Cancun - July 2014

Welcome to Cancun, Mexico. On the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, the region of Cancun combines the culture of Mexico with the beauty of the Caribbean. I had the opportunity to travel to a luxury all-inclusive resort near Cancun with friends and got a taste of the region. Unfortunately, July is a tough time to visit with very hot temperatures and intense humidity which makes the hotel room much more attractive during the intense days. If you are willing to endure the heat, the lower prices make the trip much more attainable.

We stayed at the Azul Sensatori Hotel near Riviera Maya. The newer 4 star hotel had luxury accommodations and all you can eat and drink service. The best restaurant was the Mexican one which actually served excellent authentic local Mexican food. Their gourmet restaurant was an amazing experience, except for the quail eggs and oysters which are still on my do-not-eat list! You can drink as much as you want here, but spending your vacation hungover in your room is not recommended. The swim-up bars were pretty cool though.

Tourists have many options outside the resort including day trips to ancient Mayan ruins. We visited Tulum which is a smaller site along the beach. The archaeological park is well preserved and in a beautiful setting. While not as impressive as other ruins, the close proximity and setting makes for a nice visit. The tour included afternoon activities including zip lining and snorkeling in underground caves. Tourism is a major industry in the area, and everyone wants you to have a great time.

Of course, this place is about the beach. The Caribbean is known for mild oceans, warm water, and soft sand. The beach at the resort is typical even with higher amounts of seaweed. Fortunately, the resort was not crowded so finding chairs and shade was easy, and the waiters did a decent job of keeping the glasses full.

Cancun is a nice place to visit, except in the middle of summer. It is way too hot and humid during the summer to really explore the area outside the beach and hotel room. Winter and spring break are the ideal times to escape the cold and enjoy the beauty of the Mexican Riviera. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.