Kukulkan in Chichen Itza A thought to see One of the Wonders of World - Chichen Itza led us to Cancun. On further researching , Cancun is known for its parties, all inclusive resorts, pristine beaches, turqoise Carribean water and many more adventures.
A 3 day holiday was a cramped one for us since there are so many things to do in Cancun.
Day 1 :
Before arriving in Cancun, I had booked our Airport to Hotel Shuttle by Canada Tours. They had good reviews, and price same as others. We arrived in the afternoon around 1 pm at Cancun Airport, where before exiting many people try to sell their Time Share deals.
We made it out of the crowd of Sales Reps and found the Canada Tours guy holding our name placard. We were swiftly boarded in our van and whisked off to our Hotel - Intercontinental.
The Intercontinental Hotel is northern end of Cancun, which is a little over 10-15 mins walk to all the pubs in the city.
But its good sized hotel, with nice access to the beach and multiple pools to laze around. We were upgraded to the Club Room which is on the top floor with a balcony.The rooms were good sized with a wonderful view of the sea.We rested the remaining part of the day in the hotel, by the sea and in the pool.
The white sand beach was so soft and fluffy that it seemed you are walking in a pool of dry flour.Plus the water depth is till waistline for around 200 metres, so you can easily wade around and walk a far away from the coast.The waves are negligible , so it might be a disappointment who love to play in waves.
Walked out to the party district to see the dining area and do some street shopping.People who love to drink and party, they are in for a treat in this city.
The next day we had a private tour to Chichen Itza , Ik-Kil Cenote and Ek Balam ruins with Canada Tours. We had got a good deal after bargaining with them on the phone.
A 3 day holiday was a cramped one for us since there are so many things to do in Cancun.
Day 1 :
Before arriving in Cancun, I had booked our Airport to Hotel Shuttle by Canada Tours. They had good reviews, and price same as others. We arrived in the afternoon around 1 pm at Cancun Airport, where before exiting many people try to sell their Time Share deals.
We made it out of the crowd of Sales Reps and found the Canada Tours guy holding our name placard. We were swiftly boarded in our van and whisked off to our Hotel - Intercontinental.
The Intercontinental Hotel is northern end of Cancun, which is a little over 10-15 mins walk to all the pubs in the city.
But its good sized hotel, with nice access to the beach and multiple pools to laze around. We were upgraded to the Club Room which is on the top floor with a balcony.The rooms were good sized with a wonderful view of the sea.We rested the remaining part of the day in the hotel, by the sea and in the pool.
The white sand beach was so soft and fluffy that it seemed you are walking in a pool of dry flour.Plus the water depth is till waistline for around 200 metres, so you can easily wade around and walk a far away from the coast.The waves are negligible , so it might be a disappointment who love to play in waves.
Walked out to the party district to see the dining area and do some street shopping.People who love to drink and party, they are in for a treat in this city.
The next day we had a private tour to Chichen Itza , Ik-Kil Cenote and Ek Balam ruins with Canada Tours. We had got a good deal after bargaining with them on the phone.
Intercontinental Room
View from Balcony of the Room
View from Breakfast area - early morning
Day 2 :
An early morning breakfast (6 am) near the beach , and then our car was waiting in the lobby to take us for what we had come to Mexico - Chichen ItzaIts approximately 200 kms to Chichen Itza from Cancun.The roads are very well developed , so you can finish this drive from 120 to 150 mins.
Our first stop in the day was Ek Balam Mayan ruins which comes before Chichen Itza.Not a lot of people go to Ek Balam, but its worth visiting. You can easily roam around the ruins, climb a Pyramid or two, with very few people in the ruins to ruin your peace.
From Ek Balam we made our way to Chichen Itza and then you feel that you are in one of the most touristy stop. Hoardes of tourist flocking in tour buses, cars ,etc. But praising where it belongs, the Mexican government has maintained the Chichen Itza complex and area in a very good manner.
Chichen Itza is a very big area with Kukulkan Pyramid being its main attraction.You would need atleast 3 hours to roam the whole area with good enough photo stops and rest. Ofcourse Kukulkan provides a nice photo opportunity with blue skies in the background and wide space around.
But smaller things like the road leading to it, or the great columns in the adjoining area are also worth seeing.You really get awed by this great Mayan civilization architecture. Many people are selling handmade goods reflecting Mexican culture but impressively there were no beggers loitering around and troubling the tourists.
From Chichen Itza we made our way to Ik-Kil Cenote which is like a great sink hole. The facility around it is very sufficient tourist to change clothes along with lockers, and then you can go down and take a dip in the cenote. Only if they could come up with a elevator which takes people down to cenote, as its a long and slippery way down the stairs.
Since its an underground pool , its very rich in minerals, and I was lucky enough to witness its healing powers. While changing in the locker room, I accidentaly got a scratch on my hand leading to a little cut and blood. Not to pay much attention to it, I just washed with water and headed for the pool. It was a small little open wound. But after taking a jump into the pool and swimming around for 10-15 mins, when I came out, the cut had healed, with no sign of a wound anywhere.
Also because of the high density of minerals, it was somewhat difficult to float around and swim. The minerals had affected the buoyancy factor of the water in the cenote.
