THE minute you step into Cancun Airport’s newest terminal, you realize just how tourist-ready this place is.
All the questions you have in your head as to what to do with your time here can be answered with one sweeping look at the banners, posters, tour and transfer desks lined up neatly with smiling people bearing signs, manning desks, calling out to you.
On the bus heading to our hotel, I sat on the right side and was astounded at the sheer number of hotels and resorts at the Zona Hotelera – all hogging their spot at the famed beachfront strip which Cancun is known for. Think Mactan island but on a much, much bigger scale.
Upon checking in, we were tagged – a bracelet was attached to my wrist serving as an all-inclusive pass to all resort facilities, restaurants and regular shows. I now understood why students flock here during Spring Break; unlimited food and drinks are quite hard to resist at any age.
Our room was on the beachfront and I excitedly stepped out to feel the sand on my feet. Cancun’s beachfront strip is pristine since all establishments do not encroach on the shoreline. I could imagine how heavenly it would be in late spring or summertime, with the water temperature warmer and the waves much calmer. I could not spot any lifeguard, this resort puts up flags with corresponding warnings as to how safe it is to swim.
The next day, after a two-hour drive from our hotel, we found ourselves in Chichen Itza. Built by the Maya people around 600 AD, the El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcan) is the star of this archaeological site and has recently been named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This pyramid is 24 meters high, each side is 58-59 meters wide and has nine levels. Each stairway climbing the pyramid has 91 steps, except the north one which has 92, totaling 365 steps as a whole. While it used to be privately owned, it was purchased by the State of Yucatan in 2010. A lot of tourists used to climb the El Castillo, but when one visitor fell to her death in 2006, the whole structure has since been off limits to climbers.
Day in the life
After a long morning under the blazing sun, we were brought to Hacienda Selva Maya to enjoy a buffet lunch set in a beautifully preserved, former colonial cattle ranch. It boasts of one of the most- visited natural sinkholes (cenote) in the Yucatan peninsula named “Saamal”. A few members of our group were brave enough to dive into the cool water, while others were just content to explore the area and take photos until it was time to head back.
We stopped by the town of Valladolid and had the pleasure of seeing people roaming around the town square, families having picnics, lovers sitting on benches under the trees – all of us enjoying the dancers in colorful attire - who I presume were there to entertain tourists. Cancun has all the ingredients for a perfect getaway – beautiful beaches, your pick of luxury resorts or cozy budget hotels, cenotes, pyramids, and friendly, passionate people eager to show you why it remains a top tourist destination in Central America.