Mexico is definitely a hot spot for a vacation. With its proximity to us here in the US, its beautiful beaches, azure waters, and lush vegetation, how could it not? Of course it’s a big country with an incredibly varied landscape but it can really deliver if you know where to go. If you’re looking for some Mexico inspiration read on to discover the highlights of our honeymoon week in the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo.
We started by flying into Cancun and then driving our rental car three hours to Hacienda Sac Chich. I don’t say this lightly but there really was the most incredible place I’ve ever stayed. And we totally lucked into finding it on Airbnb. While it’s certainly more expensive than your average Airbnb, we felt like a king and queen in our own private palace. And being that it was our honeymoon and all, you gotta treat yo self! As an added bonus the lodgings are large enough to be shared by groups which I would love to do at some point in the future.
There are really three parts to the property, we rented out Casa Antiqua which still gave us free reign to the private pool, loggia and grounds. Everything about this once rope factory, now turned colonial revival hacienda, was tastefully and comfortably appointed. Plus, there’s a full staff onsite during the day to attend to the gardens, pool and cleaning. Our super sweet cleaning lady also cooked a few dishes authentica for us that were of course so delicious.
The hacienda was our home base for 4 days as we set off to explore the surrounding area in-between relaxing by the pool or reading in the loggia. The most touristy activity we did was venture into Mérida one afternoon for lunch, to purchase groceries and for window shopping. I definitely loved every moment of this part of our trip because it was so remote. You won’t see some of these towns on any history channel episode. Of course this part of Mexico isn’t for everyone if you need room service and other services at your disposal. However, for us it was perfect!
One afternoon we explored Acanceh to stock up on masa for tortillas, fresh produce, roam the town square and tour the Maya archaeological site. We didn’t have any expectations about Acanceh so it was fun to discover what it had to offer. We happened upon the Maya ruins, for example, by just walking down the main street and stopping to see what was behind the fence. Fortune smiled upon us as a man was standing nearby who had keys and offered to give us a tour for a few US dollars.
On our last day in the region we set out to discover the Cuzama Cenotes, something we read about in the guide books lying around the hacienda. To say this was off the beaten path would be understatement. We followed some basic directions to this cenote area we had read about. As you approach the attraction you’ll start to see guys holding up signs for tours along the highway. Not sure what to expect we kept driving to the area where the tours began. Here we found some other guides with whom we hired for our tour.
Our tour officially began by loading up on this tiny cart, not wider than a golf cart, which was pulled through the jungle on tracks by a pony. It was so fun! We would get out at different cenotes as we went to swim and explore. There were three in total and each completely different. The first cenote wasn’t much wider than a hole in the ground and required a climb down a ladder in a dark cave. The second was a much larger cave with bats and had a shallow wading area. The third cenote though, that was the gem! This cenote was the largest with clear, sapphire water and was the easiest to get down to. We loved snorkeling and relaxing in its magical waters. The Maya believed both caves and cenotes as mouths that opened into an otherworld inhabited by Chaak, the god of life-giving rain. Once you immerse yourself in their inviting waters it’s not hard to imagine why they considered these waters sacred.
As we headed back towards the coast we knew we wanted to stop and see Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan complex in the Yucatan state. Forever a lover a history, it was awe inspiring to see the sheer scale of this former great city and the variation of the buildings, each serving a different purpose. Just as with our cities today. If you plan to visit Chicken Itza, which I highly recommend, be prepared for lots of vendors selling the same stuff all made in China and for the heat. Otherwise these great ruins are a must see for anyone visiting the region.
Our last two days in Mexico we spent scuba diving in the Cancun area. We based our operations from the JW Marriot Cancun which included gorgeous ocean views from our room. Another reason to visit Cancun is that room rates there are very cheap by US standards. A nice hotel room can be had for $120/night.
Our first scuba experience was at the Dos Ojos Cenote north of Tulum. It’s hard for being to imagine a more magical cenote than this one tucked away in the jungle of Mexico. By the way, you won’t find cenotes like this anywhere else in the world. They formed thousands of years ago thanks to the perfect combination of geological events and climate changes.
Dos Ojos is an exceptional diving experience because the water is clear, warm and its documented cave systems extend for at least 37 miles. Another neat feature of the Dos Ojos system is there’s a bat cave located above one part of the cenote. We surfaced there to see the bats hanging out overhead.
This was actually my first scuba dive apart from my certification classes more than a decade prior. I was super out of practice but thankfully Dario, our guide, took good care of us. That being said, diving in a cave for your first dive took courage as I swam in tight spaces sometimes with no exit in site. All while clutching my flashlight to light the dark cave and breathing through a tube. It felt like an out of this world experience.
Our dive the next day was more traditional as we took the ferry over to Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park to scuba dive the second largest reef in the world. Isn’t it amazing how much Mexico rocks? Here in its clear waters one can find 26 types of corals with more than 500 fish species. I’ve never seen so many different types of fishes and to think I was swimming with them beneath the ocean’s surface. It was an unreal experience.
After a full day of sun and ocean, we treated ourselves to dinner at Bandoneon Restaurant, a traditional Argentine steakhouse. ¡Que rico!
We did manage to spend some time on the beach outside of our resort our last day before our trip came to an end all too soon. Our time in Mexico was splendid in every way and we can’t wait to go back to see even more!
