Cancun Travel Review

BBM’s own Harry Cole describes the first stop on his and his girlfriend’s itinerary through Central America: Cancun. One of the most popular travel tourist destinations in the world, situated in the Southeast of Mexico with coast on the Caribbean Sea, Cancun is a place of blissful sunshine and idyllic beaches. They went to see if deserves its reputation as a great place for a trip or if you shouldn’t believe the hype.

Arriving in Cancun we had expectations; we anticipated hedonistic partying Spring Break-style and a town developed to cater for tourists and those seeking the all-inclusive trinity of sun, sea and sunburn. It didn’t disappoint. However, there is a lot more to Cancun than drinking and sanitised resorts.

Cancun’s Beaches

The beaches are spectacular. White powder sand and azure blue seas allow for picture perfect sun drenched days. The sun is spectacularly bright, so it won’t take long for you to want to check out the crystal hues of the Caribbean Sea a little closer.

Our recommendations; Playa Forun is right in the middle of things, within the ‘Hotel Zone’. You can access this beach from the main road, there is a walk through alongside CocoBongo – it is a little dingy but power through as the beach is worth it. It is fairly busy and is home to several sticky beach clubs, however as we wandered further down past the initial melee we easily found a nice spot.

Playa Delfines is little further down the coast, still within the hotel zone, but away from the man-made shadows of the ‘strip’. There is a lot more room on this beach and the views are much more impressive. We sat and read our books in relative peace and bought incredible mango from a local lady as she passed.

Tips: Make sure to bring sun protection as the sun is really strong and there is little shade here. Consider bringing your own snacks.

Accommodation in Cancun

Cancun is the ideal location for those holiday makers looking to enjoy some sunshine with the comforts of home. There are various hotels and resorts that cater to a wide variety of needs, from those looking for the five star experience, to those looking for the best happy hour.

There are also some more modestly priced hostel and Airbnb options for the budget conscious traveller. We stayed at Bed and Breakfast Eclipse which was great, complete with clean, air conditioned rooms, helpful hosts, breakfast and a pool!

Cancun’s hotel zone and its surrounding area is tourist ready with casinos, clubs, supermarkets, shops and salons aplenty. There’s all the fast food you can eat, both local and international cuisine. However, with a little research you can find some excellent restaurants for fine dining or to try something different.

 Things To Do in Cancun

A visit to Isla Mujeres is well worth a day trip while in Cancun, more beaches and some great island vibes.

For shopping visit Isla, a shopping mall with an American influence. Which has a luxury clothing and jewellery on the side called Liverpool. There are plenty of shops all over Cancun for the regular products you may need as well as souvenir shops.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Cancun surprised us. The beaches are beautiful, particularly Playa Francise, and the Spring Break crowd is not too overpowering. As a traveller it is well worth a night or two if you are passing through. Make sure to check the dates for Spring Break (between the last week of February and the first week of April) and Hurricane season (June to November) before you book.

Cancun is a popular tourist destination so expect to see the impact of its popularity, but also expect a great experience. For the traveller, with a little effort you can still use this as a stopover travel destination, though it’s perfect for a one stop holiday for the individual looking for luxury and convenience.

Words and pictures by Harry Cole