Mistakes that I Made in Cancun

Cancun is a vibe. So many people have told me that it’s overrated and way too touristy, but that has been the opposite of my experience. There’s a mixture of tourists and locals alike, the beaches here are amazing, there are so many trips and tours that you can take near or around Cancun and on top of that, Cancun is a great gateway to other beautiful locations like Mexico City, Isla de Muerjes, Baclara, and you can even catch a bus to Belize or other neighboring countries from Cancun. Although this is my second time visiting this location, I have made a few mistakes this time around that didn’t happen last time.

1. Don’t take a late night flight to Cancun. Unless you have the funds, just don’t do it.

The ADO bus that takes you from Cancun airport to Downtown Cancun (where the Hotel Zone is) stops running late in the evening and doesn’t begin running until 8AM. So if you’re getting to Cancun on a flight that arrives sometime after 10 or 11 pm, you will have to take a cab as Uber’s aren’t allowed to pick up at the airport.

The cab drivers were trying to charge me 800 pesos for a 20-minute ride. Absolutely not. After I said no, they knocked it down to 400 pesos and then to 300 pesos. For perspective, the ADO bus only charges 130 pesos for the trip. The 800 pesos shuttle ride is for group shuttles so if you’re coming with friends, maybe this is more affordable. However, I turned it down because it’s just the principle of the situation. I also met two other tourists who arrived the next night after me and they spent 600 for the 20-minute ride from the airport to downtown. Either way, if you’re going to Cancun, try to arrive during the day time.

2. Try to invest in either street food or the mom and pop shops.

Going to high-end restaurants in Cancun isn’t really necessary. The food is the same and the mom and pop shops are way cheaper. There’s no reason to break the bank in Cancun.

3. Take local transit. The last time I was here, I would just hop in an uber to get everywhere. The ubers, to be fair, are inexpensive, but the bus is even more inexpensive, runs frequently, and you don’t have a lot of competition to find a bus. However, once, a girl that was here solo requested an uber and the wait time literally said 45 minutes. No. However, I caught the bus here and it only cost 12 pesos and we got to out destination more quickly than we would have in an uber. And the bus was lowkey like a party. Local transit in Cancun is amazing.

4. Day trips can be better than going to the actual location sometimes.

The last time I was here, I went to Tulum first and then to Cancun. This was a mistake. Tulum was heavy on Instagram at the time and it was oversaturated with tourists. It was horrific for me, to the point where I really didn’t see much of it. However, they offer daytime trips to Tulum that allow you to see a lot of what you want to see in a day without actually having to stay there. Taking day trips instead of spending money to get there and stay there may actually allow you to save on expenses while in Cancun.

5. Not everything in Cancun is inexpensive.

If you go to the shops or convenience stores here, the prices equate to American prices, which I’m not sure was the case when I came last year. If you’re looking for a place where you believe ALL of you expenses will be cheaper, Cancun isn’t the spot for that. Some things are cheaper but not everything, so just be aware of that.

Cancun is gorgeous and it allows you to experience the beautiful Carribean ocean while also diving into Mexican culture. It has a little bit of something for everyone and it is a great place to vacation for any

duration of time, short-term or long-term.