Menu
Menu
How to Survive a Weekend in Cancun – The Quad Squad
Quad Squad's weekend in Cancun
Ah, Cancun, a place where both good and concerning memories reside. If you are going to Cancun with a temporary decreased respect for your body’s well-being, then this post can surely help you out! The weekend trip to Cancun has been tested thoroughly by the Quad Squad, a group of talented individuals who’s sole purpose is to survive trips together under some of the most formidable conditions. In a future post, I’ll mention the beginnings during the Pacific Coast Highway trip.
For now though, let’s make sure if you are planning to go to Cancun, there are some things everyone should be aware of. I’ll talk mostly of the experience there, as trip planning and the financials could be a completely separate topic. But to give you an idea, it was around $400 per person. This included the flight, accommodations and a tour to the Mayan ruins
Upon arriving in Cancun by plane (we did not take a cruise), get your pesos out. This is the Mexican currency and you will be needing it. Once leaving the airport, you will be immediately swarmed by taxi services. At this point, do everything in your power to not look like a baller with a fat wallet full of pesos. This applies for every situation in Cancun. It is possible to use your credit card, but it is much easier to pay for all transportation in cash, if possible. And if you’re feeling up for it, do some bargaining with a driver. It’s actually quite fun.
Two sides of the city
Now one of the big differences that is often mistaken is there is a beach Cancun, and a Cancun. If safety (relatively speaking here) is higher on the priority list for you, “beach Cancun” is the correct choice. This place is also known as Hotel Zone and is where all the crazy tourist stuff happens. We actually spent the majority of our time here, but stayed in good old downtown Cancun. We did explore downtown Cancun’s nightlife as well, but if you are here for only a weekend, go to Hotel Zone.
After being dropped of at our hotel, LQ by La Quinta, we immediately set foot to the get the groceries. The good news is Walmart was a short walk away, and you can get almost everything you need here for fairly cheap. The bad news is, Cancun apparently does not have Smirnoff Ice. Getting back to your hotel takes no more than bargaining with another taxi.
With the chores done, we decided it was time for the Quad Squad to check out the Hotel Zone. Now, this is one of those places where at some point you will hit euphoria and eventually leave wondering where your money, phone and wallet went. Might as well throw dignity in there, too. But even with all that, it was insanely fun! Overall, this area was an awesome time. A few of our favorites were the classic Senor Frogs, Congo Bar and Coco Bongo. The atmosphere is lively, everyone is dancing and there is the occasional running away from a server who is blowing a whistle with a shot in-hand.
The guide to not get wrecked
If there are any lessons learned, they all come from Hotel Zone, too. As much fun as it can be, you do not want to end up like us with a lost phone, wallet and using ATMs for dire situations. Here is a breakdown of things you should know to survive if you think your trip will be relatable to ours.
- Keep personal items in pockets or clutch, especially when walking from bar to bar. I’d recommend even having your hands in your pockets. You will see lady-men groping individuals and running off down an alley with their belongings.
- If you hear the whistle, and aren’t ready, just run. Or watch the shot prices single handedly lay waste to your pesos.
- If you have no reason to engage with law enforcement, then don’t. We regularly saw enforcement simply waiting for any tourist to do something that could result in a fine being given. Also, bribing and negotiating is a thing.
- Bargain – I know I’ve said it a few times, but take advantage of this. No price is set in stone. You can get tickets to events for much less.
- Have general awareness. Obviously some things can’t be avoided, but do yourself a favor and don’t go down that dark alley.
I’ll even throw in a picture of an active negotiation for reference!
Ok, ok. So you get the point. Hotel Zone is where you’re going to end up. Make some friend, get some ridiculous face paint tattoo and go dance the night away.
A day trip to Chichén Itzá
After the nightlife took its toll, we split our time between Cancun’s beaches and a tour our to see Chichén Itzá. Neither disappointed. Growing up in Florida, beaches are a pretty standard thing. From the perspective of someone who doesn’t get quality beach time in, it’s pretty obvious why this is a major tourist destination. We enjoyed our time relaxing, playing some guitar and making friends with this hilarious Argentinian couple. During our time in Cancun, we also headed off for a day trip to the Yucatan Peninsula to witness El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcan) in all its glory. I used Amigo Tours, where we explored the ancient grounds and then headed to a cenote pool for a swim. Our guide was top-notch and well worth the small price we paid. Make sure to tip!
First off, the Mayans build some epic structures. You’ll have to see and hear it for yourself, but El Castillo will play with the sun’s shadows during different seasons, acts as an amplifier and mimic the sound of the Mexican quetzal bird, a sacred animal in Mayan culture. On top of that, the ball court allows sound to travel perfectly in one direction only, so the Mayan leaders could eavesdrop on their guests. The acoustic engineering is incredible, and it is difficult to fathom how it was pulled off.
Jumping in a cenote pool
We left directly from Chichén Itzá to a nearby cenote pool. For those who do not know what this is, a cenote pool is basically a hole in the ground with water at the bottom. It looks a lot cooler than it sounds. The one that we had the pleasure of visiting was set up with a rock staircase to a platform, suitable for one thing only: Jumping off. I don’t know what it is, but doing a gainer off a cliff never gets old. The Quad Squad was in prime form and loving life.
Exhausted, yet refreshed from the cenote, we headed back to our hotel to pack up and say goodbye. It was bittersweet. Cancun is one of those places enjoyed in small doses. It has a lot to offer, but do your due diligence. We made it out alive, and I’m confident you will too. It’s all about adapting, such as substituting Smirnoff Ice with Spiced. And as they say, spice is the variety of life.
Michael Lakus
IT professional, athlete, musician, ponderer of many things... Born and raised in Florida, I began traveling internationally after college. I created this site primarily to remind myself of where I've been and to share my experiences on traveling with a quirky, stress-free, travel attitude.
All Posts »