The beach on a budget-ish.
Mexico is really the place to be! The people are so friendly, the service is absolutely superb, and the scenery is top tier. My latest trip was to Cancun, Mexico. I’ve wanted to go for a while so I finally decided to just do it. I went with my boyfriend and for five days jam packed with activities. We spent about $1,500 each. I will give you the itinerary and price lay out and you could potentially turn that $1,500 to $800 and still have a blast. All the prices listed are combined, so divide by two for the price the individual paid. I’m going to give you guys the entire itinerary and experience first then I’ll give you the price breakdown at the end! I’ll try my very best to make everything concise.
Vol. 1
Day one & two
We flew in on 3/15/21 Monday evening just in time for the sunset. We realized our hotel was facing east so we settled for dinner at a restaurant called Lorenzillos. This caribbean seafood restaurant sits at the edge of the Nichupté lagoon. The food was delicious, but by no means the best we had and it is a bit pricey. We got the Especial de Pirata and two margaritas. We spent about $1,700 pesos which is about $83.00 US Dollars. While I liked the restaurant, if you are trying to save money, you can definitely skip this one and still enjoy the island’s fine dining!
On 3/16/21 Tuesday we went to the Xcaret Chichen Itza Clasico! After a very restful night we rose at the crack of dawn to meet our 7am pick up time. After a hefty cup of coffee and going over the pack list five times we were on our way to see one of the world’s seven wonders. To start off we took a dip in the cool waters of Cenoté and were given an amazing buffet style meal. This was one of my favorite meals of the entire trip, the food tasted very authentic and the service was amazing. After our swim our lovely guides, Santos and Miguel, took us to the famous Mayan ruins on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula Chichen Itza. The tour was informative and well organized. The structure is both beautiful and genius. Santos spoke with passion and was very engaging; I learned a ton and was simply in awe of the ancient art that stood before me. After the tour we hit the road again and stopped at Valladolid for some affordable and tasty authentic Mexican food. We ordered tacos and Pinapple water. I know that sounds weird but it was good lol. I %100 recommend doing this tour, it was well worth it. The activities, the adventure, the food, and the history…. an unforgettable experience.
Vol.2
Day three & four
3/17/21 Wednesday was a very chill day. We were booked to do Parasailing & Jet Skiing, but due to weather we were unable to do so. It may not be translated into the writing, but the day before was very exhausting. Fun, but exhausting. So instead of parasailing and jet skiing, we took the day to relax and enjoy the resort. We lounged around all day sun in our faces and sand in between our toes. Like kids, we ran into the ocean. Greeted by the cool salty water we couldn’t help but take in the moment. Two adventurous college kids, standing knee deep in the Caribbean sea, feeling like we were on top of the world. We laid in the sun sipping on piña coladas and munching on chips and guac. After a nice day on the beach we grabbed some dinner at La Buena Barra. My boyfriend got the skirt steak and I got their shrimp dish with a side of mash potatoes. Both were very delicious and the drinks were great!
3/18/21 Thursday we went to the actual Xcaret amusement park. The park is massive and there is simply no way you could participate in everything they offer! Upon arrival we went straight to the breakfast buffet. For some reason this park particularly knew its way around a kitchen! The food was bussin. After devouring as much as possible we headed off to the river tour. The water was crystal clear and freezing, mist fell on our heads as we waded through the river. Afterwards, we headed straight to the dolphin sanctuary. We played and swam with dolphins for about an hour. I was sad to say goodbye, but it was time to snuba dive. The island behind us began to fade as we reached our diving point. We sprung into the water and after a few breathing exercises we began our descent below. The clear water was met with a silent serenity that put us at ease. A sea turtle cruised by, paying us no mind. At one point I even stood there surrounded by a school of fish. Once snuba diving was over we headed to the restaurant to grab dinner. After admiring the artwork of a beautifully decorated cemetery we headed to the butterfly pavilion, then the jaguar and puma exhibit. By then It was time for the night show. An amazing cultural performance encompassing Mexico’s past and present. This was arguably my favorite day and if you come to Cancun you simply can not miss it!
Day five
3/19/21 Friday was our last day. We rode ATVs and went zip lining. This day was extremely fun and the guides were great. Four wheeling and zip lining through the jungle is a once in a lifetime experience. I had a great time and would consider myself a natural. My boyfriend on the other hand ran into a tree about five minutes into the ride. Our guide, Carlos, was super funny and made the adventure that much better. While we were here we also got to do a mini tequila tasting session and learn some history about the drink. After the tasing, we took a dip in a natural pool nearby. The day was a success! For our last night we decided on some sushi at Kai, a restaurant/ casino. The sushi was tasty, but the Nehoni Negroni I drank was definitely not. I strongly recommend eating here, the restaurants scenery was beautiful.
Total Costs
Flights + Accommodations – $967.00
We booked through Cheap-O-Air. The packages they offered ranged, but after searching for a while we found one that suited us. We got a really really good price. The hotel was $595.00 and the flight total was $372.00 for two people from Austin to Cancun roundtrip. We flew American so we got a free carry on and we paid for the hotel upon arrival.
Activities – $1066.00
Keep in mind, this does not include photo purchases at these activities, which averages about $70. We chose to splurge on food so we brought $400.00 US dollars as well. Xcaret Chichen Itza Clasico + Xcaret amusement park with dolphin activities and snuba diving was $700.00. ATV rides + Zip lining totaled $128.00. Jet ski and parasailing was $238 which we did not do, so we got a refund.
Any who, I hope this inspires you to go to Cancun and gives you more insight on the prices and overall experience. Having to wear masks did not dilute the experience at all. Tourism keeps their economy afloat and gives all the locals jobs. They were hit really hard by covid and are trying to get back on their feet. Stay safe, take all precautions, and head to Cancun, Mexico. If you guys have any questions at all leave a comment down below and I will make sure to get back to you!