Cancun is one of the most known cities of Mexico. Due to the spring break holiday in the USA, it became famous. What is it like and for whom is it good to visit?
Where is it located?
Cancun is located in the Yucatan peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Almost 900.000 people are living there. It is also located right at the Caribbean Sea.
The city has a 23 km long beach, which is why the city is popular, and every year over six million visitors come to Cancun.
Until the 1950’s Cancun was just an island, with not really people visiting. In the 1970’s the Mexican government was planning to make out of this place a tourist destination, to create another place to go. They were building a hotel zone at the beach, for the tourists to get a place to be. A dam was built, to connect it better to the mainland.
It was from the beginning on planned to make this city, exactly what it is now, a touristic town. Basically in 50 years, they were making the city from 0 people living there, to soon a million and millions of visitors as well. Due to that, there is no historical tourism possible and you need to drive further in the country for that. For example to Chichen Itza
What did I do there?
Basically my only intention to get to Cancun was to fly back to Germany, due to its cheap flights. I was never hyped about actually visiting the place, because of what I was hearing from other people, who for sure are traveling way different from the way I do it.
I was finding a host in the city and also a local to hang out with. I was staying where the locals were staying, not in the region where the tourists are staying. So basically, when you are away from the zones, where tourists are staying, you are able to have kind of a local experience.
I went to the hotel zone, to spend a day at and it was exactly how you would expect it. A long beautiful beach, thousands of tourists and everything highly expensive + many drunk people from partying. Mainly US Americans, but also some Europeans and of course also Germans.
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How was my experience?
My experience was not as bad as expected, but the touristic region wasn’t for me. I just don’t understand it, maybe one day it can be something for me as well. Cancun in the local part was just a bit ugly, it is not a nice and beautiful city. The only purpose of the city is tourism, most of the workers work in that field. They were building the section for the tourists, which is nice and modern, but the place for the workers isn’t at all.
I was feeling quite safe and playing beach volleyball was also great. It was possible to see some baby turtles just seeing the light of life for the first time. They were super cute and a good thing to see.
When being at the water, the lifeguards were over protective. This was for sure good, for the drunk visitors. It was for me a bit annoying, because I was never in any danger, but had to go out of the water.
For whom is it good to visit?
Cancun is good to visit, when you want to have a party and don’t mind spending more money for this party. In Cancun you would spend more, then at other places in this country.
When you like being surrounded by tourists and just chilling at a nice beach and don’t need to think about anything. Getting drunk and culture isn’t something for you anyway, then this could be a nice place to go, guaranteed!
When you like to experience the local culture, spending not much money and want to not have masses of tourists around you. When you want some authentic place to visit and get to know the country, then Cancun is not the country to go to! It is a city for tourism and parties.
What are some good things to know?
When you are outside the hotel zone and a bit outside the tourist spots, you can get, for example drinks, way cheaper and can be surrounded by Mexicans.
The same thing is for supermarkets, go outside the hotel zone of going shopping.
Maybe take a bus to Playa del Carmen, it is also touristic and you can find similar things then in Cancun. It is less crowded, maybe that could be a good alternative for you!
What are the alternatives in that region?
Alternatives like mentioned above is Playa del Carmen for example, it is smaller and feels more local for me.
Also if you still want some tourism, but a nice little town, where you can actually explore some things in the city. Valladolid in the Yucatan state could be an option. It is only 2,5h’s away by bus and it is an easy road.
Most people in Cancun go to Chichen Itza, for some historical visit or are going to the Isla Mujeres. This is an expensive, but beautiful island in front of the city.
