Caye Caulker is a short water taxi drive from Belize City away
(tickets can be bought here). In case you are not already in the vacation mood
when entering the small island Caye Caulker, you will definitely get into the
Caribbean vibes when stepping the first foot on the island. “Go slow” is the
well-known motto of the tiny island paradise – and you can feel it! Grab a
cocktail, relax in one of the many beach bars on Caye Caulker, and enjoy life to
the fullest!
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San Pedro, Belize
San Pedro is only a one-hour water taxi drive away from Caye Caulker. However,
the islands differ very much. San Pedro is much bigger than Caye Caulker – more
infrastructure, more people, more opportunities – but less calm, less relaxing,
and less clean. So, we decided to explore the beautiful underwater world. The
Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest reef in the world and home to
thousands of beautiful species. The snorkeling tour was definitely one of the
highlights of the entire trip! Swimming in the crystal clear and turquoise
water, there is a high chance of not only seeing colorful fishes and corals but
also sea turtles or little sharks
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Tulum, Mexico
Tulum a formerly small fisherman village, has undergone a drastic change into a
popular tourist destination within the past 20 years. The vibrant charm of Tulum
is noticeable all around the town and the opportunities in terms of what to eat
and where to stay are countless. We decided to stay in a lovely apartment
downtown, apart from the main hotel zone on the seaside – also known as the main
tourist zone. As Tulum is a rather small town, you can easily get around by bike
(they can be found for rent at every corner). The famous archaeological ruins,
located directly on the Caribbean coast, are a must-see when visiting Tulum.
Again, make sure to go early and take a lot of water as well as a sun hat with
you. There is almost no shadow and the sun during the daytime is burning! Once
in the area make sure to not miss the opportunity to visit some of the best
cenotes in Tulum! Every single one of them is fascinating in its own way
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Cozumel, Mexico
Without a doubt: Cozumel is a paradise on earth! The island has everything you
can ask for. Beautiful beaches, clear water, nice bars and restaurants,
preserved nature, countless leisure activities, you name it. I totally recommend
renting a scooter and exploring the island on your own. Take the route leading
all the way south to Punta Sur Eco Beach Park, a national reserve with white
beaches, lagoons, and beautiful flora and fauna. The dreamy white lighthouse,
Faro Celarain, at the island’s most southern point, is the perfect stop to
explore this area. Unfortunately, compared to other places in Mexico, Cozumel is
rather expensive. Make sure to book your accommodation early in advance and try
to get around by scooter or bike instead of taking a taxi
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Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Besides all the fun things to do in Playa del Carmen, this place will always
remind me to be the starting point of one of the greatest adventures I have
experienced so far: swimming with whale sharks in the Caribbean Sea! If you are
planning your trip to Mexico between June and September, you will have the
chance to meet the so-called gentle giants in their natural habitat. During this
season, they are swimming relatively close to the coast as they can find a lot
of seaweed, their main nutrition, over there. There are numerous options for
organizations offering the whale shark encounter. We have chosen Eco-Tours and
can absolutely recommend their work. Visit their website for more detailed
information about the tours