Mexico is a land of beautiful people, food and experiences, yet fraught with its own socio-political challenges. As a welcoming country on the edge of the second world, it’s as prosperous as it can seem impoverished. Although only having experienced the Yucatan Peninsula so far, we look forward to many other trips to discover more about this cultural and historical epicenter of the Americas.
Xochimilco, Mexico City’s floating market of colorful gondola-like boats has been on enough travel documentaries to risk being a tourist trap. Instead, it was a refreshing window into Mexican family life and culture. Xochimilco is actually so much more than the canals and islands you may have seen on blogs and travel shows. It’s one of the city’s 16 boroughs, a...
La Parilla is a restaurant in the heart of tourist hell – the hotel zone. To give you a point of reference, there’s a Hooters just across the path. Thankfully the food isn’t bad and the drinks are huge. Situated by the water, with a killer sunset, the food isn’t why we’re here and with a menu the size of a phone book, we weren’t expecting much. It seems like the type...
72 hours isn’t much time to enjoy Cancun, but in just three days we managed to squeeze in sun, surf, sand along with a dash of history. As we plunge into the icy depths of the ancient sinkhole, I’m experiencing an overwhelming sensory overload. It could be the fact that we’re treading water in a dark, murkiness that is over 130 FT deep or maybe just maybe it’s...
Hotel Nyx is a hidden gem in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. There are times you book a hotel after hours of price comparisons and reviews and you still come out of it underwhelmed. Then there are those times when you book last minute and go in blindly. Throwing caution to the wind, we secured three nights at Hotel Nyx and were more than pleasantly surprised. Driving along the...
Museo Maya de Cancún is one of the newest arrivals in the Cancun’s Hotel District and it is also one of the oldest. The museum and cultural center was designed by Mexican architect Alberto García Lascurain, with the forecourt fountains (the three white columns which represent vegetation) by Dutch sculptor Jan Hendrix. Before entering the museum, we decided to stroll...
Playa Delfines is the gateway to Cancun’s Hotel District. Playas are everywhere in Cancun. The fast muscle cars (generally hired to look the part – of A class douche), spring breakers and fake everythings are par for the course around here. But the real playas are far more appealing – playa being Spanish for beach. Playa Delfines is a stretch of white, sandy...
Chichen Itza. We’re both excited to finally visit a site that has been on our bucket lists for years. Built between 750 and 900 AD, the well of the itza is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. A Mayan adventure without the sacrifices. In our minds we’re expecting to hack our way into the jungle to get to this ancient site, like something you would see in an...
La Isla Shopping Village is the Gringo epicenter of Cancun. Or at least close to it. As one of the central shopping experiences of the Hotel District, it’s a haven for the well to do, the bored and the hungry. The shopping mall is as extensive as it’s opulent. Entering the precinct, you’d never guess you’re in Mexico. The store listing is almost 100% and the...
Ik-Kil Cenote – an ancient waterhole, a sinkhole, a gateway to the underworld or just a choice venue for a Red Bull cliff diving championship? It’s all this and more (religious leanings and interests in extreme sports permitting). Cenotes are limestone sinkholes resulting from a collapse in the bedrock to reveal an underground water source. They also hold...
A journey to the Yucatan Peninsula isn’t complete without experiencing Valladolid, a flawless example of a conquest era Spanish town, dating back to 1540. The regional center is home to approximately 46,000, with many Mayans mixing with Criollos, the descendants of the early settlers. Situated 150km from Cancun and just 40km east of Chitzen Itza, it is a viable...
