Cancun wasn’t necessarily high on our bucket list however, in 2019 we attended a charity auction and won a one week stay at an all-inclusive resort there. While all-inclusive resorts aren’t really our ‘thing’ we enjoyed a change of pace. This also turned out to be our only pre-COVID trip of 2020.
How to Get Here
For us it was a direct flight from Seattle to Cancun. We were able to use miles and fly Alaska Airlines on the way there and Delta Airlines on the way back. We decided not to rent a car and arranged pickup at the airport through the resort.
Trip Length
We spent 7 nights and feel that this is a good amount of time. We split our time between the resort and going on a few excursions.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the GR Solaris Cancun Resort which is in the south end of the hotel zone. We obviously don’t have a lot to compare this to but we felt this was a good choice. There were a few restaurants to chose from. Some had a rotating menu while some were consistent each day. There is a nightly dinner show. We chose Mexican night which was fun since it focused on various cultures and traditions.
What to Do
Obviously staying at an all-inclusive resort means there are things to keep you busy at the resort itself. Relax by the pool or on the beach and enjoy an adult beverage. Most resorts will also offer equipment rental such as snorkeling gear, body boards, etc. The resort will also typically have a concierge desk that can help arrange excursions. Given that we aren’t the type to lay by the pool for 6 days we decided to book a few trips around the area. We had good experiences with all of the tour companies that we booked through the hotel.
Chichén Itzá, Kaua & Cenote
We took a day trip to Chichén Itzá. The Maya ruins are a popular tourist destination. Be prepared for large crowds! You can visit this spot on your own but we would suggest going with a guide that is familiar with the history of the site and the Maya culture. Our guide was very informative and we learned a lot. It’s also very hot and there is little shade. Take plenty of water and perhaps an umbrella to keep the sun off.
The site dates back to as early as 600 AD. The site showed the variety of interests of the Maya people. The El Caracol was one of the few circular structures built by the Maya and is believed to have been used for astronomical observations. The Ball Court is said to have housed a game or ritual where two teams attempted to throw a ball through a stone circle on the side of the court wall. Supposedly the losing team’s captain was sacrificed & beheaded. Another interesting thing about the ball court is that if it is quiet and someone at the Southern end speaks, the voice can be heard at the opposite end as the sound vibrates between the walls. It was pretty cool to hear as the ‘field’ was about 550 ft long (longer than an American football field).
After our stop at the ruins we headed to Kaua, a local Maya community. There is a gift shop with goods for sale made by locals and we were treated to a small lunch prepared by the women in the village. We then headed to the cenote. Again, another popular tourist destination. Cenotes are naturally formed when the roof of a cavern collapses. Bring a bathing suit if you want to take a dip. We only had a short time here on our tour so we decided to opt out of swimming and just take some photos and relax.
Isla Mujeres
We took a day trip to Isla Mujeres. It’s a small island not far off the coast. There are no cars on the island but there are plenty of golf carts for rent if you want to take a tour. We decided to take a walk instead. From the dock we headed down to a local park where we hung out on the beach for a bit before having brunch. Later that afternoon we headed to the other end of the island to Dolphin Discovery. The facility rescues dolphins, seals, manatees, sharks, etc. when they are injured by boats or get stuck in fishing nets. The nice thing is that the animals are kept in the ocean, not enclosed tanks/pools. There are a variety of options to choose, and lunch was included. If you want to get the most out of your package it will be fairly busy so don’t expect a lot of time for lunch or down time. That being said we enjoyed it and would recommend if you are in the area.
Snorkeling
We took a tour with Total Snorkel. They provide all equipment as well as round trip transportation from your hotel. The water was a bit rough the day we went but still had a good time and were lucky and saw a sea turtle. The trip was about 3.5 hours and made a stop at an underwater statue site, a shipwreck and a coral reef.
Overall, we had a nice time and were lucky to sneak one vacation into 2020. As we were boarding our plane to fly back to Seattle, the borders were starting to tighten and flight restrictions were being put in place due to the coronavirus.
