North America & The Caribbean
Costa Rica: Montverde, San Jose, Santa Elena, Santa La Fortuna
Curacao: Willemstad
Jamaica: Kingston, Blue Mountain, Ocho Rios
Mexico: Cenote Chaok Tun, Chichen Itza, Coba
Puerto Rico: San Juan
Cenote Chaok Tun
Cenote Chaok Tun
A cenote is a natural sinkhole created when cave ceilings collapse, and the Yucatan peninsula is full of them! There are over 5,000 cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula and swimming in one of them is an out of this world adventure.
I did my research before I arrived in Mexico and I decided to go to cenote Chaok Tun for various reasons: 1) It has an extensive network of underground rivers in which you can swim & snorkel; 2) it has amazing rock formations; 3) it is off-the-beaten path; and 4) it is easily accessible On Your Own from Playa del Carmen & Cancun.
Going to the cenote from Cancun you’ll first have to reach Playa which is easy & straightforward. You can either take one of the many scheduled buses that serves this route, or, I think by now you know my favorite transportation mode in Mexico, by a collective:) Not only it is cheaper to take the collective, it is more flexible and faster, so hop into one of those heading to Playa. From Playa, the only option to go to the cenote is by taxi, but be aware that not all taxi drivers will know where it is so you’ve to know you directions and the different landmarks on the road (click to request info). Expect to pay around 100-120 MXP for a one-way trip, but you can use your haggling skills and lower the price. Also, it is best if you agree with the driver to wait for you and take you back to Playa as there is no transportation at the cenote & your only option will be hitchhiking.
The road to the cenote is a gravel road that is totally a road to nowhere:)
And when I arrived at the cenote, there was only one other couple there, so I literally had it all to myself:)
The entrance ticket to the cenote is a bit expensive, but totally worth it, so don’t hesitate. Before you start your adventure, you’ll have to put on your swimwear and there are lockers at the entrance in which you can store your stuff. From the entrance, you’ll hike down on a wooden path surrounded by amazing rock formations
After 10-15 minutes, you’ll reach the hole in the ground that gives the cenote its name and the reflection of the sun rays on the rocks and the crystal clear water is amazing
Now it is time for the adventure, so get ready & plunge into the water 
You’ll be On Your Own and will have to navigate between the different chambers through narrow passageways; which is a bit scary to be honest:)
The water is so clear and cool that you’ll never want to get out; so take your time and explore the entire cenote because it is once in a lifetime experience!
Coba
Coba (Climbing an ancient Pyramid)
After visiting Chichen Itza, you’ll be thirsty for an adventure and wonder if you can add a historical twist to it?! You got what you asked for! What is more adventurous than climbing one of the ancient Mayan pyramids and have unforgettable views of the lush jungle from top!
Few people even know that there is a pyramid, only 1 pyramid, that they can climb all the way to the top “legally” without breaking any rules, and this pyramid is in Coba! Coba is off-the-beaten-path and no tour buses go there, so it is preserved for the adventurous spirits like us:) This means that going there On Your Own is a bit of a challenge, but totally doable via collectivos, of course:) Now, since you became familiar with the collective system in Mexico, take one of those fun local rides heading to Tulum. Although the collective will take you to the center of Tulum, Coba is still some 30-45 minute drive from there, and unfortunately no collectivos go there which leaves you with only 1 option: Taxi. In Tulum there is a designated stop for taxis heading to Coba so this should be your destination (click to request info). Expect to haggle the price a lot as the initial quoted price will be extremely high; and you can meet other adventurers and share the cost together. When I went there, there was only 1 American/British couple heading to Coba and we ended up sharing the ride and spending the entire day together…lots of fun!! For me this is the beauty of traveling On Your Own as you’ll be able to meet like-minded adventurers like you.
Arriving at Coba, you’ll instantly realize that you ventured to a place few people go to & it is an amazing feeling; so pay your entrance ticket & start your adventure!
