10 days in Mexico

Arrival in Cancun on 04.10.2021

Before arriving, I researched how much a taxi to the hotel could cost, and it was often said that you will definitely be ripped off. Arriving at Cancun airport at half past midnight, I confidently went to the taxi provider, thinking I knew what I was doing. The guy wanted to sell me a ride in a Colectivo (a small bus, like a taxi for several people) for $75! I negotiated the price down to $20 and was really proud. Until I found out that others in the same Colectivo paid $5. 

In Cancun, I spent the first two nights alone in a hotel, just to settle in and recover from the jet lag. Unfortunately, the beach at the hotel was full of algae, which is a real problem in this region. However, the sunrises were incredibly beautiful. 

To get to the city center, I took the bus, and the fare is 12 pesos (51 cents) per ride. Once you know the bus routes, you simply stand on the corresponding street and flag down the bus. To get off, you just let the driver know at any point. 

On 05.10.2021, I traveled to the island of Holbox

I took the bus to Chiquila and then the ferry to Holbox. On the bus, I met a group of Swiss people, and at the hostel, I spent the next two days with some Germans. Overall, I met people much faster than I expected. 

In the evening, we sat on the beach and watched the sunset. There were a few dolphins swimming in the distance, it was incredibly beautiful! 

The island of Holbox is small and pretty. There are no paved roads, it's just a sandbank. As a result, the streets also look like sand, and when it rains, huge puddles form that you have to wade through. There are no cars here, except for a few exceptions, only golf carts are used. 

The sea is like a big bathtub, you can walk for a long time and the water doesn't get deeper than your knees, so it's very warm. 

There's nothing to do on the island other than enjoying the sea, food, and drinks, so it's perfect for relaxing. Also, the island is relatively expensive.

- Hostel per night: €15

- Burrito: €7

On 07.10.2021, I went to Playa del Carmen

I already know Playa del Carmen and have partied here before, but this time I want to experience the real Mexico, and this place is so incredibly Americanized. I would say it can be compared to the Ballermann in Mallorca or Lloret de Mar - terrible.

On the "5th Avenue" (the main tourist street), you get approached from all sides, they want you to come to the restaurant, the souvenir shop, get a massage, or take a photo with a monkey or people in Spiderman costumes. So far, I've always looked nice and said "no, gracias," but here you just can't look nice anymore, it's incredibly exhausting. There are also dubious men walking around asking, "hey lady, cocaine or weed?"

Back at the hostel, I just wanted to sleep, but then I got to know my roommates (from Brazil, Chile, and the Netherlands) and went to the hostel's bar with them. The bar is open until 6 am six days a week. What you need to know is that due to COVID restrictions in Mexico, parties are only allowed until midnight (and no alcohol in supermarkets after 10 pm). So, the question came up why the hostel's bar is allowed to stay open. An employee of the hostel revealed the Mexican reality: the bar is run by a gang (he said Narcos), they pay the police to allow parties there. There are also a lot of drugs going around there and security guards making sure people don't consume drugs from outside (only the ones they sell). I had a beer and quickly went to bed, I didn't feel comfortable anymore. 

From 08.10 to 10.10.2021, I went to Bacalar

Bacalar is a small town on a lagoon that was overwhelmed by tourism 4 years ago and still hasn't managed to organize enough ATMs. So, you need a little luck to get cash. 

I went snorkeling with a Costa Rican guy in Mahahual by the sea. The guy who sold the tour assured me that we would definitely see turtles, but I didn't see a single one, still, it was beautiful. 

The next morning (6:00 am), I went on a stand-up paddling tour with two German girls through the lagoon to watch the sunrise. 

In the evening, I took a night bus to Palenque - not the most comfortable experience. 

From 11.10. to 13.10.2021, I was in Palenque

A beautiful accommodation with a jungle feel, peacocks on the premises, and ants in the bed. 

The ruins in Palenque are very pretty, but if you don't have a guide, you only see stones. It's almost unbearable to jump around at 35 degrees Celsius. 

On 13.10.2021, I traveled to San Cristobal

From Palenque, I booked a tour that stopped at 2 waterfalls (Agua Azul and Mizol Ha) and dropped me off in San Cristobal de las Casas. 

We were escorted by the police from Agua Azul waterfall to just before San Cristobal de las Casas because the route is considered dangerous due to robberies.