Holiday in Cancun, Mexico

Mexico is quite an easy and popular holiday destination for people on the Western side of the Atlantic Ocean, but not so much on this side of the world… We had the loveliest time there with our little son (first born) who was 1 ½ years old and just started going to nursery then. It was his first flight of almost 12 hours (he had been on two flights of 6 and 8 hours before to two countries, and a train journey to another, but this was definitely the longest!). We had an overnight stay in Mexico City before catching a connecting flight next morning on to Cancun. Although Cancun has a beach party reputation, I thought it was totally child friendly, our resort had lots of children and our little guy had a great time throughout. Ever since the amazing time we had there, I’ve been recommending people everything we did on that trip! So here goes …

Fun fact: my son’s nursery teacher went on to have her honeymoon there shortly after our visit, purely based on his recommendation! She didn’t regret it! In fact, she says it was the best holiday so far of her life!

Flight facts: We took a non-stop (thanks to baby in tow!) British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Mexico City, which was just under 12 hours. There are several indirect flight options.

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In the early hours of a very cold London morning one April, we took the Heathrow Express from Paddington Station, pushing the little one in his buggy, pulling our cases, arriving quickly (20 mins) and comfortably at Heathrow T5. The British Airways direct flight to Mexico City was enjoyable enough too. With the huge flight headphones on, his favourite programmes from Cbeebies on his in-flight tv captivated our little one (thank you Mister Maker and Iggle Piggle!) The crew were so nice too, playing with him even on their breaks - he was loving the attention, and we were so grateful for the extra pairs of hands!

Best time to visit: Between December and April, which is the dry season, is the perfect time, but also the most crowded with peak prices. Spring is the most pleasant season to visit Mexico. Summer and autumn are generally quite humid and rainy, when prices are lowest.

Everyone talks of the white sandy beaches and exciting activities in Mexico, but for me, the highlight of our Mexico trip was …..the food! We stayed at the airport hotel, as we had arrived at Mexico City late in the evening. Right from our first morning in Mexico, I was relishing the culinary adventure. Breakfast at the airport hotel was not too elaborate, but adequate. This is where I tried Cactus juice for the first time! There were also plenty of fresh fruit, which we all enjoyed. You can read a more elaborate review of this hotel and our layover here ------------

Flying with Aeromexico, we were in Cancun in just under 2hrs. Approaching Cancun from the plane, we could see the long white stretch of beach next to the glistening azure of the Caribbean Sea.

Cancun has several all-inclusive resorts along the beachfront to choose from. We stayed at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe, in the Hotel Zone, which is a short 30-min drive away from the airport, on a private stretch of the beach. The vibe of the resort was amazing as soon as we entered – we were greeted with drinks, everything was colourful and fun! At check in we were all given a wristband for the duration of our stay, and asked not to take it off till we checked out (even in the shower, day trips away … in fact any other reason! This was basically our passport to every part of the resort and all the food and entertainment within. The rooms of the resort were spacious and airy, with their own private balcony, and each are either garden or beach view.

Top tip: when booking the room, request for your preferred view, and ask for one away from noise.

As well as a long stretch of private beach the resort offers 2 swimming pools.

For Children, there is a Baby Park, Mini Club and Mini Water Park, all supervised by the resort staff.

There were hammocks to lounge around in, Trampolines to go crazy in and Table tennis to play. There is a Lagoon view fitness centre and ocean front outdoor Jacuzzi. Also available are non-motorized water sports.

And the food….! As I said at the start, the food was the highlight of my Mexico trip! The resort offers 4 restaurants, which range from buffet with international cuisine, to seafood, Mexican and Italian fine dining. The food is…..AMAZING! There is live entertainment during some of the meals and I loved the local Mexican band going around to all the tables (it’s not for all the meals, I think just dinner on weekends), During one dinner buffet they sang “Guantanamera” and I sang happily and loudly along! Apart from the main meals there were lots of delicious snacks to be constantly enjoyed all the time, such as the nachos we snacked on by the pool, and the ice creams we (very gratefully!) devoured to cool off in the heat.

