Cancun and its surroundings have tons of things and places to enjoy—Playa Mujeres, the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and more. But definitely, something that, in my humble opinion, you must do and see if you’re in Cancun is Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Chichen Itza
And since I didn’t have much time, I chose to visit the ruins of the Mayan civilization, located about four hours from Cancun by bus. The bus leaves from the ADO station (just like the song by El Tri) in the city center and heads to a small town called Pisté. A one-way ticket should be around 180 MXN. The bus drops you just a few steps away from the historical complex of Chichen Itza, where you’ll have to pay around 480 Mexican pesos if you’re a foreigner (about 25 USD). (You can check the official prices here.) If you want a guided tour, that’s an extra cost..
Since I’m poor, I didn’t pay for a guide, but I stuck close to a group that did, and I managed to overhear some interesting facts about the ruins. For example, the main pyramid (that of Kukulkan, the feathered serpent) has four staircases, each with 91 steps, plus the final step at the top—making 365 steps in total, just like the number of days in the year. The railings end in serpent heads, and during certain days of the year (the equinoxes), the shadow falls in such a way that it simulates the descent of the god Kukulkan to Earth. Also, if you clap in front of the stairways, thanks to their geometry, it echoes the call of a quetzal.
There’s also a ball court where they played a game quite similar to soccer, involving up to 40 players. The goals were more like vertical basketball hoops.
The site itself is quite large, and it takes at least half a day to explore it all, but it’s totally worth it. It’s undeniable proof that pre-Hispanic cultures were advanced, with calendars, precise mathematical calculations, and architecture that rivals anything in Europe or Asia. Chichen Itza is a scar etched on the face of a continent that had its history forcibly rewritten—but well, this isn’t an editorial piece.
After leaving Chichen Itza, a kind taxi driver offered to take me to the main highway. He thought I was from Monterrey, but was happy to hear I was from Colombia. I told him I was traveling on a budget, and he offered to take me—free of charge—to a small hotel I had booked for the night. It seemed like the hotel wasn’t very busy that day, as I didn’t see a single guest. Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn’t have paid the 60 USD for that hotel, since I could’ve just returned to Cancun in the afternoon. But that’s something I didn’t research well, and it turned out to be a bit expensive.
The next day, I headed to Pisté to look around and have lunch. Truth be told, there wasn’t much to see or many places to eat. I ended up at a buffet where I made the most of it and filled up. I also bought a backpack from one of the few shops that were open—it’s one I still use now and then. From there, I took a bus to a town called Valladolid, which has a very colonial look and a colorful atmosphere. I only snapped a couple of photos and walked around for about half an hour before heading back to Cancun.
The Less Touristy Side of Cancun
On my fourth and final day, I dedicated time to exploring the lesser-known side of Cancun—the downtown area, less luxurious, more local. I went back to eat at Las Kekas (not sponsored, just a good and cheap option), strolled through the streets, and arrived at a highly recommended spot: Mercado 28.
It’s the perfect place to buy souvenirs and haggle just like you would in Colombia. As soon as they know you’re a foreigner, they try to charge you as much as possible, so it’s better to bring pesos instead of dollars, or it’ll be even worse. You can buy all kinds of handicrafts—like a beautiful little statue I brought my parents, made from the bone of some fish I can’t remember—or tequila and mezcal, or keychains, or anything you want. That said, tequila and sweets are cheaper at the Walmart on Avenida Xcaret, just 15 minutes away—but that’s up to you.
I don’t know if I’ll ever go back, but I do know those were four of the best days of my life. So many emotions in such a short time, and the feeling that it was only the beginning of many more journeys. I still remember the call I made to my mom to tell her I’d been to the beach, that I’d seen seagulls, and that after just four days, I already missed them. That feeling of being far from everything you know—something that would later become normal. The feeling of discovering, of living something extraordinary. Cancun will always be my first love, my first big experience, and a destination I wholeheartedly recommend for any kind of trip.
