Mexico
Cancun - Isla Mujeres - Tulum - Holbox - Cancun
In January 2022 we flew direct from Frankfurt to Cancun. A return flight with the airline "Condor" cost us €625 per person with luggage.
We decided in advance to only visit Cancun at the end of our trip and to travel on to Isla Mujeres directly after landing in Cancun.
Women Island
Getting to Isla Mujeres
How to get there: The island is easily accessible from Cancun. From the airport there are two options to get to the Puerto Juarez Ferry Port.
On the one hand with the red ADO bus and on the other hand, the even easier, but also more expensive option, by taxi directly to the ferry from Puerto Juarez. Due to the long journey, we opted for the less complicated option of taking a taxi.
It takes 20-30 minutes by bus or taxi from the airport in Cancun to the ferry in Puerto Juarez. The ferry takes 30 minutes to Isla Mujeres and costs around €23 pp round-trip.
Departure from Puerto Juarez:
5:30am - 11pm - every 30min.
Recommendation:
We recommend booking a taxi inside at the taxi counter in the airport and not getting involved with all the overpriced offers from the individual providers outside at the exit.
In order to save money we recommend connecting with other travelers waiting in line at the taxi counter who want to go in the same direction, as we have had the experience that you will be assigned to the respective taxi with strangers anyway. Our accommodations: Hotel Boutique Bahia Tolok
House Boat Hotel Boutique
Strand Isla Mujeres
North Beach:
beautiful crystal clear sandy beach, perfect for snorkeling.
Best to take a walk along the beach.
Essen in Isla Mujeres
Serviceliste
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Oh my BrunchListenelement 1Opening hours: Wed. - Mon 8am- 4pm Tue closed. What: delicious bowls, smoothies, avocado toasts etc.
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Mogagua CoffeeListenelement 2Hours: Mon - Sun 7am - 11pm What: Traditional fare, French toast, desserts, coffee, juices etc. About: This was our favorite breakfast spot on Isla Mujeres.
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Mango CafeListenelement 3Opening hours: Mon. - Sun. 8am - 3pm What: Mexican breakfast, French toast, smoothies etc. Please note: there may be a 20-60 minute wait until you get a table (depending on the day and time)
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Pizza & A...MoreListenelement 4Opening times: Wed. - Mon 9am - 10pm Tue closed What: Pizza. Pizza bread with dip, cocktails, .. Tip: order margaritas! We were there almost every evening.
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The Hot CornerPros: Drinks were good and food was ok. Cons: We were automatically charged a 20% tip and not given any change. Way too much for two drinks and nachos. When ordering, the waitress spoke to us in English and when it came to paying, she suddenly could only speak Spanish.
Xantolo
Opening hours:
Mo. - So. 11am - 12am
Was:
Cocktails, Nachos. Guacamole, Tacos, ..
Activities in Santa Teresa
Borrow a golf card!
You can rent a golf card for 1 hour, 2 hours,..., 1 day, etc. You can use it to explore the island and it's fun! We went to Punta sur (Maya temple, beach, park) with the golf card.
Wo: Isla Mujeres Gold Carts Joaquin
Cost: for 2 hours about 650MXD
Punta Sur with Mayan ruins
Admission: MXD30
Info: Remains of a Mayan temple and cliffs
Tulum
Arrival to Tulum
Directions:
From Isla Mujeres we took the ferry back to Puerto Juarez.
Either you can take a taxi from there at the exit or if you are patient, walk down the street to the left and take a cheap local colectivo bus to the Terminal Autobuses ADO Cancun.
Arrived at the terminal, you buy your ticket to the next destination at the ADO counter or online.
The bus to Tulum leaves from there about every hour.
Departure from Isla Mujeres:
6am - 12am - every 30min.
Accommodation in Tulum
Keej by NIIK Tulum:
The hotel is nice and good value for money. However, it is only suitable for people who are traveling by car. But otherwise I recommend an accommodation that is more central.
Tip:
Rent a bike and explore Tulum with it!
Where:
Ola Bike Tulum
Opening hours:
Mo. - So. 9am - 7pm
Cost:
1 day 150MXN
Info: Online booking is also possible!
They were in Tulum
Serviceliste
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Snacks La ChiapanecaListenelement 1Opening hours: Tue. - Sun. 10am - 11pm delicious tacos and co. to a cheap price.
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road restaurantListenelement 2Hours: Tue - Sun 12pm - 9pm This is actually a seafood restaurant but also offers vegetarian Mexican food.
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Raw Love Beach TulumListenelement 3Hours: Mon - Sun 9am - 6pm nice cafe in the hotel zone. The food is beautifully prepared and tastes delicious, but relatively expensive (2 smoothie bowls, 1 small drink 39€ converted). Note: Unfortunately, you cannot pay by card there either. (There was hardly a working ATM in the area)
Beaches in Tulum
Playa Paraiso Tulum:
A very beautiful but touristy beach. You can also rent a sunbed there, buy some fruit at the stalls and food and drinks from the bars.