In the buffets there are several vegetarian and sea food options. There were no Halal options, and I don’t specifically recall any vegan food. The menu is obviously changing all the time and they might have far more options than they did when we visited. Do enquire in advance if you have any specific dietary requirements/allergies.

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In addition to the food we enjoyed at the resort, we ate out a few times as well. I will mention the 2 places that I liked in particular:

Lorenzillo’s:

This is a seafood restaurant (about 10 mins walk from our resort) located on a lagoon (which even houses a crocodile, you can feed it too given the right time and opportunity!). Although on the expensive side, I’d say this place is worth it, and I would definitely recommend it. The views are lovely, the ambience is quite lively and cheerful, and the lobsters are super fresh - literally! All our food was amazing, right down to the drinks and desserts. The service was great too, so a win-win all round. They do offer vegetarian, vegan & gluten free options, but if in doubt best to call ahead for any specific dietary requirements or allergies.

Top tip: make a reservation before visiting. Ask for a table with a Lagoon view. Try and catch a sunset over beautiful food.

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For a detailed review, click………..

La Habichuela:

This is amazing for both the food and the beautiful setting. Sort of a destination restaurant, where you can relax and unwind, whilst enjoying great food, which is based on the Mayan cuisine and culture. The staff were very nice and attentive. Some items on the menu were quite theatrically presented, which was a treat to watch. There are vegetarian and vegan options available, but again, please enquire in advance for any specific dietary requirements.

Top tip: Book in advance. Apply insect repellents if choosing to sit out into the garden.

There was a lot to keep the three of us busy and happy at the resort, but we managed to head out and do some of the things that Cancun has to offer.

With our little one in his buggy, we made a couple of walking trips to explore the area outside the resort. A short walk away is La Isla Shopping Village, which if nothing else, is a nice place to stroll about, with lovely canals passing through shops, and covered walkways to protect against the sun. It houses a mall and several well-known brands, restaurants, and even a Ferris wheel! A possible destination to pick up a souvenir. What I picked up here was a chocolate and strawberry crepe that my son and I shared next to the waterfront on our way back to the resort! Yumm!

There are several day trips that are quite accessible from Cancun, I will list some popular ones:

1. Chichen Itza Maya Ruins: UNESCO world heritage site and one of the new 7 wonders of the world, only about 2.5 hours away by car from Cancun. This is Yucatan’s most popular Mayan site and houses amazing ancient Mayan pyramids.

2. Sailing trips: these are very popular. These are generally for about 2 hours, they offer some spectacular views of the Riviera Maya and Isla Mujeres, particularly at sunset, which can be quite magical.

3. Isla Mujeres: This is an island 15-20 mins away from Cancun by Ferry. It has many spectacular things to offer in addition to stunning views, including a turtle farm, a reef farm, snorkelling and kayaking activities, and a temple of Ixchel, who is the Mayan goddess of fertility (hence the name of the island, which means the ‘Island of Women’).

4. Las Coloradas: these are spectacular pink lakes about 3 hours away by car from Cancun.

5. Ruins of Tulum: this walled city was one of the largest built and one of the last to be inhabited by the Mayans. It is located just over an hours’ drive from Cancun, with buses bringing tourists in daily. Extremely historic, this is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

6. Cenotes tours: Cenotes are natural pools formed from collapsed limestone, with beautifully clear waters that are turquoise, blue or green, once considered sacred by the Mayans. There are several thousands of them in the Yucatan peninsula, and many of them that are accessible to the public are near Cancun. There are several tours to them, both public and private.

7. Snorkelling with Whale Sharks: I’m listing this separately to all the other snorkelling trips and opportunities around Cancun, because this is quite special. The Yucatan coast near Cancun is the most reliable spot in the world to encounter these endangered Whale Sharks, which can be enormous in size, but are harmless to humans. There are public and private tours available.

