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US Spring Break | CMU Student’s Cancún, Mexico Travel Guide 🤩

For spring break this year, we chose Cancún, Mexico—and spent our days lounging by the sea in pure bliss 🥳. Here’s a detailed recap of our 5-day trip, including highlights, warnings, and pro tips for fellow students! 📅 Day 1: Arrival & Last-Minute Prep After checking into the hotel, we headed to Súper Chedraui (a local supermarket nearby) to stock up on essentials. Great prices for: SIM cards (for local data) Water shoes (a must for cenotes and rocky beaches) Souvenirs (cheaper than hotel gift shops!) 📅 Day 2: Isla Mujeres (Women’s Island) Adventure Ferry Tickets: Book round-trip tickets in advance on the Ultramar website—avoids long lines at the port. Transport on the Island: As soon as you get off the ferry, locals will swarm you to rent golf carts or book snorkeling tours. Golf carts are 100% worth it (way more flexible than tours!): No driver’s license: 1,200 pesos for 2 hours With driver’s license: 1,000 pesos for 2 hours Snorkeling reference: 800 pesos per person (we skipped it—read why below!) Must-Visit Spot: Punta Sur (6 USD entry fee). The cliffside views here are stunning—perfect for photos (sunset hour is magical!). ⚠️ Snorkeling Warning: Bring a towel! The speedboat ride to snorkel spots is windy and cold, but the underwater scenery is just “meh”—we saw very few fish. Save your money if you’re not a die-hard snorkel fan. 📅 Day 3: Xplore Park (Thrills & Adventure) Book tickets on the Xplore official website (includes round-trip transfers from your hotel)—10/10 for adrenaline lovers! Top Pick: Water Slides: Think of Chimelong’s “Big Horn” but better—long, twisty slides that dip into underground caves. I’m a total scaredy-cat and was panicking in line… but the (weightlessness) was super mild! I even wanted to ride again. Ziplines: Skip the green line and go straight for the red line—it’s taller, and you get 8 rides total. The views (jungle + cenotes) are similar each time, but it’s still fun! 📅 Day 4: Xcaret Park (Relaxed Nature Vibe) Xcaret is more laid-back than Xplore—ideal for a chill day: Must-Do: Underground River Swim: The water is cold, but the scenery is unbeatable (sunlight filtering through caves, tropical fish swimming beside you). There’s even a bat cave along the way (don’t worry—they’re harmless!). Hidden Gem: Underground River Boat Tour: It’s easy to miss! We found it by accident—way more peaceful than swimming (great if you’re tired). Meh Parts: Snorkeling: Crowded like a “dumpling pot” (so many people!), and we barely saw any fish. The dolphin and sea turtle exhibits are cute but not mind-blowing. 💡 Pro Tip: Book Xplore + Xcaret together on the official website for a discount! 📅 Day 5: Chichén Itzá & Cenote Day Trip Book this tour on Viator—the guide was super knowledgeable about Mayan history (fascinating stuff!). Chichén Itzá: The Mayan pyramid is iconic, but beware the heat! It was over 30°C (86°F) that day—my friend almost fainted. Bring an umbrella, hat, and tons of water. Cenote Stop: We didn’t get to visit the famous Ik-Kil cenote (bummer!), but jumping into the cenote we did visit was a fun new experience. 😠 Travel Horror Story: Avoid Paradisus Cancun! I cannot stress this enough—stay far away from Paradisus Cancun 🤬. I left my orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses) in the hotel during the day, and when I got back that night, they were gone. The hotel manager and security searched my room but found nothing. I didn’t even ask for compensation for the 10,000 CNY (≈1,400 USD) lenses—just a little empathy. But they kept passing the buck, and when I said I’d file a complaint, they didn’t care at all. Terrible service, huge loss—total nightmare. ⚠️ Essential Tips for CMU Students Hotel Transportation: Use your hotel’s partnered transport services. Local taxis are overpriced, and Uber is almost impossible to get. Cash Is King: Many small shops, food stalls, and tour guides only accept cash. Credit cards often charge a 3-5% fee. 7-Mile Hotel Zone: Stay here! The public bus is cheap (12 pesos per person) and connects all the main spots—no need for expensive cabs. Pack Extra Clothes: Most activities (cenotes, slides, snorkeling) involve water—bring 2-3 changes of clothes to stay dry. #StudyInUSA #USInternationalStudent #USSpringBreakTravel #USSpringBreak #Cancun #CancunTravel #CancunMexico #IslandTravel #MyStudyAbroadLife #TravelSnapshots