After this refreshing dip, our driver took us to Valladolid which is small little town on the way back from Chichen Itza to Cancun. It has a very Spanish vibe to it, with small cobbled streets, colorful walls, a small chapel and some touristy souvenir shops. We were there during the sunset time, so it was a nice glowy evening with all vibrant colors around.A nice stopover.Then we headed back to Cancun all tired, and had dinner in our hotel itself and dozed off to sleep.
An early morning breakfast (6 am) near the beach , and then our car was waiting in the lobby to take us for what we had come to Mexico - Chichen ItzaIts approximately 200 kms to Chichen Itza from Cancun.The roads are very well developed , so you can finish this drive from 120 to 150 mins.
Our first stop in the day was Ek Balam Mayan ruins which comes before Chichen Itza.Not a lot of people go to Ek Balam, but its worth visiting. You can easily roam around the ruins, climb a Pyramid or two, with very few people in the ruins to ruin your peace.
From Ek Balam we made our way to Chichen Itza and then you feel that you are in one of the most touristy stop. Hoardes of tourist flocking in tour buses, cars ,etc. But praising where it belongs, the Mexican government has maintained the Chichen Itza complex and area in a very good manner.
Chichen Itza is a very big area with Kukulkan Pyramid being its main attraction.You would need atleast 3 hours to roam the whole area with good enough photo stops and rest. Ofcourse Kukulkan provides a nice photo opportunity with blue skies in the background and wide space around.
But smaller things like the road leading to it, or the great columns in the adjoining area are also worth seeing.You really get awed by this great Mayan civilization architecture. Many people are selling handmade goods reflecting Mexican culture but impressively there were no beggers loitering around and troubling the tourists.
From Chichen Itza we made our way to Ik-Kil Cenote which is like a great sink hole. The facility around it is very sufficient tourist to change clothes along with lockers, and then you can go down and take a dip in the cenote. Only if they could come up with a elevator which takes people down to cenote, as its a long and slippery way down the stairs.
Since its an underground pool , its very rich in minerals, and I was lucky enough to witness its healing powers. While changing in the locker room, I accidentaly got a scratch on my hand leading to a little cut and blood. Not to pay much attention to it, I just washed with water and headed for the pool. It was a small little open wound. But after taking a jump into the pool and swimming around for 10-15 mins, when I came out, the cut had healed, with no sign of a wound anywhere.
Also because of the high density of minerals, it was somewhat difficult to float around and swim. The minerals had affected the buoyancy factor of the water in the cenote.
After this refreshing dip, our driver took us to Valladolid which is small little town on the way back from Chichen Itza to Cancun. It has a very Spanish vibe to it, with small cobbled streets, colorful walls, a small chapel and some touristy souvenir shops. We were there during the sunset time, so it was a nice glowy evening with all vibrant colors around.A nice stopover.Then we headed back to Cancun all tired, and had dinner in our hotel itself and dozed off to sleep.
Church in Valladolid
Ik-Kil Cenote
Ek Balam Ruins
Swim with Dolphins
Day 3
We had booked a Swim with Dolphins adventure in Cancun after breakfast. The tour operator van picked us up.We were then geared up for our rendezvous with Dolphins. Dolphins came across as one of the most intelligent and at the same time loving creatures on this planet. Everyone would fall in love with them after this experience.You will be patting dolphins, literally swimming with them on their belly, making them dance, etc.
You almost dont realise where the time flies away, and then you also fork out ridiculous price to get the video and photos clicked with these amazing creatures. Then we headed back to the hotel after this experience and lazed on the beach.The next day we flew back home. And the only thing for which I wan to come back to Cancun would be to properly enjoy its wonderful beach and sea.
Also during some months of the year, you can also go out in the sea and swim with whales. If you google up swimming with whales in Cancun, your heart will sink and for adventurists like me, you would just plan your next holiday to do that.
Ofcourse if you just want to enjoy sea and beach, its better to go further south to Playa Del Carmen, Tulum or Cozumel Island.
But one thing is for sure, there is no sea more beautiful than the Caribbean Sea ......
We had booked a Swim with Dolphins adventure in Cancun after breakfast. The tour operator van picked us up.We were then geared up for our rendezvous with Dolphins. Dolphins came across as one of the most intelligent and at the same time loving creatures on this planet. Everyone would fall in love with them after this experience.You will be patting dolphins, literally swimming with them on their belly, making them dance, etc.
You almost dont realise where the time flies away, and then you also fork out ridiculous price to get the video and photos clicked with these amazing creatures. Then we headed back to the hotel after this experience and lazed on the beach.The next day we flew back home. And the only thing for which I wan to come back to Cancun would be to properly enjoy its wonderful beach and sea.
Also during some months of the year, you can also go out in the sea and swim with whales. If you google up swimming with whales in Cancun, your heart will sink and for adventurists like me, you would just plan your next holiday to do that.
Ofcourse if you just want to enjoy sea and beach, its better to go further south to Playa Del Carmen, Tulum or Cozumel Island.
But one thing is for sure, there is no sea more beautiful than the Caribbean Sea ......