If you’ve been following me on Instagram lately, you probably know that I was on vacation in Mexico earlier this month! I truly had the time of my life and am still over-the-moon with my trip. Let me give you the details about why I loved my trip so much.

---

 

My first trip to Mexico: a dream come true

My plane landed in Cancun, which is in the southern part of Mexico, and only a 4h flight away from Montreal. Cancun and the Riviera Maya area are quite touristy because of the beautiful beaches and large deluxe resorts. However,  there is SO much more to see and experience in this region!

We booked an all-inclusive package with Air Transat, due to lack of time to properly organize a trip, and we opted to stay at the Bahia Principe Akumal! This 5-star resort was absolutely perfect: great food, friendly staff, nice and clean beaches, and many activities to choose from if you like to be entertained.

What to do when in Mexico

During my 8-day vacation, I did so much! I spent some time at the beach working on my tan when I was not at one of our hotel’s beautiful pools. I ate way too much yummy food (including a delicious Peruvian-Japanese fusion meal). Taking walks in the sun and admiring the fauna (I fell in love with agoutis!) was part of the daily routine. My friend and I also took part in 2 incredible adventures that were so unbelievable I still have to pinch myself to understand they truly happened!

First, we visited Rio Secreto, a cenote (underground river) full of stalagmites and stalactites. It was mysterious, impressive, and I was in awe during the whole tour. Armed with a wetsuit, water shoes, a helmet and a little lamp, we traveled through the underground network of rivers and caves, sometimes by foot, and sometimes swimming in the crystal clear water. It was truly magical!

The other adventure that we took part in was a visit to the Mayan archaeological site of Ek’ Balam followed by a swim in a cenote. The tour was organized by Alltournative, who work closely with the Mayan community and provide you with an authentic experience instead of a highly touristy visit. The ruins of Ek’ Balam are very impressive and it is totally worth a visit.

Before entering the cenote Maya, we took part in a Mayan ceremony. This was a very spiritual moment where a shaman purified our souls so that we could enter and return from the cenote safely. The reason for this is that in Mayan mythology, cenotes represent entrances to the underworld, so your soul needs to be pure to enter.

Then, we rappeled down 26 meters before reaching the cool water. There, you can swim around, try out the slackline, or jump off the Tarzan vine (scary but so fun!).

Bringing back a little bit of Mexico home

Here are the few souvenirs I brought back from my trip. I bought: some fancy tequila, a handmade handbag, hot sauces, Mexican candy, coffee and cigars. The skull was given to me by my sister who went to Mexico the year before.

Even though I was already fond of Mexican culture before visiting, my trip confirmed my interest. I truly fell in love with the little part of Mexico I saw. It is hard to put into words the feelings I’ve experienced there, but I will never forget this trip. This is why I love travelling so much! It puts everything back in perspective and challenges some of your views that you take for granted.

Next time I visit Mexico, I would like to stay in the villages and interact with locals more. I understand this means I have to learn more Spanish, but I’m up for the challenge! I am very much looking forward to visiting more places in Mexico!

Now that I’m back in Montreal, the reality check is real! Spring in Canada is usually snowy and cold, nothing like Mexico!

¡Hasta pronto México!

-xox- Marika