Activities & Sights
SFER IK Art Museum:
(Architectural Building/Art Gallery)Admission:
10 USD (payment in USD and MXN possible)
Opening hours:
10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. daily
Directions:
bike, car etc
Come to the Light:
(Sculpture) Admission:
$3 pp or 60 MXN
Opening hours:
9am - 6pm
Archaeological Zone of Tulum - Ruins Beach:
Entry:
57 MXN
Opening hours:
8am - 5pm
Directions:
bike, bus, car,..
There are good bike paths to the Archaeological and Hotel Zones from Tulum, so we decided to bike there.
Give yourself plenty of time to explore the place. If you don't show up about 1 hour before closing time (like we did) then you can cool off down at this beautiful beach.
Skull Cenote:
Entry:
250 pesos pp (expensive for Mexico)
Opening hours:
8am - 5pm
Directions:
bike, taxi, car,..
There are many cenotes around Tulum, including this one. Unfortunately, we only went to this one, but if you are flexible (by car), then I recommend exploring the cenotes around Tulum. Other cenotes: • Gran Cenote • Cenote Aldea Zama • Cenote Santa Cruz • Cenote Zacil‑Ha • Cenote Mayan Blue
Danger! Before leaving, have the taxi driver confirm the price.
We had booked the taxi through our hotel/agreed the price, but the taxi driver wanted more than double the money when we arrived.
More pictures from Tulum
Holbox
Arrival to Holbox
Getting there:
Unfortunately, we looked too late for a connection to Holbox, so we had to accept a small and expensive detour.
With an ADO we drove from the terminal in Tulum to Playa del Carmen and from there we took the Colectivos bus to the ferry in Chiquila, from there we went to Holbox.
Otherwise, you can take the ADO (three times a day) directly from Tulum to Chiquila.
Accommodation in Holbox
Serviceliste
Essen in Holbox
Serviceliste
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PainapoleListenelement 1Opening times: Wed. - Mon 8am - 3:30pm / 6pm - 10pm Tue closed Delicious and beautifully presented smoothie bowls, avocado toast etc. This was our favorite breakfast spot in Mexico.
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The EmpasListenelement 2Opening times: Mon - Sun 10am - 10pm Cost: approx. 40MXN per empanada You can buy them right there in the bakery or on the beach from the beach vendors. We recommend!!! We bought empanadas there almost every day. These were definitely our favorite empanadas of our trip to Mexico!
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Pizzeria La PinsaListenelement 3Opening times: 12pm - 9pm very tasty pinsa, good change from mexican food
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the conquest empanadasListenelement 4Hours: Wed-Mon 8am-4pm Cost: 20Pesos for an empanada Info: Food to go only.
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In the evening there are food stalls around the main squareTry Mexican street food!
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Holbox Municipal MarketHours: 6:30am - 3:30pm Info: Smoothies, fruit, vegetable stalls recommended. Regarding empanadas etc. I would advise against it, Las Empa and other places in the center are tastier! We were asked for more than the displayed price, twice the amount.
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fresh mangoes, coconut empanadas etc. from beach vendors.
Rent a golf card on Holbox
• meist 350MXN 1Std, 700 2 Std., 1400 12Std,..
(We had only rented a golf card on Isla Mujeres)
Taxis:
There the taxis are yellow golf cards, you have to be able to negotiate the price well.
Sunsets in Holbox
In addition, we were recommended to Playa Puntas Coco.
Directions:
- 35 mins On foot, taxi, bicycle (somewhat difficult because the path was a bit muddy when we were there, huge puddles, etc..)
Learn more about Holbox
Serviceliste
More pictures from Holbox
Cancun
Arrival to Cancun
Directions:
With the ferry in Holbox we went back to Chiquila on the mainland, from there we took a local bus "Collectivos" very cheaply to the center of Cancun.
From the center we took a city bus to the hotel zone where our hotel was located.
Tip:
Reserve the ride with Collectivo in advance via WhatsApp, as this is a minibus.
Accommodation:
Hotel NYX Cancun
Activities:
- Snorkeling to an Underwater Museum (Statues)Speed BoatCatamaran TourXcaret Park
Accommodation in Cancun
Hotel NYX Cancun:
- Very modern, clean and beautiful 4 star hotel in the hotel zone of Cancunprivate beachdelicious and large breakfast buffettable tennislive music at the poolfree towel rentalsseveral restaurantsgood locationvery nice and accommodating staff (on the day of our departure we were allowed to stay in the hotel until evening, our luggage was kept and we were allowed to use the pool, the loungers on the private beach and use the free towel rental)
Conclusion:
We recommend!!!
Things to do in Cancun
Jungle Adventure, Speed Boat Tour & Snorkeling
We went with our own 2-person speedboat through the mangrove channels to a coral reef.
There we snorkeled to an underwater museum and saw a sunken sculpture and many colorful fish.
Costs: approx. €58 pp
Additional cost: $15 cash (Marine Park & Dock Fee)
Duration: 2 hours
Meeting Point: Marina Jungle Tour Adventure (opposite JW Marriot Hotel)
Provider: GetYourGuide
Conclusion: It was a lot of fun and we can warmly recommend it!
