We were feeling the holiday hangover from the 'City That Never Sleeps', and as much as we enjoyed New York we really needed a more 'relaxing' holiday (it's a hard life!). Mexico seemed the perfect destination to recharge our batteries, so we prayed for an all inclusive Hotel where we could just relax on the beach. However, when we got there our priorities changed almost immediately. This was Cancun, there was so much to tempt us! We couldn't let these opportunities pass us by! We needed to get the best value for the little spending money we had and despite the last minute approach, there was no doubt that we got the best possible experience out of Cancun, Mexico!
1) Xplor
Strangely enough, Xplor was located in the middle of a rainforest. I remember my first thoughts being that we would need a machete to cut our way through the suffocating undergrowth and to fight past the waves of mosquitoes and stinging ants. How would we keep focus in a place where Monkeys swing on the branches overhead? I needed to put my mind at rest. I always like to do a bit of homework on TripAdvisor anyway, to see exactly what's on offer. Xplor was number 1 for 'Things to do' in Cancun, so I supposed it couldn't be that bad!
Upon entry to the rainforest, my initial thought was part right, you could hear the hums and chirps of insects, the songs of birds and the calls of mammals from every direction. However, the air did not hang heavy and moist as you would expect. Instead, the location seemed to have an atmosphere of its own; somewhere completely remote that comes to life with fun and adventure.
Xplor is best described as an assault course on all senses. I will never forget zip lining from mountainous peaks (higher than the swinging monkeys!) for an overall distance of 3.8 Kilometres! As you can imagine, the views on offer were sensational! Also there was the grounded, more romantic experience of crossing suspended bridges and driving under the surface through the mysterious caves, all in a Buggy Automobile. Looking back now it probably would have been more romantic if I didn't keep crashing, look at how tight poor Natasha is holding on!
There was something for everyone. The water-based activities were a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed: swimming and underground rafting through the tranquil Mexican grottos. Here we wouldn't fight our way through the mosquitoes and stinging ants as first thought, as instead, we fought our way beyond fatigue to eventually achieve the much-desired peace and tranquility. It was certainly worth it when we got there!
By some miracle, we managed to do them all in one day, without rushing, and even with enough time for a sleep in a hammock too!
This is one of my favourite memories from Mexico for sure, as it was the first time we had done something a bit more daring. I'm so proud that Natasha and I plucked up the courage to do something like this. I can't recommend this enough for anyone visiting Cancun!
2) Xel-Há
Recommended to us by one of our friends at work, Xel-Há is a paradise for nature lovers and an amazing natural aquarium for snorkelling. To me, it's a perfect example of one of those 'wish you were here' Facebook videos. We will never forget Xel-Há, as we both consider it as the most beautiful place we have ever been!
As we went to Xel-Há based solely on recommendation, this was the one time where we did not do any 'background reading'. Therefore on arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to see there was more than just snorkelling on offer. Exotic animals, river tours, cliff-jumping, zip lines and rope swings galore! Little did we know that these would help create the most incredible memories! Also labelled as the 'most photogenic natural landscape in Cancun', this was the perfect opportunity for Natasha to show her creative side. Be sure to take a look through the photo gallery from Mexico, where you can see Natasha in her element - in something other than cooking of course :)
One of the best things about Xel-Há is that these picturesque places are really easy to access and even better, all have the technology to take the perfect picture for you! On entrance to the Park you are provided with a wrist band, in which you can simply scan at the desired place, and 5 seconds later a 'Postcard Perfect' picture is taken. The photo below is a great example of needing technology for assistance, there is no 'selfie-stick' long enough to pull off this one off!
I hope these three paragraphs come close to doing Xel-Há the justice it deserves, this is another absolute must for ANYONE visiting Cancun, Mexico!
3) Full Moon party and Coco Bongo
Cancun is very well known for its Nightlife, and no matter how small our budget, this was is something we had to experience, even if it was just once! Our Hotel completely supported this approach and gave a select group of people the opportunity to experience the 'Cancun Strip' in the best way possible - a Full Moon Party and Coco Bongo!
Our group was made up of people from all around the world, USA, Canada, France, Brazil and even some people from Scotland. (We said we were from England as it was too difficult to explain where the Isle of Man is!)
We were all treated as VIPs when walking down the red carpet, and through the doors, we were shown to our private area in a crowd of 1000s. We all got to know each other over drinks as we waited for the full moon to make its way over the stage. While bonding over Jägerbombs we were treated with all kinds of entertainment in the build up, which probably isn't for everyone's friendly reading! ;D The music continued throughout the night, and a swimming pool opened when the moon was at the highest point in the sky. Throwing shapes absolutely soaking wet proved no problem in the 30° heat! Drying off wasn't an issue either as we moved on to our next destination ...
Who hasn't heard of Coco Bongo? We were so happy that this was part of the package! With outrageous performances, musicians and actors this was everything we thought it would be and more! After the performances were finished, the dance floor opened and we soaked up the atmosphere in style.
The final touch to our first and only VIP experience of Mexican nightlife was the welcome sight of fresh pizza for us as we walked out of the club. Who could ask for more?
4) Parasailing and Jet Skiing
We needed something to take the edge off the hangover from the night before. What better way to do it than parasailing and Jet Skiing? For those who aren't 100% sure what parasailing is, it's a recreational kiting activity where you are towed behind a boat while attached to a specially designed parachute, known as a parasail wing. Also popularly known as parakiting. (Thank you Google!)
With our new tactics now in play, sunbathing was out of the question as we made a promise to ourselves that we would always be open to trying anything, even if it was out of our 'comfort zone'. Parasailing was the perfect example, and there was no way we were passing up this opportunity! Before we knew it we were suspended 300ft in the air out in the open water! Being quite early on in the holiday too, it gave us the perfect Ariel view of our new and incredible Iberostar hotel.
Jet Skiing, on the other hand, was right up my street and I thought I would introduce this to Natasha in the best way possible who chose to hang on to me from the back seat! Still, to this day we're laughing at this and looking back, not many people would agree that I eased Natasha into it! :) It's not labelled as an extreme sport for nothing! I decided the that best introduction was to go full speed, add some bumps, a few harsh turns, and to certainly not be shy about getting some airtime! I remember Natasha trying the "they're waving at us to come in" ploy, which almost worked actually! She then looked at me with a scowl that could take out Putin, and told me she would swim back to shore if I didn't slow down. Fair enough really!
It's safe to say that our hangovers were cured, but Natasha couldn't walk properly for a good few hours after being so tensed up, which we both found hilarious! Deep down she definitely enjoyed it and wouldn't have chosen anyone else to guide her through her first experience of water sports! :)
5) The Mexican Sea
Like I said in the first section, we were on a tight budget so we wanted to get the best value for our money. The cliché is that "the best things in life are free" and this certainly applied to a quick dip in the Caribbean Sea, which conveniently was just seconds away from our Hotel!
You may have heard people talk about the 'warmth' and how 'blue' the Mexican Sea is, but this is one of those instances where words cannot do it justice! At an average temperature of 30°C, it's simply heaven on earth! I remember it being so refreshing: the perfect remedy to take all of our worries away! The crystal-clear water made the visibility near-perfect for snorkelling too. Just Imagine seeing untouched coral gardens teeming with tropical fish 100ft below the surface of the sea, all of this in a totally laid-back vibe!
We spoke about needing a relaxing holiday and, despite the initial plan being thrown by the amazing opportunities described above, we eventually achieved our original aim! The Mexican Sea proved to be the answer to all of our prayers and just what the doctor ordered! A peaceful end to an exciting 10 days.
