Cancun first timer!

Hit me with your ideas of things to do, PLEASE!

Traveling from the UK this weekend and staying for 2 weeks, first time in Mexico, traveling with kids (7 and 11) and none of us are very good at just sitting/relaxing by a pool!

We’re used to busy/adventurous/culture-rich travel, and we usually like to come home having done so much that we’re exhausted.

Cancun is perfect with kids! They are going to LOVE IT!
- For sure bring them to Xcaret (waterslides, cenotes, zip lines, climbing nets, swimming, aquarium, butterfly pavilion, etc)
- Do 1 of the nearby pyramids too, like chichen itza
- Take the Mayan train to Valladolid, a nearby cute town
- Take a boat to Isla Mujeres
- Go to The Cancun Sun for lots of other ideas, but also advisories for your trip.

Tor Brierley said:

Hit me with your ideas of things to do, PLEASE!

Traveling from the UK this weekend and staying for 2 weeks, first time in Mexico, traveling with kids (7 and 11) and none of us are very good at just sitting/relaxing by a pool!

We’re used to busy/adventurous/culture-rich travel, and we usually like to come home having done so much that we’re exhausted.

Click to expand...

Hey Tor!

Checking back in because I am curious what your favorite parts of the trip were?!

Tyler Fox said:

Hey Tor!

Checking back in because I am curious what your favorite parts of the trip were?!

Click to expand...

So I checked out the Cancun Sun, and we got loads of ideas and managed to cram A LOT into 2 weeks!
We went to Xel-ha instead of Xcaret, which the kids LOVED! Although it's all artificial and manmade, it had such a lovely organic feel.

We tried Chichen Itza and the ruins in Tulum too. Big hits with us, and we hired guides who knew everything! That made such a positive difference.

We stopped at Valladolid on the way back from Chichen Itza but I wished we'd had more time to spend there. We spent more time in Playa del Carmen (which was the same as any 'strip' you'd find in Spain/Turkey etc) but I like shopping, so wasn't complaining!

I love to snorkel, so Akumal was a big favorite for me (and my first time seeing a sea turtle! addictive!). I did that alone while hubby had the kids so had a 1 on 1 guide for that, and he worked so hard to make sure I saw everything I wanted to see.

Our favourite experience as a family were the cenotes - we managed to swim in 4 different ones, and it was such a great experience. Jumping in from the cliff edge was core memory stuff for my boys!

Mexico isn't my favourite place I've ever been so far - it was all very touristy/sanitized, which is definitely our own fault for choosing such a touristy location. BUT everyone we met was incredible, the people were so friendly and so welcoming. They were especially good with children. So we had a great time! Maybe we'll try a different part of the country next time??

You could try these Chichen Itza ruins for ancient Mayan history and a fun zip line tour or Snorkel or kayak through underground rivers near Tulum so cool to see.

Tor Brierley said:

Hit me with your ideas of things to do, PLEASE!

Traveling from the UK this weekend and staying for 2 weeks, first time in Mexico, traveling with kids (7 and 11) and none of us are very good at just sitting/relaxing by a pool!

We’re used to busy/adventurous/culture-rich travel, and we usually like to come home having done so much that we’re exhausted.

Click to expand...

I'm curious how you enjoyed Cancun ?