9 Reasons Why You Should Visit Cancún at Least Once in Your Lifetime

When you leave the stress of your daily activities and routine at home, you have space in your mind and heart for new experiences. Cancún is a multicultural hotspot – besides locals you’ll find people from all the globe here, each bringing their different background rich in experience. Open up your view of the world and relax to the sound of the waves on the shore, or watch and interact with natural wonders: swim with dolphins; admire the sharks, or snorkel amid tropical fish and marine animals.

Cancún’s location means you can visit a range of the best destinations in and around the Maya Riviera, including beautiful beaches in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. It’s also close to archaeological zones like Tulum, Chichen Itzá and Kobá, and to the Route of the Cenotes, with more than 57 different types of cenotes including open-air, semi-open caves, as well as ancient sacred caves. Within easy reach by bus, these beautiful and historic locations offer great opportunities for photos, sports or just chilling out.

Once you visit Cancún you’ll get closer to a complex and interesting culture. Get out of the resorts and visit downtown and the market, and see for yourself what Cancún and its people really are like – open your mind and observe without judgement. If you do, you’ll absorb new experiences that will make you see the world just that little bit differently, becoming more empathetic and wise.

Cancún is a favorite with tourists: some meet new friends for life and return the following year to holiday together; some meet ‘the one’, while those who visit with a partner often end up proposing. Some like it so much that return to work or study! Every situation shows you different sides of the city, however, the magic of the heavenly nature spots is there too, alongside the many entertainment options.

The island and its city are the spot where big love stories begin. Whether you come alone or with your partner, Cancún is the perfect place to fall in love – set to such a heavenly background, going on a date here is simply idyllic. Just watching the sunset is romantic enough, but there are many more options for dates: you can have dinner listening to jazz music on a ship; go to a secret beach, or visit the Scenic Tower. Couples fall in love here: sometimes it lasts, sometimes it’s just a holiday romance, and at other times, it ends up in a wedding in this beautiful paradise.

The land of Quintana Roo tells stories of a different civilization through its pyramids, cenotes and jungles. Learn more about its history by talking to natives and visiting archaeological zones – visit the Mayan Museum and you’ll notice the archeological digs in the small pyramids next to it. Some parks like Xcaret offers performances, and you can even experience ancient ceremonies by taking in the Sacred Mayan Journey, an event in which 300 canoers paddle from Xcaret to the island of Cozumel to receive the message of goddess Ixchel.

Take a Spanish course or just practice the language during your vacation, but be sure to notice the different accent of the locals – listen to the slang and expressions, try to repeat them, practice, and try again. Don’t be afraid of mistakes, locals are friendly and like it when you show an interest in their language. There’s a plus here, too: with some luck you’ll find someone who also speaks Mayan, or who knows some expressions of the ancestors. Learning a language is always more fun on vacation.

Many people look to Cancún as a place for spiritual activities – while the bar zone would obviously not be the spot for this, the Equinox Ceremony in Chichen Itzá is. Try a temazcal, a herbal infusion medicinal steam bath that encourages sweating for the purposes of detoxification, or take a mental breath getting to know different ways of life, meeting travelers and watching the sunrise and sunsets, and just connecting with yourself.

Get your fill of adrenaline in a safe environment; try windsurfing in a lagoon; discover caves and swim in an underground river; go scuba diving. Do extreme sports, party at night, walk along the Kukulcan Avenue and have some shots in the bars, sing, dance. Get out of the box and do everything you can’t do in your daily life – recharge your batteries to help you face real life after your trip.