On Spring Break 2019 I finally got the opportunity to travel to one of my top places on my bucket list: MEXICO! I had always been curious about how authentic Mexican food would be like, considering that most of the "Mexican" food in the USA is Americanized and/or "tex-mex". Spoiler alert: I was very impressed. During our trip we visited Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Being that we didn't have an exact plan for the trip, we decided to rent a car in Cancún, so that we could have the liberty of going anywhere we wanted to go during our trip. I highly recommend renting a car if you can because you don't have to depend on a tour or bus to move around Mexico. On our first night we went to La Destileria in La Zona Hotelera of Cancún to watch the sunset. We had chips and guacamole (which they make at your table) and margaritas as mariachis sang in the background from table to table. To finish the night, we did a Tequila Tasting, which they explain to you in detail how they're made, their flavor profile, etc, and then you taste it-- which was super nice. The hotel we stayed at was Four Points By Sheraton, which was about 20 minutes from the Zone Hotelera and the beach. On day 2 we took the Ferry Ultramar to Isla Mujeres-- a small island near Cancún. The ferry's schedule was great. It came around every half hour. The trip to the island was very short. Once we got there, we rented a golf cart and drove all around the island. We mainly stayed at Playa Norte, where the water is crystal clear and there's a 99.9% guarantee you'll get a tan... So please bring sunblock, haha. Day 3: On this day, we woke up super early for our road trip to Chichén Itzá at Yucatán, which was approximately a 2:15 hour drive from Cancún. I highly recommend you pay for a tour guide, the history behind those structures and their meaning was super interesting. Afterwards, we went for a much needed swim at Cenote X'toloc. If you don't know how to swim, I suggest you rent a life vest. Otherwise, there's a long rope that you can hold on to while you're in the water. On the way back to Cancún, we stopped at the colonial city of Valladolid. It reminded me of my hometown (Ponce, Puerto Rico)... It had great charm, and there were many stores and restaurants around the center cathedral. For dinner go to Los Portales and order the cochinita pibil, you'll thank me later. On day 4 we headed to Playa del Carmen, and spent the day at Xplor Park-- an adventure-themed water park (think Disney) but for adults, in my opinion. There's zip lines, caves, etc. It is physically challenging and you will get tired, but it is so worth it. I suggest you only wear a swimsuit with a rash guard-like shirt and water shoes. This place is a must. Highly recommend you go! For dinner, go to La Perla Pixan, and order the sopes as an appetizer, along with some margaritas! The next day we went to Xenses, an outdoor amusement park focusing on the senses. It is like nothing I've ever experienced. There's a mud bath, a salt-water river, etc. Some activities even give you illusions... You have to go! We were told that the Cirque Du Soleil show at Playa del Carmen was a must, so that's where we went to that night. In my opinion, the show was great. The music, colors, decoration.. everything about it was incredible. Highly recommend it. Next stop: Tulum. We stayed at Hotel Naay, a boutique hotel approximately 15 minutes away from the beach/jungle area of Tulum. This hotel was by far my favorite. Breakfast was a la carte in the rooftop restaurant and was included in the price! They had lots of savory and sweet options to choose from, and even had vegan items! SO GOOD. Do yourself a favor and order the Omelette and the Avocado toast. You'll thank me later haha. For sightseeing, we went to Tulum Arqueological Site , a historical landmark full of ruins right in front of the beach, thus it is great for taking pictures. They also have lots of stores on the outside with great prices. So this would be a good place to buy gifts. On our first night at Tulum, we went to La Coqueta, a small Mexican restaurant with a trendy vibe. The owner was super nice, and the food was super good. My dad would not stop talking about it haha. I got the chicken tacos with jicama slaw and it was delicious, but anything seafood related is their specialty! The next day we took a drive to Coba, which is another archeological site near Tulum. I highly recommend you rent bikes to go around the trail. They're super cheap, and will make the tour a lot more fun. There are many cenotes around Tulum. We went to Cenote Santa Cruz, Cenote Jardín del Edén, and did some snorkeling at Cenote Hilario. All the snorkeling equipment is provided by the tour guides. The tickets for Cenote Hilario can be bought in the entrance of Dos Ojos Cenote. When you visit Tulum, cenotes are a definite MUST. As you can imagine, we were starving after all the tours. So, for dinner, we went to Gitano. The menu was very different. You could tell it wasn't ordinary food. I was immediately drawn to the Hummus + Fresh Pita + Crudité, so we ordered that as an appetizer. It had crunchy chickpeas, radishes, and some chili on top... SO GOOD. Dad ordered the Tiradito de Atún, which he absolutely loved. For entrees, my stepmom and I shared the ribeye with salsa verde and veggies, and my Dad got the Shrimp Tacos. Overall, the vibe, food, live music, and service was great. If you're willing to splurge a little bit, I would recommend you try Gitano. Our last day in Tulum was very chill. We did some snorkeling at Akumal Beach, where we saw turtles and stingrays. It was a very fun yet challenging experience haha. But its totally safe so you have nothing to worry about. For dinner, we were recommended a place called Sin Yolanda, which is located in the jungle/beach area of Tulum. I ordered two Cochinita Pibil tacos and one vegetarian taco (guacamole, sautéed mushrooms in garlic, with a carrot and cabbage slaw... omg). My family also ordered tacos and nachos and loved everything. This was by far my favorite restaurant out of all the other ones we tried. The food was amazing, especially for the price! If you're looking for a place to eat in Tulum, this is the place to go. No question about it. Overall, I loved every single place I went to in Mexico. I cannot wait to come back and see all that Mexico has to offer...
I hope you enjoyed my guide! - Gabi
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AuthorI'm a Nutrition & Dietetics student with the goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian. I'm a nutrition, health and wellness junkie, and a proud #TacoTuesday fan. I hope my blog inspires you to find your own definition of balance and to live a healthier life. Thanks for stopping by! Categories
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