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Aurora Romano
Aurora Romano
3 months ago
Aurora Romano
Aurora Romano
3 months ago
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US Spring Break | CMU Student’s Cancún, Mexico Travel Guide 🤩

For spring break this year, we chose Cancún, Mexico—and spent our days lounging by the sea in pure bliss 🥳. Here’s a detailed recap of our 5-day trip, including highlights, warnings, and pro tips for fellow students! 📅 Day 1: Arrival & Last-Minute Prep After checking into the hotel, we headed to Súper Chedraui (a local supermarket nearby) to stock up on essentials. Great prices for: SIM cards (for local data) Water shoes (a must for cenotes and rocky beaches) Souvenirs (cheaper than hotel gift shops!) 📅 Day 2: Isla Mujeres (Women’s Island) Adventure Ferry Tickets: Book round-trip tickets in advance on the Ultramar website—avoids long lines at the port. Transport on the Island: As soon as you get off the ferry, locals will swarm you to rent golf carts or book snorkeling tours. Golf carts are 100% worth it (way more flexible than tours!): No driver’s license: 1,200 pesos for 2 hours With driver’s license: 1,000 pesos for 2 hours Snorkeling reference: 800 pesos per person (we skipped it—read why below!) Must-Visit Spot: Punta Sur (6 USD entry fee). The cliffside views here are stunning—perfect for photos (sunset hour is magical!). ⚠️ Snorkeling Warning: Bring a towel! The speedboat ride to snorkel spots is windy and cold, but the underwater scenery is just “meh”—we saw very few fish. Save your money if you’re not a die-hard snorkel fan. 📅 Day 3: Xplore Park (Thrills & Adventure) Book tickets on the Xplore official website (includes round-trip transfers from your hotel)—10/10 for adrenaline lovers! Top Pick: Water Slides: Think of Chimelong’s “Big Horn” but better—long, twisty slides that dip into underground caves. I’m a total scaredy-cat and was panicking in line… but the (weightlessness) was super mild! I even wanted to ride again. Ziplines: Skip the green line and go straight for the red line—it’s taller, and you get 8 rides total. The views (jungle + cenotes) are similar each time, but it’s still fun! 📅 Day 4: Xcaret Park (Relaxed Nature Vibe) Xcaret is more laid-back than Xplore—ideal for a chill day: Must-Do: Underground River Swim: The water is cold, but the scenery is unbeatable (sunlight filtering through caves, tropical fish swimming beside you). There’s even a bat cave along the way (don’t worry—they’re harmless!). Hidden Gem: Underground River Boat Tour: It’s easy to miss! We found it by accident—way more peaceful than swimming (great if you’re tired). Meh Parts: Snorkeling: Crowded like a “dumpling pot” (so many people!), and we barely saw any fish. The dolphin and sea turtle exhibits are cute but not mind-blowing. 💡 Pro Tip: Book Xplore + Xcaret together on the official website for a discount! 📅 Day 5: Chichén Itzá & Cenote Day Trip Book this tour on Viator—the guide was super knowledgeable about Mayan history (fascinating stuff!). Chichén Itzá: The Mayan pyramid is iconic, but beware the heat! It was over 30°C (86°F) that day—my friend almost fainted. Bring an umbrella, hat, and tons of water. Cenote Stop: We didn’t get to visit the famous Ik-Kil cenote (bummer!), but jumping into the cenote we did visit was a fun new experience. 😠 Travel Horror Story: Avoid Paradisus Cancun! I cannot stress this enough—stay far away from Paradisus Cancun 🤬. I left my orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses) in the hotel during the day, and when I got back that night, they were gone. The hotel manager and security searched my room but found nothing. I didn’t even ask for compensation for the 10,000 CNY (≈1,400 USD) lenses—just a little empathy. But they kept passing the buck, and when I said I’d file a complaint, they didn’t care at all. Terrible service, huge loss—total nightmare. ⚠️ Essential Tips for CMU Students Hotel Transportation: Use your hotel’s partnered transport services. Local taxis are overpriced, and Uber is almost impossible to get. Cash Is King: Many small shops, food stalls, and tour guides only accept cash. Credit cards often charge a 3-5% fee. 7-Mile Hotel Zone: Stay here! The public bus is cheap (12 pesos per person) and connects all the main spots—no need for expensive cabs. Pack Extra Clothes: Most activities (cenotes, slides, snorkeling) involve water—bring 2-3 changes of clothes to stay dry. #StudyInUSA #USInternationalStudent #USSpringBreakTravel #USSpringBreak #Cancun #CancunTravel #CancunMexico #IslandTravel #MyStudyAbroadLife #TravelSnapshots

Cancún
Parque de las Palapas
Parque de las PalapasParque de las Palapas