Coba is a site that houses a number of archeological monuments including pyramids, but only 1 can be climbed. The first thing you’ll see after entering the site is a perfectly-preserved pyramid with immaculate details that will amaze you
Continue hiking inwards on the single trail and you’ll find a picturesque ancient hut which will take you back to the Mayan’s time
By now the adrenaline will be kicking as you want to climb to the top of the pyramids, but Coba, itself, is still 2km away. You can hike there, but to make your trip more fun, rent a bike and paddle your way instead! There is a bike rental kiosk just after the hut, so grab a bike and paddle your way to Coba. The path is flat and its all in the shade, so the ride is easy & fun.
Reaching Coba, you’ll find a perfectly-preserved tall pyramid towering above the trees and you’ll find few people who already started their climb.
The climb is steep and in the scorching sun, you’ll be sweating with every step you take, but it is fun & well worth it
Reaching the top is an unbelievable feeling! Not only will you be on top of a Mayan pyramid, but also on top of the dense green jungle with amazing views
& time for some fun-posing pictures:)
When ready, it’ll be time to go down. It is a bit steep, but there is a rope in the middle to which you can hang on, if needed.
You’ve now achieved your goal and climbed an ancient Mayan pyramid that few people know it exists! So grab your bike and head back to the gate.
By now you might start realizing that there is no ride back waiting for you and after the excitement of your achievement fades, you’ll start wondering how will you go back?! But don’t worry, there is a bus that can take you back, but it only comes once/day, so make sure that you timed your exit right (click to request info).
One final tip: give yourself an hour before the bus arrives and enjoy a local beer by the picturesque lake at the entrance…Cheers!
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Mexico is an enchanting country full of culture, history, natural beauty, and historical monuments; and the most famous of all is Chichen Itza. This amazing pyramid is a must-see for any trip to Mexico and especially the Yucatan peninsula. Contrary to the perception that Mexico is a dangerous country and that everything has to be done through an organized tour, you can easily and safely visit this marvelous site On Your Own from Cancun! So, in this blog, I’ll take you through the journey of how to visit Chichen Itza like a local & throw in an added bonus side-trip afterwards.
First of all, let us agree that most people visiting the Yucatan peninsula will be either based in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. For the sake of this blog, I’ll provide insights about how to visit Chichen Itza from Cancun and you’ll find info about going from Cancun to Playa in my Cenote Chaok Tun post, so let us begin the adventure!
Cancun has two major parts: the resorts part and the local downtown part. So, if you are after beaches and nightlife then stay in the former, but if you are interested in culture and local life, then definitely downtown is the place to go & you can still go to the beach:)
So, to do any of my Mexican trips, you’ve to use local transport and find your way to downtown. Next, for anyone looking to travel independently in Mexico, you’ll have be familiar with and use the collective system. These are small public buses that locals use to get from one town to another. They are very frequent and can be flagged down from anywhere and have a set fee according to the distance. At first, they might look intimidating and people will try to convince you that its dangerous to get you to use their expensive transportation options, but believe me…they are perfectly safe, fun, and gives you the real Mexican experience, so use them whenever you can!
To go to Chichen Itza is very easy and straightforward from Cancun downtown. There are daily buses that depart from the bus station and go directly to Chichen Itza, non-stop (click to request info).
The buses are very comfy, have AC, and the trip takes around 3 hours, so take an early bus and you can sleep in it if you had a long night before:)
Arriving at Chichen Itza, you’ll immediately realize how touristy it is with lots of tour groups, but you are there for the history, so ignore this and remember…You came On Your Own🙂
From the entrance of the site, you’ll walk the forest path for around 15 minutes and then the great pyramid will unveil itself to you
Admire this incredible structure and start walking around it while taking pics from every angle
Then its time to take a picture of yourself with this famous monument, so chose the perfect spot & smile:)
Although this pyramid is the highlight of the area and will dwarf any other structure around it, you can still take a look around for the other structures and there is a hidden pool in the forest that you must visit as it feels like heaven (click to request info)
This concludes your day at Chichen Itza, but if you still have the energy you can do a side trip on your way back. It is time to visit the small town of Valladolid and admire its colonial architecture and history. So, ditch the bus and take a collective heading to this town (click to request info).
Upon arriving, start walking around and explore the center square and the town’s church which will make you feel that you went back in time
After exploring the city, you can grab something to eat in one of its amazing local restaurants and take a collective back to Cancun downtown.
