Summer is here in London but i keep thinking back to one of my favourite beach holiday destinations i visited a few years ago...the Yucatán Peninsula
What can i say about this destination apart from LOVE LOVE LOVE. The Yucatán Peninsula is absolutely beautiful and definitely in my top 5 destinations from around the world.
Although it did not have the most pristine sand or clearest waters from all of the destinations i have been to, i can say it has so much more than that. The Yucatán Peninsula is filled with so much history and culture and the Mayan people are friendly and tiny, which makes me feel tall for a change! (i'm only 5'15"!)
The last time i visited, we made Playa Del Carmen our base, then visited different locations via tours and by ourselves.
Tulum: the Mayan architecture at Tulum was picture perfect with lush golden sands, giant iguanas and warm sea waters. The main beach isn't very big, therefore if you want a more peaceful visit, please please please do get there as early as possible as this is a crazy popular location for tourists. It might be small and crowded, but if i ever get the chance to again, i would definitely go back to visit as it is just so unique and beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice!
Beautiful Tulum by the Sea
In addition, we went for a half day tour to snorkel in the cenotes around Tulum. Loads of mossies here as its in the middle of the jungle, so please ensure you have water friendly repellent so you do not pollute the cenote. This trip was okay, but not as mind blowing as we had hoped it would be. If you don't have much time, i'd recommend skipping this tour.
Akumal: The beach at Akumal was not the best, but if you are a fan of sea turtles. They are plentiful within a few minutes snorkel from the beach. You can buy your own snorkel gear or hire it from the shops. Either way, a cheap way to have an amazing time.
Turtle Spotting in Akumal (click to enlarge images)
Cancun: This was a stop off location my friend and i went to in order to get to Isla Mujeres for the amazing sunsets it is known for. The only thing i remembers about Cancun was the fact that we walked past a Hooters in a giant shopping mall that had water running through it like they have in the Venetian.
Inside a Cancun Shopping Mall
Isla Mujeres: Beautiful sunsets over the sea. Take a boat from Cancun to access it. I promise you won't regret it...
Beautiful sunsets at Isla Mujeres
Playa Del Carmen: nowhere near as touristy or messy as Cancun, but so much fun with beautiful beaches, clubs, bars, shops and restaurants. Approx 1 hour away from Cancun airport via the local transport. It was the [erfect base to travel to neighbouring areas.
Chichen itza: day trip with a visit to a cenote. So much fascinating history (make sure you get a guide who speaks the same language as you!). I've never had such an interesting history "class"!
Cozumel: This is a little island just to the west of Playa Del Carmen. Hire a golf cart and explore the island. So much fun and we were very lucky as we happened to arrive when there was a carnival and fireworks happening! We had such an amazing time. :)
Colourful Cozumel
Sian ka'an: According to Wikipedia, Sian Ka'an is a biosphere reserve in the municipality of Tulum in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
We booked a Jeep tour and got to the site so we could see the mangroves, dolphins, turtle and snorkel a bit. The ride there was a lot of fun as our driver (another tourist) went over all the bumpy areas and drove super fast, but it was extremely dusty as the Jeep had an open top.
Unfortunately, when we got to the site, it turned out our boat had broken down and they needed to find another one for us. We waited around for around an hour and was given fresh coconut with fresh lime drizzled on top to make up for it...
When we finally got into our boat and took a tour around, my friend and i thought it was okay, but nothing amazingly special, especially as it took a very long time to get there, the tour was pretty expensive and we didn't really see a lot that we didn't see in other parts of the island. If you do go to the Yucatán Peninsula, we'd recommend you skip it and find a different tour to go on instead.
Overall Pros:
- There is something for everybody. Beach bum, party animal, meditator, couples, groups etc,
- Mosquitos: The time of year we went did not have many mosquitos, however, there were some further out in areas like Sian Ka'an and the Cenote,
- Weather: Absolutely perfect. Hot but still comfortable, hence was not humid. However, on the day we visited Chichen Itza, i vividly remember it being extremely hot and dry - to the point that it felt like the top of my feet were burning, hence i had to ensure i always had suntan lotion to hand
Cons:
- Some of the tours are pretty pricey, so make sure you do a price comparison and look for reputable companies to book through,
- A lot of the beaches and water wasn't as immaculate as one would hope, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons,
- Be wary of recommendations from some concierge, as they may recommend tourist traps in order to gain commission.
Time of year travelled: Mid February. We were told that the summer months can be extremely humid and have lots of mosquitos.
Would i go back? Absolutely
Who did i travel with: A friend
