When I first arrived Cancun I thought I would just be passing through I came here only because the flight was cheapest from Europe,
And I thought it would all be hotels and sleazy tourist vibe.
Then I discovered that Cancun actually has 2 main areas:
The hotel area Zona Hotelera (the sleazy tourist area I expected) The downtown area (real local Mexico)
And the Downtown area is actually the center and it has many local restaurants with regional food, Most beautiful beaches in Mexico (especially now with all the seaweed in Playa del Carmen)
And lots of natural and cultural things to do and see.
Im going to be more specific about my 5 favorite things in Cancun so you can explore it yourself: 1) I stayed in a PERFECT location in The Mermaid Hostel Downtown
- Very quiet and safe neighborhood.
- 3 min away from main bus lines for the beaches and for all the shopping malls.
- 3 minutes of walk from a big supermarket,
- 3 minutes away from El Parque De Las Palapas – where many locals come eat cheap and delicious Mexican food
And for only about 3-5usd per person! (Mexican food is much more then tacos and borritos! But that’s in the next post) - In the radios of 15 minutes of walk there is Mercado 23 with many more local restaurants – even more delicious then Parque de las Palapas!
Also Mercado 28 with many local handmade Mexican Souvenirs, cloths, and some more local restaurants.2) Best beaches in Mexico
I must show you what is going on in Playa Del Carmen so you understand the seaweed situation (at first I thought people complaining about this are just cry babies) But CANCUN has NO SEAWEED AT ALL & ISLA MUJERES AS WELL
Check out this 18 seconds video to see how disgusting is the sea weed https://photos.app.goo.gl/JfEZkJ2HYKvQuy8GA
Best beaches in Cancun are Playa Delfines and Chak Mool, This is from Delfines https://photos.app.goo.gl/oKX8iaCc4Ww29bGfA
And of course Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres
3) Great attractions for a half day or full day exploration
Did you know that for 3 month in a year (June-September) groups of giant whale sharks come hang out in Cancun??
They are up to 15 meters long (about 50 feet) and you can swim very close to them and experience swimming with almost a mithologycal creature.
Once in a life time.
Also you are 1 bus ride away from Chichen Itza,
the biggest pyramid the Mayan has ever build, and one of the 7th wonders of the world. And many more pyramids and ruins in the area, like Coba or the ruins in Tulum.
Also, have you ever visited a Cenote?
It’s a natural pit that exposes fresh ground water underneath. Very beautiful for nature lovers.
It’s only 45 min drive away with bus.
Check out Cenote Eden or Azul
4) Foooooood!
Ok my travel fetish is actually food, so I kept the best for last.
Its not an in depth about Mexican food,
but just to give you a taste about local youcatan foods you must try
and a few local restaurants in Cancun downtown around the hostel.
BTW Ana and Tania the owners of The Mermaid Hostel Downtown
gave me recommendations for most of the foods around. They are foodies and adventurers at heart. When you meet them ask for some recommendation!
Im going to give you names of a restaurant with food specially from Yucatan area.
Its are a Must-Go, so authentic, so delicious and great prices – between 5-15usd per person
The restaurant is called Emara and its near mercado 28 (15 min walk from the hostel)
Besides that in many local restaurants you can find some Yucatan dishes,
but Emara really specializes and perfects the Yucatan food and has a menu full of it. Check it out.
This is pork leg that was cooked over night. Im not sure the sauce or the name,
but it was so delicious and great dish for sharing and ordering something else on the side. From Emara restaurant
Sopa de Lima
A soup made with Yucatan ingredients and the main flavor is a specific kind of lime called Lima Very delicious soup, comes with crispy tortillas inside, so it fast as long as its crunchy!
Papadzules
Tortillas filled with meat and egg with pumpkin seed sauce (green) and some red salsa and cheese Its not spicy. Very delicious and special.
Cochinita Pibil Tacos
Whats special here is the way the meat is prepared,
Slow cooked in a ground oven like the Mayan used to do it.
The meat just melts and blends in your mouth, and the flavor is spactacular. You can have it on tacos, or in burritos, or just a plate.
BTW the best frase I learned in Mexico was «Menu Del Dia» or «Comida Corrida»
With means the menu of the day, its like business lunch of the freshest food
Usually includes a soup, main course and a glass of drink (Jamaica or Orchata).
In most local restaurants you can ask for Menu del dia and you will be positivly surprised for just 3-5usd.
In most local restaurants you can ask for Menu del dia and you will be positivly surprised for just 3-5usd. This is in Parque de Las Palapas
Im hungry just from writing this post.
Im going to get some mexican food.
If you go to The Mermaid Hostel Downtown in Cancun say hi to Ana and Tania from me. See you around the world,
Dror
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