8. Get cosy with Sea turtles: The beaches around Cancun and Riviera Maya are some of the best places in the world to witness sea turtles. The activities of these amazing creatures differ on the basis of season, so check in advance what you would you can witness depending on the time of your trip. There are several places that have conservation efforts in place, and offer tourists a chance to witness or partake in them.

9. Xcaret Park: Xcaret is the nature park in Playa del Carmen. This is like a humongous zoo with a jungle setting, and houses a bat cave, underground river, lazy river, an aviary, butterfly enclosure, aquarium, zoo, botanical gardens, a bay area and an ocean area, small shows all day and spectacular grand night show. Also, lots of other activities at a charge, like swimming with dolphins and manta rays, scuba diving and cenotes area. Also houses small restaraunts and a large one for buffet, as well as souvenir shops. There is just so much to do here, and I highly recommend a visit especially with kids. Spend a full day here, starting very early! Read here for a full review.

Tip: look into combining tours, some can cost cheaper and save time. Check opening hours before you plan. Factor heat and walking in.

Tip for day trips with kids: don’t forget to keep plenty of snacks, water, and changes of clothes.

What to shop for:

One of the things I enjoy most about travel, apart from trying new food, is bringing back amazing things from around the world back home with me. Therefore, it’s important to have an idea of what is most unique and popular where you are going, so you are sure to look for it, apart from the random, on the spur things that you pick up. Shopping in Mexico is great because everything looks appealing because of the Kaleidoscopic Mexican colours everywhere. Two staples I pick wherever I go are a Fridge magnet, and a food item that is best from that country. Therefore, in Mexico, we bought:

1. Habanero chilli sauce: Mexico is famous for its chillies, apart from other things. The habanero chilli is very hot. Unripe habaneros are green, and colour as they mature to orange and red, but can also be white, brown, yellow, green or purple.

2. Salsa: Mexico has invaded the world with Salsa! And when in Mexico, there is such a huge variety to choose from, with varying ingredients and different spice grades, to take your next Mexican dinner back at home to another level!

3. Mexican chocolate: another world-famous item from Mexico. We got some for ourselves and as well as to give away as presents. Amazing for cooking/baking and hot chocolates! Be sure to also pick one with chilli, as that is classically Mexican!

Other souvenirs we bought were:

1. A hand-woven rug/blanket: this was in the characteristic bright stripy Mexican multi colours, and we have used it to this day as our picnic blanket. Its light in weight, therefore easy to carry, thick so comfortable to sit on, and so beautiful with all the cheerful colours. You can look at other textiles, like shirts, small pieces of rugs, hammocks, etc.

2. Jewellery: I picked up some really interesting pieces, that were so colourful and pretty.

3. Coasters: we liked a set that was a marble,

4. A cuddly toy Macaw: for my toddler, from Xcaret. We saw the real ones there earlier in the day - there were so many, free, i.e. not caged, tamed, and the man in charge was allowing people to interact with them. We held them, and they sat on our shoulders, and we got pics with them. Later we got the cuddly toy version to bring home with us.

Some other great picks are:

1. Mexican coffee beans: Mexico is the top world producer of organic coffee, so a great idea to pick some up here.

2. Vanilla: Vanilla was born in Mexico, so you have to buy some here!

3. Pottery: there is a huge variety of styles and colours. If you have luggage room, then go for it!

4. Tribal art: a mask, or a piece of pottery, to adorn your home with a flavour of Mexican history.

Mexico fun facts from my son, who is now no longer the toddler (and is a scary font of knowledge!):

The Gulf of Mexico is the place where an asteroid supposedly crashed 65 million years ago, killing more than 80% of life on Earth and resulting in the Extinction of Dinosaurs.

Mexico’s coat of arms is an Eagle with a dead snake in its beak, representing good triumphing over evil.

Mexico is the only country bordering 2 continents whilst only being in 1.

Mexico produces massive amounts of rubber each year!

The hottest chilli in the world, the so - called ‘weapons - grade’ Dragons breath chilli has enough strength to kill you! So, watch out what you eat in Mexico!

Mexico is the top 5 most biodiverse countries in the world, holding 10 – 12% of the world’s biodiversity.